US20200138124A1

US20200138124A1 - Clothing item

Info

Publication number: US20200138124A1
Application number: US16/620,159
Authority: US
Inventors: Kanako ANDO; Akane HIROSE; Ayaki JO
Original assignee: Okamoto Corp
Current assignee: Okamoto Corp
Priority date: 2017-06-08
Filing date: 2018-05-15
Publication date: 2020-05-07
Also published as: JPWO2018225464A1; CN110831450A; WO2018225464A1

Abstract

Legwear (100) includes a heat conducting and heat transferring region (2) containing a metallic yarn, and the heat conducting and heat transferring region (2) is provided so as to conduct heat from a high temperature area of a body (50) to a low temperature area thereof.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a clothing item such as legwear.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there have been proposed various techniques for adjusting the temperature of a clothing item worn on a body. For example, Patent Literature 1 describes heating socks that heat a conductive region when a current is applied from a power source. The heating socks can warm the region upon the application of a current. Patent Literature 2 describes socks made from a fiber material in which polyurethane elastic fibers containing platinum and also containing at least alumina and silica as metal oxide are blended. Since infrared rays are emitted from the socks when the temperature of the metal oxide reaches about 30° C., it is possible to enhance the heat-retaining effect of the socks.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

[Patent Literature 1]
Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Application, Tokuhyo, No. 2007-529238 (Publication date: Oct. 25, 2007)
[Patent Literature 2]
Japanese Patent Application Publication, Tokukaihei, No. 6-41801 (Publication date: Feb. 15, 1994)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Unfortunately, the techniques described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, although they can warm the socks or retain heat of the socks, cannot release heat from a high temperature part of the socks when the temperature of the socks themselves becomes high. Therefore, there is the problem of a failure to decrease the temperature of a part of the socks which part has been increased in temperature, for example, when a person who is wearing the socks does an exercise, etc.
An aspect of the present invention has been attained in view of the above problem, and it is an object of the present invention to achieve heat transfer in a clothing item whereby wearing comfort of the clothing item is improved.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above problem, a clothing item in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes a heat conducting and heat transferring region containing a metallic yarn, the heat conducting and heat transferring region being provided so as to conduct heat from a high temperature area of a body to a low temperature area thereof.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

An aspect of the present invention brings about the effect of achieving heat transfer in a clothing item whereby wearing comfort of the clothing item is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(a) of FIG. 1 is a right side view of legwear in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and (b) of FIG. 1 is a plan view of the legwear illustrated in (a) of FIG. 1 when viewed from a sole side.

(a) of FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of a composite yarn of the legwear, and (b) of FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the composite yarn.

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing an example of a specific structure of the composite yarn.

FIG. 4 is a right side view illustrating a variation of the legwear.

(a) of FIG. 5 is a right side view illustrating another variation of the legwear, and (b) of FIG. 5 is a plan view of the legwear illustrated in (a) of FIG. 5 when viewed from a sole side.

(a) of FIG. 6 is a right side view illustrating still another variation of the legwear, and (b) of FIG. 6 is a plan view of the legwear illustrated in (a) of FIG. 6 when viewed from a sole side.

(a) of FIG. 7 is a right side view illustrating yet another variation of the legwear, and (b) of FIG. 7 is a plan view of the legwear illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7 when viewed from a sole side.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment

