EP0849999B1 - Composite fabric, in particular for hand luggage or clothes - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR97/01241 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 23, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 23, 1998 PCT Filed Jul. 9, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/01046 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 15, 1998The composite fabric comprises a load-carrying grid disposed between cloth and a flexible layer that are held to each other, the load-carrying grid which is at least two-directional being made up at least of warp thread and weft thread which are held to one another, the mesh defined by the grid having openings of area greater than the area of the gaps defined by the texture of the decorative cloth, the decorative cloth being held directly to the flexible sheet through the mesh of the load-carrying grid such that the fabric prevents outer ribs due to the thickness of the weft threads.

Description

The present invention relates to a composite fabric, can receive different applications, especially for obtaining and carrying hand luggage, such as bags or suitcases, and clothing.

We know luggage whose wall (s) are constituted by a fabric and which have the advantage of being lighter than baggage of other materials. The fabrics used by some luggage manufacturers are obtained by weaving yarn and weft of polyester yarn and / or polyamide. They exhibit good resistance in warp and weft directions and good strength abrasion on the surface. However, their resistance in bias and their resistance to shear or initiated tear is not satisfactory. When the tissue tear is caused by perforation accidental, it can extend over the entire baggage length, especially during handling successive (stations / airports), or by simple pressure exerted by the objects contained inside the luggage.

In addition, various textile complexes are already known and marketed, especially for applications technical or industrial, and include a outer layer, one (or more) reinforcing layer, and an inner flexible layer, the reinforcing wires constituting the reinforcing layer, in particular of aramid, being disposed between the outer layer and the layer flexible interior. Such complexes are described in particular in EP-A-569 849 and in EP-A-202 183. However, these known complexes are reinforced by the integration of reinforcing wires which are not visible.

US-A-3,862,277 describes a nonwoven composite fabric mainly comprising an impregnating latex binder a central layer surrounded by an inner layer and an outer layer. In one embodiment, are provided with reinforcing threads free from each other to others, the properties of the fabric being due to the proportion of latex in the central layer.

The subject of the present invention is a composite fabric constituted by a supporting grid, ensuring the resistance to mechanical forces which are applied in diagonal to the fabric, covered on both sides by layers suitable for protecting content. This fabric has characteristics and properties more particularly adapted to the realization of a hand luggage, flexible wall, such as a bag or suitcase flexible travel, for which we are looking for walls light but resistant. Such a stuff must be no only tear resistant, but must also have other qualities, especially touch and impermeability.

According to the invention, the composite fabric consisting of three overlapping layers comprising an outer layer made of decorative fabric, an inner layer flexible and a central layer, is characterized in that the central layer consists of a carrier grid, at least bidirectional, formed of cross wires linked between them with high tenacity whose diameter is greater to the thickness of the woven outer layer so that the fabric comprises, on the side thereof, ribs in projection, the decorative fabric being linked directly to the flexible inner layer through the mesh of the grid, and in that the decorative fabric is a fabric abrasion resistant, the inner layer (4) being raincoat.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the fabric composite is characterized in that at least some of the grid weft threads are oriented obliquely by compared to the fabric threads of the outer layer and constitute polygonal meshes, the wires being linked each other.

The grid is obtained from at least one wire having torque characteristics allowing the grid hinder any tears in the fabric decorative; this grid has meshes having a surface opening greater than that of the interstices present in, or defined by the texture of the fabric decorative exterior.

The composite fabric according to the invention has, in addition, the abrasion or impact resistance, flexibility required for the intended use. She has good tensile strength, in the diagonal direction to warp and weft of decorative fabric. Otherwise, any accidental tearing of the decorative fabric is hindered by adjacent grid wires in relief, so that this tear remains limited.

