Moisture control fabrics

• US 10,640,915 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dryco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dryco, Inc.
• Inventors: Xing, Siyuan, Foote, Rachel
• Primary Examiner(s): Steele, Jennifer A
• Application Number:
  US16/378,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20190234013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 11/00 Hosiery; Panti-hose elastic stockings for curative purposes A61F13/08
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 17/00 Selection of special materials for underwear
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 2400/62 through several layers
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 2500/20 Woven
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/06 Undershirts; Chemises
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 3/00 Brassieres
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/06 Trousers
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/14 Skirts
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/22 Clothing specially adapted for women, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2500/20 Woven
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 3/02 Overcoats
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/02 Layered materials characterised by special function or use A41D31/04
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/125 Moisture handling or wicking function through layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/02 Layer formed of wires, e.g. mesh
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/14 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/02 2 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/03 3 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/20 All layers being fibrous or filamentary
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/02 on fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/10 on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/26 : Polymeric coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/02 : Synthetic macromolecular fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0238 : Vinyl halide, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0253 : Polyolefin fibres vinyl or acrylic copolymers B32B2262/0223 or B32B2262/0246
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0261 : Polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0276 : Polyester fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0292 : Polyurethane fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/04 : Cellulosic plastic fibres, e.g. rayon
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/062 : Cellulose fibres, e.g. cotton
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/065 : Lignocellulosic fibres, e.g. jute, sisal, hemp, flax, bamboo
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/08 : Animal fibres, e.g. hair, wool, silk
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/10 : Inorganic fibres layered products comprising a layer of natural mineral fibres B32B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/101 : Glass fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/14 : Mixture of at least two fibres made of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/50 : having particular mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/728 : Hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/73 : Hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 : Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2437/00 : Clothing anti-ballistic clothing B32B2571/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2437/02 : Gloves, shoes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2555/02 : Diapers or napkins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2571/00 : Protective equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2601/00 : Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 : next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/20 : of hollow pieces, e.g. tubes; of pieces with channels or cavities
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/02 : characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 : Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 : Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/026 : Knitted fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/028 : Net structure, e.g. spaced apart filaments bonded at the crossing points
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/04 : characterised by a layer being specifically extensible by reason of its structure or arrangement , e.g. by reason of the chemical nature of the fibres or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/08 : the fibres or filaments of a layer being of different substances , e.g. conjugate fibres, mixture of different fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 : characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/245 : another layer next to it being a foam layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 : another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/022 : Mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/08 : by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/09 : by stitching, needling or sewing by mechanically connecting fibrous layers to another layer B32B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 25/00 : Woven fabrics not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/21 : Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2200/12 : Hydrophobic properties
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/16 : Processes for the non-uniform application of treating agents, e.g. one-sided treatment; Differential treatment
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/021 : hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/022 : hydrophylic
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 : Wearing apparel

Abstract

The present disclosure provides articles of manufacture with improved moisture control as well as methods of making such articles. In some embodiments, provided herein the article has a fabric with an outer hydrophobic surface and an inner surface with hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions where the hydrophilic regions can form a pattern, allowing moisture to collect and move through the pattern, and the hydrophobic regions prevent the whole inner surface from becoming moist and the outer hydrophobic regions does not show moisture. The fabric may be used to make garments. The entire inner surface of the garment may be patterned with hydrophilic patterns for partial absorption, and the entire outer surface of the garment is hydrophobic, thereby preventing perspiration from being seen from outside of the garment. Further provided herein are methods of making fabrics with improved moisture control including by printing or knitting.

Claims

1. A garment comprising a fabric, the fabric including:

an inner surface for facing a wearer'"'"'s body when the garment is worn; and

an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the entire outer surface defining therealong a single region comprising solely a hydrophobic material,

wherein the inner surface of the fabric defines;

one or more first regions, wherein the one or more first regions each comprise solely a hydrophobic material, and

one or more second regions, wherein the one or more second regions each comprise solely a hydrophilic material,

wherein said one or more first regions defined by said inner surface are in direct contact with said single region defined by said outer surface,

wherein said one or more second regions defined by said inner surface are in direct contact with said single region defined by said outer surface, and

wherein said fabric has a structure which keeps moisture from accumulating along said outer surface, thereby preventing perspiration from being seen from outside of said garment wherein the fabric is made of a hydrophilic textile,

wherein the hydrophobic material of the outer surface forms a hydrophobic coating covering the outer surface of the hydrophilic textile,

and wherein the hydrophobic material of the one or more first regions of the inner surface forms a hydrophobic coating covering the one or more first regions of the inner surface of the hydrophilic textile.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is a shirt, a coat, a dress, a skirt, a sports bra, a sock, an undergarment, pants, or shorts.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more second regions is surrounded by at least one of the one or more first regions.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more first regions is surrounded by at least one of the one or more second regions.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein either the one or more first regions form a lattice, or the one or more second regions form a lattice.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein a proportion of a collective surface area of the one or more second regions to a surface area of the entire fabric is about 40% to about 95%.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic material of the one or more second regions comprises 5% to 95% of a total thickness of the fabric.

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the one or more second regions comprise 15% to 85% of an area of the inner surface of the fabric.

9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material of the outer surface resists a hydrostatic pressure of about 150 pa to about 3 kpa, or the hydrophobic material of the one or more first regions resists a hydrostatic pressure of about 150 pa to about 3 kpa.

10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material of the outer surface is different from the hydrophobic material of the one or more first regions of the inner surface.

11. The garment of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material of the outer surface is the same as the hydrophobic material of the one or more first regions of the inner surface.

12. A method of making a garment, the method comprising:

providing a hydrophilic fabric having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface;

applying a first hydrophobic material to the first side surface in order to define a single region therealong that is solely hydrophobic;

applying a second hydrophobic material to a plurality of selected portions of the second side surface in order to define a plurality of first regions that are solely hydrophobic, wherein a plurality of unselected portions of the second side surface do not receive the second hydrophobic material so as to define a plurality of second regions that are solely hydrophilic,

wherein said first regions defined by said second side surface of said fabric are in direct contact with said single region defined by said first side surface of said fabric, and said second regions defined by said second side surface of said fabric are in direct contact with said single region defined by said first side surface of said fabric; and

incorporating the fabric into a garment such that an inner surface of the garment, which is configured to face a wearer'"'"'s body when the garment is worn, corresponds to the second side surface of the fabric, and an outer surface of the garment, which is configured to face away from the wearer'"'"'s body, corresponds to the single region defined by the first side surface of the fabric, and

wherein said method produces said garment with said fabric having a structure which keeps moisture from accumulating along said single region defined by said first side surface, thereby preventing perspiration from being seen from outside of said garment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of applying the first hydrophobic material includes screen printing a fluoropolymer, silicone, hydrosilicone, fluoroacrylate, or wax on the first side surface of the hydrophilic fabric, or

the step of applying the second hydrophobic material includes screen printing a fluoropolymer, silicone, hydrosilicone, fluoroacrylate, or wax on the second side surface of the hydrophilic fabric.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first hydrophobic material is applied to the entire first side surface.