Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPAREL WITH DYNAMIC VENT STRUCTURE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Aspects herein are directed to an article of apparel that utilizes discrete
overlay
film structures that are responsive to an external stimulus to dynamically
transition one or more
vent openings from a closed state to an open state.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vent structures on traditional articles of apparel generally open and close
through use of a mechanical structure that requires human manipulation such as
a zipper or
fastener, passively open and close in response to air flowing in or out of the
vent structure, or
exist in a static state such as always open.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following clauses represent example aspects of concepts contemplated
herein. Any one of the following clauses may be combined in a multiple
dependent manner to
depend from one or more other clauses. Further, any combination of dependent
clauses
(clauses that explicitly depend from a previous clause) may be combined while
staying within
the scope of aspects contemplated herein. The following clauses are examples
and are not
limiting.
Clause 1. An article of apparel comprising: a first panel having a first panel
edge; a second panel having a second panel edge, wherein the first panel edge
is
discontinuously affixed to the second panel edge to form a vent opening having
a longitudinal
axis; and a plurality of discrete overlay film structures affixed to the
second panel, each of the
plurality of discrete overlay film structures having a long axis and a short
axis, wherein the
long axis of the each of the plurality of discrete overlay film structures is
oriented substantially
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vent opening, and wherein upon
exposure to
moisture the plurality of discrete overlay film structures undergo an increase
in dimension in
at least a z-direction to cause the vent opening to transition from a closed
state to an open state.
Clause 2. The article of apparel according to clause 1, wherein the plurality
of
discrete overlay film structures are not affixed to the first panel.
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Clause 3. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 1 through 2,
wherein
the plurality of discrete overlay film structures are affixed to an inner-
facing surface of the
second panel.
Clause 4. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 1 through 3,
wherein
the plurality of discrete overlay film structures are affixed to an outer-
facing surface of the
second panel.
Clause 5. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 1 through 4,
wherein
the plurality of discrete overlay film structures comprise a thermoplastic
polyester elastomer.
Clause 6. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 1 through 5,
wherein
the each of the plurality of discrete overlay film structures has a thickness
from about 30
microns to about 50 microns.
Clause 7. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 1 through 6,
wherein
the longitudinal axis of the vent opening extends in a first direction.
Clause 8. The article of apparel according to clause 7, wherein when the
plurality of discrete overlay film structures are exposed to moisture, the
second panel undergoes
a decrease in dimension in the first direction.
Clause 9. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 1 through 8,
wherein
the plurality of discrete overlay film structures are affixed to the second
panel at a location
adjacent to the vent opening.
Clause 10. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 1 through 9,
wherein the article of apparel is an upper-body garment.
Clause 11. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 1 through 9,
wherein the article of apparel is a lower-body garment.
Clause 12. An article of apparel comprising: a first panel having a first
panel
edge; a second panel having a second panel edge, wherein the first panel edge
is
discontinuously affixed to the second panel edge to form a vent opening having
a longitudinal
axis extending in a first direction; and a plurality of discrete overlay film
structures affixed to
the second panel, wherein upon exposure to moisture the plurality of discrete
overlay film
structures undergo a change in dimension in at least a z-direction to cause
the second panel to
undergo a decrease in dimension in the first direction thereby transitioning
the vent opening
from a closed state to an open state.
Clause 13. The article of apparel according to clause 12, wherein each of the
plurality of discrete overlay film structures includes a long axis and a short
axis.
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Clause 14. The article of apparel according to clause 13, wherein the long
axis
of the each of the plurality of discrete overlay film structures is oriented
substantially
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vent opening.
Clause 15. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 12 through 14,
wherein the plurality of discrete overlay film structures are not affixed to
the first panel.
Clause 16. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 12 through 15,
wherein the first panel does not undergo a decrease in dimension in the first
direction when the
plurality of discrete overlay film structures are exposed to moisture.
Clause 17. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 12 through 16,
wherein the plurality of discrete overlay film structures comprise a
thermoplastic polyester
elastomer.
Clause 18. The article of apparel according to any of clauses 12 through 17,
wherein each of the plurality of discrete overlay film structures has a
thickness from about 30
microns to about 50 microns.
Clause 19. A method of manufacturing an article of apparel having a vent
opening, the method of manufacturing comprising: discontinuously affixing a
first panel edge
of a first panel to a second panel edge of a second panel to form the vent
opening, the vent
opening having a longitudinal axis, wherein the first panel and the second
panel at least partially
form the article of apparel; and affixing a plurality of discrete overlay film
structures to the
second panel, each of the plurality of discrete overlay film structures
including a long axis and
a short axis, and wherein the long axes of the plurality of discrete overlay
film structures are
affixed to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vent
opening.
Clause 20. The method of manufacturing the article of apparel having the vent
opening according to clause 19, wherein the plurality of discrete overlay film
structures are
affixed to the second panel at a location adjacent to the vent opening.
Clause 21. A textile comprising: a slit extending from a first surface of the
textile to a second opposite surface of the textile, the slit comprising a
first edge, an opposing
second edge, a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending
between the first end
and the second end; a first plurality of discrete overlay film structures
positioned adjacent to
the first edge of the slit; and a second plurality of discrete overlay film
structures positioned
adjacent to the second edge of the slit, wherein each of the first plurality
of discrete overlay
film structures and each of the second plurality of discrete overlay film
structures includes a
long axis and a short axis, and wherein the long axes of the each of the first
plurality of discrete
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overlay film structures and the each of the second plurality of discrete
overlay film structures
are oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slit.
Clause 22. The textile according to clause 21, wherein when the textile is
exposed to an external stimulus, the first plurality of discrete overlay film
structures and the
second plurality of discrete overlay film structures undergo an increase in
dimension in at least
the z-direction to cause the slit to transition from a closed state to an open
state.
Clause 23. The textile according to any of clauses 21 through 22, wherein the
first plurality of discrete overlay film structures and the second plurality
of discrete overlay
film structures comprise a thermoplastic polyester elastomer.
Clause 24. The textile according to any of clauses 21 through 23, wherein the
first plurality of discrete overlay film structures and the second plurality
of discrete overlay
film structures have a thickness from about 30 microns to about 50 microns.
Clause 25. The textile according to any of clauses 21 through 24, wherein the
longitudinal axis of the slit extends in a first direction.
Clause 26. The textile according to clause 25, wherein when the first
plurality
of discrete overlay film structures and the second plurality of discrete
overlay film structures
are exposed to the external stimulus, the first edge and the second edge of
the slit undergo a
decrease in dimension in the first direction.
Clause 27. The textile according to any of clauses 21 through 26, wherein the
textile is incorporated into an upper-body garment.
Clause 28. The textile according to any of clauses 21 through 26, wherein the
textile is incorporated into a lower-body garment.
Clause 29. A textile construction comprising a first panel of material having
a
first plurality of apertures extending therethrough; a second panel of
material positioned
adjacent to the first panel of material, the second panel of material having a
second plurality of
apertures extending therethrough, wherein the first plurality of apertures are
at least partially
offset from the second plurality of apertures when the textile construction is
in a closed state;
and an overlay film structure affixed to and extending across a width of a
first end of the second
panel of material, wherein when the textile construction is exposed to
moisture, the overlay
film structure undergoes an increase in dimension in at least a z-direction to
cause the second
panel of material to shift in a lengthwise direction which at least partially
aligns the second
plurality of apertures with the first plurality of apertures to transition the
textile construction to
an open state.
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Clause 30. The textile construction according to clause 29, wherein the first
end
of the second panel of material includes a first edge that is affixed to the
first panel of material.
Clause 31. The textile construction according to any of clauses 29 through 30,
wherein a first set of additional edges of the second panel of material are
affixed to the first
panel of material.
Clause 32. The textile construction according to any of clauses 29 through 31,
wherein a second set of additional edges of the second panel of material are
unaffixed from the
first panel of material.
Clause 33. The textile construction according to any of clauses 29 through 32,
wherein the overlay film structure is a thermoplastic polyester elastomer.
Clause 34. The textile construction according to any of clauses 29 through 33,
wherein the overlay film structure has a thickness from about 30 microns to
about 50 microns.
Clause 35. The textile construction according to any of clauses 29 through 24,
wherein the overlay film structure includes a long axis and a short axis, and
wherein the long
axis of the overlay film structure extends across the width of the first end
of the second panel
of material.
Clause 36. The textile construction according to clause 35, wherein when the
textile construction is exposed to moisture, the second panel of material
shifts in a direction
that is substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the overlay film
structure.
Clause 37. The textile construction according to any of clauses 29 through 36,
wherein the textile construction is incorporated into an upper-body garment.
Clause 38. The textile construction according to any of clauses 29 through 36,
wherein the textile construction is incorporated into a lower-body garment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Examples of aspects herein are described in detail below with reference to the
attached drawing figures, wherein:
FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a first surface of an example
textile
having a plurality of discrete overlay film structures before the textile is
exposed to an external
stimulus in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of a second opposite surface of the
textile
of FIG. 1A in accordance with aspects herein;
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FIG. 1C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the textile of FIG. 1A taken
along
cut line 1C-1C in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 1D illustrates a cross-sectional view of the textile of FIG. 1A taken
along
cut line 1D-1D in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the first surface of the textile of
FIG.
