WO2023235652A1 - Articles de tissu ayant des brins avec des couches internes et externes - Google Patents

Articles de tissu ayant des brins avec des couches internes et externes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023235652A1
WO2023235652A1 PCT/US2023/066536 US2023066536W WO2023235652A1 WO 2023235652 A1 WO2023235652 A1 WO 2023235652A1 US 2023066536 W US2023066536 W US 2023066536W WO 2023235652 A1 WO2023235652 A1 WO 2023235652A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fabric
yam
layer
exterior
strands
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2023/066536
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kristen L CRETELLA
Seul Bi KIM
Original Assignee
Apple Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Apple Inc. filed Critical Apple Inc.
Publication of WO2023235652A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023235652A1/fr

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Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/40Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the structure of the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/47Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the structure of the yarns or threads multicomponent, e.g. blended yarns or threads
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D02YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
    • D02GCRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS
    • D02G3/00Yarns or threads, e.g. fancy yarns; Processes or apparatus for the production thereof, not otherwise provided for
    • D02G3/02Yarns or threads characterised by the material or by the materials from which they are made
    • D02G3/04Blended or other yarns or threads containing components made from different materials
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D02YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
    • D02GCRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS
    • D02G3/00Yarns or threads, e.g. fancy yarns; Processes or apparatus for the production thereof, not otherwise provided for
    • D02G3/22Yarns or threads characterised by constructional features, e.g. blending, filament/fibre
    • D02G3/34Yarns or threads having slubs, knops, spirals, loops, tufts, or other irregular or decorative effects, i.e. effect yarns
    • D02G3/346Yarns or threads having slubs, knops, spirals, loops, tufts, or other irregular or decorative effects, i.e. effect yarns with coloured effects, i.e. by differential dyeing process
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D02YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
    • D02GCRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS
    • D02G3/00Yarns or threads, e.g. fancy yarns; Processes or apparatus for the production thereof, not otherwise provided for
    • D02G3/22Yarns or threads characterised by constructional features, e.g. blending, filament/fibre
    • D02G3/36Cored or coated yarns or threads
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D02YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
    • D02GCRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS
    • D02G3/00Yarns or threads, e.g. fancy yarns; Processes or apparatus for the production thereof, not otherwise provided for
    • D02G3/44Yarns or threads characterised by the purpose for which they are designed
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D02YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
    • D02GCRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS
    • D02G3/00Yarns or threads, e.g. fancy yarns; Processes or apparatus for the production thereof, not otherwise provided for
    • D02G3/44Yarns or threads characterised by the purpose for which they are designed
    • D02G3/441Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/50Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/507Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads magnetic
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/50Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/533Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads antistatic; electrically conductive
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/50Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/54Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads coloured
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/50Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/547Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads with optical functions other than colour, e.g. comprising light-emitting fibres
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/50Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/587Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads adhesive; fusible
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D9/00Open-work fabrics
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04BKNITTING
    • D04B1/00Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes
    • D04B1/14Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06BTREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS, GASES OR VAPOURS
    • D06B11/00Treatment of selected parts of textile materials, e.g. partial dyeing
    • D06B11/0093Treatments carried out during or after a regular application of treating materials, in order to get differentiated effects on the textile material
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06CFINISHING, DRESSING, TENTERING OR STRETCHING TEXTILE FABRICS
    • D06C23/00Making patterns or designs on fabrics
    • D06C23/02Making patterns or designs on fabrics by singeing, teasing, shearing, etching or brushing
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10BINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2401/00Physical properties
    • D10B2401/16Physical properties antistatic; conductive
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10BINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2401/00Physical properties
    • D10B2401/18Physical properties including electronic components
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10BINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2401/00Physical properties
    • D10B2401/20Physical properties optical

Definitions

  • This relates generally to fabric-based items and, more particularly, to fabric-based items formed from strands of material.
  • fabric-based items may not offer desired features.
  • fabric-based items may include fabric that is completely uniform. The use of uniform fabric may make it difficult to satisfy design and functionality goals when forming a fabric-based item.
  • a fabric-based item may include fabric formed from intertwined strands of material.
  • the strands of material may include interior and external layers, such as an interior yam and an exterior yam.
  • the external layer may surround the internal layer.
  • the layer of fabric may have first and second portions. Strands in the first portions of the layer of fabric may have some of the exterior yam removed to expose the interior yam. Strands in the second portion may have the exterior yam fully surrounding the interior yam.
