EP1705956A1 - Knitted or woven heated article and heatable garment - Google Patents

Abstract

The article has a heating region (H) including an electrically conductive thread material. A conductor (L) for the heating region is connected to a power source, and is incorporated into the article. Another electrically conductive thread material is used in the conductor, where the latter material is processed with higher density than the former material in the heating region.

Description

The invention relates to heatable knit, knitted or woven fabric according to the preamble of claim 1 and a heated garment according to the preamble of claim 11.

Out WO95 / 33358 A known woven or knitted fabric, inter alia, for clothing contains in the respective heating area as heating elements plated and thus electrically conductive threads with an addition of 10 to 60 wt .-% metal. The electrically conductive thread material is either connected directly to the power source, or via plated wires. In the goods that are otherwise made of thread material, wires are unwanted foreign bodies. However, if the electrically conductive thread material is connected directly to the power source, then it must have relatively low electrical resistance, so that everywhere creates a low heating effect, where the thread material is processed and a more intense heating effect in the actual heating due to the denser arrangement of the electrically conductive thread material , but in total an unusually high power input is required.

Out DE 25 37 342 A Known, textile woven fabric contains as Schussgame electrically conductive yarns that define a heating area and are connected to metallic, incorporated in the product electrodes. Metallic electrodes create unwanted foreign bodies in textile woven goods for clothing.

Out US 3,751,620 is an electrically heated garment with heating elements known. In heating areas, a knitted fabric made of chemical and metallic fibers is provided, which is coated with an electrically conductive substance and covered with foam material. Wires are provided for connection to a power source.

The invention has for its object to provide heatable knit, knitted or woven fabric or manufactured using this product, heatable garment, wherein despite moderate power input without disturbing metallic Foreign body in the heating area a satisfactory local heating effect should be achievable.

The stated object is achieved with the features of claim 1 and the features of claim 11.

The electrically conductive thread material is based on natural and / or synthetic material, which has been made electrically conductive without metal threads or fibers, for example by plating or other treatment methods. It is, for example, thread material that is also processed in antistatic carpets, and has a textile handle. This electrically conductive thread material has as a monofilament a relatively high electrical resistance, which is advantageous for heating in the heating area, would be too high in the conductor to the heating, however, to bring with moderate power input enough power in the heating area. Therefore, the same or at least a similar, in any case without metallic wires or fibers produced, electrically conductive thread material is used according to the invention in the heat conductor so that the processing density of the thread material in the conductor is considerably greater than in the heating area, and on the denser processing of the electrical total Resistance remains so low that the conductor supplies the heating area well without heating itself appreciably. In this way, metallic foreign bodies are avoided in the goods, the production is simplified, and results in a comfortable fit even with direct contact between the goods and the human skin. Knitting, weaving or knitting are expedient goods-manufacturing method, because they allow in some areas the incorporation of both continuous individual threads as well as mutual connection of any number of individual threads.

In the heated garment made using such knit, knit or woven fabric, the conductor extends in stripes from two sides of the respective heating area to spaced-apart conductor ends and the terminals for a power source. Although the electrical resistance of the electrically conductive thread material in the conductor is not appreciably different from the electrical resistance used for heating is due to the strip-shaped Forming the conductor and thereby denser incorporation of the electrically conductive thread material given a total of such a low electrical resistance that only or almost only in the heating area is heated. The garment can be worn directly on the skin and provides a comfortable carrying feeling, since foreign bodies of metallic nature are missing, is washable, stable to the barrel and completely harmless, since it can be heated effectively with low tension. The item of clothing expediently contains at least one blank of a knitted product, in particular a flat knitted item.

Suitably, at least one thread made of electrically conductive thread material is incorporated in the heating area between threads of electrically non-conductive thread material, while in the conductor each a plurality of filaments of electrically conductive thread material incorporated and electrically conductively connected to each other, so that thanks to the denser arrangement of the overall resistance lower is as in the threads in the heating area.

In a particularly expedient embodiment, knitted fabric, in particular flat knitted fabric, is provided, in which at least one single row of heating mesh and intervening rows of stitches of electrically non-conductive thread material are entangled in the heating area. In contrast, several directly knitted together and connected to the Heizmaschenreihen courses are entangled in the current conductor of the electrically conductive thread material. The same electrically conductive thread material is present in the current conductor and in the heating region. The concept is knitting technically favorable because the yarn qualities are similar and the process of the knitting process is easy despite the knitted heating area and the conductor.

