JPH042428B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to sportswear for skiers and other athletes active in cold environments;
Alternatively, it relates to a composite fabric used for filling bedding, cushions, etc.

[Conventional technology]

The clothing worn by the athletes must be worn during the competition, as the athletes are actively engaged in physical activity.
This may have a negative impact on the performance of athletes.
The fabric of clothing conforms to the wearer's body to a greater or lesser degree, and because it is interposed between the body and the outside air, the fabric's inherent properties allow it to effectively act as a heat exchanger or insulation layer. ing.

The present invention relates to clothing for skiers and other athletes who are active outdoors in cold, windy, rainy weather, or to padding for sleeping bags, bedding such as futons, cushions, etc. . The main performance requirements of such composite fabrics are to keep the user warm and dry, lightweight and not excessively bulky, especially when used as clothing. Sports activities must not be interfered with.

To some extent, these two requirements are mutually exclusive. That is, although warmth can usually be obtained through heavily padded clothing, this type of clothing is unsuitable for athletes. Ideal clothing for athletes playing sports in cold environments is lightweight and low bulk. Such clothing does not restrict freedom of movement, provides thermal protection for the wearer, and keeps the wearer warm and dry. It is also desirable for clothing to be effectively waterproof, so as to protect the wearer from the effects of rain or snow, and to trap and trap vapors emitted by body perspiration. It is desirable that the garment be vapor permeable so as not to cause a sticky and uncomfortable feeling to the wearer.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In extremely cold environments where the outside air temperature is constant at less than 0°C, the difference between the outside air temperature and the human body temperature is quite large. Such a large temperature difference speeds up heat transfer between the body and the outside air.

Therefore, in order to provide sports clothing that is effective insulating, yet lightweight and not bulky, ski jackets and other clothing intended for use in cold weather conditions act as waterproof windbreakers. However, a thin outer layer of nylon fabric or Gore-Tex (registered trademark) which is vapor permeable has been used. Since this thin outer layer provides little warmth, it is usually lined with a thin non-woven fabric made of hollow fibers, which has the effect of trapping air and reducing heat loss through convection. .

For example, although a vapor hollow fiber nonwoven layer or the like lining the outer layer of a squeegee jacket reduces convective heat loss from the body, heat absorbed from the body into the hollow fiber nonwoven layer This radiation, which is emitted from the yarn nonwoven layer and accounts for a significant portion of the heat loss, is not significantly impeded by the outer layer of the jacket. Therefore, although a typical ski jacket lined with a hollow fiber nonwoven layer is very warm and not bulky, it does not fully meet the needs of skiers in extremely cold weather.

The effects of squeegee jackets using hollow fiber nonwoven fabrics are insufficient. That is, when the wearer is very active and the body generates a large amount of heat, the jacket warms up moderately, but when the skier goes up the slope on a ski lift or stops doing activities for other reasons, the jacket heats up. The resulting thermal protection effect will be inadequate.

The present invention has been achieved in consideration of the matters described above. That is, the present invention can be used to create sportswear suitable for cold weather conditions, even in windy and wet weather conditions, or can be used in cold weather without heat loss. The purpose is to provide a composite fabric that is lightweight and not excessively bulky, and that allows the wearer to keep warm, dry, and comfortable under all conditions. used to keep

[Means for solving problems]

It is formed by a thin porous core layer sandwiched between the inner and outer skin layers and formed by hollow fibers that act as a heat insulating layer and laminated to both skin layers by needle punching. It consists of a laminate layer imparted with transparency, the inner and outer surfaces of the inner skin layer and the inner surface of the outer skin layer are metallized to impart reflectivity, and the outer surface of the outer skin layer is colored black. A coating layer was provided to provide absorption of solar energy.

[Effect]

The composite fabric consists of a vapor permeable laminate layer formed by a core layer of hollow fibers that acts as an insulating blanket sandwiched between two inner and outer skin layers. Both surfaces of the inner skin layer and the inner surface of the outer skin layer are provided with metallized layers to provide reflective properties, and the outer surface of the outer skin layer is colored black to absorb solar energy. When the garment is worn, radiant heat from the body is returned to the body by the reflective outer surface of the inner skin layer, while convective heat from the wearer's body is transferred through the inner skin layer of the laminate layer by conduction. It passes through and is absorbed into the core layer. At the same time, the solar heat absorbed by the black colored surface is
It passes through the outer skin layer and is absorbed into the core layer. Infrared energy loss from the core layer is minimized by being internally reflected by the reflective interior surfaces of both skin layers.

〔Example〕

Composite fabrics according to the present invention can be used to make ski jackets, windbreakers, coats, and other outerwear suitable for cold climates, sleeping bags, bedding such as futons, cushions, and the like.

An example of the implementation of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown. Reference numeral 1 denotes an inner mesh scrim, and this scrim 1 is preferably made of absorbent fibers such as polypropylene, nylon, or other synthetic fibers that have been crimped or otherwise processed to impart water absorption properties.

The composite fabric of the present invention is composed of an inner skin layer 2, an outer skin layer 3, and a core layer 4, and has a vapor permeable laminate layer 5 in which the core layer 4 is sandwiched between both skin layers 2 and 3. are doing. The core layer 4 is formed of hollow synthetic fibers, preferably of synthetic plastic material, which has the effect of trapping air and reducing heat loss by convection. In this way, the core layer 4
Despite its thinness, it acts as an effective insulating blanket for its intended purpose.