1A after the textile is exposed to the external stimulus in accordance with
aspects herein;
FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of the second opposite surface of the
textile of FIG. 2A in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the textile of FIG. 2A taken
along
cut line 2C-2C in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 2D illustrates a cross-sectional view of the textile of FIG. 2A taken
along
cut line 2D-2D in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 3A illustrates a front view of an example upper-body garment having a
plurality of discrete overlay film structures and an example vent opening in a
closed state before
the upper-body garment is exposed to an external stimulus in accordance with
aspects herein;
FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of the upper-body garment of FIG. 3A after
the
upper-body garment is exposed to the external stimulus and the vent opening
has transitioned
to an open state in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 3C illustrates a cross-section taken along cut line 3C-3C of FIG. 3A
showing the vent opening in the closed state in accordance with aspects
herein;
FIG. 3D illustrates a cross-section taken along cut line 3D-3D of FIG. 3B
showing the vent opening in the open state in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 3E illustrates a view taken along a longitudinal axis of the vent opening
of
FIG. 3A in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 3F illustrates a view taken along the longitudinal axis of the vent
opening
of FIG. 3B in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 4A illustrates a back view of an example upper-body garment having a
plurality of discrete overlay film structures and an example vent opening in a
closed state before
the upper-body garment is exposed to an external stimulus in accordance with
aspects herein;
FIG. 4B illustrates a back view of the upper-body garment of FIG. 4A after the
upper-body garment is exposed to the external stimulus and the vent opening
has transitioned
to an open state in accordance with aspects herein;
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FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of an example lower-body garment having a
plurality of discrete overlay film structures and an example vent opening in a
closed state before
the lower-body garment is exposed to an external stimulus in accordance with
aspects herein;
FIG. 5B illustrates a front view of the lower-body garment of FIG. 5A after
the
lower-body garment is exposed to the external stimulus and the vent opening
has transitioned
to an open state in accordance with aspects herein;
FIGs. 6A-6B illustrate different shape configurations for the overlay film
structures in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 7A illustrates a side view of an example textile having overlay film
structures with different thicknesses before the textile is exposed to an
external stimulus in
accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 7B illustrates a side view of the textile of FIG. 7A after the textile is
exposed to the external stimulus in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method of manufacturing an
article of apparel that includes discrete overlay film structures and a vent
opening in accordance
with aspects herein.;
FIG. 9A illustrates an example textile before being exposed to an external
stimulus, where the textile has a slit and overlay film structures positioned
adjacent to the slit
in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 9B illustrates the textile of FIG. 9A after being exposed to the external
stimulus and with the slit in an open state in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 10A illustrates a textile construction before being exposed to an
external
stimulus, where the textile construction includes a first panel of material
having a first plurality
of apertures and a second panel of material having a second plurality
apertures that are offset
from the first plurality of apertures in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 10B illustrates a cross-section taken along cut line 10B-10B of FIG. 10A
in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 10C illustrates a cross-section taken along cut line 10C-10C of FIG. 10A
in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 10D illustrates a cross-section taken along cut line 10D-10D of FIG. 10A
in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 10E illustrates a cross-section taken along cut line 10E-10E of FIG. 10A
in accordance with aspects herein;
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FIG. 10F illustrates the textile construction of FIG. 10A after being exposed
to
an external stimulus, where the first plurality of apertures of the first
panel are at least partially
aligned with the second plurality apertures of the second panel in accordance
with aspects
herein;
FIG. 10G illustrates a cross-section taken along cut line 10G-10G of FIG. 10F
in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 10H illustrates a cross-section taken along cut line 10H-10H of FIG. 10F
in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 101 illustrates a cross-section taken along cut line 101-101 of FIG. 10F
in
accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 11 illustrates a first example vent structure before being exposed to an
external stimulus, where the vent structure includes stiffening panels to
control the vent
opening in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 12 illustrates the first example vent structure of FIG. 11 after being
exposed to the external stimulus in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 13 illustrates a second example vent structure before being exposed to an
external stimulus, where the vent structure includes stiffening panels to
control the vent
opening in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 14 illustrates the second example vent structure of FIG. 13 after being
exposed to the external stimulus in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 15 illustrates a third example vent structure before being exposed to an
external stimulus, where the vent structure includes stiffening panels to
control the vent
opening in accordance with aspects herein; and
FIG. 16 illustrates the third example vent structure of FIG. 15 after being
exposed to the external stimulus in accordance with aspects herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity
herein
to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not
intended to limit the
scope of this disclosure. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the
claimed or disclosed
subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different
steps or combinations
of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with
other present or
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future technologies. Moreover, although the terms "step" and/or "block" might
be used herein
to connote different elements of methods employed, the terms should not be
interpreted as
implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed
unless and
except when the order of individual steps is explicitly stated.
Vent structures on traditional articles of apparel generally open and close
through use of a mechanical structure that requires human manipulation such as
a zipper or
fastener, passively open and close in response to air flowing in or out of the
vent structure, or
exist in a static state such as always open. Aspects herein provide for an
article of apparel
having one or more vent openings that dynamically transition to an open state
when the article
of apparel is exposed to an external stimulus such as, for example, moisture
in the form of
perspiration and that dynamically transition to a closed state when the
external stimulus is
removed. This allows needed venting when, for example, a wearer is exercising
and a decrease
in venting when the wearer is at rest without any manipulation of the article
of apparel and/or
the vent opening by the wearer. The dynamic transition of the vent opening
between an open
and closed state is achieved through use of discrete overlay film structures
that are affixed to
one of the panels forming the vent opening. The overlay film structures change
in dimension
(e.g., an increase in the z-direction) when exposed to the external stimulus
which causes the
underlying panel to undergo a change in dimension (e.g., a decrease in the x-
direction) thereby
causing the vent opening to dynamically transition to an open state. Once the
external stimulus
removed, the overlay film structures and the underlying panel return to their
pre-exposure
dimensions causing the vent opening to transition to a closed state.
At a high level, the vent opening is formed by affixing the edges of a first
panel
and a second panel at a first location and a second location, and not affixing
the edges of the
first panel and the second panel between the first and second locations, to
form the vent opening
between the opposing edges. The vent opening has a longitudinal axis extending
in a first
direction. A plurality of discrete overlay film structures that swell or
increase in dimension in
response to an external stimulus such as moisture are affixed to the second
panel adjacent to
the vent opening. The discrete overlay film structures include a long axis and
a short axis, and
the film structures are oriented so that the long axes of the film structures
are oriented
substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vent opening. In
example aspects,
the film structures are not applied to the first panel. When the article of
apparel is exposed to
the external stimulus, the film structures undergo a change in dimension such
as, for example,
an increase in height in the z-direction, an increase in length in the y-
direction, and/or an
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increase in width in the x-direction. Because the film structures are fully
adhered to the second
panel, the change in dimension of the film structures causes the second panel
to undergo a
decrease in dimension in the first direction (i.e., in line with the
longitudinal axis of the vent
opening) due to the second panel "puckering" or being tensioned in the z-
direction in areas
underlying the overlay film structures. Because the first panel does not
include any film
structures, the first panel does not undergo an appreciable change in
dimension when exposed
to the external stimulus.
The decrease in dimension of the second panel in the first direction due to
the
overlay film structures and the lack of change in dimension of the first panel
causes the vent
opening to transition from a closed state to an open state. To state this
differently, when the
article of apparel is exposed to the external stimulus, the second panel edge
decreases in length
while the length of the first panel edge remains essentially unchanged
resulting in the affixed
ends of the first panel edge being tensioned toward one another causing the
vent opening to
transition to an open state. When the external stimulus is removed, the
overlay film structures
transition back to their pre-exposure state, the puckering or deformation of
the second panel
relaxes, and the vent opening transitions to a closed state.
As used herein, the term "article of apparel" encompasses any number of
products meant to be worn by a wearer including upper-body garments (e.g.,
shirts, jackets,
hoodies, pullovers), lower-body garments (e.g., pants, shorts, leggings),
articles of footwear
such as shoes or socks, articles of headwear (e.g., hats), gloves, sleeves
(e.g., arm sleeves, calf
sleeves), and the like. Positional terms used when describing the article of
apparel such as
front, back, inner-facing surface, outer-facing surface, upper, lower,
proximal, distal, medial,
lateral, and the like are with respect to the article of apparel being worn as
intended with the
wearer standing upright. As such, when the article of apparel is in the form
of an upper-body
garment or a lower-body garment, the front of the article of apparel is
configured to cover, for
instance, a front torso area, a front arm area, or a front leg area of the
wearer, and the back of
the article of apparel is configured to cover the back torso area, the back
arm area, or the back
leg area of the wearer. Similarly, the inner-facing surface of the article of
apparel is configured
to be in face-sharing contact (defined as a surface of a first substrate that
is in contact or near
contact with a surface of a second substrate) with a wearer's skin surface or
a base layer, and
the outer-facing surface of the article of apparel is configured to face
toward the external
environment.
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The term "z-direction" as used herein to describe a dimensional change in, for
example, the overlay film structures and/or a panel to which the film
structures are affixed
means a direction that extends away from the surface of the upper- or lower-
body garments in
a positive or negative direction. The terms "x-direction" and "y-direction"
when referring to,
for instance, a change in dimension of the overlay film structures and/or a
panel to which the
film structures are affixed, means a direction extending along the surface of
the upper- or lower-
body garments.
The term "external stimulus" as used herein encompasses any number of stimuli
such as temperature, pressure, moisture, electrical energy, magnetic energy,
light, sound, and
the like. In one example aspect, the external stimulus is moisture where the
moisture can be in
the form of liquid water, water vapor, perspiration, and the like.
The term "vent opening" as used herein means an opening formed in an article
of apparel that provides a fluid (e.g., gas, liquid) communication path
between the external
environment and the interior of the article of apparel (e.g., the space
between the inner-facing
surface of the article of apparel and the wearer's body). The vent opening is
formed by affixing
panel edges of a first panel and a second panel at spaced-apart securement
points. The term
"edge" as used herein means a terminal, unaffixed end of a panel. The term
"longitudinal axis"
used when describing the vent opening is an axis that is parallel to the
longest dimension of the
vent opening. To state this differently, the "longitudinal axis" of a vent
opening linearly
extends between adjacent securement points. The term "closed state" when
describing the vent
opening means a state where the first and second panels and their respective
edges are in an
abutting relationship at a location between adjacent securement points. The
abutting
relationship may mean contact between the surfaces of the panels, contact
between the
respective edges of the panels, or near contact between the surfaces and/or
the edges of the first
and second panels. The term "open state" when describing the vent opening
means a state
where the first and second panels and their respective edges are no longer in
an abutting
relationship at the location between adjacent securement points. For instance,
the surfaces
and/or edges of the first and second panels may be spaced apart from about 1
mm to about 30
mm. As used herein, the term "about" means within 5% of a designated value.
The term
"dynamic" or "dynamically" used when describing the vent opening transitioning
from a closed
state to an open state or vice versa generally means a mechanical action that
occurs without
human manipulation of the article of apparel while the article of apparel is
unworn, is in a
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controlled environment (e.g., standard ambient temperature and pressure (25
degrees Celsius
and 101.325 kPa of pressure)), and is not subject to wind conditions.
The term "first panel" and/or "second panel" as used herein means any textile,
material or fabric that is used to form, at least in part, an article of
apparel and/or a vent structure
on an article of apparel. With respect to the second panel, the degree of
puckering or movement
of the second panel in the z-direction caused by swelling of the overlay film
structures may be
dependent on a number of factors associated with the second panel. For
example, the degree
of movement of the second panel in the z-direction may be dependent on the
moisture regain
value of the yarn(s) used to form the second panel where moisture regain is
defined as the
percentage of moisture an oven-dry fiber or filament will absorb from the air
when at standard
temperature and relative humidity. As an example, when the second panel is
formed from
yarns having a low moisture regain, such as polyester or nylon, the second
panel may undergo
a greater degree of deformation or puckering compared to when the second panel
is formed
from yarns having a high moisture regain, such as cotton. This is because
yarns having a high
moisture regain will typically absorb moisture causing the yarn to swell or
expand which
counteracts the tensioning forces generated by the swelling of the overlay
film structures and
results in a lesser degree of puckering of the second panel.
Another factor that influences the degree of movement of the second panel in
the z-direction is its weight. In aspects, the second panel may comprise a
lightweight fabric
(e.g., from about 30 grams per square meter (gsm) to about 150 gsm) or an
ultra-lightweight
fabric (e.g., from about 10 gsm to about 100 gsm) although heavier weight
fabrics are
contemplated herein. Lightweight and ultra-lightweight fabric may pucker to a
greater degree
than heavier weight fabrics. In further example aspects, the degree of
movement of the second
panel in the z-direction may be dependent on the presence of elastomeric yarns
that exhibit
stretch and recovery properties such as, for example, Spandex . When, for
example, textile
types, textile weights, and textile constructions (e.g., knit or woven) are
the same, the presence
of elastomeric yarns may cause the second panel to exhibit a greater degree of
movement in
the z-direction compared to when the second panel does not include elastomeric
yarns. Thus,
the degree of movement of the second panel in the z-direction may be adjusted
based on the
type of yarn used to form the second panel, the weight of the second panel,
and/or the use of
elastomeric yarns in the second panel.
