EP0670383B1 - Elastic woven fabric for supporting devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a new type of warp fabric and weft with high elasticity along its length (direction chain), blocked in width and elastic return power (effect of contention) high, usable in the paramedical field to perform bandages, knee pads, elbow pads, lumbar belts .., and in general for everything related to the field of "orthopedic clothing".

In the field of orthopedic clothing, we use fabrics warp and weft which, in general, consist of a mixed chain with highly extensible threads allowing give elasticity to the fabric, and threads not only allowing to ensure comfort but also the rate of containment that we wishes to obtain, the frame is made up of a thread synthetic, to obtain an article having a flat appearance and a appropriate resistance, such as a single-strand synthetic thread or the like.

To date, to produce such articles, a chain is used combination of highly elastic threads of the "gimped threads" type, which are made of a rubber core or preferably of elastofibers, such spandex and cotton yarn, weaving being carried out in conditions such as cotton threads appear on the surface and mask the elastic threads which remain positioned in the central part of the fabric. Such elastic fabrics, if they give satisfaction with regard to the containment rate they provide and the comfort for the user, however, have a number of disadvantages, know that especially to unravel during the preparation and have abrasion resistance which is sometimes considered insufficient.  

Furthermore, during their use, in general, it is necessary to ability to connect the two end edges of the tape to each other tissue after placement on the patient. In addition to the solution which consists in add hooks or loops at each end, more and more, we uses hook-and-loop structures of the type marketed under the brand name "VELCRO", one of the ends of the strip comprising the male part in the form of hooks, and the other the part female in the form of loops. Such a procedure leads therefore at a significant allowance at the junction which can be embarrassing; moreover, during the joining of the female and male parts, very often the surface of the stretch fabric is damaged adjacent to the area with the female strip.

Now we have found, and this is what is the subject of the present invention, a fabric which not only has comfort characteristics, resistance, ... improved compared to previous solutions, but which, by elsewhere, according to one embodiment, also makes it possible to obtain a structure such that it eliminates the establishment at one end of the strip of the female hook-and-loop element of the connection assembly of the extremities.

• des fils fortement élastiques du type "fils guipés" travaillant selon une armure unie ;
• deux séries de fils dits "fils de fond" constitués de fils synthétiques texturés et qui travaillent selon une armure telle qu'ils forment des flottés sur les deux faces visibles après réalisation, au moins l'une de ces séries de fil étant constituée de filaments élémentaires aussi fins que possible ;
• une série de fils dits "fils de liage", constitués de fils synthétiques texturés travaillant en armure taffetas et assurant le maintien dans la partie centrale du tissu des fils fortement extensibles et le blocage des fils de fond.

In general, the invention therefore relates to a new type of fabric having a high elasticity in its warp direction, of the type comprising a mixed warp comprising highly extensible threads making it possible to give elasticity to the fabric, threads making it possible to ensuring comfort, touching as well as adjusting the rate of containment, the weft being made up of a single strand (horsehair) synthetic, and the weaving weave being such that after production, the elastic threads remain positioned in the central part of the fabric and are masked by the threads ensuring comfort, characterized in that the warp comprises at least three types of threads of different nature working in different weaves compared to the weft threads, namely:

• highly elastic threads of the "wrapped threads" type working in plain weave;
• two series of yarns called "bottom yarns" made up of textured synthetic yarns which work in an armor such that they form floats on the two visible sides after production, at least one of these series of yarns being made up of filaments elementary as fine as possible;
• a series of threads called "binding threads", made up of textured synthetic threads working in taffeta weave and ensuring the maintenance in the central part of the fabric of highly extensible threads and the blocking of the bottom threads.

According to an embodiment according to the invention, according to which the fabric has two identical, identical external faces, both series of bottom threads consist of synthetic threads multifilament textured by false twist, each filament having a unit titer as low as possible and in general of the order of 0.9 to 1.2 dtex, said wires working in a grooved weave.

• l'un travaillant elon une armure cannelée étant à base de fils synthétiques multifilamentaires texturés, dont les filaments ont un titre aussi fin que possible,
• l'autre étant constitué par un fil texturé par fausse torsion travaillant selon une armure comportant une alternance de zones en taffetas et de flottés de grande longueur.

According to a variant, the two series of bottom wires consist of two different types of son also working according to different weaves, namely:

• one working according to a fluted weave being based on textured multifilament synthetic threads, the filaments of which have a title as fine as possible,
• the other being constituted by a textured thread by false twist working in a weave comprising an alternation of taffeta areas and floats of great length.

In this embodiment, an article is obtained, one of the faces is smooth, smooth, and the other side has visible loops.

In such a case, the binding wire is preferably associated with a wire hot-melt allowing, after treatment, to obtain a perfect blocking visible loops.