The Heizmaschenreihen are exposed in an expedient embodiment of both surfaces of the knitted fabric. However, they could, for example, be covered on one or both sides by another mesh layer.

The knitted in the current conductor together rows of stitches, however, are free only on one surface of the knitted fabric and are covered on the other surface by knitted rows of stitches of electrically non-conductive thread material. The covered side is expedient that faces in a garment of the human skin. The cover prevents a direct, optionally current-conducting contact with the skin.

In this embodiment, two knitting layers are thus present in the region of the conductor. Appropriately, at least selective linking sites are knitted to fix the cover and the current conductor to each other.

Especially in the case of flat knitwear, it is expedient to embroider at least the strip-shaped or relatively flat current conductor as inlay, as can also be customary in the case of patterns.

The current conductor can form a strip running in the direction of knitting or in the direction of the rows of stitches or even obliquely, which expediently has approximately constant width and, in a preferred embodiment, is approximately as wide as the respective heating zone defined by the heating mesh rows. Of course, a plurality of heating regions of any size and / or shape can be provided along the current conductor profile.

At least one contact connection can be integrated into the conductor or the goods, for example a metallic pushbutton, to which the power supply is detachably connected.

Seams may be provided in the heated garment as often required. In order not to interrupt the current conductor in the seam, it is expedient to conductively connect sections of the conductor by sewing the seam or gluing together.

The handling of the garment is convenient when the current conductor ends the same incorporated a bag, preferably sewn or knitted, in which then can accommodate the power source.

In an expedient embodiment, a power supply block is housed in the pocket, which has a battery and an electronic control, and optionally also a switch. The supply block can be disconnected from the conductor and removed, for example, when the garment is washed, cleaned or ironed.

In an expedient embodiment, the electronic controller includes an on / off switch, a power control section for shutdown in the event of a short circuit of the conductor, and a voltage control section for shutdown if the battery capacity is too low.

An expedient embodiment is characterized in that the controller even has a control section for switching between different heating power levels. For example, when switching on with higher heating power as much heat as quickly as possible, before and in view of economical use of energy only so much energy is supplied that a certain temperature is kept approximately.

Fig. 1

ein heizbares Bekleidungsstück, z. B. ein ärmelloses Shirt oder Unterhemd, aus Strick-, Wirk- oder Webware, mit zwei Heizbereichen, in einer Ansicht von hinten,

Fig. 2

das Bekleidungsstück in einer Ansicht von vorne,

Fig. 3

einen Ausschnitt eines Maschenbildes zur Verdeutlichung der Ausbildung eines Heizbereiches und eines Stromleiters in Strickware und Flachstrickware,

Fig. 4

eine Innenansicht der Rückseite des Bekleidungsstücks, und

Fig. 5

ein Blockschaltbild einer elektronischen Heizsteuerung für das Bekleidungsstück.

Reference to the drawings, embodiments of the subject invention will be explained. Show it:

Fig. 1

a heated garment, z. B. a sleeveless shirt or undershirt, knit, knit or woven fabric, with two heating areas, in a view from behind,

Fig. 2

the garment in a front view,

Fig. 3

a section of a mesh image to illustrate the formation of a heating area and a conductor in knitwear and flat knitted fabric,

Fig. 4

an inside view of the back of the garment, and

Fig. 5

a block diagram of an electronic heating control for the garment.

A heatable garment according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 is, for example, a sleeveless shirt or an undershirt made of blanks Z made of knitwear W, in particular flat knitwear. 1 is a rear view of a back part 1. FIG. 2 is an outside view of a front part 2, and FIG. 4 is a view of the inside 1 'of the back part 1. The blanks are sewn together along seams 23, for example or otherwise connected.

In areas 3, which correspond approximately to the kidneys of the wearer when clothing B is worn, two horizontally spaced heating areas H are incorporated between sections 4, 5 of a conductor L which extends above the waist area over the seams 23 into the front part 2 extends to conductor ends 6 made there. The conductor ends 6 are spaced from each other or isolated by non-conductive thread material. In between, a pocket 10 may be sewn or otherwise fastened to the front part 2, which serves for accommodating a supply block 9 which is detachably connected via terminals 8 to connection contacts 7 of the conductor L. The sections 4 are approximately horizontally circulating strips in approximately constant width, while the sections 5 bend obliquely, but could all extend in the same width and height. In the seams 23, for example, by sewing a current-conducting connection between the sections 5, 4 is made.

Each blank Z may consist of knitted, knitted or woven goods W. Knitted fabric W, in particular flat knitted fabric, is particularly expedient, wherein in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the knitting stitch direction could be horizontal and the knitting direction vertical.