1

The following will describe Embodiment 1 of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. Note that, in Embodiment 1, legwear to be worn on a leg 50 (body) will be described as an example of application of the present invention. However, the present invention is applicable not only to legwear, but also to a clothing item to be worn directly on a body. Note also that the following description assumes that legwear 100 is formed by knitting. However, the legwear 100 can be formed not only by knitting but also by weaving.
The legwear 100 is capable of transferring heat from a high temperature area of a body to a low temperature area thereof by virtue of heat conductance of a metal wire. In other words, the legwear 100 produces the effect of cooling a warm portion inside the legwear 100, while warming a cold portion inside the legwear 100. The legwear 100 is also capable of transferring heat from the body to the metal wire or from the metal wire to the body by virtue of heat conductance of the metal wire.
The metal wire is preferably a coated metal wire. For example, the use of an enameled metal wire achieves high washing resistance.
(Configuration of Legwear)
(a) of FIG. 1 is a right side view of legwear 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention. (b) of FIG. 1 is a plan view of the legwear 100 illustrated in (a) of FIG. 1 when viewed from a sole side of the legwear 100. The legwear 100 (clothing item) includes a main body 1 and a heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 (see (a) of FIG. 1 and (b) of FIG. 1).
A main body 1 forms a part of the legwear 100 other than the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2. The main body 1 is obtained by, for example, knitting in a predetermined size and in a predetermined shape, with use of any desired yarn selected as appropriate, including, for example, (a) blended yarns obtained by spinning one or more of natural or acrylic fibers such as cotton, wool, and acrylic and (b) yarns obtained by mixing or adhering ceramic with or to those blended yarns.
The main body 1 includes a foot section 20 and a leg section 30. The foot section 20 serves to cover a foot area side, of a leg to be inserted into the legwear 100, extending from an ankle (ankle area) to a toe. The foot section 20 has a toe part 21 which serves to cover a toe of the leg to be inserted. The toe part 21 is knitted at one end thereof so as to be in the shape of a bag. The leg section 30 serves to cover a lower leg area side, of the leg to be inserted into the legwear 100, above the ankle. The leg section 30 is knitted with an opening 31 at one end thereof so as to be adjacent to the foot section 20 at another end thereof. For example, the legwear 100 can be a knee-high sock that has a leg section 30 which extends just below a knee or can be a short sock that has a short leg section 30.
(Heat Conducting and Heat Transferring Region)
The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 is a strip-shaped region which (i) is provided in the main body 1 and (ii) contains a metallic yarn 13. Further, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 is provided so as to conduct heat from a high temperature area (part having a high temperature) of a body to a low temperature area (part having a low temperature) thereof.
Specifically, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 is knitted with a composite yarn 10 that includes the metallic yarn 13 as a core yarn 11. The composite yarn 10 will be detailed later. Further, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 1 and in (b) of FIG. 1, is formed in the shape of a ring at a position close to the toe part 21 so as to extend from a sole side to an instep side. In other words, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 is arranged so as to extend at least from a sole side region of a foot to an instep side region of the foot. The sole side region of the foot is a region visible when the foot is viewed from the sole side. The instep side region of the foot is a region other than the sole side region of the foot. Note that the sole side region of the foot is a region corresponding to a part of the legwear 100 where the temperature of the foot becomes high, while the instep side region of the foot is a region corresponding to a part of the legwear 100 where the temperature of the foot becomes low. Note also that the “region visible when a foot is viewed from a sole side” is, for example, a region illustrated in (b) of FIG. 1.
The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 includes the metallic yarn 13 and is thus higher in heat conductance and heat transference than the main body 1. Further, the metallic yarn 13 of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 is provided in the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2, without interruption, from a portion contacting a relatively high temperature part of a foot to a part contacting a relatively low temperature part of a foot. As such, heat of the foot is thermally transferred to the metallic yarn 13 in the portion, of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2, contacting the relatively high temperature part of the foot. Then, heat thermally transferred to the metallic yarn 13 is conducted from the portion contacting the relatively high temperature part of the foot to the portion contacting the relatively low temperature part of the foot, and heat of the metallic yarn 13 in the portion contacting the relatively low temperature part of the foot is thermally transferred to the foot. In other words, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2, thanks to its heat conductance and heat transference, can transfer heat from a high temperature part of a foot to a low temperature part thereof. That is, the legwear 100 can transfer heat generated from a foot (body) to a low temperature part through the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2. Thus, the legwear 100 transfers heat of the sole side having gotten hot, for example, after an exercise, such as running or soccer, to an instep (foot instep area) side of the foot, so that the temperature of the sole side of the foot can be decreased. When the foot leaves the ground at each step, more weight tends to be placed on a toe base area (ball area; toe base grounding area) than on the other areas of the sole side of the foot, and frictional heat is likely to generate between the toe base area and a bottom of a shoe. Thus, by arranging the heat conducting and heat transferring region over the toe base area, it is possible to efficiently release heat of the sole side.
Note that the width (thickness) of the strip of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 can be set to any value, and the heat conductance and heat transference of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 increases with increase in width of the strip.
