US2465996A - Yarn and fabric - Google Patents

Description

W 1949. G. BLOQH 2,465,9

YARN AND FABRIC Filed Oct. 4, 1946 "L /3 F/IBR/C INVENTOR. GODFALY 54 0019 ATTO/P/VfKS Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE YARN AND FABRIC Godfrey Bloch, New York, N. Y.

Application October 4, 1946, Serial No. 701,270

' Claims.

This invention relates to yarn and fabric and fabric-making materials and more especially to materials composed of synthetic textile fibers, such as fibers composed of cellulose acetate, saran (vinylidene chloride), vinyon, nylon, etc.

Fabrics produced from yarns composed of synthetic fibers have heretofore been subject to the objectionable feature that after washing they have lost a good deal of such warmth as they have. Initially some fabrics have had considerable dead air space which has been responsible forthe warmth characteristic of the goods. The air space has resulted from the position of the fibers in spun yarn accentuated by the crimp of the artificial fibers sometimes heightened by special crimping processes during manufacture of the fibers. However, upon washing, the fibers slip relative to each other despite their crimp and move into closer relation to each other, thereby reducing or largely eliminating the dead air space with consequent loss of warmth by the fabric, Loftiness of feel and resilience may also be lost thereby.

An object of thisinvention is to prevent the slippage of artificial fibers relative to each other in a fabric made up of yarns composed of such filaments whereby the fabric will retain its warmth characteristic.

Acording to this invention, artificial fibers, preferably crimped and of resilient structure, are spun into yarns in the normal manner, and insofar as the spinning operation lessens the crimp, the crimp is somewhat restored by wetting (as in subsequent finishing operations) as is now known, or according to the chemistry may be restored by extreme changes in temperature. Subsequently, the yarn is treated for the purpose of plasticizing the filaments sufficiently that they will become interjoined at their interstices and remain interjoined after treatment. Preferably, the treatment of the fibers may be effected by radiant heat, such as short wave length heat or by what is sometimes colloquially called electronic annealing, which will heat the interior of the yarns and fibers as well as the intersections thereof and surface heat is dissipated by air if desired. Such heating may be of the type described in the trade as induction heating, or dielectric heating, but it is here meant to include all forms of device: or methods which transfer energy in sufficient quantity to elevate the temperature to accomplish the purpose. Other treatments for effecting bonding of the fibers at intersections thereof may be made use of. In this way, slippage of the fibers relativeto each other is effectively prevented and the dead air spaces formed in the yarn by reason of the crimps in the fibers are retained in the yarn after washing. Conequently, fabrics made from yarn produced in accordance with the invention retain their warmth after washing. Reliance may sometimes be placed on the manner of spinning in whole or in part rather than on crimp in fibers. For instance, fibers spun on the wool system will by that fact alone be so placed as to enclose large air content. Even in cotton spinning, variations in procedure may enhance air content.

The yarn thus produced has many of the desirable characterictics of wool yarn and in many rezpects is an equivalent of or a substitute for wool yarn. As such, it may be used in place of wool yarn for weaving or knitting with excellent results. Like wool yarn, the yarn of this invention may constitute a fibrous air trap in which purposely distorted artificialfibers enclose within the yarn relatively large bodies of air. The

fibers are fastened to each other at least at some of their points of contact whereby their arrangement is maintained irrespective of cleaning and flexing of wear so that the air content will be maintained in the yarn.

The drawing in Fig. 1 illustrates on a greatly enlarged scale and somewhat schematically a section of yarn embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view on-an enlarged scale and diagrammatically of fabric embodying yarn of this invention. In Fig. 1, the yarn as a whole is designated by thereference character Ill and is composed of crimped fibers ll interjoined at at least some of their point: of contact. Bonds between contacting fibers are indicated by the reference character l2. By reason of the interconnection of the fibers slippage thereof relative to each other is effectively prevented and the advantages above pointed out result.

The invention is not limited to the use of thermoplastic fibers as other fibers may be used providing they are effectively bonded together. The action of bonding the fibers to. each other may be applied to a woven (or conceivably knitted) fabric as well as to yarns.- In that case, the binding of the croisings of one yarn over another will cause a loss of flexibility. Toward restoring some lost flexibility, the fabrics (as well as certain yarns) may be subjected to mechanical flexing which will restore flexibility by breaking some adhesions and loosening others. A machine like a button machine may be used.

This invention may be made use of in blends aeeaeee with fibers other. thansynthetic iibers. l 'or ex-v ample, natural wool might be used; in part ior its own qualities and viscose rayon or cotton might be admixed-because of the fact that they have moisture absorption.

The yarn above described may be advantageously used in the production of wrinkle-resistant iabric suitable for summer wear, similar to the so-called 'v'tropical worsteds." For this purpose, yarns Ila (Fig. 2) having-bonded artificial fibers are hard twisted in the known manner and then a fabric I3 is woven therefrom in theusual manner; Such fabric-has all the advantages of a tropical worsted with respect to wrinkle resistance and constitutes a very'satisfactory summerwear material.v I

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's co-pe'nding application, Serial No. 530,938 filed April 13, 1944, now abandoned.

In the claims .crimped" is meant'toinclude any deviation in fibers from a straight line, however brought about, 'sufiicient toaccompiish the purposes 01' this invention. I claim: v 1. As a substitute for wool, a product composed of purposely distorted artificial filamentary fibers spun into yarn form and having multiple points of contact, the distortion of the fibers forming myriad air pockets, said fibers being fixed togather at points of intersection to maintain the fibers in their original positions and prevent relative movement thereof thereby retaining said air pockets in the yarn.

2. As a substitute for wool, a product comprising-crimped. artificial-staple fibers in yarn form and having multiple points-oi contact and the crimp forming myriad air pockets, said fibers being integraliyfinterioinedat points .of intersection to maintain their fibers inTelative position and :prevent movement therefrom, thereby retaining said air pockets in the yarn.

1 .3. A product composed of crimped and resilient artificial filaments in yarn form, the filaments having multiple'points oi-contact and the crimp forming myriad air pockets comparable to those contained in woolyarn. said filaments being fixed together at points of intersection to maintain the fibers'intheir position andprevent relative movement'thereoi', thereby retaining-said air pockets in the ram. 1 a

4.- Fabric made from yarn-according to claim 2.

5. Fabric made from yarns accordingto claim .u -2 from, which some of the air content has been eliminated by hard twisting of the yarns whereby to produce a resilient-fabric.

- GODFREY-moon.

REFERENCES I The following references. are otz recordinfthe' file of this patent: v v

' STATES PATENTS 7 Number 7 Name. Date v arrests Har 'Qct. 3,1939 2,253,999 Wallach Aug, 9, 1941

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