Abstract:
The invention relates to a clothing item or piece of clothing, in particular, for direct wearing on the skin. The piece of clothing comprises at least two different yarns ( 1,2 ). The yarn ( 2 ), facing the skin, has a completely sealed and smooth surface and is in one piece. In a version thereof, the yarn ( 2 ), comprises a number of individual filaments ( 21 ) collected into one thread. Said yarn has a sealed and smooth surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to an item of clothing, in particular, for being worn directly on the skin, and more particularly, it consists of at least two different yarns.  
           [0002]    The clothing items of the type in question here are essentially underwear and/or stockings. Especially high demands with regard to wearing comfort are made of these clothing items because they are constantly in direct contact with the skin of the wearer. The materials used to produce these clothing items must therefore be made of materials having a pleasant feel. At the same time, an important demand of such clothing items is that they must absorb perspiration as it is produced by the human body and must nevertheless retain the pleasant wearing feeling. This requirement is made of clothing items intended for wear in athletic activities, in particular, because perspiration production is definitely increased because of the many rapid movements involved. Furthermore, the clothing items worn directly on the skin are covered by clothing or shoes worn directly on top of them, thus making it difficult for the perspiration that has been absorbed to evaporate.  
           [0003]    It is known that to improve the properties of clothing items, one method is to texturize the yarns used. In texturizing, smooth structureless filament yarns based on synthetics are given a permanent crimp (crimped yarn) by utilizing their thermoplasticity. This should influence the hand and appearance of the yarn to make it like spun yarn, while increasing its volume for the purpose of increased retention of heat and absorption of moisture and increasing its stretchability and elasticity (see Brockhaus Encyclopedia, 19th edition, vol. 52, “Tep-Ur,” p. 49).  
           [0004]    In addition, there are known so-called pile fabrics having a furry surface or thread loops on one or both sides. These fabrics also include terry cloth, which usually consists of two different materials, e.g., polyester and wool which are twisted together unevenly, whereby loops are formed by the one material (e.g., wool) so that the loops protrude out of the fabric and yield an irregular pile effect that is visible on both sides of the fabric (see Brockhaus Encyclopedia, 19th edition, vol. 7, “Ex-Frt,” p. 701). These pile fabrics also include terry cloth that consists of a base fabric with pile loops woven into it. Because of the high absorbency required, terry cloth is made primarily of cotton yarn and twisted yarn (Brockhaus loc. cit., p. 701). Although the clothing items produced from the fabrics mentioned above have a relatively good ability to take up moisture, the moisture is absorbed by the entire fabric, so that the fibers of the fabric which come in contact with the skin are moist, which thus has a very negative effect on wearing comfort. At the same time, in particular in the case of stockings made of such materials, the risk of blisters forming on the foot is relatively high.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention seeks to remedy this situation. The object of this invention is to create clothing items, in particular for being worn directly on the skin, which will have a high wearing comfort that will not decline even if the wearer perspires heavily. According to this invention, this object is achieved by the fact that the yarn facing the skin is completely closed and consists of one piece. This object is also achieved by the fact that the yarn facing the skin consists of a plurality of individual filaments that are joined to form a fiber and it has a closed and smooth surface.  
           [0006]    This invention creates a clothing item, in particular for being worn directly on the skin, which has a high wearing comfort. The yarn facing the skin is not capable of absorbing moisture because of its completely closed surface. Instead, the moisture is directed in the direction of the yarn which faces away from the skin and absorbs the moisture. This results in exclusively “dry yarn” being in contact with the skin even when the wearer is perspiring heavily, so this gives the impression that the entire clothing item is dry. Therefore, the wearing comfort is high even for those participating, for example, in extreme athletic activities.  
           [0007]    In another refinement of this invention, the yarn is coated. The coating is preferably applied galvanically, which ensures, among other things, that the coating will cover the entire surface of the yarn.  
           [0008]    The coating preferably consists of silver, copper or gold. These coatings have a magnetic shielding effect. Silver and copper also prevent the spread of bacteria or even kill bacteria. In particular when worn on the foot, the skin cells are renewed most frequently. Therefore, a corneous stratum, i.e., a horny layer, or dead skin layers often develop in the preliminary stage, where bacteria and foot fungus accumulate. With the help of these coatings, bacteria are killed by the metal ions contained in the coating and/or the propagation of the bacteria or fungi is prevented. This reduces the risk of foot odor and foot fungus. Use of these coatings in underwear reduces the odor due to perspiration. Gold also has an antistatic effect. There is no oxidation so the high conductivity is preserved.  
           [0009]    In another embodiment of this invention, the coating consists of polytetrafluoroethylene. This material, which is known by the brand name Teflon, is also characterized by good lubricant properties. When used as a coating for the yarn, this results in a great reduction in the friction of the clothing on the skin, which also contributes to an increase in wearing comfort.  
           [0010]    Other embodiments and refinements of this invention are described hereafter. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0011]    An exemplary embodiment of this invention is depicted in the drawing and is described in greater detail below. The figures show:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 a detail of a clothing item consisting of two different yarns;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 a cross section through two woven yarns with a coating, where the yarn is produced from monofilament, shown on an enlarged scale;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 a clothing item in the form of a sock; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 a clothing item in the form of a body suit.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    The clothing items of the type in question here are those that come in direct contact with the skin, as is the case with stockings and underwear, in particular. The clothing item consists of two different yarns, namely yarn  1 , which is facing away from the skin—toward the outside—while yarn  2  is facing the skin—toward the inside. Yarn  1  is usually a yarn known for use in clothing items, e.g., cotton, wool or the like.  