(Configuration of Composite Yarn)
(a) of FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the composite yarn 10 of the legwear 100, and (b) of FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the composite yarn 10. FIG. 3 is a photograph showing an example of a specific structure of the composite yarn 10 illustrated in (a) of FIG. 2. The composite yarn 10, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 2 and in (b) of FIG. 2, includes a core yarn 11 and a cover 12 (cover fiber).
The core yarn 11 is a metallic yarn bundle obtained by tying a large number of metallic yarns 13 together. The metallic yarns 13 can be made of, for example, copper, aluminum, silver, or other metal. Each of the metallic yarns 13 is preferably a copper wire from the viewpoint of heat conductance and heat transference, corrosiveness, and other properties. The core yarn 11 can be composed of a single metallic yarn 13 or can be composed of a plurality of metallic yarns 13. The thickness of each of the metallic yarns 13 (copper wires) is preferably not more than 120 μm. In a case where the core yarn 11 is composed of a plurality of metallic yarns, for example, four copper wires, as shown in FIG. 3, the thickness of each of the metallic yarns is preferably in the order of 60 μm.
The core yarn 11 is covered with the cover 12. The cover 12 is made from a synthetic fiber, and the synthetic fiber is preferably a fiber having a high heat conductivity, such as polyethylene. Further, the cover 12 can be made from polyester from the viewpoint of cost.
The cover 12 is obtained by, for example, weft knitting (knitting) a knitting yarn which is composed of a plurality of filaments, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the core yarn 11 is covered (covering) with the cover 12. In such a case, a knitting yarn that makes up a knitted fabric is preferably not more than 40 denier. The use of a knitting yarn of not more than 40 denier enables the cover 12 to quickly conduct heat of the high temperature area to the core yarn 11. This improves the efficiency of transferring heat. In contrast, the use of a knitting yarn of more than 40 denier provides a relatively large distance between the high temperature area and the core yarn 11. This, in turn, provides a large space (air layer) between the high temperature area and the core yarn 11. Therefore, the use of the knitting yarn of more than 40 denier decreases the efficiency of transferring heat. A method by which the covering is done by the cover 12 is not limited to knitting. To facilitate woven knitting or weaving of the metallic yarn(s) 13, the cover 12 is provided for the purpose of making a surface friction coefficient lower than that of the metallic yarn(s) 13 alone and for the purpose of preventing the metallic yarn(s) 13 from being plastically deformed. In addition, by covering the metallic yarn 13 with the cover 12, it is possible to improve the texture of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2.
Weft-knitting the synthetic fiber of the cover 12 provides a high coverage of the cover 12 with respect to the core yarn 11. As a result, it is possible to prevent the core yarn 11 from sticking out of the cover 12 through a gap formed in the cover 12. Disadvantageously, the use of an excessively thin knitting yarn provides a thin cover 12 with a small thickness and thus may lead to a failure to prevent the core yarn 11 from being plastically deformed. The use of such an excessively thin knitting yarn, which has a low strength, also may cause the core yarn 11 to stick out of the cover 12. Therefore, it is preferable to use a knitting yarn of not less than 20 denier.
Further, in the case of the weft knitting, stitches are formed such that the cover 12 is wrapped around the core yarn 11 extending in a longitudinal direction. This allows the cover 12 to tighten the core yarn 11 relatively strongly and thus allows the cover 12 to have a high degree of contact (tightening force) with respect to the core yarn 11. By adjusting the intensity of a tension of the cover 12 in carrying out knitting with the composite yarn 10, it is possible to knit the cover 12 so that the cover 12 is suitably in close contact with the core yarn 11. As a result, it is possible to improve heat conductance and heat transference of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2.
Further, in a case where the cover 12 is obtained by melting, it is possible to increase permeation (degree of permeation) of the melted cover 12 through the inside of a metallic yarn bundle and increase the degree of contact between the metallic yarn bundle and the cover 12.
In contrast, in a case where the cover 12 is obtained by weft knitting with use of a synthetic fiber, it is possible to prevent damage to the core yarn 11. This is because the fastening force of the weft-knitted cover 12 is not stronger than a fastening force applied by winding a synthetic fiber directly on the core yarn 11.
[Variations]
The following will describe legwears 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D, which are variations of the legwear 100, with reference to FIG. 4, (a) and (b) of FIG. 5, (a) and (b) of FIG. 6, and (a) and (b) of FIG. 7. FIG. 4 is a right side view illustrating the legwear 100A which is a variation of the legwear 100. (a) of FIG. 5 is a right side view illustrating the legwear 100B which is another variation of the legwear 100. (b) of FIG. 5 is a plan view of the legwear 100B illustrated in (a) of FIG. 5 when viewed from a sole side of the legwear 100B. (a) of FIG. 6 is a right side view illustrating the legwear 100C which is still another variation of the legwear 100. (b) of FIG. 6 is a plan view of the legwear 100C illustrated in (a) of FIG. 6 when viewed from a sole side of the legwear 100C. (a) of FIG. 7 is a right side view illustrating the legwear 100D which is yet another variation of the legwear 100. (b) of FIG. 7 is a plan view of the legwear 100D illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7 when viewed from a sole side of the legwear 100D.
The legwear 100A is configured in a similar manner to the legwear 100, except that the legwear 100A includes a heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 a instead of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2. The legwear 100A is a knee-high sock that has a leg section 30 which extends just below a knee. The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 a is formed in the shape of a strip and in a spiral manner so as to extend from a sole side region of a foot, at a position close to a toe part 21 of a foot section 20, toward a position close to an opening 31 of the leg section 30. In other words, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 a is arranged so as to extend from a high temperature area of a leg to a low temperature area thereof.