In the goods W, for example, individual threads or individual courses 11 of electrically conductive thread material are incorporated in the heating regions H and are separated from each other by at least one single thread or single row of stitches 12 of electrically non-conductive thread material. As can be seen Figs. 1 and 4, the monofilaments or courses 11 are located on both surfaces of the Goods free. However, it would be conceivable to provide a cover made of electrically non-conductive thread material on at least one surface.

In the current conductor L either the same electrically conductive thread material or an at least similar electrically conductive thread material is processed, in the case of knitwear entangled. The electrically conductive thread material is a thread material made of natural and / or synthetic fibers or filaments (not a monofilament thread), which are rendered electrically conductive by plating or another method. For example, noble metal ions, e.g. of silver, so contained in the thread material or deposited thereon that the electrical conductivity and a certain electrical resistance of a single filament results, as it is used for heating purposes. The same or at least substantially similar electrically conductive thread material is also processed in the current conductor L, but there in a much higher density than in the heating area. Due to the higher density and mutual contact of monofilaments, e.g. entangled courses or intersecting and / or interwoven weft and warp threads, or interwoven individual threads, the strip-shaped conductor L is used as a whole for power line, because the denser incorporation a desirably low electrical resistance from the entirety of the processing in the strip electrically conductive thread material results, is ensured by ensuring that the actual heating area H is sufficiently supplied electrically, however, the current conductor L itself does not heat or hardly appreciably.

The remaining areas of the blanks or the goods W or the garment B can be made of any thread material.

An electrically conductive thread material which is available on the market and which can be suitably processed according to the invention would be SHIELDEX with specification 234 / 34dtex TR, marketed by the company Statex, Bremen. With this thread material, for example, an electrical resistance of approximately 3.5 ohms results in the single filament in each heating region H, while a total resistance of only one ohm is achieved by using the same filament material in the current conductor.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the conductor L is deposited on the inside 1 'of the back 1 or covered by normal knit, e.g. by monofilaments or interwoven courses 12. Between the conductor L and this covering fabric section, point joints 22 may be formed, e.g. knitted, be.

Fig. 3 is a section, approximately corresponding to the dash-dotted lines in Fig. 1 indicated section showing the transition of the section 4 of the conductor L in the heating area H and the subsequent goods areas in an enlarged view for a flat knit fabric W. In the uppermost part of Fig. 3 are a plurality of horizontal courses 12 entangled from any electrically non-conductive thread material, as well as in the lowermost region in Fig. 3. In between, the section 4 of the conductor L extends from the left side of Fig. 3 to to the heating area H. Here, ie in the current conductor L, more and narrower courses 14, 15 of electrically conductive thread material are knitted together and not separated by electrically non-conductive thread material. From the electrically conductive thread material in the courses 14, 15 in the conductor L individual lower and higher courses 11 are continued in the heating area H, which are separated or isolated from each other by courses 12 of electrically non-conductive thread material. Behind the courses 14, 15 in the conductor L are also knitted courses 12 or at least individual threads for courses 12 of electrically non-conductive thread material, such as the cover shown in Fig. 4 of the heat conductor opposite the body side of the product or the item B.

The mesh pattern in FIG. 3 illustrates that the electrically conductive thread material in the current conductor L, ie, in the stitched rows of stitches 14, 15, is arranged substantially denser than in the heating area H, in which only one row of stitches 11 is provided for heating , However, it would be conceivable to entangle two rows of stitches in the heating area, for example, or more. As long as it is ensured that the electrically conductive thread material is incorporated in the conductor L with much higher density and mutual contact, as in each heating area, regardless of whether this consists of a monofilament, a single course or a few courses, it is ensured that the conductor L itself hardly or hardly heats appreciably, but the heating effect occurs exclusively in the respective heating area.

The stripe shape of the conductor L and the square or rectangular shape of the heating regions H in Figs. 1 to 4 are non-limiting examples. The geometric shapes of the conductor L and each heating area H are arbitrary, if necessary. Integrated into a pattern of the garment or the goods, or even be designed as a pattern. For example, the electrically conductive thread material is darker than the thread material further incorporated in the article, in order to visually emphasize this additional characteristic of the article or of the article of clothing in the manner of a pattern. On the other hand, the electrically conductive thread material could have the same color as the further processed thread material, so that each heating region H and the current conductor L optically remain in the background.

The supply block 9 can be conveniently stored in the bag. It would also be conceivable to keep the supply block separately on the body. In the supply block 9 is expediently a battery 17 (FIG. 5) and a controller 16, which will be explained with reference to FIG. 5.

