GB2472845A

GB2472845A - Tan-through fabric

Info

Publication number: GB2472845A
Application number: GB0914620A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Walker; James William Walker
Original assignee: KINIKI HOLDINGS Ltd
Current assignee: KINIKI HOLDINGS LIMITED
Priority date: 2009-08-21
Filing date: 2009-08-21
Publication date: 2011-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-21
Also published as: GB2472845B; GB2486080A; GB0914620D0; GB201201299D0; WO2011020984A1

Abstract

A tan through material 10 is formed by knitting polyester and an elastomeric yarn such as elastane such that the material can be stretched to substantially the same degree in perpendicular directions. Preferably the pattern provided in a relaxed condition is an open mesh with diamond and square shape openings 12. The openings may be rectangular, oval or round. In articles of clothing using such material such as a lady's swimming costume 14, a double layer may be provided at sensitive areas such as the bust area 16 and crotch area 18. The second layer may have an open mesh of similar or smaller dimension to the first layer and may be misaligned with mesh of the first layer to provide greater opacity. A contrasting pattern may be wet ink transfer printed on the fabric to increase opacity to avoid embarrassment to the wearer.

Description

Tan Through Material This invention relates to a tan through material, and also an article of clothing made of such material.

Tan through material allows light to penetrate therethrough to a significant degree, and therefore for sunlight to pass therethrough tanning a person. Tan through materials are popular in clothing where a person desires to obtain an overall suntan but cannot or does not wish to be naked.

Unfortunately with some tan through materials the overall effect is not always an opaque as desired, and especially with large areas which may have a single colour, even though being part of a contrasting pattern.

According to the present invention there is provided a tan through material, the material being made of an open mesh of polyester and an elastomeric yarn which is knitted such that in perpendicular directions the material can be stretcIed to substantially the same degree.

The openings in the relaxed conditions may be of a size of between 0.3 and 3.5mm in the first direction, and between 0.3 and 3.5mm in the second direction.

The elastomeric yarn may be elastane.

The material may comprise between 15% and 40% elastomeric yarn, and between 60% and 85% polyester.

The material may be arranged such that when extension forces are applied to the material simultaneously in the first and second perpendicular directions, the openings will stretch generally to the same extent in each of the first and second directions.

The openings in the material may be substantially diamond or square shaped, with the first and second directions extending respectively between opposite apices of the diamond or square.

Alternatively the openings may be rectangular, round or oval.

The material may have a mass per unit area of 35-220 grams per square metre.

The invention also provides an article of clothing, the clothing being made of a material according to any of the preceding eight paragraphs.

A second layer of the material may be provided at least at certain parts of the article of clothing, on the inside thereof.

The second layer may be of the same material as the remainder of the article.

The second layer may be orientated differently to the material of the remainder of the article such that the openings in the second layer are at a different alignment to those in the material of the remainder of the article.

Alternatively, the second layer may have smaller openings than the material of remainder of the article.

The article of clothing may be an item of swimwear.

The article of clothing may be decorated with a contrasting pattern.

The pattern may be applied by transfer printing or wet ink printing.

A contrasting pattern may also be provided on the second layer.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a material according to the invention in a relaxed condition; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but with the material in a fully stretched condition, with extension forces being applied in first and second perpendicular directions; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a first double layer of material according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 of a second double layer according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 3 of a third double layer of material according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 3 of a fourth double layer of material according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a lady's swimming costume according to the inventions; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a lady's bikini according to the invention; and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a men's swimming trunks according to the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings show a tan through material 10 according to the invention. The material 10 is formed by knitting polyester and elastane in a pattern to provide in a relaxed condition an open mesh with diamond or square shape openings 12 as shown in Fig. 1. The openings 12 in a relaxed condition are substantially equisize in horizontal and vertical directions. For instance the openings 12 may be 0,7mm tall and 0.7mm wide.

When the material is fully stretched by applying extension forces in both vertical and horizontal directions, as shown in Fig. 2, the openings 12 remain substantially equisize in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

The invention also provides an article of clothing which may be an item of swimwear such as a pair of swimming trunks, a bikini or a ladies swimming costume, formed of the material 10.

The article of clothing is decorated in a highly contrasting pattern. This pattern even when wet provides substantial opacity to avoid any embarrassment to a wearer. The pattern may be applied by wet ink or transfer printing which provides a colourfast pattern in the polyester material.

This printing technique means that relatively small transfer production runs can readily be achieved, enabling a wide selection of different patterns to be used.

Clothing made with this material has been found to allow up to 80% of UV light to pass through the mesh like constructions, thereby providing for significant tanning.