In the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 a, a temperature difference between a relatively high temperature part and a relatively low temperature part increases with increasing distance from the relatively high temperature part. Since the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 a is longer in length than the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 a has a larger temperature difference between a high temperature part and a low temperature part, and thus is more likely to effect heat transfer. As a result, in a case where the temperature of a sole side of a foot becomes high due to, for example, an exercise, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 a allows heat of the sole side of the foot to be quickly transferred to a side of the opening 31.
Conversely, in a case where the temperature of a toe side of the foot becomes low in winter or in other situation, it is possible to transfer heat of the opening 31 side warmed by sunlight, by body heat, or by other energy to a side of a toe part 21 which is likely to be cold since the toe part 21 corresponds to a distal area of a human body. In other words, the use of the legwear 100A enables cooling of a high temperature portion of the legwear 100A and warming of a low temperature portion of the legwear 100A.
The legwear 100B is configured in a similar manner to the legwear 100, except that the legwear 100A includes a heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b instead of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2. The legwear 100B is a knee-high sock that has a leg section 30 which extends just below a knee. The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 5 and in (b) of FIG. 5, includes a sole part 2 b 1 and side parts 2 b 2.
The sole part 2 b 1 is formed in the shape of a strip at a position (i.e., a toe base area) close to the toe part 21 so as to extend from an inner side (big toe side) of the instep to an outer side (little toe side) of the instep through the sole side region of the foot. The side parts 2 b 2 are formed in two places along an inner side of a lower leg area and an outer side thereof. The side part 2 b 2 formed along the inner side of the lower leg area extends in the shape of a strip from an inner end of the sole part 2 b 1 to the opening 31. The side part 2 b 2 formed along the outer side of the lower leg area extends in the shape of a strip from an outer end of the sole part 2 b 1 to the opening 31. In other words, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b is arranged so as to extend from a high temperature area of a leg to a low temperature area thereof. The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b is arranged so as to transfer heat particularly from the toe base area, where frictional heat generates when the foot leaves the ground during, for example, walking, to an ankle area, which should be prevented from getting cold.
Since the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b is longer in length than the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b is more likely to effect heat transfer. As a result, in a case where the temperature of a sole side of a foot becomes high due to, for example, an exercise, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b allows heat of the sole side of the foot to be quickly transferred to the opening 31 side.
The legwear 100C is configured in a similar manner to the legwear 100, except that the legwear 100C includes a heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 c instead of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2. The legwear 100C is a short sock that has a leg section 30 which extends up to an ankle. The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 c, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 6 and in (b) of FIG. 6, includes a sole part 2 c 1, side parts 2 c 2, and a rear part 2 c 3.
The rear part 2 c 3 is formed on an Achilles' tendon side of the legwear 100C at a position close to a malleolus and formed in the shape of a strip such that the rear part 2 c 3 extends from an inner side of a foot to an outer side of the foot so as to be substantially parallel to the ground during wearing of the legwear 100C. The side parts 2 c 2 are formed in two places along an inner side (big toe side) of the instep and an outer side (little toe side) of the instep. The side part 2 c 2 formed along the inner side of the instep extends in the shape of a strip from an inner end of the rear part 2 c 3 to the toe part 21. The side part 2 c 2 formed along the outer side of the instep extends in the shape of a strip from an outer end of the rear part 2 c 3 to the toe part 21.
The sole part 2 c 1 is formed in the shape of a strip at a position corresponding to a heel (heel part) or at a position close to the heel so as to extend from an inner side (big toe side) of the instep to an outer side (little toe side) of the instep through the sole side region. The inner end of the sole part 2 c 1 is connected to the side part 2 c 2 formed along the inner side of the instep, while the outer end of the sole part 2 c 1 is connected to the side part 2 c 2 formed along the outer side of the instep. In other words, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 c is arranged so as to extend from a high temperature area of a leg to a low temperature area thereof.
Thus, even in a case where the temperature of a heel side (heel grounding area) of a sole side of a foot becomes high, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 c allows heat of the sole side of the foot to be quickly transferred to the instep side or to the opening 31 side.
The legwear 100D is configured in a similar manner to the legwear 100, except that the legwear 100D includes a heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 d instead of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2. The legwear 100D is a short sock that has a leg section 30 which extends up to an ankle.
The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 d, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7 and in (b) of FIG. 7, extends, on a sole side, from a position near a base of a third toe to a heel, and further extends along an Achilles' tendon on an opening 31 side.
Thus, in a case where the temperature of a sole side of a foot becomes high, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 d allows heat of the sole side of the foot to be quickly transferred to the opening 31 side. The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b is arranged so as to transfer heat particularly from the toe base area, where frictional heat generates when the foot leaves the ground during, for example, walking, to an ankle area, which should be prevented from getting cold, passing through a heel area, where frictional heat generates when the foot contacts with the ground.