The term "discrete overlay film structure" as used herein refers to a film
application on a panel where each film structure is spaced apart on all sides
from (i.e., discrete
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from) an adjacent film structure by an expanse or portion of the panel. In
example aspects, the
film is fully adhered to the panel through, for instance, an intermediate
adhesive layer, melting
or partially melting the film when applying it to the panel, and the like.
Aspects herein
contemplate that the film may comprise any film that expands in one or more of
the x-direction,
the y-direction, and/or the z-direction when exposed to an external stimulus
such as moisture
while remaining affixed or adhered to the panel. In an example aspect, the
film may comprise
a thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE), and more specifically a poly-
butylene
terephthalate based (PBT-based) TPEE film that is configured to transport or
diffuse moisture
from one surface of the film to a second opposite surface of the film. The
transport of the
moisture may be facilitated by the presence of hydrophilic molecules
(molecules that attract or
have an affinity for water) within the film where a greater number of
hydrophilic molecules
may result in a greater transport of moisture. The movement of moisture
through the film may
be measured using a water vapor transmission test such as, for instance, ASTM
E96 B, and in
example aspects, the water vapor transmission rate of the film may be from
about 600 g/m2/day
to about 10,000 g/m2/day, from about 1,000 g/m2/day to about 9,000 g/m2/day,
from about
3,000 g/m2/day to about 8,000 g/m2/day, from about 5,000 g/m2/day to about
7,000 g/m2/day,
or about 6,000 g/m2/day. An example PBT-based TPEE film is TPEE48 manufactured
by Far
Eastern New Century Corporation in Taipei, Taiwan.
The amount of movement of the underlying panel in the z-direction caused by
the film structures may be dependent on the thickness of the film structures.
The amount of
movement of the underlying panel in the z-direction may also be dependent on
the surface area
of the film structures. Aspects herein contemplate the film structures having
a thickness from
about 20 microns to about 100 microns, from about 25 microns to about 90
microns, from about
microns to about 80 microns, from about 35 microns to about 70 microns, or
about 40
25
microns. In general, a thicker film structure will cause more movement of the
panel in the z-
direction than a thinner film structure dependent on the film structure's
thickness being such
that moisture is able to diffuse through the film structure within a
reasonable time frame.
Additionally, a film structure with a greater surface area will cause more
deformation of the
second panel than a film structure with a smaller surface area.
30 Unless
otherwise noted, all measurements provided herein are with the article
of apparel in an un-worn, resting state and at standard ambient temperature
and pressure.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first surface 105 of a textile 100
used
to form a vent opening in an article of apparel (e.g., the second panel
referenced above) before
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the textile 100 is exposed to an external stimulus. The textile 100 has a
width 112 in the x-
direction and a length 114 in the y-direction. The textile 100 includes a
plurality of discrete
overlay film structures 110. As shown in the magnified view of FIG. 1, the
discrete overlay
film structures 110 have a generally oval shape with a long axis 115 of each
of the film
structures 110 oriented in the y-direction and a short axis 117 of each of the
film structures 110
oriented in the x-direction; the long axis 115 is longer than the short axis
117. The dimensions
of the long axis 115 and the short axis 117 are variable and dependent upon
the intended use
of the overlay film structures 110. The shape and the orientation of the
discrete overlay film
structures 110 are illustrative only, and other shapes and orientations are
contemplated herein.
Using multiple, discrete overlay film structures as opposed to a continuous
film allows for more
exposure of the textile 100 which can provide functional advantages based on
the
characteristics of the textile 100 such as moisture wicking, permeability,
breathability, and the
like. Also, use of discrete overlay film structures as opposed to a continuous
film allows for
fine-tuning of where deformation of the textile 100 is desired.
The discrete overlay film structures 110 are shown as being applied in a
gradient
pattern with a greater concentration of the overlay film structures 110 in a
first location 116
adjacent to a first edge 113 of the textile 100 compared to a second location
118 of the textile
100 adjacent to an opposite second edge 119 of the textile 100. When the
textile 100 is
incorporated into an article of apparel, the first edge 113 may form, at least
in part, the vent
opening. The difference in concentration may be due to, for instance, a
decrease in the number
of film structures 110 per unit area in the second location 118. The
difference in concentration
may also be due to a change in the size or surface area of the individual film
structures 110 per
unit area. As used herein, the term "unit area" means the area of a 1 cm x 1
cm square.
Applying the film structures 110 in a gradient pattern allows for a
customization of the degree
of deformation of the textile 100 when the textile 100 is exposed to an
external stimulus. For
instance, more deformation of the textile 100 may occur in the first location
116 compared to
the second location 118. In example aspects, and as shown, the overlay film
structures 110 are
applied in a grid pattern having generally linear columns and rows of film
structures 110.
Applying the film structures 110 in a grid pattern enables the textile 100 to
linearly bend or
fold in areas between adjacent columns and/or rows of film structures 110
which, for example,
improves pliability of the textile 100.
FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a second opposite surface 130 of the textile
100 before the textile 100 is exposed to the external stimulus. As shown, the
second surface
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130 is generally planar or smooth. In example aspects, the second surface 130
may not include
any film structures 110 although it is contemplated herein that film
structures 110 may
additionally be applied to the second surface 130 of the textile 100.
FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the textile 100 in the x-direction (cut
line
1C-1C of FIG. 1A), and FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view of the textile 100 in
the y-direction
(cut line 1D-1D of FIG. 1A). The film structures 110 have a thickness 140
before being
exposed to an external stimulus. As shown, the film structures 110 are affixed
to the first
surface 105 of the textile 100 and are fully adherent to the textile 100.
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the first surface 105 of the textile 100
after the
textile 100 is exposed to an external stimulus. Upon exposure to the external
stimulus, the film
structures 110 swell and/or increase in dimension primarily in, for example,
the positive z-
direction. The film structures 110 may also increase in dimension in the
positive and/or
negative x-direction, and/or the positive and/or negative y-direction (i.e.,
the film structures
110 omni-directionally expand). When the external stimulus is moisture, and
the film
structures 110 are formed from a PBT-based TPEE film, the swelling of the film
structures 110
may be due to the water molecules diffusing through the film. Because the film
structures 110
are adhered to the textile 100, as the film structures 110 increase in
dimension, the film
structures 110 may "lift" the textile 100 in the areas underlying the film
structures 110 or cause
the textile 100 to move in the positive z-direction in the areas underlying
the film structures
110. The result is that the textile 100 "puckers" to form debossed regions 210
that extend
concavely away from the second surface 130 of the textile 100 and toward the
first surface 105.
This aspect is shown in FIG. 2B which is a depiction of the second surface 130
of the textile
100 after the textile 100 has been exposed to the external stimulus.
In example aspects, when exposed to the external stimulus, the film structures
110 may fold or bend more along their long axes 115 and/or parallel to the
long axes 115
compared to their short axes 117 resulting in a greater deformation of the
textile 100 in the x-
direction compared to the y-direction. The greater folding or bending along
the long axis 115
may be because there is less volume of the textile 100 to be moved as measured
across the short
axis 117 of the film structures 110 compared to along the long axis 115 of the
film structures
110. This is shown in FIG. 2C which is a cross-sectional view of the textile
100 in the x-
direction of the textile 100 (cut line 2C-2C of FIG. 2A), and FIG. 2D which is
a cross-sectional
view of the textile 100 in the y-direction (cut line 2D-2D of FIG. 2A). As
shown in FIG. 2C,
after exposure to the external stimulus, the film structures 110 have a
thickness 216 where the
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thickness 216 is greater than the thickness 140. FIG. 2C further depicts the
film structures 110
folding or bending along their long axis 115 causing the underlying textile
100 to also fold or
bend in the x-direction which creates the debossed regions 210. As shown in
FIG. 2D, there is
less folding or bending of the film structures 110 along their short axis 117
and thus less
deformation of the textile 100 in the y-direction. Based on the cumulative
effect of the
debossed regions 210, the overall width 112 of the textile 100 may decrease to
a new width
212. There may also be a decrease in the overall length 114 of the textile 100
to a new length
214. In example aspects, because of the orientation of the film structures
110, there may be a
greater decrease in the width of the textile 100 compared to the length of the
textile 100. To
describe this more generally, to achieve a desired decrease of the textile 100
in a specified
direction, the film structures 110 may be oriented such that their long axes
are perpendicular
to the specified direction.
When the film structures 110 are no longer exposed to, for example, moisture,
the film structures 110 undergo a decrease in swelling due to a reduction or
cessation of water
molecules moving through the film structures 110. The film structures 110
return to their pre-
exposure, generally planar state, the debossed regions 210 relax, and the
textile 100 reverts to
its pre-exposure width 112 and length 114. Thus, use of the film structures
110 enables a
reversible and dynamic change in the dimensions of the textile 100.
The use of film structures to achieve a change in dimension of a textile may
be
used to dynamically transition a vent opening on an article of apparel from a
closed state to an
open state and vice versa. For instance, FIG. 3A depicts a front view of an
upper-body garment
300 before the upper-body garment 300 is exposed to an external stimulus,
where the upper-
body garment 300 has a vent opening in a closed state, and FIG. 3B depicts a
front view of the
upper-body garment 300 after the upper-body garment 300 has been exposed to an
external
stimulus and the vent opening has transitioned to an open state.
The upper-body garment 300 includes a torso region 310 having a neck opening
312 and a waist opening 314. A first sleeve 316 and a second sleeve 318 extend
from the torso
region 310. Although the upper-body garment 300 is shown with long sleeves, it
is
contemplated herein that the upper-body garment 300 may be sleeveless, include
three-quarter
sleeves, half-sleeves, quarter-sleeves, and the like. In addition, although
the torso region 310
is shown as including a first front half and a second front half that are
joined together through
a slider mechanism (e.g., a zipper), it is contemplated herein that the torso
region 310 may be
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in the form of a t-shirt or pullover that does not include a slider mechanism
such that a material
extends across a midline of the upper-body garment 300.
The upper-body garment includes a first vent structure 320 and a second vent
structure 322. The first vent structure 320 and the second vent structure 322
are similarly
formed and, as such, a description of how the first vent structure 320 is
formed is equally
applicable to the second vent structure 322. Referring to FIG. 3A, the first
vent structure 320
includes a first panel 324 having a first panel edge 326 and a second panel
328 having a second
panel edge 330 (shown in dashed lines to indicate it is generally hidden from
view when the
vent opening is in a closed state). In example aspects, the first panel edge
326 overlaps the
second panel edge 330 and is discontinuously affixed thereto. For example, the
first panel edge
326 may be affixed to the second panel edge 330 at a number of spaced-apart
securement points
such as securement points 332. The securement points 332 may be formed by
stitching,
tacking, adhesives, bonding, and the like. The first panel edge 326 is not
affixed to (or is
unaffixed from) the second panel edge 330 at areas between the spaced-apart
securement points
332 to form one or more vent openings 334. The longitudinal axis of the vent
openings 334
extends in a first direction as indicated by the arrow 336. The location and
number of the first
and second vent structures 320 and 322 is illustrative only, and it is
contemplated herein that
one or more vent structures may be located at other areas of the upper-body
garment 300
including, for instance, other locations on the torso region 310, the first
sleeve 316, the second
sleeve 318, and/or the back of the upper-body garment 300 (shown in FIGs. 4A
and 4B).