In some instances, and particularly where a relatively large area of the same colour may be provided in a pattern, the material may be found not to be quite sufficiently opaque, and particularly in sensitive areas of the body. In such instances a double layer of material according to the invention may be provided. A second inner layer may be provided over the whole of the article of clothing, or over particular sensitive areas.

Fig. 7 shows a lady's swimming costume which could be made of a single layer of material according to the invention. Alternatively a double layer could be provided over the whole of the costume 14. As a further alternative, just sensitive areas such as the bust area 16 and crotch area 18 may be provided with an inner double layer of material, and these areas are shown by hatching in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 shows a ladies bikini 20. Again this can be made of a single layer of material, a double layer of material, or a double layer just in certain areas such as the lower bust area 22 and/or crotch area 24 which are again shown by hatching in the drawings.

Fig. 9 shows a men's swimming trunks 26. Again the trunks 26 may be made of a single layer, a double layer all over, or a double layer just in the crotch area 28 as shown by the hatching in the drawings.

Fig. 3 shows a first arrangement of double layers with a first layer 30 of the same material as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and a second layer 32 of the same material. As is illustrated, in practice generally the openings 12 in each layer 30, 32 will not be aligned with each other, therefore providing significantly enhanced opacity. If required the inner layer 32 can also be printed with a contrasting pattern.

Fig. 4 shows a double layer arrangement where the inner second layer 34 is of a smaller mesh size thereby guaranteeing that the openings 12 in the first layer 30 will have threads of material of the second layer 34 extending thereacross.

Fig. 5 is a similar double material layer as shown in Fig. 4, except that the second layer 36 is differently orientated to the first layer 30 such that the yarn in the second layer 36 is not parallel to the yarn in the first layer 30 which again has been found to increase the opacity.

Fig. 6 shows a similar double layer arrangement to that shown in Fig. 3, except that the first and second layers 30, 38 are provided at #different orientations, thereby ensuring that the yarns in the two layers 30, 38 cannot become fully aligned.

It is to be realised that a number of other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the material could be used to make different items of clothing. The material may be differently knitted. The material may have different shaped openings, which openings could be round, oval or rectangular. Different double layer configurations could be provided.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable features or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1. A tan through material, the material being made of an open mesh of polyester and an elastomeric yarn which is knitted such that in perpendicular directions the material can be stretched to substantially the same degree.
2. A material according to claim 1, in which the openings in the relaxed condition are of a size of between 0.3 and 3.5mm in the first direction.
3. A material according to claims 1 or 2, in which the openings in the relaxed conditions are of a size of between 0.3 and 3.5mm in the second direction.
4. A material according to any of the preceding claims, in which the elastomeric yarn is elastane.
5. A material according any of the preceding claims, in which the material comprises between 15% and 40% elastomeric yarn.
6. A material according to any of the preceding claims, in which the material comprises between 60% and 85% polyester.
7. A material according to any of the preceding claims, in which the material is arranged such that when extension forces are applied to the material simultaneously in the first and second perpendicular directions, the *:::* openings will stretch generally to the same extent in each of the first and second directions.

:
8. A material according to any of the preceding claims, in which the 30 openings in the material are substantially diamond or square shaped, with the : first and second directions extending respectively between opposite apices of *:*. the diamond or square.
9. A material according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which the openings are rectangular, round or oval.
10. A material according to any of the preceding claims, in which the material has a mass per unit area of 35-220 grams per square metre.
11. An article of clothing, the clothing being made of a material according to any of the preceding claims.
12. An article of clothing according to claim 11, in which a second layer of the material is provided at least at certain parts of the article of clothing, on the inside thereof.
13. An article of clothing according to claim 12, in which the second layer is of the same material as the remainder of the article.
14. An article of clothing according to claims 12 or 13, in which the second layer is orientated differently to the material of the remainder of the article such that the openings in the second layer are at a different alignment to those in the material of the remainder of the article.
15. An article of clothing according to of claims 12 to 14, in which the second layer has smaller openings than the material of the remainder of the article.*e.s 25 * * S...
16. An article of clothing according to any of claims 11 to 15, in which the * S....* article of clothing is an item of swimwear. *.S.S *5*S
17. An article of clothing according to any of claims 11 to 16, in which the article of clothing is decorated with a contrasting pattern.S. esS * S *5 SS S S S *
18. An article of clothing according to claim 17, in which the pattern is applied by transfer printing.
19. An article of clothing according to claim 17, in which the pattern is applied by wet ink printing.
20. An article of clothing according to claims 17 or 19 when dependent on claim 12, in which a contrasting pattern is also provided on the second layer.
21. A tan through material substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the drawings.
22. An article of clothing substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the drawings.
23. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims. * .S* *. .55 0 5 -l5*SS _ 5*I S *. SS I