Embodiment 2

The following will describe legwear 100E in accordance with Embodiment 2 of the present invention with reference to FIG. 1. The legwear 100E is configured in a similar manner to the legwear 100, except that the legwear 100E includes a heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e instead of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2.
In the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e, a cover 12 of a composite yarn 10 contains thermoplastic fibers. Further, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e is formed by melting the cover 12. Melting the cover 12 eliminates an air layer between a metallic yarn 13 and the cover 12 and makes it possible to bring the whole cover 12 and the metallic yarn 13 into close contact with each other. This allows the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e to have improved heat conductance and heat transference and speed up heat transfer.
The legwear 100E includes a main body 1 and the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e, wherein the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e and the main body 1 are seamlessly and integrally formed in one plane. By heat-treating the composite yarn 10 located in an area corresponding to the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e, the legwear 100E is obtained in which the main body 1 and the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e are seamlessly and integrally formed. Thus, it is possible to form the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e in a desired place of the legwear 100E without adding any external member. This makes it possible to avoid any problem caused by the addition of the external member.
Further, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e is preferably such that the thermoplastic fibers are completely melted with no fibers left, and the melted thermoplastic fibers are fused with the core yarn so as to be wrapped around a yarn at a boundary between the main body 1 and the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e. This provides more firm connection at a boundary between the main body 1 and the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e.
Further, by melting and processing a whole surface (front surface and back surface) of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e, it is possible to form a planar heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e. This allows the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e to have a large area. As a result, it is possible to improve heat conductance and heat transference of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but can be altered by a skilled person in the art within the scope of the claims. The present invention also encompasses, in its technical scope, any embodiment derived by combining technical means disclosed in differing embodiments.
Aspects of the present invention can also be expressed as follows:
A clothing item in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes a heat conducting and heat transferring region containing a metallic yarn, the heat conducting and heat transferring region being provided so as to conduct heat from a high temperature area of a body to a low temperature area thereof.
Here, the term “heat conducting and heat transferring region” is a region which transfers heat from a body and conducts the transferred heat.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to efficiently transfer heat generated in a high temperature area to a low temperature area by means of the heat conducting and heat transferring region which contains a metallic yarn having a high heat conductance and heat transference. As a result, it is possible to achieve temperature equalization. This makes it possible to realize a clothing item with improved wearing comfort.
The clothing item is preferably configured such that the heat conducting and heat transferring region is formed from a composite yarn that includes (i) the metallic yarn and (ii) a cover fiber with which the metallic yarn is covered.
According to the above configuration, the composite yarn with the metallic yarn covered with the cover fiber is used. Thus, the composite yarn is lower in surface friction coefficient than a metallic yarn alone. This makes it easy to knit or weave the heat conducting and heat transferring region. Moreover, since the cover fiber can prevent plastic deformation of the metal fiber, the shape of the clothing item is easily maintained. In addition, since the metallic yarn does not touch the skin directly, it is possible to improve the feel of the clothing item during wearing of the clothing item.
The clothing item is preferably configured such that the composite yarn includes a plurality of metallic yarns and the cover fiber, and the plurality of metallic yarns are covered with the cover fiber. According to the above configuration, surface area of heat conduction and heat transfer increases, and heat conductance and heat transference is improved.
The clothing item is preferably configured such that the cover fiber is a knitted fabric which is knitted in continuous stitches. According to the above configuration, it is possible to improve ease of knitting of the composite yarn during knitting with use of a knitting machine, and it is possible to uniformly cover the metallic yarns.
The clothing item is preferably configured such that a knitting yarn used for the knitted fabric is not more than 40 denier. According to the above configuration, it is possible to enhance heat conductance and heat transference of the heat conducting and heat transferring region.
The clothing item is preferably configured such that the heat conducting and heat transferring region is formed by melting the cover fiber. According to the above configuration, the heat conducting and heat transferring region is formed by melting the cover fiber with which the metallic yarn(s) is/are covered. This makes it possible to bring the metallic yarn(s) and the cover fiber into close contact with each other and enhance heat conductance and heat transference of the heat conducting and heat transferring region.
The clothing item is preferably legwear. According to the above configuration, it is possible to realize legwear with improved wearing comfort.
The clothing item is preferably configured such that the heat conducting and heat transferring region is arranged so as to extend at least from a sole side region of a foot to an instep side region of the foot, wherein the sole side region of the foot is a region visible when the foot is viewed from a sole side, and the instep side region of the foot is a region other than the sole side region of the foot. Generally, in a case where, for example, an exercise is performed, the temperature of the sole side region of the foot becomes relatively higher than that of the instep side region of the foot. According to the above configuration, the heat conducting and heat transferring region is arranged so as to extend at least from the sole side region of the foot to the instep side region of the foot. This makes it possible to efficiently transfer heat from the sole side region (high temperature area) of the foot to the instep side region (low temperature area) of the foot.
The clothing item is preferably configured such that the heat conducting and heat transferring region arranged so as to correspond to the sole side region of the foot is arranged so as to cover at least one of (i) at least part of a heel grounding area of the foot and (ii) at least part of a toe base grounding area of the foot. According to the above configuration, it is possible to efficiently release frictional heat that generates between (a) the heel grounding area or the toe base grounding area and (b) a ground plane during a walk or an exercise.
The clothing item is preferably configured such that the heat conducting and heat transferring region arranged so as to correspond to the instep side region of the foot is arranged so as to extend from an instep area of the foot to an ankle area of the foot. According to the above configuration, heat generated in the sole side region of the foot is conducted to the ankle area through the instep area. This makes it possible to reduce a burden on the ankle area due to cold and enhance the effect of a walk or of an exercise.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