  • the interior yam and exterior yam may have different properties.
  • the interior yam and exterior yam may have different colors, reflectivities, magnetic properties, conductivities, adhesiveness, and/or other desired properties.
  • the first portions may have different properties than the second portions.
  • strands such as conductive strands, or other equipment may be coupled to the exposed portions of the interior yam. Adjacent strands in a layer of fabric may have adjoining exposed portions to modify the properties of a region of the layer of fabric.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative fabric-based item in accordance with an embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of illustrative woven fabric in accordance with an embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of illustrative knit fabric in accordance with an embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram of illustrative equipment for forming a fabric-based item in accordance with an embodiment.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram of an illustrative strand with a core and an exterior layer surrounding the core in accordance with an embodiment.
  • FIG. 6A is a diagram of an illustrative strand having an etched portion in accordance with an embodiment.
  • FIG. 6B is a diagram of an illustrative strand having an etched portion of an exterior layer to reveal a core in accordance with an embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram of an illustrative strand have a core, an additional layer, and an exterior layer surrounding the core and the additional layer in accordance with an embodiment.
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram of an illustrative fabric that includes etched strands to form portions of the fabric with different appearances in accordance with an embodiment.
  • Items such as item 10 of FIG. 1 may be based on fabric.
  • Item 10 may be an electronic device or an accessory for an electronic device.
  • item 10 may be a portion of a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wrist-watch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a device embedded in eyeglasses or other equipment worn on a user’s head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a remote control, a navigation device, an embedded system such as a system in which fabric-based item 10 is mounted in a kiosk, in an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle, other electronic equipment, or may be equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices, or may be an accessory for one or more of the forgoing devices.
  • item 10 may be a removable external case for electronic equipment, may be a strap, may be a tag, may be a wrist band or head band, may be a removable cover for a device, may be a case or bag that has straps or that has other structures to receive and carry electronic equipment and other items, may be a necklace or arm band, may be a wallet, sleeve, pocket, or other structure into which electronic equipment or other items may be inserted, may be part of a chair, sofa, or other seating (e.g., cushions or other seating structures), may be part of an item of clothing or other wearable item (e.g., a hat, belt, wrist band, headband, sock, glove, shirt, pants, etc.), or may be any other suitable fabric-based item.
  • a hat, belt, wrist band, headband, sock, glove, shirt, pants, etc. may be any other suitable fabric-based item.
  • Item 10 may include intertwined strands of material that form fabric 12.
  • Fabric 12 may form all or part of a housing wall or other layer in an electronic device, may form internal structures in an electronic device, or may form other fabric-based structures.
  • Item 10 may be soft (e.g., item 10 may have a fabric surface that yields to a light touch), may have a rigid feel (e.g., the surface of item 10 may be formed from a stiff fabric), may be coarse, may be smooth, may have ribs or other patterned textures, and/or may be formed as part of a device that has portions formed from non-fabric structures of plastic, metal, glass, crystalline materials, ceramics, or other materials.
  • the strands of material in fabric 12 may be fibers, may be yams or other strands that have been formed by intertwining multiple filaments (multiple monofilaments) of material together, or may be other types of strands (e.g., tubing that carries fluids such as gases or liquids).
  • the strands may include extruded strands such as extruded monofilaments and yam formed from multiple extruded monofilaments.
  • Monofilaments for fabric 12 may include polymer monofilaments and/or other insulating monofilaments and/or may include bare wires and/or insulated wires.
  • Monofilaments formed from polymer cores with metal coatings (or coatings formed from other materials) and monofilaments formed from three or more layers (cores, intermediate layers, and one or more outer layers each of which may be insulating and/or conductive) may also be used.
  • Yams in fabric 12 may be formed from polymer, metal, glass, graphite, ceramic, natural materials as cotton or bamboo, or other organic and/or inorganic materials and combinations of these materials.
  • Conductive coatings such as metal coatings may be formed on non-conductive material.
  • plastic yarns and monofilaments in fabric 12 may be coated with metal to make them conductive.
  • Reflective coatings such as metal coatings may be applied to make yams and monofilaments reflective.
  • Yarns may be formed from a bundle of bare metal wires or metal wire intertwined with insulating monofilaments (as examples).
