Infrared-reflecting covering material

• US 8,918,919 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Scholz, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): ANDERSON, AMBER R
• Application Number:
  US10/525,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20060099431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,142 Days
• Field of Search: 2 6/9, 2 8/1, 2 8/2, 290/0, 290/4, 2456-458, 662/02, 428/919, 428/304.4, 442131-133, 442/378, 442/379, 442/317, 442/234, 442/238
• US Class Current: 2/458
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/102 Waterproof and breathable
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/145 using layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 3/02 Flexible, e.g. fabric covers, e.g. screens, nets characterised by their material or structuremaking thereof, see the relevant classes, e.g. D04
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/085 at least one of the reflecting layers comprising metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31725 Of polyamide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31938 Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon

Abstract

An invention describes a drapable IR-reflecting material for garments. The IR-reflecting material comprises a water-vapor-permeable metallized ply supporting an air-permeable drapable convective ply having a three-dimensionally transmissive structure. The outer surface of the convective ply, said outer surface being opposite to the metallized ply, is formed by an air-permeable sheetlike structure. The convective ply causes heat convection of temperatures reflected by the metallized ply in order that the outer surface of the convective ply may be brought into line with the ambient temperature.

Claims

1. A garment having an outer side and an inner side, said garment comprising:

an infrared-reflecting material comprising a metalized porous fluoropolymer membrane having therein open pore walls, said metalized porous fluoropolymer membrane having a top surface and a bottom surface, and

an air permeable, drapable and convective ply having a three-dimensionally transmissive structure, said convective ply comprising spacers disposed substantially vertically within said convective ply with respect to at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the metalized porous fluoropolymer membrane,

wherein the convective ply is disposed on the top surface of the metalized porous fluoropolymer membrane, and

wherein said spacers provide air exchange with the environment such that air flows through said convective ply in x, y, and z directions, said air exchange causing said outer side of said garment to be substantially equal to ambient temperature,

wherein said metalized porous fluoropolymer membrane has a discontinuous metalized surface.

2. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the convective ply has a top surface with an air-permeable sheet structure disposed thereon, said air-permeable sheet structure being a constituent part of said convective ply and forming the top surface of said convective ply.

3. The garment according to claim 2 wherein the sheet structure has an air permeability of not less than 50 l/m²s at a pressure of 10 Pa.

4. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the convective ply is not less than 2 mm in thickness.

5. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the convective ply has a structure that is ribbed, honeycombed, pimpled, a net, deflocked, or foamed.

6. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the convective ply is a three-dimensional pimpled formed-loop knit.

7. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the convective ply is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyamide and combinations thereof.

8. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the convective ply has an air permeability in the z direction of not less than 100 l/m²s at a pressure of 10 Pa.

9. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the convective ply has an air permeability in the x and y directions of not less than 50 l/m²s at a pressure of 10 Pa.

10. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said spacers form defined gaps above at least one of said top surface and said bottom surface of said metalized porous fluoropolymer membrane.

11. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said spacers are elastically compressible.

12. A garment having an outer side and an inner side, said garment comprising:

at least one infrared-reflecting material comprising a metalized water-vapor-permeable expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a top surface and a bottom surface, and

at least one air permeable, drapable and convective ply having a three-dimensionally transmissive structure,

wherein the convective ply is disposed on at least one of said top surface and said bottom surface of said metalized ply, and

wherein the convective ply is a three-dimensional pimpled formed-loop knit, and

wherein said metalized expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane has a discontinuous metalized surface.

13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the convective ply is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyamide and combinations thereof.

14. The garment of claim 12, wherein the convective ply has a top surface with an air-permeable sheet structure disposed thereon, said air-permeable sheet structure being a constituent part of said convective ply and forming the top surface of said convective ply.

15. The garment of claim 14, wherein the sheet structure has an air permeability of not less than 50 l/m²s at a pressure of 10 Pa.

16. The garment of claim 12, wherein said convective ply has an air permeability in x and y directions of not less than 50 l/m²s at a pressure of 10 Pa.

17. The garment of claim 12, wherein said convective ply has a thickness from 2 mm to 20 mm.