- 2, 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 e: Heat conducting and heat transferring region
- 10: Composite yarn
- 12: Cover (cover fiber)
- 13: Metallic yarn
- 50: Leg (body)
- 100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E: Legwear (clothing item)

Claims

1. A clothing item comprising:

a heat conducting and heat transferring region containing a metallic yarn,

the heat conducting and heat transferring region being provided so as to conduct heat from a high temperature area of a body to a low temperature area thereof.

2. The clothing item according to claim 1, wherein the heat conducting and heat transferring region is formed from a composite yarn that includes (i) the metallic yarn and (ii) a cover fiber with which the metallic yarn is covered.

3. The clothing item according to claim 2, wherein the composite yarn includes a plurality of metallic yarns and the cover fiber, and the plurality of metallic yarns are covered with the cover fiber.

4. The clothing item according to claim 2, wherein the cover fiber is a knitted fabric which is knitted in continuous stitches.

5. The clothing item according to claim 4, wherein a knitting yarn used for the knitted fabric is a synthetic fiber of not more than 40 denier.

6. The clothing item according to claim 2, wherein the heat conducting and heat transferring region is formed by melting the cover fiber.

7. The clothing item according to claim 1, wherein the clothing item is legwear.

8. The clothing item according to claim 7, wherein the heat conducting and heat transferring region is arranged so as to extend at least from a sole side region of a foot to an instep side region of the foot, wherein the sole side region of the foot is a region visible when the foot is viewed from a sole side, and the instep side region of the foot is a region other than the sole side region of the foot.

9. The clothing item according to claim 8, wherein the heat conducting and heat transferring region arranged so as to correspond to the sole side region of the foot is arranged so as to cover at least one of (i) at least part of a heel grounding area of the foot and (ii) at least part of a toe base grounding area of the foot.

10. The clothing item according to claim 8, wherein the heat conducting and heat transferring region arranged so as to correspond to the instep side region of the foot is arranged so as to extend from an instep area of the foot to an ankle area of the foot.