         [0017]    The yarn  2  facing the skin has a completely closed and smooth surface in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1. It consists of one piece, which means in particular that the yarn  2  consists essentially of a single thread. The yarn  2  is essentially inelastic and is woven with the yarn  1 , forming a “crimped” surface. This design may also be referred to as “loops.” The yarn  2  has a very great thickness. The thickness preferably amounts to 84 dtex. Processing is performed, for example, by means of edging, causing the yarn  2  to crimp. Due to the crimped form of the yarn  2 , a relatively dense surface is formed on the side facing the skin when this yarn is woven together with yarn  1 . As a result approximately 80 to 90% of the skin covered by the clothing item is in contact with the yarn  2 . Thus, an almost completely closed dry surface is created on the inside of the clothing item, imparting an extremely pleasant feel in wearing, in particular for the case when the yarn  1  has already taken up moisture.  
         [0018]    In a modification, the yarn  2  may consist of a plurality of fibers, which are tangled together (FIG. 2). The yarn  2  preferably consists of monofilaments  21  which are joined to form a fiber. The fiber thus created may also be edged [sic; carded] to produce a rippled (or crimped) shape. The yarn  2  consisting of a plurality of fibers is also woven with the yarn  1 .  
         [0019]    In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the yarn  3  is coated. The coating  3  is preferably applied galvanically. The coating  3  consists of copper, silver, gold, polytetra-fluoroethylene or the like. Different effects can be achieved with the help of different coatings. For example, an antifungal effect can be achieved with the help of copper or silver. A coating of polytetrafluoroethylene, however, causes a reduction in the friction produced by the clothing item on the skin.  
         [0020]    Even when the yarn  2  is produced from a plurality of fibers according to the exemplary embodiment as depicted in FIG. 2, it is also coated. The coating  3  also consists here of the substances mentioned above. First, there is the possibility of coating each individual fiber  21  and then combining them to form the yarn  2 . However, there is also the possibility of first combining the fibers  21  to form the yarn  2  and then coating them.  
         [0021]    For example, FIG. 3 shows a sock as the clothing item, in particular for athletic activities. The sock consists of a foot part  4  and a shaft (or trunk)  5 . The foot part  4  has a toe area  41 , a heel area  42  and a tread area  43  between the toe area and the heel area.  
         [0022]    The shaft  5  is provided with a collar  51  on its end facing away from the foot part  4 . In the area of the calf, the shaft  5  is provided with cushions  52 , whereby in the example depicted here, strip-shaped padding is provided. Other forms of padding are also possible. Cushions  53  are also provided in the lower area of the ankle going into the span of the foot part. Cushions may also be provided in the area of the Achilles tendon.  
         [0023]    The cushions are generally made of synthetic yarns or woven compound fabrics or yarn or similar materials. In the exemplary embodiment, the cushioning in the sock is made of hollow chamber fibers with wool or cotton spun around them. The hollow chamber synthetic yarns have particularly good shock absorbing and pressure damping effects.  
         [0024]    In addition, the sock is provided with an X-cross bandage  54 , which is made of an elastic climate-regulating woven fabric. The X-cross bandage  54  supports the ankle in the transitional area between the leg and foot.  
         [0025]    In the exemplary embodiment, an air channel  55  proceeds from the collar  51  and extends into the arch of the foot. It is made of a climate regulating mesh knit fabric. The air channel  55  contributes to the wick function in leading moisture upward out of the contact area of the sole. Such an air channel  55  may also be provided on the sock on the outside of the leg.  
         [0026]    With the sock chosen here, the toe area  41 , the heel area  42  and the sole area  43  between the toe area and the heel area are made of the two different yarns  1 ,  2 . Due to the loop design, 80% to 90% of the skin contact here is with yarn  2 . Since the yarn  2  achieves the effects described above, very good prevention of foot fungus is achieved due to the design of areas  41 ,  42  and  43  described here. It is of course also possible to design other areas of the sock in the manner described here.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 shows as an example an item of clothing, in particular to be worn in athletic activities. The item of clothing, which is preferably worn as underwear, has different climate zones and different materials or combinations of materials are used over the entire item of clothing, depending on the particular burden of perspiration or stress. For example, air channels  6  which permit better air circulation and removal of moisture are provided. In addition, 7 cushions are provided at locations which are at particular risk, such as the knees or (not shown) the elbows.  
         [0028]    In the case of the clothing item depicted in FIG. 4, the area of the armpits  8 , the crotch  9  and (not shown) the area of the back of the knees are made of the two different yarns  1 ,  2 . Here again due to the loop design in these areas  80  to 90% of the skin comes in contact with yarn  2 . Since the yarn  2  achieves the effects described above, a very good preventive effect against the development of diseases is achieved due to the design of the areas that are exposed to high bacterial levels. In addition, there is also a pleasant feeling in the areas exposed to the most perspiration when this item of clothing is worn.