• les figures 1, 2 et 3 sont des représentations graphiques, réalisées de manière conventionnelle et permettant à un homme du métier la reproduction exacte d'un premier mode de tissu réalisé conformément à l'invention, et qui montre :
  • figure 1 : le travail et le positionnement des différents types de fils de chaine entrant dans la réalisation d'un tel tissu,
  • figure 2 : un rapport d'armure,
  • figure 3 : la note d'enfilage au métier et,
• les figures 4 à 7 illustrent une autre forme de réalisation d'un tissu extensible conforme à l'invention présentant des bouclettes apparentes sur l'une de ses faces, les figures 4 à 6 étant des représentations graphiques similaires aux figures 1 à 3, la figure 7, quant à elle étant une vue schématique en perspective de la structure d'un tel tissu.

The invention and the advantages which it brings will however be better understood thanks to the two exemplary embodiments given below for information, but not limitation, and which are illustrated by the appended diagrams in which:

• FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are graphic representations, produced in a conventional manner and enabling a person skilled in the art to reproduce exactly a first mode of fabric produced in accordance with the invention, and which shows:
  • FIG. 1: the work and the positioning of the different types of warp threads used in the production of such a fabric,
  • Figure 2: an armor ratio,
  • Figure 3: the threading note for the loom and,
• FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate another embodiment of an extensible fabric according to the invention having visible loops on one of its faces, FIGS. 4 to 6 being graphical representations similar to FIGS. 1 to 3, the Figure 7, meanwhile being a schematic perspective view of the structure of such a fabric.

In the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the stretch fabric according to the invention is made on a loom conventional with a comb density of 7 teeth 3/4 to the centimeter.

The frame is made up of a 330 dtex nylon horsehair, reducing weaving being 58 strokes per inch (58 wefts in 27.7 mm).  

• des fils élastiques (A) comportant une âme en fil élasthanne tel que par exemple fil commercialisé sous la marque "LYCRA" de 1240 dtex, recouverte de deux couches de fils de guipage, orientées en sens inverse l'une de l'autre et constituées d'un fil texturé par fausse torsion en nylon de titre 2/85 dtex-92 brins ;
• deux séries de fils (B,C) identiques, dits "fils de fond", chaque fil étant un fil de nylon texturé par fausse torsion ayant un titre de 2/85 dtex-92 brins ;
• et une série de fils (D) dits "fils de liage", constitués d'un fil nylon texturé par fausse torsion de titre 2/78 dtex-23 brins.

As warp yarn, a combination of different yarns will be used, according to the invention, comprising:

• elastic yarns (A) comprising a core of spandex yarn such as for example yarn sold under the brand "LYCRA" of 1240 dtex, covered with two layers of covering yarns, oriented in opposite directions to each other and made up of a textured thread by false twist in nylon of title 2/85 dtex-92 strands;
• two sets of identical threads (B, C), called "bottom threads", each thread being a nylon thread textured by false twist having a count of 2/85 dtex-92 strands;
• and a series of threads (D) called "tying threads", consisting of a nylon thread textured by false twist of 2/78 dtex-23 strands.

The rhythm of work of the warp threads (A, B, C, D) compared to the threads weft T, is made according to the weave illustrated in Figures 1,2, the threading arrangement being illustrated in Figure 3.

If we refer to this figure 3, the lateral zones (L) correspond at the disposal and at work of the warp threads at each edge. The central part is multiplied as many times as necessary depending on the width of the fabric you want to make, and works according to the armor corresponding to the zone (Z) of FIG. 2, that is to say according to a ratio of 8 threads / five strokes.

As can be seen from the attached diagrams, the wires strongly elastics (A) work in a plain weave, the two sets of threads background (B, C) working on an armor, namely a armor type "fluted 3", to form floats of short length on the two external sides of the fabric after production.  

Finally, the binding threads D also work according to a taffeta weave.

During weaving, the threads (A) are kept under maximum tension while the textured threads (B, C, D) are kept under tension minimum permitting weaving.

When the loom falls, when the fabric is made, the threads strongly elastic retract and position themselves in the central part fabric, the bottom threads (B, D) coming to the surface.

By working in such a way, you get an elastic fabric warp and weft having a flat appearance, making it possible to obtain contents of 100 to 700 CN / cm for 30% elongation according to the title of the elastane core used. Such a fabric can be dyed and printed.

Given the great flexibility of the filaments constituting the threads which appear on the surface, we obtain an article having a density particularly high which, compared to previous articles in whose surface was made up of natural cotton fibers, has the following advantages, namely greater lightness, very high water permeability, a capillary drainage effect and a very soft touch.