  • Strands of material may be intertwined to form fabric 12 using intertwining equipment such as weaving equipment, knitting equipment, or braiding equipment. Intertwined strands may, for example, form woven fabric, knit fabric, braided fabric, etc. Conductive strands and insulating strands may be woven, knit, braided, or otherwise intertwined to form contact pads that can be electrically coupled to conductive structures in item 10 such as the contact pads of an electrical component. The contacts of an electrical component may also be directly coupled to an exposed metal segment along the length of a conductive yam or monofilament.
  • intertwining equipment such as weaving equipment, knitting equipment, or braiding equipment.
  • Intertwined strands may, for example, form woven fabric, knit fabric, braided fabric, etc.
  • Conductive strands and insulating strands may be woven, knit, braided, or otherwise intertwined to form contact pads that can be electrically coupled to conductive structures in item 10 such as the
  • Conductive and insulating strands may also be woven, knit, or otherwise intertwined to form conductive paths.
  • the conductive paths may be used in forming signal paths (e.g., signal buses, power lines, etc.), may be used in forming part of a capacitive touch sensor electrode, a resistive touch sensor electrode, or other input-output device, or may be used in forming other patterned conductive structures.
  • Conductive structures in fabric 12 may be used in carrying power signals, digital signals, analog signals, sensor signals, control signals, data, input signals, output signals, or other suitable electrical signals.
  • Item 10 may include additional mechanical structures 14 such as polymer binder to hold strands in fabric 12 together, support structures such as frame members, housing structures (e.g., an electronic device housing), and other mechanical structures.
  • additional mechanical structures 14 such as polymer binder to hold strands in fabric 12 together, support structures such as frame members, housing structures (e.g., an electronic device housing), and other mechanical structures.
  • Circuitry 16 may be included in item 10.
  • Circuitry 16 may include electrical components that are coupled to fabric 12, electrical components that are housed within an enclosure formed by fabric 12, electrical components that are attached to fabric 12 using welds, solder joints, adhesive bonds (e.g., conductive adhesive bonds such as anisotropic conductive adhesive bonds or other conductive adhesive bonds), crimped connections, or other electrical and/or mechanical bonds.
  • Circuitry 16 may include metal structures for carrying current, electrical components such as integrated circuits, light-emitting diodes, sensors, controller circuitry for applying currents and/or magnetic fields to materials, electrically controlled devices for illuminating tubing and/or applying control signals to tubing or other strands, and other electrical devices.
  • Control circuitry in circuitry 16 may be used to control the operation of item 10 by controlling electrically controllable (electrically adjustable) components in circuitry 16 and may be used to support communications with item 18 and/or other devices.
  • Item 10 may interact with electronic equipment or other additional items 18. Items 18 may be attached to item 10 or item 10 and item 18 may be separate items that are configured to operate with each other (e.g., when one item is a case and the other is a device that fits within the case, etc.). Circuitry 16 may include antennas and other structures for supporting wireless communications with item 18. Item 18 may also interact with item 10 using a wired communications link or other connection that allows information to be exchanged.
  • item 18 may be an electronic device such as a cellular telephone, computer, or other portable electronic device and item 10 may form a cover, case, bag, or other structure that receives the electronic device in a pocket, an interior cavity, or other portion of item 10.
  • item 18 may be a wrist- watch device or other electronic device and item 10 may be a strap or other fabric-based item that is attached to item 18 (e.g., item 10 and item 18 may together form a fabric-based item such as a wristwatch with a strap).
  • item 10 may be an electronic device (e.g., a wearable device such as a wrist device, clothing, etc.), fabric 12 may be used in forming the electronic device, and additional items 18 may include accessories or other devices that interact with item 10.
  • Signal paths formed from conductive yams and monofilaments e.g., insulated and bare wires may be used to route signals in item 10 and/or item(s) 18.
  • the fabric that makes up item 10 may be formed from strands that are intertwined using any suitable intertwining equipment.
  • fabric 12 may be woven fabric formed using a weaving machine.
  • fabric may have a plain weave, a basket weave, a satin weave, a twill weave, or variations of these weaves, may be a three- dimensional woven fabric, or may be other suitable fabric.
  • fabric 12 is knit or braided.
  • FIG. 2 A cross-sectional side view of illustrative woven fabric 12 is shown in FIG. 2.
  • fabric 12 may include strands 20 such as warp strands 20A and weft strands 20B.
  • strands 20 such as warp strands 20A and weft strands 20B.
  • fabric 12 has a single layer of woven strands 20. Multi-layer fabric constructions may be used for fabric 12 if desired.
