Article of apparel incorporating a zoned modifiable textile structure
First Claim
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1. An article of apparel comprising:
- a first material that exhibits a dimensional transformation upon exposure to a physical stimulus to change a property of the first material; and
a second material that is substantially stable upon exposure to the physical stimulus.
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Abstract
An article of apparel is disclosed that includes zones with a textile having a structure that changes or is otherwise modified by a physical stimulus, such as the presence of water or a temperature change, to modify a property of the textile. The zones may be along a center back area and side areas of the apparel, and the textile may increase in air permeability when exposed to water. The zones may also be in an upper area of the torso and in a lower back area, and the textile may increase in texture when exposed to water. In some embodiments, slits are formed in the textile.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An article of apparel comprising:
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a first material that exhibits a dimensional transformation upon exposure to a physical stimulus to change a property of the first material; and
a second material that is substantially stable upon exposure to the physical stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An article of apparel comprising:
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a torso region having a front area, a back area, and a pair of side areas for covering a torso of a wearer; and
a pair of arm regions extending from the torso region for receiving arms of the wearer, wherein the article of apparel is formed from at least a first material and a second material, the first material extending in a vertical direction along a central portion of the back area, and the first material extending along the side areas, the first material including a yarn that exhibits a dimensional transformation upon exposure to water to increase an air permeability of the first material, and the second material being different than the first material. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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- 16. An article of apparel having a torso region with a textile extending in a vertical direction along a central back area of the torso region and extending along side areas of the torso region, the textile having a plurality of openings defined between yarns that exhibit a dimensional-transformation upon exposure to the water, the yarns having a first set of dimensions when unexposed to the water, and the yarns having a second set of dimensions when exposed to the water, a structure of the textile being modified by exposing the textile to the water such that the yarns transform from the first set of dimensions to the second set of dimensions and change an air permeability of the textile by changing a size of the openings defined between yarns.
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19. An article of apparel comprising:
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a torso region having a neck opening for receiving a neck of a wearer and having a front area, a back area, and a pair of side areas for covering a torso of a wearer, the front area extending downward from the neck area, the back area extending downward from the neck area and positioned opposite the back area, and the pair of side areas extending between the front area and the back area; and
a pair of arm regions extending from the torso region for receiving arms of the wearer, wherein the article of apparel is formed from at least a first material and a second material, the first material forming an upper portion of the front area and the back area, and the first material forming at least a portion of the arm regions, the first material including a yarn that exhibits a dimensional transformation upon exposure to water to increase a texture of an interior surface of the first material, and the second material being different than the first material. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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- 24. An article of apparel having a torso region and a pair of arm regions, an upper portion of the torso region and at least a portion of the arm regions being formed of a textile having yarns that exhibit a dimensional transformation upon exposure to water, the yarns having a first set of dimensions when unexposed to the water, and the yarns having a second set of dimensions when exposed to the water, a structure of the textile being modified by exposing the textile to the water such that the yarns transform from the first set of dimensions to the second set of dimensions and increase a texture of a surface of the textile.
Specification