Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
..
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
DESCRIPTION
MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS USING STRIP OF REAL OR ARTIFICIAL FUR
S T~C'HNTC L FIELD
The present invention relates to materials using strips
of real or artificial fur. It also relates to products using
such materials.
EA .K ~RO 1ND ART
Products using real or artificial fur materials come in
various types and sizes . As is known, real fur can be obtained
from several kinds of animals including foxes, rabbits, minks,
etc . Among these, mink fur is very popular for fabricating
garments for example.
Unfavorably, a single mink may be able to provide only
a small amount of fur which is insufficient to make a desired
garment. For example, an overcoat is a rather large garment,
the fabrication of which may require many minks . In such an
instance, pieces of fur material obtained from a certain
number of minks may first be cut into a suitable shape, and
then sewn together, to make the final product.
Unfavorably, the conventional mink coat tends to be
rather heavy and look monotonous (hence too conservative)
since many fur pieces of the same kind are used.
Further, the fabrication of the conventional coat
requires every piece of fur material to be larger than a
1
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
certain minimum standard. However, it is not always easy to
prepare such fur material in sufficient quantities.
One conventional way to address the above problems is as
follows . First, raw fur is cut into a number of strips . Then,
the obtained fur strips are put together to provide a secondary
raw material from which a final product is obtained.
Specifically, JP-U-61(1986)-155384, JP-A-64(1989)-
45836 and JP-A-1(1989)-213432 teach that a strip of fur
material is woven with another strip of fur or non-fur material
to produce a secondary raw material. Likewise, JP-U-
No.3027596 teaches that a strip of fur material and a string
of wool are knitted to provide a secondary raw material.
JP-A-5(1993)-171551 , JP-A-6(1994)-81000 and JP-U-
No.3008585 teach that a strip of fur material is intertwined
with a net-like base.
JP-U-57 ( 1982 ) -74953 teaches an alternate arrangement of
fur strips and elastic cloth strips. These two kinds of
strips are sewn together to provide a secondary raw material .
Besides this, JP-U-57-74953 teaches a checkerboard
arrangement of rectangularfurstrips and rectangular elastic
cloth. Again, these strips are sewn together to provide a
secondary raw material.
The above-mentioned JP-A-5-171551 reference discloses
that the net-like base is made of polyester thread, while
JP-A-6-81000 discloses that the net-like base is made of
mixed-spun thread of hemp and rayon. It should be noted here
that both the polyester thread and the hemp-rayon thread are
2
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
substantially non-elastic material.
The conventional secondary raw materials described above
have been found disadvantageous in the following respects.
The above secondary raw materials, except the ones
disclosed in JP-U-57-74953, are fundamentally of non-elastic
nature. (Of course, they cannot be completely rigid, and are
prone to slight distortion upon application of a stretching
force) . Thus, when the conventional materials are used for
making clothing such as vests, sweaters, etc., the final
products (i.e., vests, sweaters, etc.) should be considerably
large for allowing the wearers to easily put on or take off
them. However, these unduly large garments are
uncomfortable to wear and may give an unattractive appearance .
Consequently, the value of the garments as commercial
commodities may be degraded.
On the other hand, when use is made of the materials
disclosed in JP-U-57-74953, the resulting garments may fit
the wearers very well. However, the conventional technique
requires the weaving of many fur materials and elastic cloth
pieces, which may take a great deal of time and labor, thereby
reducing the productivity. In addition, the woven parts of .
the garments are relatively weak and therefore liable to split
when an external force is exerted. The problems of lowered
productivity and reduced strength may be aggravated when the
fur strips and the elastic cloth pieces are made smaller in
width. (For aesthetic purposes, the widths of each fur strip
and each cloth piece are preferably as small as possible, so
3
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
that the elastic cloth and the skin of the fur strip are
entirely hidden in the hair of the fur.
Another problem may occur in using the conventional fur
strips. When a winter coat (or other heavy winter clothes
as well) is made of non-fur material such as wool, a fur
accessory may often be attached to e.g. the collar, the cuffs,
the hood, or the hem of the coat . Preferably, the accessory
is removable, so that the wearer can replace one accessory
with another depending upon the weather or any other condition.