FIG. 3A further depicts a plurality of discrete overlay film structures 338
affixed
to the second panel 328 adjacent to (e.g., within about 0 cm to about 10 cm)
the vent opening(s)
334 or the second panel edge 330. As illustrated, the first panel 324 does not
include discrete
overlay film structures in accordance with aspects herein. The film structures
338 are shown
affixed to an outer-facing surface of the second panel 328. In example
aspects, the film
structures 338 may instead be applied to an inner-facing surface of the second
panel 328 in a
similar pattern to that shown in FIGs. 3A and 3B. Positioning the film
structures 338 on the
inner-facing surface of the second panel 328 enables the film structures 338
to be in contact
with (or near contact with) a wearer's body surface and any perspiration
produced by the
wearer. It is also contemplated herein that the film structures 338 may be
applied to both the
inner-facing surface and the outer-facing surface of the second panel 328. Any
and all aspects,
and any variation thereof, are contemplated as being within aspects herein.
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Similar to the film structures 110 of FIGs. 1A-1D, the film structures 338
have
a long axis 340 and a short axis 342. The long axes 340 of the film structures
338 are oriented
to be substantially perpendicular (i.e., within 10 degrees of perpendicular)
to the longitudinal
axis of the vent opening(s) 334. To state it differently, the long axes 340 of
the film structures
338 are oriented to be substantially perpendicular to the first direction 336.
In example aspects,
there is a greater concentration of the film structures 338 closer to the vent
opening(s) 334
and/or the second panel edge 330 compared to farther away from the vent
opening(s) 334
and/or second panel edge 330 to facilitate the transition of the vent
opening(s) 334 to an open
state. The decrease in concentration of the film structures 338 may be due to
a decrease in the
number of film structures 338. The decrease in concentration may also be due
to a decrease in
the surface area of the film structures 338. The decrease in concentration may
additionally be
due to both a decrease in the number of film structures 338 and a decrease in
the surface area
of the film structures 338. Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof,
are contemplated as
being within aspects herein. The number and shape of the film structures 338
is illustrative
only, and it is contemplated herein that other shapes and numbers of film
structures 338 may
be utilized.
FIG. 3B illustrates the upper-body garment 300 after the garment 300 has been
exposed to an external stimulus such as moisture. When the film structures 338
are affixed to
an inner-facing surface of the upper-body garment 300, the moisture may be in
the form of
perspiration produced by a wearer. As explained with the textile 100, exposure
of the film
structures 338 to the external stimulus causes the film structures 338 to
expand, for instance,
at least in the z-direction and/or in the x-direction and the y-direction, and
to fold or bend at
least along their long axes 340. Because each of the long axes 340 are
oriented substantially
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vent opening(s) 334, the folding
or bending of the
film structures 338 along their long axes 340 causes the second panel 328 and
the second panel
edge 330 to shorten in the first direction 336 based on the lifting or
puckering of the second
panel 328 caused by the film structures 338 as shown by fold lines 360 in FIG.
3B. Since the
first panel 324 does not include film structures, exposure of the upper-body
garment 300 to the
external stimulus does not cause a shortening of the first panel 324 or the
first panel edge 326
.. in the first direction 336. The shortening of the second panel 328 and the
second panel edge
330 results in the first panel 324 and/or the first panel edge 326 extending
outwardly (e.g., in
the positive z-direction) between adjacent securement points 332 which
dynamically
transitions the vent opening 334 to an open state as shown in FIG. 3B.
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The transition of the vent opening 334 from a closed state to an open state is
further shown in FIGs. 3C-3F. FIG. 3C illustrates a cross-section of the vent
opening 334 taken
along cut line 3C-3C of FIG. 3A before the upper-body garment 300 is exposed
to the external
stimulus. FIG. 3C depicts the first panel edge 326 of the first panel 324
overlapping the second
panel edge 330 of the second panel 328. As shown, the second panel edge 330 is
positioned
internal to the first panel edge 326. The vent opening 334 is formed between
the overlapping
edges 326 and 330 and is depicted in a closed state. FIG. 3D illustrates a
cross-section of the
vent opening 334 taken along cut line 3D-3D of FIG. 3B after the upper-body
garment 300 is
exposed to the external stimulus. As shown, the first panel 324 and the first
panel edge 326
are spaced apart from the second panel 328 and the second panel edge 330
causing the vent
opening 334 to transition to an open state.
FIG. 3E illustrates the vent opening 334 taken along the longitudinal axis of
the
vent opening 334 before the upper-body garment 300 is exposed to the external
stimulus. The
first panel edge 326 is affixed to the second panel edge 330 at securement
points 332. The first
panel edge 326 is unaffixed from the second panel edge 330 between the
securement points
332 to form the vent opening 334. Before the upper-body garment 300 is exposed
to the
external stimulus, the second panel edge 330 has a length 350 between the
securement points
332, and the first panel edge 326 has a length 352 between the securement
points 332. In
example aspects, the length 350 of the second panel edge 330 is substantially
the same as the
length 352 of the first panel edge 326.
FIG. 3F illustrates the vent opening 334 taken along the longitudinal axis of
the
vent opening 334 after the upper-body garment 300 is exposed to the external
stimulus. Due
to the film structures 338 causing the second panel 328 to lift or pucker in
areas underlying the
film structures 338, the second panel edge 330 decreases in length to a new
length 354 that is
less than the length 350. Because the film structures 338 are not applied to
the first panel 324,
the first panel edge 326 does not undergo an appreciable change in length when
the upper-body
garment 300 is exposed to the external stimulus. Thus, the shortening of the
second panel edge
330 tensions the affixed ends of the first panel edge 326 toward each other to
cause the first
panel 324 and the first panel edge 326 to extend outward from the upper-body
garment 300
and transition the vent opening 334 to an open state. FIGs. 3C-3F may equally
apply to the
discussion of additional vent openings on the upper-body garment 300 as well
as vent openings
on other articles of apparel such as the lower-body garment 500 of FIGs. 5A-
5B.
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FIGs. 4A and 4B, which illustrate a back view of the upper-body garment 300,
depict a vent structure 410 for the upper-body garment 300. The vent structure
410 may be in
addition to, or instead of, the first vent structure 320 and/or the second
vent structure 322. FIG.
4A illustrates a view of the upper-body garment 300 before the garment 300 is
exposed to an
external stimulus, and FIG. 4B illustrates the garment 300 after being exposed
to the external
stimulus such as, for example, moisture.
With respect to FIG. 4A, the vent structure 410 includes a first panel 412
having
a first panel edge 414 and a second panel 416 having a second panel edge 418
(shown in dashed
lines to indicate it is generally hidden from view). The first panel edge 414
overlaps the second
panel edge 418 and is secured to the second panel edge 418 by one or more
spaced-apart
securement points 420. The first panel edge 414 is not affixed to (or is
unaffixed from) the
second panel edge 418 at areas between the spaced-apart securement points 420
to form one or
more vent openings 422. The longitudinal axis of the vent openings 422 extends
in a first
direction as indicated by the arrow 424. In the aspect shown in FIG. 4A, the
first direction 424
extends horizontally between the first sleeve 316 and the second sleeve 318.
The location of
the vent structure 410 is illustrative only and it is contemplated herein that
the vent structure
may be located closer to, for instance, the neck opening 312 or closer to, for
example, the waist
opening 314 of the upper-body garment 300. It is also contemplated herein that
additional vent
structures may be located on the back of the upper-body garment 300. Any and
all aspects,
and any variation thereof, are contemplated as being within aspects herein.
FIG. 4A further depicts a plurality of discrete overlay film structures 426
affixed
to the second panel 416 adjacent to (e.g., within about 0 cm to 10 cm) the
vent opening(s) 422
and/or the second panel edge 418. As illustrated, the first panel 412 does not
include discrete
overlay film structures in accordance with aspects herein. The film structures
426 are shown
affixed to an outer-facing surface of second panel 416. In example aspects,
the film structures
426 may instead be applied to an inner-facing surface of the second panel 416
in a pattern
similar to that shown so as to be in contact with (or near contact with) a
wearer's body surface
and any perspiration produced by the wearer. It is also contemplated herein,
that the film
structures 426 may be applied to both the outer-facing surface and the inner-
facing surface of
the second panel 416. Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof, are
contemplated as being
within aspects herein.
The film structures 426 have a long axis 428 and a short axis 430. The long
axes 428 of the film structures 426 are oriented to be substantially
perpendicular (i.e., within
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degrees of perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis of the vent opening(s) 422
and/or the first
direction 424. In example aspects, there is a greater concentration of the
film structures 426
closer to the vent opening(s) 422 and/or the second panel edge 418 compared to
farther away
from the vent opening(s) 422 and/or the second panel edge 418 to facilitate
the transition of the
5 vent opening(s) 422 to an open state. The decrease in concentration of
the film structures 426
may be due to a decrease in the number of film structures 426. The decrease in
concentration
may also be due to a decrease in the surface area of the film structures 426.
The decrease in
concentration may also be due to both a decrease in the number of film
structures 426 and in
the surface area of the film structures 426. The number and shape of the film
structures 426 is
10 illustrative only, and it is contemplated herein that other shapes and
numbers of film structures
426 may be utilized.
FIG. 4B illustrates the upper-body garment 300 after the garment 300 has been
exposed to an external stimulus such as moisture. When the film structures 426
are affixed to
an inner-facing surface of the second panel 416, the moisture may be in the
form of perspiration
produced by a wearer. Exposure of the film structures 426 to the external
stimulus causes the
film structures 426 to expand, for instance, at least in the z-direction
and/or in the x-direction
and/or the y-direction, and to fold or bend at least along their long axes
428. Because each of
the long axes 428 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis of the vent
opening(s) 422 and/or the first direction 424, the folding or bending of the
film structures 426
along their long axes 428 causes the second panel 416 and the second panel
edge 418 to shorten
in the first direction 424 based on the lifting or puckering of the second
panel 416 caused by
the film structures 426 as shown by fold lines 450. Since the first panel 412
does not include
film structures, exposure of the upper-body garment 300 to the external
stimulus does not cause
an appreciable shortening of the first panel 412 or the first panel edge 414
in the first direction
424. The shortening of the second panel 416 and the second panel edge 418
results in the first
panel 412 and the first panel edge 414 extending outwardly (e.g., in the
positive z-direction)
between adjacent securement points 420 which dynamically transitions the vent
opening 422
to an open state as shown in FIG. 4B.