Furthermore, such an article retains a natural cotton-like appearance and not the usual appearance of chemical fibers. However, it presents the advantages of such chemical fibers, namely a very low shrinkage quick washing and drying, even in ambient air.  

Finally, it is of exceptional comfort on the skin conferred by the very great finesse of the synthetic fibers that appear on the surface.

Figures 4 to 7 illustrate a second embodiment of a stretch fabric for compression articles according to the invention.

As seen above, in the weft, we use a nylon horsehair 16 / 100th of a millimeter in diameter in polyamide.

• fils élastiques (A) similaires à ceux de l'exemple précédent.
• fils de fond constitués, d'une part de fils (B) similaires à l'exemple précédent, et d'autre part de fils (C1), fil nylon texturé par fausse torsion 2/110 dtex/5 brins.
• fils de liage constitués d'une part d'un fil (D) nylon texturé par fausse torsion de titre 2/78 dtex/23 brins et d'autre part, d'un fil fusible (D1) en copolyamide de titre 235 dtex, et dont le point de fusion est de l'ordre de 110°C.

The warp threads consist of the following combination of synthetic threads:

• elastic threads (A) similar to those of the previous example.
• bottom threads made up, on the one hand of threads (B) similar to the previous example, and on the other hand of threads (C1), nylon thread textured by false twist 2/110 dtex / 5 strands.
• tying yarns consisting on the one hand of a nylon thread (D) textured by false twist of 2/78 dtex / 23 strands title and on the other hand, of a fusible wire (D1) of copolyamide of 235 dtex title, and whose melting point is of the order of 110 ° C.

The weaving is carried out in accordance with FIGS. 5 to 7, of which it shows that the elastic threads and the binding threads (D-D1) work according to a taffeta weave, while the background threads are working, one (B) according to a fluted weave of 3, so that they form loops on one of the faces of the fabric, and the other (C1) in a weave comprising a alternating taffeta areas and long floats located on the face opposite to the floats formed by the wire (B).  

By working in this way, we obtain a biface elastic fabric whose underside is similar in all respects to the fabric of the first embodiment, and the upper face of which is covered with loops formed by floats, allowing this face to be able to play the role of a female hook-and-loop element with a male element of Conventional hook-and-loop structures.

It is therefore possible, from such a fabric, to make strips of containment of a predetermined length, to which is reported only at one end a male part of a hook-and-loop structure.

As in the above example, the contact with the skin ensured by the smooth surface, is particularly comfortable.

It should also be noted that the products produced according to the invention being based on synthetic yarns, that they can be cut by ultrasonic techniques. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the fusion of the hot-melt fibers allows obtain a perfect and effective blocking of the visible loops, avoiding they are not torn off during the installation and removal of the restraint.

Claims (4)

1. A fabric for support articles, having a high degree of elasticity in its warp direction, of the type comprising a hybrid warp composed of highly extensible yarns (A) making it possible to give the fabric elasticity, yarns making it possible to provide comfort and the feel as well as to adjust the degree of support, and the filling (T) itself being constituted by a man-made monofilament yarn (bristle), and the weave being such that, after production, the elastic yarns (A) remain positioned in the central part of the fabric and are concealed by the comfort-providing yarns, characterized in that the warp is composed of at least three types of yarns of different kinds working according to different weaves with respect to the weft yarns, namely :

   highly elastic yarns (A) of the « covered yarn » type working according to a plain weave ;

   two series of yarns (B,C) called « ground threads » consisting of textured man-made yarns and working according to a weave such that they form floats visible on both faces after production, at least one of these series of yarns consisting of elementary filaments as fine as possible ;

   a series of yarns called « binding threads » consisting of textured man-made yarns working according to a taffeta weave and keeping the highly extensible yarns (A) in the central part of the fabric and blocking the ground threads (B,C).
2. The extensible fabric as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it has two identical outer faces, the two series of ground threads (B,C) being constituted by false-twist textured multifilament man-made yarns, each filament of which having an individual count as small as possible and in general of the order of 0.9 to 1.2 dtex, said yarns (B,C) working according to a rib weave.
3. The elastic fabric as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ground threads are composed of two types of different yarns (B,C1), working according to different weaves, namely :

   one (B), working according to a rib weave, being based on textured multifilament man-made yams, the filaments of which have a count as fine as possible ;

   the other (C), being constituted by a false-twist textured yarn, working according to a weave composed of an alternation of taffeta regions and of long floats,

      said fabric being such that, after production, one of its faces is smooth and the other has visible little loops.
4. The fabric as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the binding threads (D) are combined, during weaving, with heat-meltable yarns (D1) making it possible, after treatment, to obtain perfect blocking of the visible little loops formed by the yarn (D1).