  • fabric 12 may be a knit fabric.
  • fabric 12 has a single layer of knit strands 20 that form horizontally extending rows of interlocking loops (courses 22) and vertically extending wales 24.
  • Other types of knit fabric may be used in item 10, if desired.
  • Fabric-based item 10 may include non-fabric materials (e.g., structures such as structures 14 that are formed from plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, crystalline materials such as sapphire, etc.). These materials may be formed using molding operations, extrusion, machining, laser processing, and other fabrication techniques. In some configurations, some or all of fabric-based item 10 may include one or more layers of material. The layers in item 10 may include layers of polymer, metal, glass, fabric, adhesive, crystalline materials, ceramic, substrates on which components have been mounted, patterned layers of material, layers of material containing patterned metal traces, thin-film devices such as transistors, and/or other layers.
  • non-fabric materials e.g., structures such as structures 14 that are formed from plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, crystalline materials such as sapphire, etc.
  • These materials may be formed using molding operations, extrusion, machining, laser processing, and other fabrication techniques.
  • some or all of fabric-based item 10 may include one or more layers of material.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram of illustrative equipment that may be used in forming fabricbased item 10.
  • Intertwining equipment such as tool 40 may include equipment such as braiding equipment, knitting equipment, and weaving equipment.
  • Tool 40 may be used in forming fabric 12, strands in fabric 12, or other suitable intertwined strands.
  • the strands formed by tool 40 may include strands with various properties.
  • strands 20 may include strands having a core, such as an interior yam, and an exterior layer, such as an exterior yam that surrounds the core.
  • the core and exterior layer may have different properties, such as different colors, reflectivities, conductivities, magnetic properties, etc.
  • tool 40 may include sensors such as sensors 30.
  • Sensors 30 may monitor strands 20 during intertwining (e.g., when dispensing strands 20 into a weaving machine, into a knitting machining, into a braiding machine, etc.). For example, sensors 30 may monitor the optical properties of strands 20, may monitor the diameter of strands 20, may monitor for the presence of magnetic or conductive particles in strands 20, and/or may otherwise monitor strands 20 along their lengths as strands 20 are being incorporated into fabric 12. If desired, markers may be added to the strands during strand formation to assist sensors 30 in monitoring strands 20 during fabric formation. In this way, feedback adjustments may be made to tool 30 to ensure that desired portions of strands 20 are incorporated into desired locations in fabric 12.
  • Cutting equipment such as trimming tool 34 (e.g., a mechanical cutting tool, a laser cutting tool, or other equipment for cutting yam) may be used in cutting fabric 12.
  • trimming tool 34 e.g., a mechanical cutting tool, a laser cutting tool, or other equipment for cutting yam
  • tool 34 may be used in cutting away undesired portions of fabric 12 and/or portions of strands in fabric 12.
  • Heating tool 32 may be used in applying heat to tubing and other strands of material in fabric 12.
  • Heating tool 32 may include a laser for supplying heat, a reflow oven, an inductive heating tool for heating solder, a heat gun, a lamp, hot bar equipment, a soldering iron tip, equipment for forming heat by applying current (ohmic heating current) to a conductive strand, or may include other heating equipment.
  • Equipment 36 may be used to help form fabric 12, strands for fabric 12, circuitry that is coupled to conductive structures in fabric 12, electrical components, housing structures, and other structures for forming item 10.
  • Equipment 36 may, for example, include equipment for cutting fabric, equipment for laminating fabric to layers of plastic, metal, and/or other materials, equipment for mounting integrated circuits, light-emitting diodes, sensors, buttons, and other electrical circuitry to fabric 12 and/or other portions of item 10, machining equipment for machining parts of item 10, robotic assembly equipment, and/or other equipment for forming item 10.
  • Etching tool 31 may be used to etch portions of strands 20, either before or after they are formed into fabric-based item 10. Because strands 20 may have a core and an exterior layer with different properties, etching tool 31 may be used to remove portions of the exterior layer to expose portions of the core. Etching tool 31 may include laser etching equipment, chemical etching equipment, heat etching equipment, or any other desired etching equipment. By exposing portions of the core, individual strands 20 may have different properties along their lengths, and fabric-based item 10 may have different properties in different regions, if desired.
  • the equipment of FIG. 4 may be used to form fabric 12, to process fabric 12, to integrate circuitry 16, fabric 12, and/or additional structures 14 into item 10, and/or to perform other fabrication and processing operations on item 10.
