PERFORATED FUNCTIONAL TEXTILE STRUCTURES
First Claim
1. A functional stretch laminate with a substantially puckered appearance, comprising:
- (a) a first outer layer of a fabric or film defining an inner surface and an outer surface and a length, and defining two or more perforations therethrough;
(b) a second outer layer of a fabric or film, said second layer defining an inner surface and an outer surface;
(c) two or more threadlines of stretch and recovery elements extending along at least a portion of the length of the first outer layer;
(d) two or more functional elements substantially parallel to or co-extending with the stretch and recovery elements, with the stretch and recovery elements and functional elements sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the outer layers; and
(e) at least one adhesive composition for bonding the stretch and recovery elements and the functional elements between the inner surfaces of the outer layers;
wherein at least a portion of one functional element is exposed to an environment outside of the laminate through at least one of the two or more perforations, and wherein the substantially puckered appearance results when the stretch and recovery elements are in a relaxed or unstretched state.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a functional stretch laminate composite puckered fabric which is robust, laundry-durable and adaptable for securing about any three dimensional body, and a method for forming such puckered fabric. The functional stretch laminate fabric is provided with at least one functional element which can conduct electricity, conduct light, provide electromagnetic fields or provide shielding from electromagnetic fields. In addition, at least one via is provided in the functional stretch laminate allowing the functional element to extend or loop outwardly from the at least one via when the laminate is in a relaxed or unstretched state. Generally, the functional stretch laminate fabric is sufficiently robust for incorporation into garments and for applications in so-called wearable electronics.
37 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A functional stretch laminate with a substantially puckered appearance, comprising:
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(a) a first outer layer of a fabric or film defining an inner surface and an outer surface and a length, and defining two or more perforations therethrough; (b) a second outer layer of a fabric or film, said second layer defining an inner surface and an outer surface; (c) two or more threadlines of stretch and recovery elements extending along at least a portion of the length of the first outer layer; (d) two or more functional elements substantially parallel to or co-extending with the stretch and recovery elements, with the stretch and recovery elements and functional elements sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the outer layers; and (e) at least one adhesive composition for bonding the stretch and recovery elements and the functional elements between the inner surfaces of the outer layers; wherein at least a portion of one functional element is exposed to an environment outside of the laminate through at least one of the two or more perforations, and wherein the substantially puckered appearance results when the stretch and recovery elements are in a relaxed or unstretched state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28)
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17. A method for preparing a functional stretch laminate with a substantially puckered appearance, comprising:
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providing a length of a first piece of inextensible material having a first surface and a second surface and a length, and defining one or more holes therethrough; extending one or more stretch and recovery elements to at least 50% of its undeformed recoverable extension limit and fixing said one or more stretch and recovery elements along at least a substantial portion of the length, extending at least one functional element coextensively with the stretch and recovery element and fixing said at least one functional element along at least a substantial portion of the length, securing the extended at least one stretch and recovery element and the at least one functional element to the first surface of said first piece of inextensible material along a substantial portion of the length thereof; providing a second piece of inextensible material having a first surface and second surface, and securing said second piece of inextensible material either to the at least one stretch and recovery element or to the first surface of said first piece of inextensible material along a substantial portion of the length thereof coextending with said stretch and recovery element to form the functional stretch laminate; and relaxing the extended length of said stretch and recovery element substantially and allowing the functional stretch laminate to pucker, such that a portion of the at least one functional element is exposed to an environment outside of the laminate through the one or more holes provided in the first piece of inextensible material. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification