Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Item of Clothing
This invention relates to an item of clothing, in particular for being wom
directly on the skin; it
consists of at least two different yams.
The clothing items of the type in question here are essentially underwear
and/or stockings.
Especially high demands with regard to wearing comfort are made of these
clothing items
because they are constantly in direct contact with the skin of the wearer. The
materials used to
produce these clothing items must therefore be made of materials having a
pleasant feel. At the
same time, an important demand of such clothing items is that they must absorb
perspiration as it
is produced by the human body and must nevertheless retain the pleasant
wearing feeling. This
requirement is made of clothing items intended for wear in athletic activities
in particular
bccause perspiration production is definitely increased thcre because of the
many rapid
movements involved. Furthermore, the clothing items worn directly on the skin
are covered by
clothing or shoes worn directly on top of them, thus making it difficult for
the perspiration that
has been absorbed to evaporate.
It is known that to improve the properties of clothing items, one method is to
texturize the yarns
used. In texturizing, smooth structureless filament yacns based on synthetics
are given a
permanent crimp (crimped yarn) by utilizing their thermoplasticity. This
should influence the
hand and appearance of the yam to make it like spun yarn, while increasing its
volume for the
purpose of increased retention of heat and absorption of moisture and
increasing its stretchability
and elasticity (see Brockhaus Encyclopedia, 190' edition, vol. 52, "Tep-Ur,"
p. 49).
In addition, there are known so-called pile fabrics having a furry surface or-
thread loops on one
or both sides. These fabrics also include terry cloth, which usually consists
of two different.
materials, e.g., polyester and wool which are twisted together unevenly,
whereby loops are
formed by the one material (e.g., wool) so that the loops protrude out of the
fabric and yield an
irregular pile effect that is visible on both sides of the fabric (see
Brockhaus Encyclopedia,
19th edition, vol. 7, "Ex-Frt," p. 701).
These pile fabrics also include terry cloth that consists of a base fabric
with pile loops
woven into it. Because of the high absorbency required, terry cloth is made
primarily of
cotton yarn and twisted yarn (see Brockhaus Encyclopedia, 19th edition, vol.
7, "Ex-Frt,"
p. 701). Although the clothing items produced from the fabrics mentioned above
have a
relatively good ability to take up moisture, the moisture is absorbed by the
entire fabric, so
that the fibers of the fabric which come
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in contact with the skin are moist, which thus has a very
negative effect on wearing comfort. At the same time, in
particular in the case of stockings made of such materials,
the risk of blisters forming on the foot is relatively high.
The present invention seeks to remedy this situation. The
object of some embodiments of this invention is to create
clothing items, in particular for being worn directly on the
skin, which will have a high wearing comfort that will not
decline even if the wearer perspires heavily. According to
an aspect of this invention, the yarn facing the skin has a
completely closed (i.e. sealed) and smooth surface and
consists of one piece. This object is also achieved by the
fact that the yarn facing the skin consists of a plurality
of individual filaments that are joined to form a fiber and
it has a closed and smooth surface.
This invention creates a clothing item, in particular for
being worn directly on the skin, which has a high wearing
comfort. The yarn facing the skin is not capable of
absorbing moisture because of its completely closed surface.
Instead, the moisture is directed in the direction of the
yarn which faces away from the skin and absorbs the
moisture. This results in exclusively "dry yarn" being in
contact with the skin even when the wearer is perspiring
heavily, so this gives the impression that the entire
clothing item is dry. Therefore, the wearing comfort is
high even for those participating in extreme athletic
activities, for example.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided item of clothing, in particular for being worn
directly on the skin, said item comprising at least two
different yarns, wherein the second yarn facing the skin is
coated, has a completely sealed and smooth surface, is made
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of one piece and does not absorb moisture, and the first
yarn does absorb moisture.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided item of clothing, in particular for being worn
directly on the skin, said item comprising at least two
different yarns, wherein the second yarn facing the skin
consists of a plurality of individual filaments which are
joined to form a fiber being coated, having a sealed and
smooth surface, said second yarn not being moisture
absorbent, and said first yarn being moisture absorbent.
In another refinement of this invention, the yarn is coated. The coating is
preferably applied
galvanically, which ensures, among other things, that the coating will cover
the entire surface of
the yarn.
The coating preferably consists of silver, copper or gold. These coatings have
a magnetic
shielding effect. Silver and copper also prevent the spread of bacteria or
even kill bacteria. In
particular when worn on the foot, the skin cells are renewed most frequently.
Therefore, stratum
comeum, i.e., a horny layer, or dead skin layers often develop in the
preliminary stage, where
bacteria and foot fungus accumulate. With the help of these coatings, bacteria
are killed by the
metal ions contained in the coating and/or the propagation of the bacteria or
fungi is prevented.
This reduces the risk of foot odor and foot fungus. Use of these coatings in
underwear reduces
the odor due to perspiration. Gold also has an antistatic effect. There is no
oxidation so the high
conductivity is preserved.
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In another embodiment of this invention, the coating consists of
polytetrafluoroethylene. This
material, which is known by the brand name Teflon, is also characterized by
good lubricant
properties. When used as a coating for the yarn, this results in a great
reduction in the friction of
the clothing on the skin, which also contributes to an increase in wearing
comfort.
Other embodiments and refinements of this invention are characterized in the
other subclaims.