• la figure 1 représente en vue éclatée d'une étoffe composite selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en coupe de l'étoffe représentée à la figure 1;
• la figure 3 représente une vue en perspective de la grille porteuse montrée à la figure 1;
• la figure 4 représente la face externe d'une étoffe composite selon la présente invention;
• la figure 5 représente, de manière schématique, un bagage à main réalisé et obtenu avec une étoffe selon l'invention;
• la figure 6 représente, de manière schématique, un vêtement obtenu et réalisé avec une étoffe selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which follows of an embodiment, given solely by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a composite fabric according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the fabric shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the carrier grid shown in Figure 1;
• FIG. 4 represents the external face of a composite fabric according to the present invention;
• Figure 5 shows, schematically, a hand luggage made and obtained with a fabric according to the invention;
• Figure 6 shows, schematically, a garment obtained and produced with a fabric according to the invention.

In accordance with Figures 1 and 2, a composite fabric according to the invention brings together, in a linked manner, or united to each other, an outer fabric decorative 2, a carrier grid 3 and a flexible layer interior 4, for example PVC, and a lining waterproof, the carrier grid being disposed between the decorative fabric and flexible layer.

The external decorative fabric 2 has a texture or structure giving it good resistance to abrasion. It is, for example, made of 280 decitex polyester yarn with a construction of approximately 30 x 25 wires per centimeter (30 in chain and 25 in weft). The surface mass is 180 grams per m2. The armor is preferably a fake gauze so that the fabric looks close to a mesh, although made in chain technology and weft with bi-directional structure giving resistance in traction in two perpendicular directions.

This fabric can be as well a knit as any other structure assembling chain wires 21 to wires of weft 22, in any suitable weave. The son (s) of decorative fabric consist of materials traditional, such as natural fibers or synthetic. The purpose of this fabric is, in addition to its function of decoration, protect the aramid threads which are susceptible to abrasion.

The carrier grid 3 is three-way. She may be knitted. In the example described with reference to the figures 1 to 4, it assembles, in a linked manner, different threads 31 to 34, each with characteristics dynamometric (in particular tensile strength), giving the grid the property of hampering any tear in the decorative fabric 2.

• des fils de chaíne parallèles 33 et 34 qui tiennent la grille 3; et
• des fils de trame 31 et 32, orientés obliquement par rapport aux fils de chaíne, et définissant entre eux une maille 35 polygonale, en forme de losange; les mailles peuvent être aussi de forme carrée, rectangulaire, ou triangulaire, en fonction de la disposition des fils de trame entre eux et par rapport aux fils de chaíne.

In the carrier grid 3, we can distinguish:

• parallel chain son 33 and 34 which hold the grid 3; and
• weft threads 31 and 32, oriented obliquely to the warp threads, and defining between them a polygonal mesh 35, in the form of a diamond; the meshes can also be square, rectangular, or triangular, depending on the arrangement of the weft threads between them and relative to the warp threads.

All these threads are linked to each other. The sons of warp 33 and 34 can be different from the weft threads, the former being for example made of polyester and the latter made of aramid. the aramid grid plays a role in tear resistance insofar as, when the complex delaminates, the bonding points give way and the aramid threads become floating get consolidate and brake the spread of the tear. This grid therefore constitutes a structure open and deformable despite bonding.

The weft threads 31 and 32 have a titer much higher than the title of the chain wires 33 and 34, so that only the weft threads 31 and 32 appear in relief across the decorative fabric 2 (Figure 4).

For example, the chain wires 33,34 can be in 140 polyester polyester with two threads per cm. and weft yarn 31.32 in aramid of a count greater than 1,100 decitex and, for example 1580 or 1670 dtex, with a torsion greater than or equal to sixty turns / meter. The frame is bidirectional with an angle of about 22 ° and 0.5 thread per cm in each direction. The report of diameters between the warp and weft threads are included between three and twelve. If necessary, parallel wires 33 and 34 can be deleted. The sons aramid 31,32 have a high tenacity (higher at 200 centiNewtons / tex) and a high elongation module (greater than 60 Gigapascals), the elongation at break being less than 4%.