Specific means for achieving such a replaceable arrangement
may be a combination of buttons attached to the coat and
cooperative button holes formed in the fur accessory.
disadvantageously, when the fur accessory is made of a
conventional non-elastic fur material, the removal or
attachment easiness of the accessory will conflict with the
stability of the accessory. Specifically, when the button
holes of the accessory are made large enough for facilitating
the attachment or removal of the accessory, the accessory may
accidentally come off the buttons rather readily. On the
other hand, when the button holes of the accessory are made
small enough to reliably prevent the accidental come-off of
the accessory, the wearer may find it difficult to pass the
buttons on the coat through the button holes of the accessory.
DIS _LOS 1R . O TH . TNV .N TON
The present invention has been proposed under the
circumstances described above-. It is, therefore, an object
4
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
of the present invention to provide a fur material which does
not suffer from the above-described conventional problems.
Another obj ect of the present invention is to provide products
using such an advantageous fur material. Examples of
products may be ~ clothing such as sweaters, vests, jackets,
overcoats or gowns ~ accessories for clothing, such as collar
trims, cuff trims or hem trims ~personal items for keeping
warm or decoration, such as mufflers, shawls, leg warmers,
wrist bands, arm warmers, belts, lap robes, hats or gloves
bedding such as blankets or ,7apanese futon ~ toys or
entertaining items such as stuffed animals or animal
costumes ~ containers such as bags or pouches, and accessories
for such containers.
According to a first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a fur material comprising: an elastic base
having an obverse surface and a reverse surface; and a fur
strip including hair covering at least either one of the
obverse and the reverse surfaces . The fur strip is attached
to the base in a manner allowing the base to be stretchable .
The elastic base may be expandable only in one direction
or in more directions.
According to a preferred embodiment, the elastic base
comprises an elastic net including warps and wefts, wherein
at least one of the warps and the wefts is elastic. The fur
strip is wound around at least one of the warps and the wefts
in a manner causing the hair to extend outward.
5
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
According to another preferred embodiment, the elastic
base comprises an elastic net including warps and wefts to
form meshes, wherein at least one of the warps and the wefts
is elastic. The fur strip alternately passes through the
meshes without winding around the warps nor the wefts.
Preferably, the fur material may further comprise a piece
of elastic cloth attached to an edge of the net.
According to a preferred embodiment, the elastic base
comprises a piece of elastic cloth
According to a second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a product comprising: a first portion; and
a second portion connected to the first portion. The first
portion comprises a fur material including: an elastic base
having an obverse surface and a reverse surface; and a fur
strip including hair covering at least either one of the
obverse and the reverse surfaces, wherein the fur strip is
attached to the base in a manner allowing the base to be
stretchable.
According to a third aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a piece of clothing comprising: a main body
made of a non-fur material and provided with a button; and
an accessory attached to the main body by the button. The
accessory is made of a fur material which comprises an elastic
net and a fur strip attached to the elastic net in a manner
allowing the net to be stretchable. The net includes a
plurality of meshes one of which is engaged with the button
of the main body.
6
CA 02413159 2005-06-17
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an accessory for clothing, wherein the
clothing is provided with a button. The accessory
comprises: an elastic net; and a fur strip attached to the
elastic net in a manner allowing the net to be stretchable.
The net includes a first row of meshes and a second row of
meshes, wherein the first row is used for engagement with
the fur strip, and the second row is used for engagement
with the button of the clothes.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention
there is a fur material comprising: an elastic base having
an obverse surface and a reverse surface; and a fur strip
including hair covering at least either one of the obverse
and the reverse surfaces, the fur strip being attached to
the base in a manner allowing the base to be stretchable,
wherein the base comprises an elastic net including warps
and wefts, at least one of the warps and the wefts being so
elastic that deformation thereof is noticeable by a user of
the fur material, the fur strip being wound helically
around said at least one of the warps and the wefts with
the hair extending outward.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention there is a fur material comprising: a base having
an obverse surface and a reverse surface; and a fur strip
attached to the base without hampering elasticity of the
base; wherein the base comprises a net that is provided
with a plurality of meshes and is rendered so elastic at
least in a prescribed direction that deformation thereof is
noticeable by a user of the fur material, the fur strip
being attached to the net in a manner such that the fur
strip alternately passes through the meshes of the net
without winding around strings of the net, the hair of the
7
CA 02413159 2005-06-17
fur strip being exposed outside of the net, and wherein the
fur strip extends longitudinally in a direction
perpendicular to said prescribed direction.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention there is a fur material comprising: a piece of
cloth that has an obverse surface and a reverse surface and
is rendered so elastic in a prescribed direction that
deformation thereof is noticeable by a user of the fur
material; and a fur strip including hair covering at least
either one of the obverse surface and the reverse surface,
