Garment with integral wipe zones

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11297888-B2
Application number	US-201614996629-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2016
Priority date	Jan 15, 2016
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

Hydrophobic fabrics and garments made therefrom are provided. The fabrics and garments in accordance with aspects herein comprise at least two seamlessly adjacent woven zones, where the first fabric/garment zone comprises substantially planar surfaces, and the second fabric/garment zone comprises a plurality of integrally raised structures on at least one of the surfaces of the fabric/garment. The integrally raised structures in the second fabric/garment zone are continuously woven/knit with the first zone. The integrally raised structures in the second zone of the fabric/garment are provided on the garments, in accordance with aspects herein, as wipe zones for transferring fluids away from a wearer's skin upon the wearer rubbing their wet skin off on the wipe zone(s).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A single layer hydrophobic fabric comprising:
a first zone comprising:
a first face and a second face opposite the first face, wherein the first face and the second face have substantially planar surfaces and are hydrophobic; and

a second zone seamlessly adjacent to the first zone in a side by side relationship, the second zone comprising:
a third face and a fourth face opposite the third face, wherein the third face and the fourth face are hydrophobic, and wherein the third face comprises a plurality of integrally woven raised structures extending outwardly from the third face,

wherein the first zone and the second zone are integrally woven together.

2. The single layer hydrophobic fabric of claim 1 , wherein the first face is constructed from a first yarn with a first denier per filament (DPF), and wherein the second face is constructed from a second yarn with a second DPF.

3. The single layer hydrophobic fabric of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of integrally woven raised structures on the third face are constructed from a third yarn with a third DPF.

4. The single layer hydrophobic fabric of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of integrally woven raised structures extending from the third face are woven with micro-channels within the plurality of integrally woven raised structures.

5. A lower body garment comprising:
a front panel of a first single layer hydrophobic fabric comprising a first outer face and a first inner face that are substantially planar; and
a back panel of a second single layer hydrophobic fabric comprising a second inner face and a second outer face, the second single layer hydrophobic fabric further comprising:
a first zone, wherein the second outer face and the second inner face of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric are substantially planar; and
a second zone that is seamlessly adjacent to the first zone in a side by side relationship, wherein the second outer face of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric in the second zone comprises a plurality of integrally formed raised structures extending outwardly therefrom.

6. The lower body garment of claim 5 , wherein the second zone of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric forming the back panel is adapted to overlay a lower back torso area of a wearer when the lower body garment is worn.

7. The lower body garment of claim 6 , wherein the lower body garment comprises a pocket adjacent to an upper portion of a lateral seam line joining the front panel and the back panel, wherein the second zone is configured to extend to an opening of the pocket.

8. The lower body garment of claim 5 , wherein the second zone is configured to extend up to a waistband of the lower body garment.

9. The lower body garment of claim 5 , wherein the first zone and the second zone of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric are integrally woven.

10. The lower body garment of claim 5 , wherein the first zone and the second zone of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric are integrally knit.

11. The lower body garment of claim 5 , wherein at the first zone: the second outer face of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric is constructed from a first yarn with a first denier per filament (DPF) and the second inner face of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric is constructed from a second yarn with a second DPF.

12. The lower body garment of claim 11 , wherein at the second zone: the plurality of integrally formed raised structures extending outwardly from the second outer face of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric are constructed from a third yarn with a third denier per filament (DPF).

13. A garment comprising:
a first panel of a first single layer hydrophobic fabric comprising a first face and a second face that are hydrophobic and substantially planar; and
a second panel of a second single layer hydrophobic fabric comprising a third face and a fourth face, the second single layer hydrophobic fabric further comprising:
a first zone, wherein the third face and the fourth face are substantially planar; and
a second zone seamlessly adjacent to the first zone in a side by side relationship, wherein the third face comprises a plurality of integrally woven raised structures extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the first zone and the second zone are integrally woven together.

14. The garment of claim 13 , wherein the garment is a lower body garment with the first panel as a front panel and the second panel as a back panel.

15. The garment of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of integrally woven raised structures extending outwardly from the third face of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric are constructed from a first yarn with a first denier per filament (DPF), and the substantially planar third face of the first zone of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric is constructed from a second yarn with a second DPF.

16. The garment of claim 13 , wherein the garment is an upper body garment with the first panel as a back panel and the second panel as a front panel.

17. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the third face of the front panel is an outer face exposed to an external environment, and wherein the second zone is located on a bottom portion of the front panel.

18. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the third face of the front panel is an inner face configured to be adjacent to a body of a wearer when the upper body garment is worn, wherein the second zone is located on a top portion of the front panel.

19. The garment of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of integrally woven raised structures extending from the third face of the second single layer hydrophobic fabric comprise a plurality of micro-channels within the plurality of integrally woven raised structures.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Walter Michelle
• Morrisey Tod

Classifications

• A41D27/20

  Pockets; Making or setting-in pockets · CPC title

• A41D27/28 Primary

  Means for ventilation · CPC title

• A41D31/10

  Impermeable to liquids, e.g. waterproof; Liquid-repellent · CPC title

• A41B2400/22

  Breathability, i.e. being vapour permeable and waterproof · CPC title

• A41B2400/60

  Moisture handling or wicking function · CPC title