Fabric having a waterproof barrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017157902-A1
Application number	US-201715436532-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2017
Priority date	Sep 12, 2014
Publication date	Jun 8, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided herein are ecologically friendly waterproof fabrics that include a base fabric having a body-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, and a hydrophobic, waterproof barrier disposed on the outward-facing surface of the base fabric. The base fabric may be a wicking fabric or may be treated with a compound that enhances wicking, and the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier may include a plastic polymer, polyurethane, polyethylene, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene. The waterproof fabrics also may include an abrasion-resistant coating and/or a PFC-free durable water repellant (DWR) agent disposed on an outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier, and one or both of the abrasion-resistant coating and/or PFC-free DWR agent may be discontinuous. Also provided are methods of making a waterproof fabric.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A waterproof fabric comprising:
a base fabric having a body-facing surface and an outward-facing surface; and a hydrophobic, waterproof barrier disposed on the outward-facing surface of the base fabric; and a PFC-free DWR agent disposed on the outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier.

2 . The waterproof fabric of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seam running through a full thickness of both the base fabric and the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier; and a waterproof tape bonded to an outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier and oriented to seal the seam against water ingress.

3 . The waterproof fabric of claim 1 , further comprising an abrasion-resistant coating disposed on the outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier.

4 . The waterproof fabric of claim 3 , wherein a waterproof tape is applied over the abrasion-resistant coating, and wherein the waterproof tape bonds to both the abrasion-resistant coating and the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier.

5 . The waterproof fabric of claim 3 , wherein the abrasion-resistant coating covers about 15-50% of a surface area of the waterproof fabric.

6 . The waterproof fabric of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier comprises titanium dioxide.

7 . The waterproof fabric of claim 1 , wherein the PFC-free DWR agent comprises paraffin or a silicon-based active ingredient.

8 . The waterproof fabric of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier comprises polyurethane.

9 . The waterproof fabric of claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier comprises 1-20% by weight polyurethane.

10 . The waterproof fabric of claim 1 , wherein the PFC-free DWR agent comprises 15-25% by weight active water repellant ingredient.

11 . The waterproof fabric of claim 10 , wherein the PFC-free DWR agent comprises 15-25% by weight isobutyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol.

12 . The waterproof fabric of claim 11 , wherein the PFC-free DWR agent comprises 50-70% by weight water.

13 . The waterproof fabric of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier is PFC-free.

14 . The waterproof fabric of claim 1 , wherein hydrophobic, waterproof barrier is pigmented.

15 . The waterproof fabric of claim 14 , wherein the pigment comprises one or more natural pigments.

18 . The waterproof fabric of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier comprises one or more of charcoal, indigo, and bamboo pigments to impart color.

17 . The waterproof fabric of claim 1 , wherein the waterproof fabric is undyed.

18 . A method of making a waterproof article, the method comprising:
providing a base fabric having a body-facing surface and an outward-facing surface; disposing a hydrophobic, waterproof barrier on the outward-facing surface of the base fabric, thereby forming a waterproof fabric; and disposing a PFC-free DWR agent on the outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
disposing an abrasion-resistant coating on the outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
forming an article with the waterproof fabric, wherein forming the article comprises creating a seam between two pieces of the waterproof fabric; and bonding a waterproof tape to an outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier, wherein bonding the waterproof tape comprises aligning the waterproof tape to cover the seam.

Assignees

• Columbia Sportswear Na Inc

Inventors

• Blackford Michael E Woody
• Mergy Jeffrey Thomas
• Gates Craig M
• Skankey Wayne Alan

Classifications

• B32B27/20

  using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents · CPC title

• B32B27/40

  comprising polyurethanes · CPC title

• B32B27/12 Primary

  next to a fibrous or filamentary layer · CPC title

• B32B2307/7265

  Non-permeable · CPC title

• A41D31/245

  using layered materials · CPC title