the fur strip being attached to the cloth in a manner
allowing the cloth to be stretchable; wherein the fur strip
extends longitudinally in a direction perpendicular to said
prescribed direction.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention there is a fur material comprising: a piece of
cloth having an obverse surface and a reverse surface, the
cloth being so elastic that deformation thereof is
noticeable by a user of the fur material; and a fur strip
including hair covering at least either one of the obverse
and the reverse surfaces; wherein the fur strip is sewn to
the cloth to provide a plurality of arches for allowing the
cloth to be stretchable.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present
invention there is a product comprising: a first portion;
and a second portion connected to the first portion;
wherein the first portion comprises a fur material
including: a net having an obverse surface and a reverse
surface, the net being so elastic that deformation thereof
is noticeable by a user of said product; and a fur strip
including hair covering at least either one of the obverse
7a
CA 02413159 2005-06-17
and the reverse surfaces, the fur strip being attached to
the net in a manner allowing the net to be stretchable,
wherein the fur strip winds helically around a string of
the net.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a fur material
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an elastic net used for
the fur material of the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the fur material of the
first embodiment, with some part cut away;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the fur material
of the first embodiment;
FIG. 5 illustrates the fur material of the first
embodiment used as a cuff trim;
FIG. 6 illustrates the fur material of the first
embodiment used as a collar trim;
FIG. 7 illustrates the fur material of the first
embodiment used as a trim for a hood;
FIG. 8 illustrates the fur material of the first
embodiment used as different kinds of trims for a jacket;
7b
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
Fig. 9 illustrates how the fur material of the first
embodiment is attached to a piece of clothes;
Fig. 10 is a plan view showing an elastic net used for
the collar trim shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 11 shows a muffler according to a second embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 12 shows a muffler according to a third embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 13 shows an accessory according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 14 and 15 show a muffler according to a fifth
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 16 shows a fur material according to a sixth
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 17 shows a fur material according to a seventh
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 18 shows a fur material according to an eighth
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 19 shows a fur material according to a ninth
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 20 shows a principal part of a fur material according
to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 21 shows a principal part of a fur material according
to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 22 shows a principal part of a fur material according
to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention;
8
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
Fig. 23 shows a principal part of a fur material according
to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 24 shows a principal part of a fur material according
to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 25 shows a principal part of a fur material according
to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 26 shows a sectional view showing a fur material
according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 27 shows a fur material according to a seventeenth
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 28 shows a fur material according to an eighteenth
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 29 is a sectional view taken along lines X-X in Fig.
28;
Fig . 3 0 shows a fur material according to a nineteenth
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig . 31 shows a a fur material according to a twentieth
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 32 is a sectional view taken along lines Y-Y in Fig.
31;
Fig. 33 shows a fur material according to a twenty-first
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 34 shows a fur material according to a twenty-second
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 35 shows a fur material according to a twenty-third
embodiment of the present invention;
9
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
Fig. 36 is a sectional view taken along lines Z-Z in Fig.
35;
Fig. 37 shows a fur material according to a twenty-fourth
embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 38 shows a fur material according to a twenty-fifth
embodiment of the present invention.
The present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
(1) First Embodiment (Figs. 1-10)
Figs. 1-10 illustrate a fur material according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. As best shown in Fig.
1, the fur material 1 includes an elastic base or net 2 and
a fur strip 3. The fur strip 3 may be obtained by cutting
the hide of a rabbit into narrow strips each having a width
of 1-5mm for example.
The elastic net 2 is made up of warps 4 and wefts 5. Each
of the warps 4 and wefts 5 is an excellent elastic member which
may include a rubber string (core) wound up by fine threads .
As shown in Fig. 1, a thick reinforcing string 6 is attached
to a marginal weft 5. The reinforcing string 6 also has an
excellent elasticity. Thus, the elastic net2 is stretchable
in every direction ( see Fig . 2 , where only two directions are
shown for simplicity of illustration).
The mesh size of the net 2 may be 2-5mmX 2-5mm for allowing
the insertion of the fur strip 3. The warps 4 and the wefts
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
may be as thin as possible to achieve a weight reduction
of the fur material 1, or to make the net 2 less conspicuous .