  • Strands 20 may include strands of material that have cores and exterior layers with different properties.
  • the cores and exterior layers may be different colors, have different conductivities (e.g., the core may be conductive and the exterior layer may be insulating), different reflectivities, different magnetic properties, and/or other different properties.
  • Strands 20 may have portions of the exterior layers that are etched away to expose the cores. In this way, strands 20 may have properties that vary along their lengths. For example, portions of each strand 20 may have different colors, conductivities, magnetic properties, reflectivities, or other properties.
  • An illustrative strand with layers having different properties is shown in FIG. 5.
  • a strand such as strand 20 may have core 44 (also referred to as an inner layer, a core layer, or an interior layer herein) surrounded by exterior layer 46 (also referred to as an outer layer or an external layer herein).
  • core 44 may be an interior yam and exterior layer 46 may be an exterior yam.
  • Exterior layer 46 may be formed over core 44 in any desired manner.
  • exterior layer 46 may be twisted or braided over core 44, or may be co-extruded with core 44.
  • Core 44 and exterior layer 46 may have different properties.
  • core 44 may have a first color, while exterior layer 46 may have a different color.
  • core 44 may be conductive and/or magnetic, while exterior layer 46 is insulating.
  • core 44 may be reflective (e.g., be formed with embedded glass beads that reflect visible light), while exterior layer 46 is not reflective.
  • these properties are merely illustrative. In general, core 44 and exterior layer 46 may have any desired properties.
  • FIGS. 6 A and 6B An example of removing a portion of exterior layer 46 is shown in FIGS. 6 A and 6B.
  • a strand in fabric item 10, such as strand 20, may have an exterior portion that is removed.
  • exterior layer 46 may be removed in region 48.
  • strand 20 may have thickness Ti in the region in which exterior layer 46 remains, and thickness T2, which is less than thickness Ti, in region 48.
  • the removal of exterior layer 46 in region 48 may be performed using any desired process.
  • etching tool 31 of FIG. 4 may be used to remove the portion of exterior layer 46 through laser etching, chemical etching, heat etching, or any other desired process. Although etching tool 31 is described as providing an etching function, any desired tool may be used to remove desired portions of exterior layer 46 and expose underlying portions of core 44.
  • the removal of exterior layer 46 within region 48 may expose a portion of core 44.
  • a portion of core 44 is visible/exposed within region 48.
  • the portion of core 44 may have a different functionality from the surrounding exterior layer 46, if desired.
  • the portion of core 44 within region 48 may have a different color or other appearance (e.g., reflectivity) than the color or appearance of surrounding exterior layer 46.
  • the portion of core 44 within region 48 may be more conductive or more magnetic than exterior layer 46, may be more adhesive than exterior layer 46, or have any other desired property.
  • core 44 may be formed from a conductive strand, while exterior layer 46 is insulating. However, this is merely illustrative. In general, core 44 and exterior layer 46 may have any desired properties.
  • the different properties of core 44 may allow for the exposed regions of core 44 to have different functionality from exterior layer 46.
  • the exposed regions of core 44 may form a logo, text, a design, a pattern, one or more images, or any other desired markings on exterior layer 46.
  • the exposed regions of core 44 may be conductive and may allow for the connection of external equipment, other conductive strands within device 10, or any other desired conductive components to core 44.
  • fabric 10 may be a smart fabric (e.g., fabric 10 may have conductive strands connected together to form sensors to make measurements, circuitry to process and/or communicate the measurements to external equipment, displays, etc.).
  • core 44 is more magnetic than exterior layer 46 or is formed from an adhesive (and exterior layer 46 is free from adhesive), other strands of fabric 10 or external components may be attached to the exposed portion of core 44.
  • components may be attracted to core 44 if it is magnetic.
  • core 44 may be both magnetic and conductive (e.g., to allow for wireless charging). In general, however, core 44 may have any desired properties, which may allow for any desired functionality.
  • exterior layer 46 has been described as being etched or otherwise removed to reveal portions of core 44, this is merely illustrative. Alternatively or additionally, some or all of exterior layer 46 may be designed to wear out naturally over time and reveal portions of core 44. For example, exterior layer 46 may wear down gradually to reveal a different color or other appearance of core 44. In this way, the degradation of exterior layer 46 may form a patina with a different color or other appearance.