Aspects herein further contemplate incorporating the vent structures described
herein on other articles of apparel such as lower-body garments. FIGs. 5A and
5B depict front
views of a lower-body garment 500 having a first vent structure 510 and second
vent structure
512. FIG. 5A depicts the lower-body garment 500 before the lower-body garment
500 is
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exposed to an external stimulus, and FIG. 5B depicts the lower-body garment
500 after being
exposed to the external stimulus.
The lower-body garment 500 includes a torso region 514 having a waist opening
516, a first leg portion 518 extending from the torso region 514 and
terminating distally in a
first leg opening 520, and a second leg portion 522 extending from the torso
region 514 and
terminating distally in a second leg opening 524. Although shown as a pant, it
is contemplated
herein that the lower-body garment 500 may be in the form of a short, a tight,
a capri, and the
like.
The first vent structure 510 and the second vent structure 512 are similarly
formed and, as such, a description of how the first vent structure 510 is
formed is equally
applicable to the second vent structure 512. Referring to FIG. 5A, the first
vent structure 510
includes a first panel 526 having a first panel edge 528 and a second panel
530 having a second
panel edge 532 (shown in dashed lines to indicate it is generally hidden from
view when the
vent opening is in a closed state). In example aspects, the first panel edge
528 overlaps the
second panel edge 532 and is discontinuously affixed thereto. For instance,
the first panel edge
528 is affixed to the second panel edge 532 at a number of spaced-apart
securement points such
as securement points 534. The first panel edge 528 is not affixed to (or is
unaffixed from) the
second panel edge 532 at areas between the spaced-apart securement points 534
to form one or
more vent openings 536. The longitudinal axis of the vent openings 536 extends
in a first
direction as indicated by the arrow 538. The location and number of the first
and second vent
structures 510 and 512 is illustrative only and it is contemplated herein that
the vent structures
may be located at other areas of the lower-body garment 500 including, for
instance, locations
on the torso region 514 (e.g., adjacent to the waist opening 516), other
locations on the first leg
portion 518 and/or second leg portion 522, and/or the back of the lower-body
garment 500.
FIG. 5A further depicts a plurality of discrete overlay film structures 540
affixed
to the second panel 530 adjacent to (e.g., within about 0 cm to 10 cm) the
vent opening(s) 536
and/or the second panel edge 532. As illustrated, the first panel 526 does not
include discrete
overlay film structures in accordance with aspects herein. The film structures
540 are shown
affixed to an outer-facing surface of the second panel 530. In example
aspects, the film
structures 540 may instead be applied to an inner-facing surface of the second
panel 530 in a
pattern similar to that shown in FIGs. 5A and 5B so as to be in contact with
(or near contact
with) a wearer's body surface and any perspiration produced by the wearer. In
example
aspects, the film structures 540 may be applied to both the outer-facing
surface and the inner-
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facing surface of the second panel 530. Any and all aspects, and any variation
thereof, are
contemplated as being within aspects herein.
The film structures 540 have a long axis 542 and a short axis 544. The long
axes 542 of the film structures 540 are oriented to be substantially
perpendicular (i.e., within
10 degrees of perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis of the vent opening(s)
536 and/or the first
direction 538. In example aspects, there is a greater concentration of the
film structures 540
closer to the vent opening(s) 536 and/or the second panel edge 532 compared to
farther away
from the vent opening(s) 536 and/or the second panel edge 532 to facilitate
the transition of the
vent opening(s) 536 to an open state. The decrease in concentration of the
film structures 540
may be due to a decrease in the number of film structures 540. The decrease in
concentration
may also be due to a decrease in the surface area of the film structures 540.
The decrease in
concentration may also be due to both a decrease in number and a decrease in
the surface area
of the film structures 540. Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof,
are contemplated as
being within aspects herein. The number and shape of the film structures 540
is illustrative
only, and it is contemplated herein that other shapes and numbers of film
structures 540 may
be utilized.
FIG. 5B illustrates the lower-body garment 500 after the garment 500 has been
exposed to an external stimulus such as moisture. When the film structures 540
are affixed to
an inner-facing surface of the lower-body garment 500, the moisture may be in
the form of
perspiration produced by a wearer. Exposure of the film structures 540 to the
external stimulus
causes the film structures 540 to expand, for instance, at least in the z-
direction and/or in the
x-direction and the y-direction, and to fold or bend at least along their long
axes 542. Because
each of the long axes 542 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of
the vent opening(s) 536 and/or the first direction 538, the folding or bending
of the film
structures 540 along their long axes 542 causes the second panel 530 and the
second panel edge
532 to shorten in the first direction 538 based on the lifting or puckering of
the second panel
530 caused by the film structures 540 as shown by fold lines 550. Since the
first panel 526
does not include film structures, exposure of the lower-body garment 500 to
the external
stimulus does not cause an appreciable shortening of the first panel 526 or
the first panel edge
528 in the first direction 538. The shortening of the second panel 530 and the
second panel
edge 532 results in the first panel 526 and the first panel edge 528 extending
outwardly (e.g.,
in the positive z-direction) between adjacent securement points 534 which
dynamically
transitions the vent opening 536 to an open state as shown in FIG. 5B.
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It is contemplated herein that the use of overlay film structures to
dynamically
transition a vent opening from a closed state to an open state and vice versa
can be applied to
other articles of apparel in addition to those described herein. For example,
vent openings may
be positioned on an article of headwear, and overlay film structures may be
used to transition
the vent opening between an open and closed state. Other articles of apparel
contemplated
herein include, for example, socks, shoes (e.g., uppers), gloves and the like.
The oval shape depicted for the film structures is just one example of
different
shape configurations for the film structures. FIGs. 6A-6B depict example
alternative shapes
for the film structures. FIG. 6A depicts a textile 615 having film structures
620 with a diamond
shape. Because a diamond shape has a generally equal length and width,
swelling of the film
structures 620 would also cause a generally equal decrease in both the width
and length of the
textile 615. FIG. 6B depicts a textile 625 having film structures 630 with a
quadrilateral shape
having two pairs of equal length sides that are adjacent to each other.
Similar to the oval shape,
the film structures 630 have a long axis and a short axis and thus would
generally cause an
unequal change in dimension of the textile 625 when the textile 625 is exposed
to an external
stimulus. Additional shapes for the film structures are contemplated herein
including
asymmetric shapes such as crescents, organic shapes, half-circle shapes,
alphanumeric shapes,
and the like. As well, it is contemplated herein that the textile may include
a number of
different shaped film structures and/or film structures with different sizes
and/or surface areas.
Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof, are contemplated as being
within aspects herein.
The film structures that are applied to article of apparel described herein
may
have different thicknesses. FIG. 7A depicts a textile 705 before the textile
705 is exposed to
an external stimulus, The textile 705 includes a first film structure 710 with
a first thickness
715 and a second film structure 720 with a second thickness 725 that is less
than the first
thickness 715 of the first film structure 710. FIG. 7B illustrates the textile
705 after being
exposed to an external stimulus, such as moisture. The first film structure
710 increases in
dimension in at least the z-direction to thickness 730, and the second film
structure 720
increases in dimension in at least the z-direction to thickness 735, where the
thickness 735 is
less than the thickness 730. Because the first film structure 710 is thicker
than the second film
structure 720, it may cause a greater movement of the textile 705 in the z-
direction when
exposed to the external stimulus as shown by the first film structure 710
having a greater offset
740 than an offset 742 associated with the second film structure 720 after the
textile 705 is
exposed to the external stimulus.
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FIG. 8 depicts a flow diagram of an example method 800 of manufacturing an
article of apparel having a vent opening, such as the garments 300 and 500. At
a step 810, a
first panel edge of a first panel of material is discontinuously affixed to a
second panel edge of
a second panel to form a vent opening on an article of apparel. The vent
opening has a
longitudinal axis that extends in a first direction.
At a step 812, a plurality of discrete overlay film structures are affixed to
the
second panel adjacent to at least the second panel edge. In example aspects,
the overlay film
structures are not affixed to the first panel. Each of the film structures
includes a long axis and
a short axis, and the long axes of the film structures are affixed to the
second panel so as to be
substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vent opening. When
the film
structures are exposed to an external stimulus, the film structures expand,
for example, in the
z-direction which causes the second panel to lift or pucker in areas
underlying the film
structures. This results in a decrease in dimension of the second panel and
the second panel
edge in the first direction or in the direction of the longitudinal axis of
the vent opening.
Because the first panel does not include film structures, the first panel edge
does not decrease
in dimension resulting in the vent opening transitioning to an open state. The
process is
reversible, so when the external stimulus is removed, the vent opening
transitions back to a
closed state.
FIGs. 9A and 9B depict an additional vent structure that may be used in
combination with the vent structures described herein or may be used as a
stand-alone vent
structure. FIG. 9A depicts a textile 900 before the textile 900 is exposed to
an external stimulus,
such as moisture. The textile 900 may be incorporated into, for example, an
upper-body
garment such as the upper-body garment 300, a lower-body garment, such as the
lower-body
garment 500, or other articles of apparel such as headwear, gloves, socks,
shoes, and the like.
The textile 900 includes a slit 910 formed in the textile 900. The slit 910
may be formed by a
mechanical cutting process, laser cutting, water jet cutting, dissolvable
yarns, manipulating a
knit, non-woven, or weave construction to form the slit 910, and the like. The
slit 910 extends
from a first surface 901 of the textile 900 to a second opposite surface 902
of the textile 900 to
provide a through-passage. The slit 910 includes a first edge 912, a second
opposing edge 914,
a first end 913, and a second opposing end 915. The longitudinal axis of the
slit 910 extends
in a first direction between the first end 913 and the second end 915 of the
slit 910. Although
the first edge 912 is shown abutting the second edge 914, it is contemplated
herein that a small
space may exist between the first and second edges 912 and 914 such that the
first and second
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edges 912 and 914 are not in direct contact with each other. Although the slit
910 is shown as
linear, it is contemplated herein that the slit 910 may have other shapes
including curved
shapes, geometric shapes, curvilinear shapes, alphanumeric shapes, and the
like.
The textile 900 further includes a first plurality of discrete overlay film
structures 916 positioned adjacent to the first edge 912 of the slit 910, and
a second plurality
of discrete overlay film structures 918 positioned adjacent to the second edge
914 of the slit
910. Each of the first plurality of film structures 916 and the second
plurality of film structures
918 is shaped to have a long axis, such as long axis 924 and a short axis,
such as short axis 926.
In example aspects, the long axis 924 of each of the first and second
pluralities of film structures
916 and 918 is oriented to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis of the slit 910.
It is contemplated herein that the number of film structures 916 and/or 918
may
decrease the farther away from the slit 910. It is also contemplated herein
that the size and/or
surface area of the film structures 916 and/or 918 may decrease the farther
away from the slit
910. Additionally, both the number and surface area of the film structures 916
and/or 918 may
decrease the farther away from the slit 910.