Preferably, the color of the warps 4 and wefts 5 is the same
as or similar to the color of the fur, thereby preventing the
5 net 2 from standing out in the fur material 1.
As shown in Fig . 3 , the fur strip 3 is wound spirally around
the pair of the reinforcing string 6 and the marginal weft
5, thereby stitching the first longitudinal row of the net
meshes . The pitch of the spiral is equal to the pitch of the
meshes in the first longitudinal row. The other longitudinal
rows of net meshes (three rows in Fig. 3) remain to be
unstitched by the fur strip 3. This unstitched area 2a of
the net 2 will be referred to as "attachment area" below.
According to the present invention, the fur strip 3 may
be wound around a different weft 5 than the illustrated
marginal weft 5. Further, two or more wefts 5 may be wound
up together by the fur strip 3. In this case, at least one
longitudinal row of net meshes should be left unstitched to
provide an attachment area 2a.
The fur strip 3 is wound up around the winding core ( i . a . ,
the marginal weft 5 and reinforcing string 6) in a manner
causing the hairs of the fur to extend generally outward from
the core. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, the fur strip 3 conceals
a part of the net 2 that is closer to the winding core. The
upper and the lower sides of this particular part are invisibly
covered by the fur.
11
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
Due to the spiral winding, the net length of the fur strip
3 is rendered much greater than the length of the net 2 . This
allows the net 2 to be stretched in every direction,
particularly in the longitudinal direction of the net 2,
though the fur strip 3 itself is not expandable in its
longitudinal direction. The reinforcing string 6 helps to
maintain the original shape of the fur material 1.
The above-described fur material 1 can be utilized in many
ways . Figs . 5-8 show some of the examples in which the fur
material 1 is used as an accessory for clothing. Specifically,
Fig. S shows the fur material 1 used as a trim 8a of the cuff
of a coat 7a. Fig. 6 shows the fur material 1 used as a trim
8b attached to the collar of a cloak 7b. FiQ. 7 shows the
fur material 1 used as a trim 8c for a hood 7c. Fig. 8 shows
the fur material 1 used as a trim 8a, 8b or 8d for a jacket
7d.
Fig. 9 shows how the trims 8a-8d (collectively denoted
by reference numeral 8) are removably attached to the clothing
7a-7d (collectively denoted by reference numeral 7). As
illustrated, a suitable number of buttons 9 are sewn to the
clothing 7. Each button 9 is engaged with one of the meshes
in the attachment area 2a of the net 2. The diameter D of
the button 9 is great enough to prevent the engaging mesh from
coming off accidentally. On the other hand, it is easy to
bring the net 2 into engagement with the button 9, since the
meshes of the net 2 can be readily expanded. Further, the
pitch' P of the meshes is very small (2-5mm for example) . Thus,
12
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
even if the buttons 9 are not disposed exactly at predetermined
positions on the clothing 7, it is possible to properly attach
the trim 8 to the clothing 7.
In place of the buttons 9 , use may be made of other kinds
of fasteners including hooks, zippers, etc., for removably
attaching the trim 8 to the clothing 7. Alternatively, the
trim 8 may be sewn to the clothing 7 for more stable fixation.
For keeping warm, the cuff of the clothing 7 may
preferably be puckered by the cuff trim 8a to such an extent
that the wrist of the wearer is not uncomfortably constricted.
With the cuff thus narrowed, the wearer still finds no trouble
in passing his or her hand through the cuff due to the
substantial elasticity of the trim 8a ( i . a . , fur material 1 ) .
As seen from Fig. 8, the collar trim 8b may preferably
taper toward its both ends. Further, the collar trim 8b
should perfectly fit the collar of the jacket 7d. To meet
these requirements, the elastic net 2 for the collar trim 8b
may need to have a crescent configuration, as shown in Fig.
10 (plan view).
(2) Second Embodiment (Fig. 11)
According to the second embodiment, the fur material 1
i s used to provide a muf f ler 10 , as shown in Fig . 11 . Though
not illustrated, an elongated elastic net is used as a base
to which fur strips 3 (see Fig. 1) are attached in an expandable
manner.
13
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
(3) Third Embodiment (Fig. l2)
According to the third embodiment, the fur material 1 is
used to provide a loop muffler 10, as shown in Fig. 12. In
this case again, the muffler 10 is suitably expandable, so
that the wearer can easily put it on or take it off.