  • strands in fabric 10 have been described as having a core and an exterior layer, this is merely illustrative. In general, strands in fabric 10 may have any desired number of layers, such as two or more, three or more, five or fewer, or six or more layers. An illustrative example of a strand with more than two layers is shown in FIG. 7.
  • a strand in device 10 such as strand 52, may have core 44 surrounded by two layers - exterior layer 46 and additional layer 50. Core 44 and exterior layer 46 may have any desired properties, as previously discussed. Additional layer 50 may also have any desired property, which may be different from a property of exterior layer 46 and/or core 44. This property may include color, conductivity, adhesiveness, a magnetic property, or any other desired property.
  • a strand having more than two layers may be processed similarly to the strand in FIGS. 6A and 6B.
  • portions of external layer 46 may be removed to selectively expose portions of additional layer 50.
  • portions of additional layer 50 (and, by extension, external layer 46) may be removed to expose portions of core 44.
  • additional layer 50 may have a different color from external layer 46, and regions in which additional layer 50 are exposed may form a logo, text, graphics, designs, patterns, images, etc.
  • Core 44 may be a conductive, magnetic, or adhesive strand that may couple strand 52 to external equipment and provide desired functionality to strand 20 and fabric 10. However, this is merely illustrative. Any desired layer within strand 52 may have any desired functionality, and strand 52 may be etched to expose any desired portion(s) of the internal layer(s).
  • individual strands may be etched to selectively expose internal layers of the strands, which may have different properties than the external layers in the strands.
  • a fabric such as fabric 12, may have region 52 surrounding region 54.
  • Region 52 may include strands (such as strands 20 and/or52) that have not been etched (i.e., strands that have the exterior layer still exposed).
  • Region 54 may include strands that have been etched to expose an inner layer within the strand (i.e., strands that have a core or additional interior layer exposed). Because the strands in region 54 are adjacent to one another, the properties of the exposed inner layers of the strands may be present across an entirety of region 54.
  • region 54 may be a different color than region 52, and may therefore form a logo, text, a graphic, an image, a design, a pattern, an image, or other marking. Additionally or alternatively, region 54 may be conductive, allowing for electrical connections of other conductive strands in fabric 12 or other external equipment, or may be magnetic or adhesive, allowing for connections of external fabric or other items. By modifying adjacent strands within fabric 12, region 54 may have a different property from region 52.
  • Fabric 12 may be used to form any desired fabric-based item.
  • clothing, electronic device covers or cases, or any other desired fabric-based items may be formed using fabric 12.
  • fabric 12 may form a tag on other layers of fabric. Strands, such as strands 20 or 52, in fabric 12 may be selectively etched to form text, logos, designs, patterns, images, or other marking or information on the tag.
  • fabric 12 may be used to form a braided cable or a cover for an electronic device cord.
  • Strands, such as strands 20 or 52, in fabric 12 may be selectively etched to form text, logos, designs, patterns, images, or other marking or information on the braided cable or cord cover.
  • inner layers in the strands may be conductive or magnetic. Etching the outer layers of the strands to selectively expose the conductive or magnetic inner layers may allow for the cable or cord cover to attach to external equipment.
  • these examples are merely illustrative.
  • fabric 12 may be incorporated into any fabric-based item.
  • custom clothes and other fabric-based items may be formed from strands 20.
  • a user may wish to incorporate text, one or more logos, a design, a pattern, one or more images, or other marking onto a fabric-based item.
  • strands 20 may be selectively etched to reveal an inner layer of the strands and form the text, logos, designs, patterns, images, or other markings. For example, laser etching may be used.
  • a fabric-based item includes a layer of fabric includes strands of material, each of the strands includes an interior yam and an exterior yam that surrounds the interior yam, the layer of fabric has first portions and second portions, the extruded strands in the first portions have some of the exterior yam removed to expose the interior yam, and the extruded strands in the second portions have the exterior yam fully surrounding the interior yam.
  • the interior yam is a first color and the exterior yam is a second color that is different from the first color, and the layer of fabric exhibits the first color in the first portions and exhibits the second color in the second portions.
  • the first portions of the fabric layer form a logo.
  • the first portions of the fabric layer form text.
  • the interior yam is conductive and the exterior yam is insulating.
  • the second portions of the fabric layer surround the first portions to form openings, and external equipment is configured to attach to the conductive interior yam through the openings.