FIG. 9B depicts the textile 900 after being exposed to an external stimulus,
such
as water or moisture. Exposure to the external stimulus causes the first
plurality of film
structures 916 and the second plurality of film structures 918 to expand, for
instance, at least
in the z-direction and/or in the x-direction and/or the y-direction, and to
fold or bend at least
along their long axes 924. Because each of the long axes 924 is oriented
substantially
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slit 910, the folding or bending
of the film
structures 916 and 918 along their long axes 924 causes the first edge 912 and
the second edge
914 to shorten in the direction of the longitudinal axis, or in the first
direction, based on the
lifting or puckering of the textile 900 caused by the film structures 916 and
918 as shown by
fold lines 920 and 922 in FIG. 9B. The shortening of the first edge 912 and
the second edge
914 may cause the first edge 912 and the second edge 914 to extend in the z-
direction away
from the surface plane of the textile 900 thereby transitioning the slit 910
from a closed state
to an open state having a vent opening 925. Once the external stimulus is
removed, the textile
900 transitions back to its pre-exposure state and the slit 910 transitions to
a closed state.
FIGs. 10A-10I depict yet another example vent structure that may be used in
combination with the vent structures described herein or may be used as a
stand-alone vent
structure. FIG. 10A depicts a textile construction 1000 before the textile
construction 1000 is
exposed to an external stimulus, such as moisture or perspiration. The textile
construction 1000
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may be incorporated into, for example, an upper-body garment such as the upper-
body garment
300, a lower-body garment, such as the lower-body garment 500, or other
articles of apparel
such as headwear, gloves, socks, shoes, and the like.
The textile construction 1000 includes a first panel of material 1010 having a
first edge 1012, a second edge 1014 opposite the first edge 1012, a third edge
1016, and a fourth
edge 1018 opposite the third edge 1016. The depiction of the edges 1012, 1014,
1016, and
1018 is illustrative only, and it is contemplated herein that the first panel
of material 1010 may
comprise additional edges or less edges, may comprise non-linear edges (e.g.,
curved edges),
and that the edges may form, for instance, portions of an article of apparel
(e.g., a hood edge,
a waistband edge, a front opening edge, and like). In example aspects, when
the textile
construction 1000 is incorporated into an upper-body garment or a lower-body
garment, the
first panel of material 1010 may form an outer-facing layer of the garment.
The first panel of
material 1010 includes a first plurality of apertures 1019 that extend through
the thickness of
the first panel of material 1010. The first plurality of apertures 1019 are
shown in dashed lines
in FIG. 10A to indicate they are generally hidden from view by a second panel
of material
discussed below. The number, shape, and size of the first plurality of
apertures 1019 is
illustrative only, and it is contemplated herein that the first plurality of
apertures 1019 may
include different shaped apertures, different sizes of apertures, and
different numbers of
apertures. Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof, are contemplated as
being within
aspects herein.
The textile construction 1000 further includes a second panel of material 1020
that is in face-sharing contact with the first panel of material 1010. In
example aspects, when
the textile construction 1000 is incorporated into an upper-body garment or a
lower-body
garment, the second panel of material 1020 forms an inner-facing layer of the
garment. In
example aspects, the second panel of material 1020 may be secured at one or
more of its edges
to the first panel of material 1010. For instance, a first edge 1022 of the
second panel of
material 1020 may be secured to the first panel of material 1010 as indicated
by securement
points 1030. It is also contemplated that a second opposite edge 1024 of the
second panel of
material 1020 may be secured to the first panel of material 1010 as indicated
by the securement
points 1030. It is also contemplated herein that both the first edge 1022 and
the second edge
1024 may be secured to the first panel of material 1010. The securement points
1030 may
include affixation technologies such as stitching, gluing, adhesives, spot
welding, bonding,
seam tape, and the like. One or more additional edges of the second panel of
material 1020
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may be unaffixed from the first panel of material 1010 such as a third edge
1026 and/or a fourth
opposite edge 1028 of the second panel of material 1020. The depiction of the
edges 1022,
1024, 1026, and 1028 is illustrative only, and it is contemplated herein that
the second panel of
material 1020 may comprise additional edges or less edges, may comprise non-
linear edges
(e.g., curved edges), and that the edges may form, for instance, portions of
an article of apparel
(e.g., a hood edge, a waistband edge, a front opening edge, and like).
In example aspects, the surfaces of the first panel of material 1010 and the
second panel of material 1020 that are in face-sharing contact with each other
are not affixed
to each other such that a space is present between the respective surfaces of
the first panel of
material 1010 and the second panel of material 1020. As explained further
below, this enables
the surface of the second panel of material 1020 to shift relative to the
surface of the first panel
of material 1010. It is further contemplated herein, that in some example
aspects, the length of
the second panel of material 1020 as measured between the first edge 1022 and
the second edge
1024 before the second panel of material 1020 is affixed to the first panel of
material 1010 may
be greater than the distance between the securement points 1030 at the first
end and the second
end of the textile construction 1000. This creates a greater volume for the
second panel of
material 1020 than, for example, if the length of the second panel of material
1020 was the
same as the distance between the securement points 1030. The excess material
may facilitate
the shifting of the second panel of material 1020 relative to the first panel
of material 1010.
The second panel of material 1020 includes a second plurality of apertures
1031
that extend through the thickness of the second panel of material 1020. In
example aspects,
the second plurality of apertures 1031 may have a similar number, size and
shape as the first
plurality of apertures 1019. As shown in FIG. 10A, when the textile
construction 1000 is in a
closed state, the first plurality of apertures 1019 are offset in a direction
parallel to the planar
surface of the textile construction 1000, or at least partially offset, from
the second plurality of
apertures 1031 such that there is not an open communication path between a
first surface of the
textile construction 1000 and a second opposite surface of the textile
construction 1000. To
describe this further, when the textile construction 1000 is in the closed
state, the second
plurality of apertures 1031 are offset distally from the first plurality of
apertures 1019 with
respect to the first edge 1022 of the second panel of material 1020 and are
offset in a direction
substantially perpendicular to the first edge 1022 of the second panel of
material 1020.
The textile construction 1000 further includes an overlay film structure 1032
that is affixed to the second panel of material 1020 adjacent to the first
edge 1022 of the second
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panel of material. Although only one overlay film structure is shown, it is
contemplated herein
that the textile construction 1000 may include multiple overlay film
structures having the
orientation shown in FIG. 10A. The overlay film structure 1032 has a long axis
1033 and a
short axis 1035, where the long axis 1033 extends across the width of the
second panel of
material 1020. Although the overlay film structure 1032 is described as
extending across the
width of the second panel of material 1020, it is more generally contemplated
herein that the
long axis 1033 of the overlay film structure 1032 may be positioned adjacent
to and parallel
with an affixed edge of the second panel of material 1020.
FIG. 10B depicts a cross-section taken along cut line 10B-10B of FIG. 10A. As
shown, the second panel of material 1020 is positioned adjacent to the first
panel of material
1010 such that their respective surfaces are in near contact. The surfaces of
the respective
panels of material 1010 and 1020 are not affixed to each other, and a space is
formed between
the surfaces as shown. The overlay film structure 1032 is depicted as affixed
to the surface of
the second panel of material 1020 that is opposite the surface that is in face-
sharing contact
with the first panel of material 1010. Because the textile construction has
not been exposed to
an external stimulus, the overlay film structure 1032 and the second panel of
material 1020 are
in a generally planar relationship with the first panel of material 1010.
FIG. 10C depicts a cross-section taken along cut line 10C-10C of FIG. 10A.
FIG. 10C depicts the securement point 1030 that represents the point of
affixation between the
first edge 1022 of the second panel of material 1020 and the first panel of
material 1010. Again,
because the textile construction 1000 has not been exposed to an external
stimulus, the overlay
film structure 1032 and the second panel of material 1020 are in a generally
planar relationship
with the first panel of material 1010.
FIG. 10D depicts a cross-section taken along cut line 10D-10D of FIG. 10A.
FIG. 10D illustrates the first plurality of apertures 1019 formed through the
thickness of the
first panel of material 1010. Because the first plurality of apertures 1019
are offset from the
second plurality of apertures 1031 when the textile construction 1000 in in a
closed state, the
second panel of material 1020 is shown as a continuous panel that occludes or
blocks the first
plurality of apertures 1019 minimizing the movement of, for instance, air
through the textile
construction 1000.
FIG. 10E depicts a cross-section taken along cut line 10E-10E of FIG. 10A.
FIG. 10E illustrates the second plurality of apertures 1031 formed through the
thickness of the
second panel of material 1020. Similar to FIG. 10D, because the second
plurality of apertures
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1031 are offset from the first plurality of apertures 1019 when the textile
construction 1000 is
in the closed state, the first panel of material 1010 is shown as a continuous
panel that occludes
or blocks the second plurality of apertures 1031 minimizing the movement of,
for instance, air
through the textile construction 1000.
FIG. 1OF depicts the textile construction 1000 after being exposed to an
external
stimulus such as moisture or perspiration. Similar to what has been previously
described, when
the textile construction 1000 is exposed to, for example, moisture the overlay
film structure
1032 increases in dimension in at least the z-direction and/or the x-
direction, and/or the y-
direction. The subsequent folding of the overlay film structure 1032 along its
long axis 1033
causes the second panel of material 1020 to also fold in a direction at least
parallel to the long
axis 1033 of the overlay film structure 1032 in areas of the second panel of
material 1020 that
underlie the overlay film structure 1032 as shown in FIG. 10F. The folding of
the second panel
of material 1020 causes movement of the second panel of material 1020 in a
direction toward
the first edge 1022 of the second panel of material 1020 (i.e., movement in
the lengthwise
direction of the second panel of material 1020). Stated differently, the
folding of the second
panel of material 1020 causes movement of the second panel of material 1020 in
a direction
substantially perpendicular to the long axis 1033 of the overlay film
structure 1032. The
shifting of the second panel of material 1020 relative to the first panel of
material 1010 in a
direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis 1033 of the overlay
film structure 1032
aligns, or at least partially aligns the second plurality of apertures 1031
with the first plurality
of apertures 1019 to transition the textile construction 1000 to an open state
thereby enabling
the movement of air and/or moisture vapor through the aligned apertures 1019
and 1031.
The shifting of the second panel of material 1020 relative to the first panel
of
material 1010 is facilitated by affixing the first edge 1022 of the second
panel of material 1020
to the first panel of material 1010. The securement points 1030 act as an
anchor fixing the first
edge 1022 of the second panel of material 1020 and allowing the remaining
portions of the
second panel of material 1020 to shift or move. The shifting of the second
panel of material
1020 relative to the first panel of material 1010 may also be facilitated by
forming the second
panel of material 1020 to have an excess volume as described above.
FIG. 10G depicts a cross-section taken along cut line 10G-10G of FIG. 10F. As
indicated, the overlay film structure 1032 has increased in thickness in
response to the external
stimulus. Although not shown, it is contemplated that there may be a slight
folding of the
overlay film structure 1032 and the underlying second panel of material 1020
along the short
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axis 1035 of the overlay film structure 1032. FIG. 10H depicts a cross-section
taken along cut
line 10H-10H of FIG. 10H and illustrates the folding of the overlay film
structure 1032 and the
second panel of material 1020 along and parallel to the long axis 1033 of the
overlay film
structure 1032 to create an offset 1040 with respect to the first panel of
material 1010. Stated
differently, in response to the external stimulus, the second panel of
material 1020 and the
overlay film structure 1032 extend in a z-direction away from the first panel
of material 1010.