(4) Fourth Embodiment (Fig. 13)
According to the fourth embodiment, the fur material 1
is used to provide an ornament 12 for a hat 11 . As illustrated,
the ornament 12 is provided with an expandable loop portion
into which the dome of the hat 11 is fitted.
In this embodiment, the fur material 1 is used as an
ornament for the hat 11. However, according to the present
invention, the hat 11 itself may be made of the fur material
1. In this case, the resulting hat is expandable, so that
it can fit any person.
(5) Fifth Embodiment (Figs. 14-15)
According to the fifth embodiment, the fur material 1 is
used to provide a muffler 10. As best shown in Fig. 14, the
elastic net 2 is provided with a slit 13 closer to one of the
ends of the muffler 10. In Fig. 14, the net 2 is depicted
as partially exposed for clarity of illustration, though
actually it is invisibly covered by the fur. The slit 13 may
preferably be elongated along an imaginary center line
extending longitudinally of the muffler 10. To wear the
muffler 10, the other end of the muffler 10 is inserted into
the slit 13, as shown in Fig. 15, thereby providing a loop
to encircle the neck of the wearer. Due to the fluffiness,
14
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
the inserted end of the muffler 10 does not easily come off
from the slit 13.
As shown in Fig . 14 , the muf f ler 10 may be divided into
four (or other number of) longitudinal regions different in
color, pattern, etc. To achieve this, different types of fur
strips 3 may be attached to the base net 2 . In the illustrated
example, each striped region extends longitudinally of the
muffler 10, though the present invention is not limited to
this. For instance, the striped regions may extendcrosswise
of the muffler 10.
When the present invention is applied to a muffler, the
base net 2 may suffice to be stretchable only in the
longitudinal direction of the muffler.
(6) Sixth Embodiment (Fig. 16)
According to the sixth embodiment, a fur strip 3 (the
hairs omitted for clarity of illustration) is attached to a
double-layer base which consists of an expandable net 2 and
an expandable cloth 14. With such an arrangement, fastening
pieces such as hooks or buttons can be easily fixed to the
base.
(7) Seventh Embodiment (Fig. 17)
According to the seventh embodiment, a fur strip 3 is
attached to a single-layer expandable cloth base 11 which may
be obtained by weaving or knitting expandable threads. As
shown in Fig. 17, the cloth base 11 is formed with a plurality
of holes 15 arranged at regular intervals along a longitudinal
edge. The fur strip 3 is put through one hole after another
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
in a spiral manner, thereby winding around the longitudinal
edge of the base 11.
In the illustrated example, permanently open holes 15 are
provided for winding the fur strip 3 around a longitudinal
edge of the base 11. According to the present invention, in
place of the holes 15, a plurality of cuts may be formed to
extend through the thickness of the base 11. Since the base
11 (hence the cuts formed therein) is expandable, the fur strip
3 can be easily put through the cuts when being dilated.
(8) Eighth Embodiment (Fig. 18)
According to the eighth embodiment, as in the seventh
embodiment, a fur strip 3 is attached to a single-layer
expandable cloth base 14 . However, the cloth base 14 of this
embodiment is not formed with any holes as shown in Fig. 17.
Instead, an expandable string (or thread) 16 is sewn to a
longitudinal edge of the base 14 at suitable intervals (e.g.
2-4mm). The fur strip 3 is wound around the string 16.
(9) Ninth Embodiment (Fig. 19)
According to the ninth embodiment, fur strips 3 are each
wound around a relevant one of the wefts 5 of a net base 2
which is expandable in every direction. Alternatively, the
fur strips 3 may be wound around the warps 4 of the base 2
only, or both the wefts 5 and the warps 4 . Further, expandable
lining cloth may be attached to the net base 2.
The fur material 1 of the ninth embodiment may
advantageously be used to make various kinds of clothing
including sweaters, vests, etc. Since the fur material 1 is
16
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
highly expandable, the resulting garment fits the wearer very
well. Also, the relatively large fur material 1 of the ninth
embodiment is advantageously used for making a blanket,
sleeping bag, or the like. To provide such a relatively large
product, a number of fur materials 1 may be sewn together.
(10) Tenth-Fifteenth Embodiments (Figs. 20-25)
Figs. 20-25 show several examples of winding manners of
the fur strip 3.
Specifically, according to the tenth embodiment, as shown
in Fig . 2 0 , fur strips 3 are wound around every two wef is 5 .
According to the eleventh embodiment, as shown in Fig. 21,
fur strips 3 are wound around every three wefts 5.
