ELECTRIFIABLE FABRIC

• US 20090282908A1
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thermogear, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thermogear, Inc.
• Inventors: Bhatti, Shahid, Coy, Jack, Campf, Melvin, Homayoun, Habib
• Application Number:
  US12/463,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20090282908A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/159
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0088 Fabrics having an electronic function
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 13/008 characterised by weave density or surface weight
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/00 Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/02 polyamides D10B2331/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 Wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3065 Including strand which is of specific structural definition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3976 Including strand which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous composition, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an electrifiable fabric made up of conductive fibers and non-conductive fibers. Garments may be created with the electrifiable fabric. Electricity may be applied to the electrifiable fabric, where the ratio of non-conductive fibers to conductive fibers provides an electrical resistance to thereby generate heat.

Claims

1. An electrifiable fabric comprising non-conductive fibers and conductive fibers, wherein the ratio of non-conductive fibers to fibers is in a range between 2 to 1 and 130 to 1.

2. The electrifiable fabric of claim 1, wherein the ratio is between 6 to 1 and 8 to 1.

3. The electrifiable fabric of claim 2, wherein the ratio is 7 to 1.

4. The electrifiable fabric of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive fibers and conductive fibers have a size in a range of 40 to 125 deniers.

5. The electrifiable fabric of claim 4, wherein the non-conductive fibers and conductive fibers have a size 70 deniers.

6. The electrifiable fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric has a thread count in a range of 70×

70 to 130×

130 per square inch.

7. The electrifiable fabric of claim 6, wherein the fabric has a thread count of 100×

100 per square inch.

8. A method comprising:

determining an amount of heat desired within at least a portion of fabric;

determining an amount of desired resistance with the at least a portion of fabric based upon the determined amount of heat desired; and

determining a ratio of non-conductive fibers to conductive fibers within the at least a portion of fabric based upon the determined amount of desired resistance.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a thread count of fibers within the at least a portion of fabric.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining an amount of heat desired within another portion of the fabric;

determining an amount of desired resistance with the another portion of the fabric based upon the determined amount of heat desired; and

determining a ratio of non-conductive fibers to conductive fibers within the another portion of the fabric based upon the determined amount of desired resistance.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a thread count of fibers within the another portion of the fabric.

12. A garment comprising:

an electrifiable fabric comprising non-conductive fibers and conductive fibers, wherein the ratio of non-conductive fibers to fibers is in a range between 2 to 1 and 130 to 1.

13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the ratio is between 6 to 1 and 8 to 1.

14. The garment of claim 13, wherein the ratio is 7 to 1.

15. The garment of claim 12, wherein the non-conductive fibers and conductive fibers have a size in a range of 40 to 125 deniers.

16. The garment of claim 15, wherein the non-conductive fibers and conductive fibers have a size of 70 deniers.

17. The garment of claim 12, wherein the fabric has a thread count in a range of 70×

70 to 130×

130 per square inch.

18. The garment of claim 17, wherein the fabric has a thread count of 100×

100 per square inch.

19. The garment of claim 12, further comprising:

a power source operatively coupled to the at least one conductive fiber.

20. A method comprising:

providing a garment comprising an electrifiable fabric comprising non-conductive fibers and conductive fibers, wherein the ratio of non-conductive fibers to fibers is in a range between 2 to 1 and 130 to 1; and

providing electrical power to the electrifiable fabric.