  • the fabric-based item includes additional conductive yam, the second portions of the fabric layer surround the first portion to form openings, and the additional conductive yam is attached to the interior conductive yam through the openings.
  • the interior yam is magnetic and the exterior yam is insulating.
  • the interior yam includes adhesive and the exterior yam is free from adhesive.
  • the second portions of the fabric layer surround the first portions to form openings, and external equipment is configured to attach to the adhesive interior yam through the openings.
  • the interior yam includes thermoplastic polyurethane.
  • the interior yam includes a first material with a first reflectivity and the exterior yam includes a second material with a second reflectivity that is different from the first reflectivity.
  • the interior yam includes embedded glass beads, and the first reflectivity is greater than the second reflectivity.
  • the fabric-based item includes an additional layer of fabric, the layer of fabric forms a tag that is attached to the additional layer of fabric.
  • each of the extruded strands includes an additional yam interposed between the interior yam and the exterior yam, and the interior yam, the exterior yam, and the additional yam are different colors.
  • the exterior yam is configured to wear down gradually over time to expose additional portions of the interior yam.
  • a fabric in accordance with an embodiment, includes a layer of intertwined strands of material having first and second areas, each of the strands of material includes a core layer surrounded by an exterior layer, and some of the exterior layer is removed to expose portions of the core layer.
  • the core layer is an interior yam and the exterior layer is an exterior yam, and the core layer has a first color and the exterior layer has a second color that is different from the first color.
  • the exposed portions of the core layer are configured to form a marking selected from the group consisting of: text, a logo, a design, a pattern, and an image.
  • apparatus includes fabric includes strands of material, each of the strands includes a core and an exterior layer that surrounds the core, the core has a first property and the exterior layer has a second property that is different from the first property, and portions of the exterior layer are removed to expose portions of the core having the first property.
  • the first property and the second property include a characteristic selected from the group consisting of: color, conductivity, magnetism, and reflectivity.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Woven Fabrics (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un article à base de tissu, qui peut comporter un tissu formé à partir de brins entrelacés de matériau. Les brins de matériau peuvent comporter des couches intérieures et des couches extérieures qui entourent les couches intérieures. Les couches intérieures peuvent avoir des propriétés différentes des couches extérieures, telles que des conductivités, adhésivités, propriétés magnétiques, couleurs, réflectivités différentes, par exemple. Les brins de matériau peuvent être sélectivement gravés pour exposer des parties des couches intérieures. De cette manière, les propriétés des couches intérieures peuvent être visibles et/ou exposées, et les brins peuvent avoir une fonctionnalité ou un aspect modifié dans les régions exposées. D'autres brins ou des équipements externes peuvent être couplés aux couches intérieures dans les régions exposées. Des brins adjacents dans une couche de tissu peuvent avoir des parties exposées attenantes pour modifier les propriétés d'une région de la couche de tissu.
PCT/US2023/066536 2022-06-02 2023-05-03 Articles de tissu ayant des brins avec des couches internes et externes WO2023235652A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US202263348407P 2022-06-02 2022-06-02
US63/348,407 2022-06-02
US18/191,424 US20230392302A1 (en) 2022-06-02 2023-03-28 Fabric Items Having Strands With Inner and Outer Layers
US18/191,424 2023-03-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2023235652A1 true WO2023235652A1 (fr) 2023-12-07

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US (1) US20230392302A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2023235652A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE69605150T2 (de) * 1995-06-13 2000-05-31 Comasec S A Persönliche, gegen mechanische Gefahren, schützende Ausrüstung für die oberen Extremitäten, Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Bestimmung der Leistung dieser Ausrüstung
US6786243B2 (en) * 2002-06-11 2004-09-07 Albany International Corp. Monofilament structure to monitor fabric abrasion
CN103243441A (zh) * 2012-12-22 2013-08-14 武汉金运激光股份有限公司 皮芯结构纱线、织物、织物上形成图形的方法及激光系统

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE69605150T2 (de) * 1995-06-13 2000-05-31 Comasec S A Persönliche, gegen mechanische Gefahren, schützende Ausrüstung für die oberen Extremitäten, Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Bestimmung der Leistung dieser Ausrüstung
US6786243B2 (en) * 2002-06-11 2004-09-07 Albany International Corp. Monofilament structure to monitor fabric abrasion
CN103243441A (zh) * 2012-12-22 2013-08-14 武汉金运激光股份有限公司 皮芯结构纱线、织物、织物上形成图形的方法及激光系统

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