According to the twelfth embodiment, as shown in Fig. 22,
the fur strip 3 is wound around a weft 5 in a manner such that
the fur strip 3 makes one turn about the weft 5 as it proceeds
two meshes of the net 2. In the above-mentioned tenth or
eleventh embodiment, on the other hand, the fur strip 3 makes
one turn about the weft 5 as it proceeds one mesh of the net
2.
According to the thirteenth embodiment, as shown in Fig.
23, the interval L1 of the wefts 5 is made smaller than the
interval L2 of the warps 4. Fur strips 3 are wound around
every two wefts 5.
According to the fourteenth embodiment, as shown in Fig.
24, two or more fur strips 3 are wound together around a weft
5 of the base net 2. These fur strips 3 may be different in
color, design, etc.
17
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
According to the fifteenth embodiment, as shown in Fig.
25, a fur strip 3 is wound around a weft 5 of the base net
2 in a manner such that the strip 3 makes two turns as it
proceeds one mesh of the net 2.
As seen from the above embodiments, the pitch of the turns
of a fur strip or mesh size of the base net may be varied in
many ways. By changing these parameters, it is possible to
alter the fluffiness of the resulting fur material.
(11) Sixteenth Embodiment (Fig. 26)
According to the sixteenth embodiment, an artificial fur
material is provided. Specifically, Fig.26shows in section
a fur string 17 which is made up of a thread core 18 and
artificial fur 19 extending radially from the core 18. The
fur 19 may be prepared separately from the core 18 and
implanted to the core 18. Alternatively, the fur 19 may be
obtained by napping the core 18. Preferably, the core 18 is
an elastic string or thread.
In the above artificial fur string 17, the core 18 is
invisibly surrounded by the fur 19, though the present
invention is not limited to this. For instance, artificial
fur (made of e.g. polyester) may be implanted to one side of
an artificial leather strip. In this case, the other side
of the strip may not be covered by the fur, thereby being
exposed to the exterior.
(12) Seventeenth Embodiment (Fig. 27)
According to the seventeenth embodiment, as shown in Fig.
27, at least one fur strip 3 is wound around each of the
18
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
marginal weft 5 and the marginal warp 4 for decorating purposes .
In this case, the marginal fur strips 3 may preferably be
different in color, pattern, etc., from the other (i.e.,
inner) fur strips 3.
(13) Eighteenth Embodiment (Figs. 28-29)
According to~the eighteenth embodiment, a fur material
1 is provided with an elastic net 2 and a piece of elastic
cloth 20 sewn to the edges of the net 2. Such an arrangement
is advantageous to facilitating the sewing of the the fur
material 1 to other materials . Fur strips 3 are wound around
the wefts 5 and warps 4. Most fur 3a of each fur strip 3
extends away from the net 2 on the upper and the lower sides
of the net 2. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 29, some
of the fur 3a that is disposed along the edges of the net 2
overhangs the elastic cloth 20. This is advantageous for
covering the unattractive cloth portion.
(14) Nineteenth Embodiment (Fig. 30)
According to the nineteenth embodiment, as shown in Fig.
30, use is made of reinforcing strings 6 attached to an elastic
base net 2 for maintaining the original shape of the fur
material 1. In the illustrated example, vertical and
horizontal reinforcing strings 6 are disposed at suitable
intervals.
(15) Twentieth Embodiment (Figs. 31-32)
According to the twentieth embodiment, as best shown in
Fig. 32, a non-elastic fur strip 3 alternates over and under
the warps 4 of a base~net 2, thereby alternately passing
19
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
through one mesh after another of the net. In Fig. 31, the
hairs 3a of each fur strip 3 are omitted for clarity of
illustration.
In this embodiment, the wefts 5 of the net 2 are
substantially non-elastic, while the warps 4 are highly
expandable. Thus, the fur material 1 is expandable only in
one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of
each fur strip 3. Such a one-way stretchable fur material
may advantageously be used for making coats or j ackets since
these garments do not need to be expandable in the vertical
direction (in the horizontal direction, they may preferably
be stretchable).
Preferably, the above warps 4 and the wefts 5 (or at least
either the warps 4 or wefts 5) are as thin as possible so that
these threads are unnoticed even when the fur material 1 is
stretched. Advantageously, the warps 4 and the wefts 5 are
rendered identical or similar in color to the hairs 3a of each
fur strip 3.