It is an electronic control 16, which is conveniently housed together with the battery 17 in the handy supply block 9. The heating areas and the current conductors H, L are indicated symbolically as resistance. A switch 18, which is automatically and / or manually operated via the controller 16, is located in the area of a setting section 19. A section 20 of the controller 16 serves to control the current in the event of a short circuit, for example in the case of mutual contact of the sections 4, 5 Electricity conductor, in wet conditions, or in similar cases, then turn off the power supply. A section 21 is used for voltage control to monitor whether the performance of the battery 17 is sufficient, and to turn it off in the negative case. The section also includes means for switching between different levels of heating power, for example, to heat up to a certain temperature at power up, and then switch back and maintain the temperature with moderate power input. For example After switching on for four minutes at full load, it is then reduced to 60 - 90% of the full load capacity via the R2 regulator.

Claims (16)

Heated knitted, knitted or woven fabric (W) with at least one electrically conductive thread material having heating (H) and with at least one incorporated into the product, connectable to a power source conductor (L) to the heating area (H), characterized in that as Electric conductor (L) the electrically conductive thread material in the heating area (H) is the same or at least similar electrically conductive thread material, but in relation to the density of the electrically conductive thread material in the heating area (H) significantly greater density in the product (W) is incorporated. Heated knit, knitted or woven fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that in the heating region (H) of electrically conductive thread material at least one thread (11) between threads (12) is incorporated from electrically non-conductive thread material, and that in the current conductor (L ) of electrically conductive material each incorporated several individual filaments and are electrically conductively connected to each other. Heatable knit, knitted or woven fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that in the knitted fabric (W), in particular in flat knit fabric, in the heating region (H) at least one individual Heizmaschenreihe (11) of the electrically conductive thread material and therebetween courses (12) entangled from electrically non-conductive thread material and the conductor (L) several directly knitted together and with the Heizmaschenreihen (11) connected, preferably directly into this transferred, rows of stitches (14) are entangled from the electrically conductive thread material. Heatable knit, knitted or woven fabric according to claim 3, characterized in that the Heizmaschenreihen (11) on both surfaces of the knitted fabric (W) exposed. Heated knit, knitted or woven fabric according to claim 3, characterized in that in the current conductor (L), the knitted rows of stitches (14) from the electrically conductive thread material on only one surface of the knitted fabric (W) exposed and covered on the other surface by knitted rows of stitches (12) of electrically non-conductive thread material. Heatable knit, knitted or woven fabric according to claim 5, characterized in that in the current conductor (L) the knitted rows of stitches are entangled with the courses (12) of electrically non-conductive thread material at least in punctiform points of connection (22). Heatable knit, knitted or woven fabric according to claim 3, characterized in that at least the conductor (L) is knitted as inlay in the flat knitted fabric. Heated knit, knitted or woven fabric according to claim 3, characterized in that the current conductor (L) in the knitting direction or in the direction of the rows of stitches (12, 11, 14) or obliquely extending, substantially the same width strip (5, 4th ). Heated knitted, knitted or woven fabric according to claim 8, characterized in that the strip (5, 4) is at least approximately as wide as the respective heating region (H). Heatable knit, knitted or woven fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the current conductor (L) has at least one contact terminal (7), preferably a metallic push button. Heated garment (B), in particular underwear, having at least one heating region (H) and at least one conductor (L) of at least one blank (Z) made of knitted, knitted or woven fabric (W) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10 is manufactured, characterized in that the current conductor (L) extends in strip form from two sides of the respective heating region (H) to spaced conductor ends (6), in which connection contacts (7) for a current source (17) are provided. Heated garment according to Claim 11, characterized in that sections of the conductor (L) led away between blanks (Z) are conductively connected to one another by sewing in the seam via a seam (23). Heated garment according to claim 11, characterized in that at the current conductor ends (6), preferably made of electrically non-conductive thread material, a pocket (10) incorporated into the garment (B), preferably sewn or knitted is. Heated garment according to claim 13, characterized in that in the pocket (10) a power supply block (9) is included, which has a battery (17) and an electronic control (16), optionally with a switch (18). An item of heated garment according to claim 14, characterized in that the controller (16) comprises an on / off switch (18), a current control section (20) for switching off a short circuit in the conductor (L) and a voltage control section (21) for switching off decreasing battery capacity includes. Heated garment according to claim 14, characterized in that the controller (16) has a control section (19) for switching between different heating power levels.

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