This, in turn, causes movement of the remaining portions of the second panel
of material 1020
in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis 1033 of the
overlay film structure
1032.
FIG. 101 depicts a cross-section taken along cut line 101-101 of FIG. 10F. As
shown, the shifting the second panel of material 1020 relative to the first
panel of material 1010
causes the second plurality of apertures 1031 to align with, or at least
partially align with, the
first plurality of apertures 1019. The aligned apertures 1019 and 1031
facilitate the movement
of air and/or moisture vapor through the textile construction 1000.
As set forth, the textile construction 1000 may be incorporated into various
articles of apparel. As an illustrative example, when the textile construction
1000 is
incorporated into an upper-body garment, the textile construction 1000 may be
positioned in
areas generating large amounts of heat and/or moisture vapor such as, for
example, the back
area of a wearer. The perspiration produced by the wearer during exercise may
induce the
dimensional change in the overlay film structure 1032 and cause the second
panel of material
1020 to shift relative to the first panel of material 1010 and align the
second plurality of
apertures 1031 with the first plurality of apertures 1019.
It is further contemplated herein that the first and second plurality of
apertures
1019 and 1031 may be configured to initially align with each other before the
textile
construction 1000 is exposed to an external stimulus. In this example, the
second panel of
material 1020 may be an outer-facing layer of, for instance, a garment such
that the overlay
film structure 1032 is positioned on an external-facing surface of the
garment. When the textile
construction 1000 exposed to an external stimulus, such as precipitation or
snow, the increase
in dimension of the overlay film structure 1032 may cause the second panel of
material 1020
to shift relative to the first panel of material 1010 resulting in the second
plurality of apertures
1031 becoming offset relative to the first plurality of apertures 1019 thereby
preventing
precipitation from entering into the garment. Any and all aspects, and any
variation thereof,
are contemplated as being within the scope herein.
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FIGs. 11-16 depicts some further example vent structures that utilize
stiffening
panels to control one or more aspects associated with vent openings such as
direction, amount
or magnitude of opening, and the like. As used herein, the term "stiffening
panel" refers to a
textile (knit, woven, nonwoven, braided, or other structured construction),
film, or other type
of material that is stiffer and/or less drapable than an underlying textile to
which it is affixed
or secured. In some aspects, the stiffening panel may include an integrally
formed portion of
a textile that is stiffer or less drapable than remaining portions of the
textile due to, for example,
a tighter knit, weave, or braid pattern, the application of a surface
treatment, and the like.
Stiffness may be measured using a number of different testing methods
including, for example,
the Peirce Cantilever Test, the Shirley Stiffness Test, and the like.
FIG. 11 depicts a first example vent structure 1100. The first example vent
structure 1100 may be used in combination with the vent structures described
herein or may be
used as a stand-alone vent structure. The first example vent structure 1100
includes a first panel
1110 formed of a first textile material and having a first panel edge 1112 and
a second panel
1114 formed of a second textile material and having a second panel edge 1116.
In the aspect
depicted in FIGs. 11 and 12, the first panel edge 1112 and the second panel
edge 1116 are
coincident. Stated different, the first panel edge 1112 is generally not
overlapped with the
second panel edge 1116. In example aspects, the first textile material may be
the same as the
second textile material, although aspects herein contemplate that the first
and second textile
materials may be different. The first and second panels 1110 and 1114 may be
incorporated
into, for example, an upper-body garment such as the upper-body garment 300, a
lower-body
garment, such as the lower-body garment 500, or other articles of apparel such
as headwear,
gloves, socks, shoes, and the like.
The first panel edge 1112 is discontinuously affixed to the second panel edge
1116 at a first securement point 1118 and a second securement point 1120 that
is spaced apart
from the first securement point 1118. In example aspects, the first panel edge
1112 is unaffixed
from the second panel edge 1116 between the first securement point 1118 and
the second
securement point 1120 to form a vent opening (better illustrated in FIG. 12).
The first and
second securement points 1118 and 1120 may include stitching, tacking,
bonding, adhesives,
hook-and-loop fasteners, and the like.
The first example vent structure 1100 further includes a first discrete
overlay
film structure 1122 and a second discrete overlay film structure 1124
respectively affixed to an
inner-facing surface of the first panel 1110 at a first location and a second
location spaced apart
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from the first location. Dashed lines are used to indicate that the film
structures 1122 and 1124
are generally not visible from the viewing perspective of FIG. 11. In example
aspects, the first
and second locations may be adjacent (from about 0.1 mm to about 1 cm) to the
first panel edge
1112. Each of the first and second discrete overlay film structures 1122 and
1124 includes a
long axis 1126 (shown with respect to the first discrete overlay film
structure 1122) and a short
axis 1128 (also shown with respect to the first discrete overlay film
structure 1122). The long
axis 1126 of each of the first and second discrete overlay film structures
1122 and 1124 is
oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 1130 of the vent
opening. In further
example aspects, the long axis 1126 of each of the first and second discrete
overlay film
structures 1122 and 1124 is respectively positioned in line (or aligned) with
the first securement
point 1118 and the second securement point 1120.
The vent structure 1100 may optionally include additional discrete overlay
film
structures 1132 secured to an inner-facing surface of the second panel 1114
adjacent (from
about 0.1 mm to about 1 cm) to the second panel edge 1116. Aspects herein
contemplate that
the additional discrete overlay film structures 1132 may alternatively be
secured to an outer-
facing surface of the second panel 1114. FIGs. 11 and 12 depict three
additional discrete
overlay film structures 1132 but fewer or a greater number of film structures
are contemplated
herein. In example aspects, the additional discrete overlay film structures
1132 are located
between the first securement point 1118 and the second securement point 1120.
In example
aspects, the additional discrete overlay film structures 1132 each have a long
axis and a short
axis (not shown), and the long axis of each of the additional discrete overlay
film structures
1132 is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1130 of the vent
opening. The additional
discrete overlay film structures 1132 may further facilitate the vent opening
when the film
structures 1132 are exposed to an external stimulus.
The vent structure 1100 further includes two or more spaced-apart stiffening
panels 1134 positioned on the first panel 1110 adjacent (from about 0.1 mm to
about 1 cm) to
the first panel edge 1112. FIGs. 11 and 12 depict four stiffening panels
having a triangular
shape. This is illustrative only and fewer or a greater number of stiffening
panels having a
different shape configuration are contemplated herein. The stiffening panels
1134 are
positioned between the first discrete overlay film structure 1122 and the
second discrete overlay
film structure 1124. As shown in FIG. 11, the stiffening panels 1134 are
positioned on an
outer-facing surface of the first panel 1110. Stated differently, in the
configuration shown in
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FIG. 11, the stiffening panels 1134 are positioned on the opposite surface of
the first panel
1110 than the first and second discrete overlay film structures 1122 and 1124.
A gap 1136 is formed between adjacent stiffening panels 1134 where the gap
1136 includes a longitudinal axis 1138 that is oriented generally
perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis 1130 of the vent opening. In the example aspect shown in
FIG. 11, the gap
1136 is generally positioned at a midpoint of the vent opening. Stated
differently, the gap 1136
is generally positioned midway between the first securement point 1118 and the
second
securement point 1120. In other example aspects, the gap 1136 may be
positioned closer to
the first securement point 1118 or the second securement point 1120.
FIG. 12 depicts the vent structure 1100 after being exposed to an external
stimulus, such as water or moisture. Exposure to the external stimulus causes
the first and
second discrete overlay film structures 1122 and 1124 to expand, for instance,
at least in the z-
direction and/or in the x-direction and/or the y-direction, and to fold or
bend along their
respective long axis 1126. Because the long axis 1126 is oriented
substantially perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis 1130 of the vent opening, now shown as vent opening
1200, the folding
or bending of the film structures 1122 and 1124 along their long axes 1126
causes the first
panel edge 1112 to shorten in the direction of the longitudinal axis 1130 of
the vent opening
1200. This is based on the lifting or puckering of the first textile material
caused by the film
structures 1122 and 1124. The shortening of the first panel edge 1112 causes
the first panel
edge 1112 to extend in the z-direction away from the surface plane of the
first panel 1110
thereby transitioning the vent opening 1200 from a closed state to an open
state. Once the
external stimulus is removed, the vent opening 1200 transitions back to the
closed state.
When the additional discrete overlay film structures 1132 are used, exposure
to
the external stimulus causes the film structures 1132 to expand, for instance,
at least in the z-
direction and/or in the x-direction and/or the y-direction, and to fold or
bend along their
respective long axes. Because the long axes are oriented substantially
perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis 1130 of the vent opening 1200, the folding or bending of the
film structures
1132 along their long axes causes the second panel edge 1116 to shorten in the
direction of the
longitudinal axis 1130 of the vent opening 1200. This is based on the lifting
or puckering of
the second textile material caused by the film structures 1132. The shortening
of the second
panel edge 1116 may further help to transition the vent opening 1200 from the
closed state to
the open state.
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In example aspects, the stiffening panels 1134 guide the direction of the vent
opening 1200, which enables predictability and uniformity of vent openings
when the vent
structure 1100 is incorporated into an article of apparel. Because the
stiffening panels 1134
are stiffer or less flexible than the first textile material, the first
textile material that underlies
.. the stiffening panels 1134 may be less prone to movement/deformation. By
configuring the
placement and positioning of the stiffening panels 1134, the movement of the
first textile
material may primarily be directed to take place at the gap 1136 since the gap
1136 does not
include stiffening panels. In this aspect, an apex of the vent opening 1200
may occur at the
gap 1136. To state this differently, a maximum opening (or displacement) 1210
of the vent
opening 1200 may occur at the gap 1136 between the stiffening panels 1134.
FIGs. 13 and 14 depict a second example vent structure 1300. The second
example vent structure 1300 may be used in combination with the vent
structures described
herein or may be used as a stand-alone vent structure. The second example vent
structure 1300
includes similar features as the vent structure 1100 as well as some different
features. The
disclosure that follows generally focuses on features that differ between the
vent structure 1100
and the vent structure 1300. Features that are similar to the vent structure
1100 include
generally the same description as set forth for FIGs. 11-12.
The second example vent structure 1300 includes a first panel 1310 formed of
a first textile material and having a first panel edge 1312 and a second panel
1314 formed of a
.. second textile material and having a second panel edge 1316. In the example
aspect shown in
FIGs. 13 and 14, the first panel edge 1312 is overlapped with the second panel
edge 1316 by a
predefined amount. In the example shown in FIGs. 13 and 14, the first panel
edge 1312 is
positioned exterior to the second panel edge 1316 although the opposite
configuration is
contemplated herein (e.g., the first panel edge 1312 is positioned interior to
the second panel
edge 1316). In example aspects, the predefined amount may be from about 0.1 mm
to about 5
cm, from about 0.5 mm to about 3 cm, or from about 1 mm to about 2 cm. The
first and second
panels 1310 and 1314 may be incorporated into, for example, an upper-body
garment such as
the upper-body garment 300, a lower-body garment, such as the lower-body
garment 500, or
other articles of apparel such as headwear, gloves, socks, shoes, and the
like.