The inner and outer skin layers 2, 3 may be porous non-woven fabrics made of polyester or other synthetic fibers, or thin film materials (0.05-0.125 mm) such as Mylar and Tyvek.
The inner and outer skin layers 2, 3 are laminated to the core layer 4 by needle punching, and the laminate layer 5 formed by laminating in this manner is porous and porous. Steam movement is allowed through the holes. When normally impermeable films are used for the inner and outer skin layers 2 and 3, porosity is imparted by needle punching.

The inner surface 6 and the outer surface 7 of the inner skin layer 2 and the inner surface 8 of the outer skin layer 3 are metallized with aluminum or other reflective metals by vacuum deposition or other known metallization methods, such as sputtering. to provide a molecularly thick coating. The outer surface 9 of the outer skin layer 3 is provided with a flat black coating to efficiently absorb solar energy.

The structure of the outer protective mesh fabric, that is, the outer mesh scrim 10, may be the same as the inner mesh scrim 1. In other words, a fine nylon mesh may simply be used, and the outer skin layer 3 of the laminate layer 5 may be colored black. It is disposed in contact with the outer surface 9. The outermost layer is provided with an outer fabric layer 11, made of a fabric made of a material such as nylon or otherwise made, which is transparent to solar radiation and water vapor, yet is substantially waterproof. It is what it is. GORE-TEX® is a suitable material for this purpose.

When an athlete wears clothing using the composite fabric of the present invention, the inner mesh scrim 1 is in contact with the wearer's body 12, as shown in FIG. 2, and the outer fabric layer 11 is exposed to sunlight. state.

Since the inner mesh scrim 1 has a mesh-like structure, the laminate layer 5 constituted by the core layer 4 is exposed, and the inner and outer skin layers 2 and 3 are exposed to radiant heat and convection heat. , exposed to perspiration or transpiration of water vapor from the surface of the wearer's body. The laminate layer 5 is constructed by laminating the inner and outer skin layers 2 and 3 and the core layer 4 by needle punching, so the laminate layer 5 has countless fine holes. Similarly, since the metal coating applied to the surface has an extremely thin molecular thickness, the fine pores are not blocked by the metal coating. As a result, since the laminate layer 5 has transparency,
Water vapor moves through the laminate layer 5 unhindered.

The outer surface 7 of the inner skin layer 2 of the laminate layer 5 serves to return infrared energy emitted by the wearer, thereby reducing heat loss. However, some of the convective or conductive heat from the body is not reflected, but is instead conducted through the inner skin layer 2 to the core layer 4 and absorbed therein.

At the same time, the solar radiation that has passed through the outer fabric layer 11 and the outer mesh scrim 10 is incident on the black colored outer surface 9 of the outer skin layer 3 and heats this surface. The thermal energy thus generated passes through the outer skin layer 3 and is absorbed by the core layer 4.

In this way, the core layer 4 receives heat both from the wearer's body and from the sun to which the wearer is exposed. The infrared radiation emitted from the inner surface of the core layer 4 heated in this way is reflected back into the core layer 4 by the inner surface 6 of the inner skin layer 2, while the infrared radiation is emitted from the outside of the core layer 4. The infrared radiation is reflected back into the core layer 4 by the internally reflective surface of the outer skin layer 3 of the laminate layer 5.

This laminate layer 5 thus acts as a two-way heat transfer trap with respect to heat generated by the wearer and heat generated from solar energy. This effect is similar to the visible image that is infinitely reflected between two mirrors placed opposite each other. Therefore, the trapped heat is reflected indefinitely between the two aluminum films facing each other. On the other hand, the laminate layer 5 does not act as a trap for water vapor generated from the wearer's skin, and this water vapor passes through the outer fabric layer 11 and is released into the atmosphere. It only acts as a waterproof layer against snow.

Instead of an outer layer of Gore-Tex® fabric or similar waterproof fabric, a fabric made of acrylic or other fibers that transmit ultraviolet light but not infrared light may be used. Since the outer layer is separated from the outer skin layer 3 of the laminate layer 5 by the outer mesh scrim 10, the acrylic outer layer effectively exhibits the function of glass that exhibits a greenhouse effect, and the black color of the outer skin layer 3 Reduces the loss of infrared energy from the colored outer surface 9.

The preferred embodiments of the cold climate sports fabric according to the present invention have been illustrated and described above.
Various modifications can be made without departing from the essential spirit of the invention.

〔effect〕

The inner and outer surfaces of the inner skin layer and the inner surface of the outer skin layer are metallized to give them reflective properties, and a black colored coating layer is provided on the outer surface of the outer skin layer to absorb solar energy. This allows infrared radiation heat emitted from the body surface to be reflected back to the body by the outer surface of the inner skin layer, and convective heat from the body passes through the inner skin layer to the core layer. The heat from the black-colored coating is also absorbed by this core layer, and the infrared heat from the core layer is re-reflected from the inner surface of the skin layer placed across the core layer. The composite fabric of the present invention functions as a two-way heat transfer trap with respect to both convective heat dissipated from the wearer and heat from solar energy.

Therefore, even though the composite fabric according to the invention is relatively thin and not excessively bulky, even under very harsh environmental conditions it acts to keep body heat dissipation low and captures heat from the sun. It keeps the wearer warm, dry and comfortable, making it very effective even in cold environments.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the various components forming the composite fabric of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the fabric. 2... Inner skin layer, 3... Outer skin layer, 4...
Core layer, 5... laminate layer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Consists of a laminate layer formed by a thin porous core layer sandwiched between the inner and outer skin layers and laminated to both skin layers, which acts as a heat insulating layer, and the inner and outer surfaces of the inner skin layer and the outer skin. A composite material characterized in that the inner surface of the layer is metallized to give it reflective properties, and a black colored coating layer is provided on the outer surface of the outer skin layer to give it solar energy absorbing properties. Fabric.