An exemplary embodiment of this invention is depicted in the drawing and is
described in
greater detail below. The figures show:
Figure 1 a detail of a clothing item consisting of two different yarns;
Figure 2 a cross section through two woven yarns with a coating, where the
yarn is
produced from monofilament, shown on an enlarged scale;
Figure 3 a clothing item in the form of a sock and
Figure 4 a clothing item in the form of a body suit.
The clothing items of the type in question here are those that come in direct
contact with the
skin, as is the case with stockings and underwear in particular. The clothing
item consists of two
different yarns, namely yarn 1, which is facing away from the skin - toward
the outside - while
yarn 2 is facing the skin - toward the inside. Yam 1 is usually a yam known
for use in clothing
items, e.g., cotton, wool or the like.
The yarn 2 facing the skin has a completely closed and smooth surface in the
exemplary
embodiment according to Figure 1. It consists of one piece, which means in
particular that the
yarn 2 consists essentially of a single thread. The yarn 2 is essentially
inelastic and is woven with
the yarn 1, forming a"crimped" surface. This design may also be referred to as
"loops." The yarn
2 has a very great thickness. The thickness preferably amounts to 84 dtex.
Processing is
performed by means of edges [sic; carding], for example, causing the yarn 2 to
crimp. Due to the
crimped form of the yarn 2, a relatively dense surface is formed on the side
facing the skin when
this yarn is woven together with yarn 1. As a result approximately 80 to 90%
of the skin covered
by the clothing item is in contact with the yarn 2. Thus an almost completely
closed dry surface
is created on the inside of the clothing item, imparting an extremely pleasant
feel in wearing, in
particular for the case when the yarn 1 has already taken up moisture.
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In a modification, the yarn 2 may consist of a plurality of fibers, which are
tangled together
(Figure 2). The yam 2 preferably consists of monofilaments 21 which are joined
to form a fiber.
The fiber thus created may also be edged [sic; carded] to produce a crimped
shape. The yarn 2
consisting of a plurality of fibers is also woven with the yarn 1.
In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1, the yarn 2 is coated. The
coating 3 is
preferably applied galvanically. The coating 3 consists of copper, silver,
gold, polytetra-
fluoroethylene or the like. Different effects can be achieved with the help of
different coatings.
For example, an antifungal effect can be achieved with the help of copper or
silver. A coating of
polytetrafluoroethylene, however, causes a reduction in the friction produced
by the clothing
item on the skin.
Even when the yarn 2 is produced from a plurality of fibers according to the
exemplary
embodiment as depicted in Figure 2, it is also coated. The coating 3 also
consists here of the
substances mentioned above. First, there is the possibility of coating each
individual fiber 21 and
then combining them to form the yarn 2. However, there is also the possibility
of first combining
the fibers 21 to form the yarn 2 and then coating them.
For example, Figure 3 shows a sock as the clothing item, in particular for
athletic activities. The
sock consists of a foot part 4 and a shaft 5. The foot part 4 has a toe area
41, a heel area 42 and a
tread area 43 between the toe area and the heel area.
The shaft 5 is provided with a collar 51 on its end facing away from the foot
part 4. In the area of
the calf, the shaft 5 is provided with cushions 52, whereby in the example
depicted here, strip-
shaped padding is provided. Other forms of padding are also possible. Cushions
53 are also
provided in the lower area of the ankle going into the span of the foot part.
Cushions may also be
provided in the area of the Achilles tendon.
The cushions are generally made of synthetic yams or woven compound fabrics or
yam or
similar materials. In the exemplary embodiment, the cushioning in the sock is
made of hollow
chamber fibers with wool or cotton spun around them. The hollow chamber
synthetic yarns have
particularly good shock absorbing and pressure damping effects.
In addition, the sock is provided with an X-cross bandage 54, which is made of
an elastic
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climate-regulating woven fabric. The X-cross bandage 54 supports the ankle in
the transitional
area between the leg and foot.
In the exemplary embodiment, an air channel 55 proceeds from the collar 51 and
extends into the
arch of the foot; it is made of a climate regulating mesh knit fabric. The air
channel 55
contributes to the wick function in leading moisture upward out of the contact
area of the sole.
Such an air channel 55 may also be provided on the sock on the outside of the
leg.
With the sock chosen here, the toe area 41, the heel area 42 and the sole area
43 between the toe
area and the heel area are made of the two different yarns 1, 2. Due to the
loop design, 80% to
90% of the skin contact here is with yarn 2. Since the yam 2 achieves the
effects described
above, very good prevention of foot fungus is achieved due to the design of
areas 41, 42 and 43
described here. It is of course also possible to design other areas of the
sock in the manner
described here.
Figure 4 shows as an example an item of clothing, in particular to be worn in
athletic activities.
The item of clothing, which is preferably worn as underwear, has different
climate zones,
different materials or combinations of materials are used over the entire item
of clothing,
depending on the particular burden of perspiration or stress. For example, air
channels 6 which
permit better air circulation and removal of moisture are provided. In
addition, 7 cushions are
provided at locations which are at particular risk, such as the knees or (not
shown) the elbows.
In the case of the clothing item depicted in Figure 4, the area of the armpits
8, the crotch 9 and
(not shown) the area of the back of the knees are made of the two different
yarns 1, 2. Here again
due to the loop design in these areas 80 to 90% of the skin comes in contact
with yarn 2. Since
the yarn 2 achieves the effects described above, a very good preventive effect
against the
development of diseases is achieved due to the design of the areas that are
exposed to high
bacterial levels. In addition, there is also a pleasant feeling in the areas
exposed to the most
perspiration when this item of clothing is worn.