The first panel edge 1312 is discontinuously affixed to the second panel edge
1316 at a first securement point 1318 and a second securement point 1320 that
is spaced apart
from the first securement point 1318. In example aspects, the first panel edge
1312 is unaffixed
from the second panel edge 1316 between the first securement point 1318 and
the second
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securement point 1320 to form a vent opening (better illustrated in FIG. 14).
The first and
second securement points 1318 and 1320 may include stitching, tacking,
bonding, adhesives,
hook-and-loop fasteners, and the like.
The second example vent structure 1300 further includes a first discrete
overlay
.. film structure 1322 and a second discrete overlay film structure 1324
respectively affixed to
the first panel 1310 at a first location and a second location spaced apart
from the first location.
In example aspects, the first and second locations may be adjacent (from about
0.1 mm to about
1 cm) to the first panel edge 1312. In the example aspect depicted in FIGs. 13
and 14, the first
and second discrete overlay film structures 1322 and 1324 are affixed to an
outer-facing surface
of the first panel 1310 as applied to an article of apparel.
The vent structure 1300 may optionally include additional discrete overlay
film
structures 1332 secured to the second panel 1314 adjacent (from about 0.1 mm
to about 1 cm)
to the second panel edge 1316. FIGs. 13 and 14 depict an illustrative four
additional discrete
overlay film structures 1332 but fewer or a greater number of film structures
are contemplated
herein. In example aspects, the additional discrete overlay film structures
1332 are located
between the first securement point 1318 and the second securement point 1320.
As depicted
in FIGs. 13 and 14 the additional discrete overlay film structures 1332 are
affixed to an outer-
facing surface of the second panel 1314. It is also contemplated herein that
the additional
discrete overlay film structures 1332 may be affixed to an inner-facing
surface of the second
panel 1314.
The vent structure 1100 further includes two spaced-apart stiffening panels
1334 positioned on the first panel 1310 adjacent (from about 0.1 mm to about 1
cm) to the first
panel edge 1312. The stiffening panels 1334 are shown as having a rectangular
shape although
other shape configurations are contemplated herein. The stiffening panels 1334
are positioned
between the first discrete overlay film structure 1322 and the second discrete
overlay film
structure 1324. As shown in FIG. 13, the stiffening panels 1334 are positioned
on the outer-
facing surface of the first panel 1310. Stated differently, in the
configuration shown in FIG.
113, the stiffening panels 1334 are positioned on the same surface of the
first panel 1310 as the
first and second discrete overlay film structures 1322 and 1324.
A gap 1336 is formed between adjacent stiffening panels 1334 where the gap
1336 includes a longitudinal axis that is oriented generally perpendicular to
the longitudinal
axis of the vent opening. Similar to the vent structure 1100, the gap 1336 is
generally
positioned at a midpoint of the vent opening. Stated differently, the gap 1336
is generally
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positioned midway between the first securement point 1318 and the second
securement point
1320. In other example aspects, the gap 1336 may be positioned closer to the
first securement
point 1318 or the second securement point 1320.
FIG. 14 depicts the vent structure 1300 after being exposed to an external
stimulus, such as water or moisture. Similar to the vent structures described
herein, exposure
to the external stimulus causes the first and second discrete overlay film
structures 1322 and
1324 to expand and to fold or bend along their respective long axis. This in
turn causes the
first panel edge 1312 to shorten in the direction of the longitudinal axis of
the vent opening
(labeled as vent opening 1400) and to extend in the z-direction away from the
surface plane of
the first panel 1310 thereby transitioning the vent opening 1400 from a closed
state to an open
state. Once the external stimulus is removed, the vent opening 1400
transitions back to the
closed state.
When the additional discrete overlay film structures 1332 are used, exposure
to
the external stimulus causes the film structures 1332 to expand and to fold or
bend along their
respective long axes which causes the second panel edge 1316 to shorten in the
direction of the
longitudinal axis of the vent opening 1400. The shortening of the second panel
edge 1316 may
further help to transition the vent opening 1400 from the closed state to the
open state.
Similar to the vent structure 1100, the stiffening panels 1334 guide the
direction
of the vent opening 1400. For example, by configuring the placement and
positioning of the
stiffening panels 1334, the movement of the first textile material may
primarily take place at
the gap 1336. In this aspect, an apex of the vent opening 1400 may occur at
the gap 1336. To
state this differently, a maximum opening (or displacement) of the vent
opening 1400 may
occur at the gap 1336.
FIG. 14 depicts an additional aspect of the vent structures described herein.
In
example aspects, when the first and/or second textile materials include a knit
construction, the
long axis of the discrete overlay film structures such as the discrete overlay
film structures
1322, 1324, and 1332 may be aligned in a course-wise direction of the knit
textile material as
shown in the enlarged view where knit courses are indicated by the reference
numeral 1410..
Aligning the long axis of the discrete overlay film structures in the course-
wise direction may
occur when the discrete overlay film structures are affixed to the inner-
facing surface of the
panels or the outer-facing surface of the panels. It has been found that
aligning the long axis
of the discrete overlay film structures in the course-wise direction results
in a greater amount
of bending or folding of the underlying textile material along the long axis
of the film
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structures. In example aspects, this may be due to the film material being
deposited thicker
between adjacent courses and thinner on top of the courses. Because the film
material is thinner
on top of the courses, the knit courses may deform or bend more in response to
an external
stimulus.
Orienting the long axes of the overlay film structures in the course-wise
direction of the underlying knit textile may influence how pattern pieces are
cut and positioned
to form an article of apparel. For instance, referring to, for example, FIG.
3, if the upper-body
garment 300 is formed of a knit textile, the knit textile may be oriented such
that the course-
wise direction is aligned with the long axis 340 of the discrete overlay film
structures 338 (e.g.,
in a diagonal orientation)
FIGs. 15 and 16 depict a third example vent structure 1500 that may be used in
combination with the vent structures described herein or may be used as a
stand-alone vent
structure. FIG. 15 depicts a panel 1510 before the panel 1510 is exposed to an
external
stimulus, such as moisture. The panel 1510 may be incorporated into, for
example, an upper-
body garment such as the upper-body garment 300, a lower-body garment, such as
the lower-
body garment 500, or other articles of apparel such as headwear, gloves,
socks, shoes, and the
like. The panel 1510 includes a slit 1512 formed in the panel 1510. The slit
1512 may be
formed by a mechanical cutting process, laser cutting, water jet cutting,
dissolvable yarns,
manipulating a knit, non-woven, or weave construction to form the slit 1512,
and the like. The
slit 1512 extends from a first surface 1514 of the panel 1510 to an opposite
second surface
1516 of the panel 1510 to provide a through-passage. The slit 1512 includes a
first edge 1518
and an opposing second edge 1520. The longitudinal axis of the slit 1512
extends in a first
direction between a first end 1522 and a second end 1524 of the slit 1512.
Although the first
edge 1518 is shown abutting the second edge 1520, it is contemplated herein
that a small space
may exist between the first and second edges 1518 and 1520 such that the first
and second
edges 1518 and 1520 are not in direct contact with each other. Although the
slit 1512 is shown
as linear, it is contemplated herein that the slit 1512 may have other shapes
including curved
shapes, geometric shapes, curvilinear shapes, alphanumeric shapes, and the
like.
The panel 1510 further includes a first discrete overlay film structure 1526
positioned adjacent to the first edge 1518 of the slit 1512 and having a long
axis aligned with
the first end 1522 of the slit 1512, and a second discrete overlay film
structure 1528 positioned
adjacent to the first edge 1518 of the slit 1512 and having a long axis
aligned with the second
end 1524 of the slit 1512. The long axes of the first and second discrete
overlay film structures
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1526 and 1528 are oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
the slit 1512.
The first and second discrete overlay film structures 1526 and 1528 are shown
affixed to an
inner-facing surface of the panel 1510, but aspects herein contemplate that
the first and second
discrete overlay film structures 1526 and 1528 may be affixed to an outer-
facing surface of the
panel 1510.
The vent structure 1500 may optionally include additional discrete overlay
film
structures 1530 secured to the inner-facing surface of the panel 1510 adjacent
(from about 0.1
mm to about 1 cm) to the second edge 1520. In example aspects, the additional
discrete overlay
film structures 1530 are located between the first end 1522 and the second end
1524 of the slit
1512. It is also contemplated herein that the additional discrete overlay film
structures 1530
are affixed to the outer-facing surface of the panel 1510.
The vent structure 1500 further includes two spaced-apart stiffening panels
1532 positioned on the panel 1510 adjacent (from about 0.1 mm to about 1 cm)
to the first edge
1518. The stiffening panels 1532 are shown as having a triangular shape
although other shape
configurations are contemplated herein. The stiffening panels 1532 are
positioned between the
first discrete overlay film structure 1526 and the second discrete overlay
film structure 1528.
As shown in FIG. 15, the stiffening panels 1532 are positioned on the outer-
facing surface of
the panel 1510.
A gap 1534 is formed between adjacent stiffening panels 1532 where the gap
1534 includes a longitudinal axis that is oriented generally perpendicular to
the longitudinal
axis of the slit 1512. Similar to the vent structures 1100 and 1300, the gap
1534 is generally
positioned at a midpoint of the slit 1512. Stated differently, the gap 1534 is
generally
positioned midway between the first end 1522 and the second end 1524 of the
slit 1512. In
other example aspects, the gap 1534 may be positioned closer to the first end
1522 or the second
end 1524 of the slit 1512.
FIG. 16 depicts the panel 1510 after being exposed to an external stimulus,
such
as water or moisture. Exposure to the external stimulus causes the film
structures 1526, 1528,
and 1530 to expand, for instance, at least in the z-direction and/or in the x-
direction and/or the
y-direction, and to fold or bend at least along their long axes. Because each
of the long axes is
oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slit
1512, the folding or
bending of the film structures 1526, 1528, and 1530 along their long axes
causes the first edge
1518 and the second edge 1520 to shorten in the direction of the longitudinal
axis of the slit
1512. The shortening of the first edge 1518 and the second edge 1520 may cause
the first edge
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1518 and the second edge 1520 to extend in the z-direction away from the
surface plane of the
panel 1510 thereby transitioning the slit 1512 from a closed state to an open
state as indicated
by reference numeral 1600. Once the external stimulus is removed, the panel
1510 transitions
back to its pre-exposure state and the slit 1512 transitions to a closed
state.
Similar to the vent structures 1100 and 1300, the stiffening panels 1532 guide
the direction of the slit opening 1600. For example, by configuring the
placement and
positioning of the stiffening panels 1532, the movement of the panel 1510 may
primarily take
place at the gap 1534. In this aspect, an apex of the slit opening 1600 may
occur at the gap
1534. To state this differently, a maximum opening (or displacement) of the
slit opening 1600
may occur at the gap 1534.
Aspects of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be
illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative aspects will become apparent
to those skilled in
the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop
alternative means of
implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope
of the
present disclosure.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility
and
may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and
are
contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the
various figures need be
carried out in the specific order described.