In place of the non-elastic fur strip 3, use may be made
of the elastic fur string 17 shown in Fig. 26. In this case,
both the upper and the lower sides of the fur material 1 are
covered by the hairs of the fur string 17. When the wefts
5 of the net 2 are elastic, the fur material 1 using the strings
17 is rendered expandable in every direction.
(16) Twenty-first Embodiment (Fig. 33)
According to the twenty-first embodiment, a fur strip 3
is wound around an elastic rubber string 21, as shown in Fig.
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
33, thereby providing an expandable fur string. This fur
string, as illustrated, is caused to alternate over and under
the warps 4 of a base net 2. The warps 4 and wefts 5 of the
net 2 are rendered elastic. In addition, the above-mentioned
fur string (3, 21) is stretchable. Thus, the resulting fur
material 1 is expandable in every direction.
In the illustrated example, the fur strip 3 is wound
around the core of rubber string2l. Alternatively, however,
the fur strip 3 and the rubber string 21 may be twisted into
an elastic cord.
(17) Twenty-second Embodiment (Fig. 34)
According to the twenty-second embodiment, as shown in
Fig. 34, elastic cloth 14 is used as an expandable base to
which a plurality of fur strips 3 are attached. The cloth
14 is formed with many slits for passing the fur strips 3 to
allow each fur strip 3 to alternate over and under the cloth
14. Fig. 34 shows the obverse surface of the cloth 14.
According to this embodiment, each fur strip 3 is exposed more
on the obverse side of the cloth 14 than on the reverse side
of the cloth, so that the obverse surface of the cloth 14 is
invisibly covered by the hairs 3a of the fur strips 3.
(18) Twenty-third Embodiment (Figs. 35-36)
According to the twenty-third embodiment, as in the
twenty-second embodiment described above, use is made of
elastic cloth 14 which is expandable in every direction.
Non-elastic fur strips 3 are stitched to the cloth 14 by
elastic thread 22. As illustrated, each fur strip 3 is sewn
21
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
to the cloth 14 at suitable intervals . As best shown in Fig .
36, each fur strip 3 arches between neighboring stitch
portions, thereby providing room for the fur material 1 to
be expanded in the longitudinal direction of the fur strips
3. For providing such an arching configuration, use may be
.made of an inner support member 23 and an outer pressing member
24 cooperative with the inner member 23 . Specifically, while
the inner member 23 is being held between the base cloth 14
and the fur strip 3 , the outer member 24 is lowered to press
the fur strip 3 onto the inner member 23 . Then, the fur strip
3 is stitched to the cloth 14, to provide a desired arching
configuration.
(19) Twenty-fourth Embodiment (Fig. 37)
According to the twenty-fourth embodiment, fur strips 3
are diagonally attached to an elastic base net 2 . Each strip
3 may be woven with or wound around the threads of the net
2 for example.
(20) Twenty-fifth Embodiment (Fig. 38)
According to the twenty-fifth embodiment, first and
second elastic base nets 2', 2" are used for sandwiching a
plurality of fur strips 3. As illustrated, the hairs 3a of
the respective strips 3 extend generally in the same direction.
The first and the second nets 2' , 2" are secured to each other
by binding with thread or by a suitable adhesion technique.
Both the nets 2', 2" are expandable at least crosswise
of the fur strips 3. Preferably, the threads 4, 5 of the first
base net 2 ' are as thin as possible . The second base net 2 "
22
CA 02413159 2002-12-17
may be replaced by elastic cloth.
(21) Other Possibilities
According to the present invention, the base nets or cloth
may be replaced by other materials as long as the above-
described fur strings are reliably attached to them.
Regarding the base nets, the weaving pattern is not limited
to the rectangular mesh pattern disclosed in the drawings.
For example, the base net may be produced in a cobweb pattern.
Further, the elastic base may have a three-dimensional
structure like a cylinder.
It is possible to fix a fur strip to an elastic base over
the entire length of the strip.or in selected places of the
strip. The fixation may be achieved by adhesion, binding,
or ultrasonic bonding for example.
When the present invention is applied to clothing or
personal items, a plurality of fur material pieces may be sewn
together to provide a final product. Alternatively, a
three-dimensional basic structure (corresponding to the
final product) may first be prepared by using elastic base
nets, and then fur strips may be woven into the basic structure.
This alternative technique is suitable for making products
of a relatively simple structure such as vests or leg warmers .
23
