Textile product with illuminated fibers manufacturing process

• US 7,234,853 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Luminex S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Luminex S.p.A.
• Inventors: Givoletti, Marcello
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong Suk
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron; Ismael
• Application Number:
  US10/344,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,153 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/551, 362554-556, 362/570, 362/103, 362105-108, 362/800, 362/806, 362/812, 385/15, 385/31, 385/39, 385/53, 385/54, 385/80, 385 76- 78, 385/81, 385/84, 385/88, 385/115, 385/120, 385/123, 385/134, 385/138, 385/139, 385/147
• US Class Current: 362/556
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/54 Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/02 Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners B60R13/01 takes precedence ; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0088 Fabrics having an electronic function
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/283 synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/49 textured chenille D03D27/18; curled; crimped
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/547 with optical functions other than colour, e.g. comprising light-emitting fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/20 optical
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 Wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/04 Outerwear; Protective garments
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/041 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2503/02 Curtains
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2503/06 Bed linen
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2503/10 Umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/18 Outdoor fabrics, e.g. tents, tarpaulins D10B2507/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/15 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the outer surface of the guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre

Abstract

Textile product comprising light guiding fibres (2) consisting of a central core capable of transmitting the light and of an external sheath, in which at least a length portion of said external sheath presents, in respect to the internal core, a refraction index allowing the transmitted light to partially escape from the fibre; cloth article made from the textile product; and a manufacturing method of the textile product.

Claims

1. A textile product comprising light guiding fibers (2) consisting of a fabric made of texture threads and warp threads wherein at least a number of non adjacent warp or texture threads consist of said light guiding fibers and at least one free length portion of said light guiding fibers (2) is not interwoven with a corresponding underlying portion (6,17) of fabric and said free length portions are gathered in a bundle (7) contained inside a hem (8) which is obtained by folding the fabric piece underlying the free portion of fibers (2).

2. The textile product according to claim 1 wherein said light guiding fibers (2) are consisting of a central core capable of transmitting light and of an external sheath, characterized in that said sheath is constituted by superficial modified regions of the same fibers by treatment with a chemical agent selected from:

aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, organic acids aliphatic alcohol, ketones, aldehydes, aromatic and aliphatic chlorine derivatives;

aromatic and aliphatic amines, amides, aromatic and aliphatic esters or by treatment with laser beam.

3. The textile product according to claim 1 wherein said light guiding fibers (2) are arranged as warp yarns of the fabric.

4. The textile product according to claim 1 wherein said light guiding fibers (2) are arranged as texture yarns of the fabric.

5. The textile product according to claim 1 comprising at least one light source (10, LS) optically coupled with a free end of said fibers (2).

6. The textile product according to claim 5 wherein said source light consist of LED diode (10) securely fixed to one end of said bundle (7) by a metal ring (9) and connected through cables (11) to a power unit constituted by a battery pack and a DC/AC converter.

7. The textile according to claim 6 wherein the junction between diode (10) and fibers (2) is protected by a cap (12).

8. The textile according to claim 6 wherein said power unit is housed in a pocket of the article.

9. A process for manufacturing a textile by a textile loom, said method comprising the steps of:

selection of a plurality of light guiding fibers (f);

arranging of said light guiding fibers (f) as non adjacent warp or texture yarns;

weaving of a first piece (5) of fabric;

weaving of at least one piece of fabric (6) in which only said light guiding fibers (f) are not interwoven by the texture or warp yarns;

cutting the fabric through said fabric piece (6), possibly in an intermediate position thereof, so that the light guiding fibers (f) are cut and made free from the correspondent underlying fabric portion; and

gathering said light guiding fibers (f) made free from the correspondent underlying fabric portion in a bundle contained inside a hem obtained by folding said underlying fabric portion.

10. The process according to claim 9 wherein fibers (f) are arranged as warp yarns supplied by tension control means.

11. The process according to claim 9 wherein said tension control is obtained by an autonomous motorization of the beams supplying fibers (f).