The armor of the carrier grid is chosen so that the meshes 35 of this grid have an opening of surface greater than that of the interstices 23 of the tissue decorative exterior 2, overlapping the two meshes being impossible.

The diameter of the grid wires 31 and 32 is greater at least five times the diameter of wires 21 and 22 of the decorative fabric 2.

As shown in Figure 1, the carrier grid 3 is arranged relative to the decorative fabric 2, so that at minus the warp threads 33 and 34 and / or the weft threads 31 and 32 of grid 3, have a different orientation, for example oblique, that of the warp threads 21,22 of decorative fabric 2.

The three-way grid 3 described above allows also to bring better stability through the decorative fabric 2.

The inner flexible layer 4, for example a sheet of an elastomeric material such as PVC, for example, is Water-proof. Its thickness is, for example 0.3 mm. As shown in particular in Figure 2, but also Figure 4, the decorative fabric 2 is linked directly to the flexible layer 4, through the meshes 35 of the grid carrier 3, so that the fabric obtained comprises, side of the decorative fabric 2, ribs 5, in relief, corresponding to the weft threads 31 and 32 of the grid load-bearing, the chain wires 33.34 not appearing practically not.

The flexible layer 4 is linked to the decorative fabric 2 by any suitable techniques or processes, for example by gluing, coating, or calendering, so as to give to all the constituents or components of the fabric, an integrated structure giving it characteristics greater than those of each of the components of said fabric. The grid wires only appear very slightly on the inner surface 3.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, this fabric can be used for carrying hand luggage 6 or of clothes 7, which implies that this fabric can be worked or worked like any traditional fabric.

• une bonne résistance à la traction en direction diagonale, ce qui est particulièrement important dans le cas d'un bagage; et
• un blocage de toute déchirure sur une longueur limitée, ce qui importe à la fois pour un vêtement et un bagage.

In these applications, the composite fabric previously described brings two essential advantages:

• good tensile strength in the diagonal direction, which is particularly important in the case of luggage; and
• a blockage of any tear over a limited length, which is important for both clothing and luggage.

Claims (10)

1. Composite fabric consisting of three superimposed layers comprising an outer layer (2) made of a decorative cloth, a flexible outer layer (4) and a central layer (3), characterized in that the central layer is formed by a carrying grid (3), at least bidirectional, made of crossed threads connected together (31, 32) of a high toughness, the diameter of which is greater than the thickness of the woven outer layer (2) so that the fabric comprises, on the side thereof, protruding ribs (5), the decorative cloth (2) being directly bound to the flexible inner layer (4), through meshes of the grid (3), and in that the decorative cloth (2) is an abrasion resistant cloth, the inner layer (4) being an impervious layer.
2. Composite fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the weft threads (31, 32) of the grid (3) are obliquely oriented to the threads (21, 22) of the cloth of the outer layer (2) and form polygonal meshes (35), the threads being connected together.
3. Composite fabric according to claim 2, characterized in that the warp threads (33, 34) are of polyester, the weft wires (31, 23) being of aramide.
4. Composite fabric according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the diameter of the three weft threads (31, 32) is at least three times greater than the diameter of the warp threads (33, 34).
5. Composite fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer decorative cloth (2) has a warp (21) and weft (22) structure of abrasion-resistant threads such as polyester threads.
6. Composite fabric according to claims 3 and 5, characterized in that the weft threads (31, 32) of the grid (3) are inclined with respect to the warp (21) and/or weft (22) threads of the outer cloth (2).
7. Composite fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the diameter of the threads of the grid (31, 32) is at least five times greater than the diameter of the threads (21, 22) of the outer decorative cloth (2).
8. Composite fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner layer (4) is connected to the outer layer (2) by gluing, coating or calendering through the meshes of the grid (3).
9. Hand luggage made of a composite fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. Garment made of a composite fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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