Article of apparel incorporating a flocked material

• US 7,581,258 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Wise, LaShurya M., Carter, Karin Elizabeth, Baron, Michael Robert, Hurd, Rebecca P., Hung, Chia Pei C., Davis, Carrie Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Welch; Gary L
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOMPKINS, ALISSA JILL
• Application Number:
  US10/963,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20060080755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 2 8/5, 2 9/7, 216/8, 428/90, 442/59
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/10 Heat retention or warming
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/06 Thermally protective, e.g. insulating
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 11/00 Non-woven pile fabrics layered products forming non-woven pile fabrics B32B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/23943 Flock surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/20 Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which is not [a] associated with another preformed layer or fiber layer or, [b] with respect to woven and knit, characterized, respectively, by a particular or differential weave or knit, wherein the coating or impregnation is neither a foamed material nor a free metal or alloy layer

Abstract

A flocked material and an article of apparel incorporating the flocked material are disclosed. The flocked material includes a substrate and a plurality of flocking fibers. The substrate is formed from a two-dimensional material and has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The flocking fibers are secured to the second surface. In addition, the flocking fibers may form a plurality of apertures that expose at least a portion of the second surface of the substrate. When incorporated into the article of apparel, the flocking fibers may face inward to form at least a portion of an interior surface of the article of apparel. Accordingly, the flocking fibers may be positioned to contact an individual wearing the article of apparel.

Claims

1. An article of apparel comprising a flocked material with a plurality of flocking fibers forming a grouping of flocking fibers secured to at least one side, the flocked material being incorporated into the article of apparel such that the flocking fibers face inward to form at least a portion of an interior surface of the article of apparel, the side with the flocking fibers having a first area and a plurality of second areas, wherein the first area is a continuous area extending from a first edge of the side with the flocking fibers to a second edge of the side with the flocking fibers, the first area covering a majority of the at least one side and having a configuration that surrounds each of the second areas, the flocking fibers being secured to the first area and the flocking fibers being substantially absent from the second area, wherein the flocking fibers define an aperture in the at least one side.

2. The article of apparel recited in claim 1, wherein the flocked material also has a textile substrate, and the flocking fibers are secured to the textile substrate with an adhesive.

3. The article of apparel recited in claim 2, wherein the flocking fibers are positioned to contact an individual wearing the article of apparel and form a space between the individual and the textile substrate.

4. The article of apparel recited in claim 1, wherein the flocking fibers are positioned to contact an individual wearing the article of apparel.

5. The article of apparel recited in claim 1, wherein the flocking fibers are secured to the first area and form apertures in the first side that expose the second areas.

6. The article of apparel recited in claim 5, wherein the apertures have an elongate configuration.

7. The article of apparel recited in claim 5, wherein the apertures have an elliptical configuration.

8. The article of apparel recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the flocked material includes a water-resistant coating.

9. The article of apparel recited in claim 1, wherein the flocking fibers are approximately 0.5 millimeters in length.

10. The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein each of the second areas has a circular configuration.

11. The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein each of the second areas has a configuration of a straight-sided polygon.

12. An article of apparel having a flocked material comprising:

a substrate formed from a two-dimensional material, the substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the second surface having a continuous first area extending from a first edge of the second surface to a second edge of the second surface, the first area covering a majority of the second surface; and

a plurality of flocking fibers secured to the first area of the second surface, the flocking fibers defining apertures in the second surface that expose a plurality of second areas of the second surface, each of the second areas surrounded by flocking fibers, wherein each of the second areas is not in contact with another second area, the apertures being discrete regions having a predefined shape, the flocked material being incorporated into the article of apparel such that the flocking fibers face inward to form at least a portion of an interior surface of the article of apparel.

13. The article of apparel recited in claim 12, wherein the substrate is a textile.

14. The article of apparel recited in claim 12, wherein the flocking fibers are positioned to contact an individual wearing the article of apparel.

15. The article of apparel recited in claim 12, wherein the substrate includes a water-resistant coating.

16. The article of apparel recited in claim 12, wherein the flocking fibers are secured to the second surface with an adhesive.

17. The article of apparel recited in claim 12, wherein the flocking fibers are approximately 0.5 millimeters in length.

18. A flocked material comprising:

a substrate formed from a two-dimensional material, the substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface; and

a plurality of flocking fibers secured to a continuous first area of the second surface, the first area extending from a first edge of the second surface to a second edge of the second surface, the flocking fibers forming a plurality of apertures that expose at least a portion of the second surface of the substrate, each of the apertures being a discrete region having a predefined shape and having a plurality of flocking fibers surrounding and defining the apertures, wherein each of the apertures is not in contact with another aperture,

wherein a portion of the second surface to which the flocking fibers are secured is greater than the portion of the second surface exposed by the apertures.

19. The flocked material recited in claim 18, wherein the substrate is a textile.

20. The flocked material recited in claim 18, wherein the substrate includes a water-resistant coating.

21. The flocked material recited in claim 18, wherein the apertures have an elongate configuration.

22. The flocked material recited in claim 18, wherein the apertures have an elliptical configuration.