IMPROVED FLEECE-LIKE MATERIAL AND MATERIAL AND GARMENTS MADE THEREFROM

Abstract: An expanse of composite textile material comprising two outer layers (1, 2) of knitted fabric each with an outer surface mechanically treated to give a fleece-like appearance (1a, 2a) with an interposed textile layer (3) comprising at least one water-repellent but vapour-permeable textile material, or a layer of an adhesive of such properties. The two outer layers (1, 2) may be either stitched together back to back or adhered together over their whole contacting surfaces.

Description: IMPROVED FLEECE-LIKE MATERIAL AND MATERIAL AND GARMENTS MADE THEREFROM This invention relates to fleece-like textile fabrics and to garments made from such fabrics. It is known to use natural fleeces in the fabrication of garments. However, natural fleeces are expensive, of varying quality, and can be heavy and . rather unpleasant to wear. There has accordingly grown up a technology of producing an artificial fleece-like material. Typically, this is based on a knitted fabric where both surfaces have been abraded or brushed in such a way as to break and raise some of the fibres of the yarn used for knitting the fabric so as to give a more or less tangled and fleecy appearance. Techniques to do this are well known, some involving the use of weft knitting and some involving the use of warp knitting with production of raised loops on one side of the fleece of the fabric and with cutting of those loops, wholly or partially, to produce fibres which can be converted to a fleece-like appearance. It is also known to use fleeces as composite layers , SUBSTITUTESHEET of garments. Usually, such composite layers are on the outside of garments, the inside of which is conventional fabric secured by stitching or adhesion to the outer fleece layer. It is known, although not common, to incorporate a fleeced knitted material as an inner layer of a garment, e. g. for warmth and comfort in a dressing gown, and to have the outer surface of the gown unfleeced. Although fleece materials are of attractive appearance, and can be warm to wear, they are not of themselves waterproof or water shedding. Indeed, in some instances they tend to accumulate and transmit moisture. Because of this it is known to unite a fleece with a layer of waterproof material. A preferred waterproof material is a material based upon a fabric with rubber-coated or polymer-coated fibres such that passage of liquid water is repelled but passage of water vapour through the remaining interstices is not hindered. Numerous varieties of such materials are available, and commonly available varieties are known by the name of Pertex or Goretex (Registered Trade Marks). We have now discovered that two fleeces can be combined in a single garment, and that moreover the combination can advantageously also incorporate such a waterproof or water repellent layer. In one aspect the invention consists in an expanse of composite textile material comprising two outer layers of knitted fabric each with an outer surface mechanically treated to give a fleece-like appearance both attached to an interposed layer or layers which is water-repellent but vapour-permeable. The two outer layers may be either stitched together back to back (with the interposition of a further, internal textile layer as discussed) or be adhered together over their whole surfaces with a layer of water repellent but vapour permeable adhesive. The outer layers may be the same or be different. Thus, they can differ in extent and length of fleece characteristic, and/or in colour. They may be warp-knitted or weft-knitted, or differ as from one layer to the other in this respect. The weight per unit area of the knitted fabric, and the yarn and knit sizes are variable but preferably lie between 100 and 500 grams/linear metre. More especially, one layer, destined as an outer layer for a garment can range from between 100 and 500 grams/linear metre, and the other, destined inward layer from between 100 to 400 grams/linear metre. The interposed layer (if present) be a breathable, waterproof, windproof textile layer of Goretex or Pertex fabric, e. g. of grade Pertex 4, and of a weight of 100 to 400 grams/linear metre to give an optimum "handle". The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic cross section through a composite textile fabric in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 shows diagrammatically a garment incorporating such material. Figure 1 shows a composite textile material comprising essentially three layers. The outer layer 1 consists of a single-sided fleece material. That is to say, it consists of a knitted material on one surface la of which a layer of entangled fibres has been raised, by brushing or abrasion, to constitute the outermost surface of a fabric. The other lb surface of this layer is unfleeced, that is to say is essentially unchanged from the original knitting process. An internal layer 2 also of single-sided fleece material is also provided. This can be of a nature identical with the outer layer, with an outwardly facing fleece surface 2a, but it is more preferably different from the outer layer in detail for reasons discussed more thoroughly below. Between the two layers is interposed a layer 3 of a water-repellent but moisturevapour-permeable material, such as available under the name Goretex or Pertex (Registered Trade Marks). The layers are held in the required juxtaposition by the conventional seams present on a garment such as a jacket. If desired, of course, additional decorative or other seaming can be added so as to give additional lines of interconnection. Alternatively, the internal layer 3 may be constituted as a water-repellent but moisture vapour permeable adhesive. In this way, waterproof, windproof and breathable garments may be produced having reduced bulk since no fabric internal layer is present. The textile material as shown in Figure 1 can be constituted as a garment as shown at 4 in Figure 2, which is formed of or comprises areas of the simulated double sided fleece. Most frequently the two fleece layers 1, 2 have mutually different characteristics. Thus, the fleece on the inside of the garment can be less prominent, and can be produced, for example, by roughening and fleecing a weft knitted fabric. The outer fleece, while it may be the same, is more preferably a rougher and shaggier material and is produced by, for example, by warp knitting a looped fabric, severing the loops, and fleecing the resulting structure on the destined outer surface. As well as being of a different texture (and, consequently, a different appearance) the fleece surfaces 1, 2 can of course be of different colours. The resulting fleece product, although to inspection being essentially a single fleece, can thus be provided with different colours on each side, an effect not hitherto achievable with fleece materials. The textile of the invention, and the garment fabricated therefrom, possesses advantages over known composite fabrics and garments. Thus, the inner fleece in addition to its expected function of trapping an internal layer of air, also ensures that the waterproof fabric always possesses, on both sides, an effective air passageway for conveying moisture vapour, and for hindering the passage of liquid. We have found that if a fleece is merely backed with such a layer, and if such a layer is held tightly against the wearer (for example at the shoulder portions) then there is an enhanced tendency for water to pass through the layer where it is stretched over the underlying surface. If on the other hand this layer is always supported over an internal fleece structure then the tendency for water to enter in heavy rain conditions is diminished. It is moreover somewhat surprising that the composite material should hold its configuration. In practice, it seems likely that, with seaming, although the configuration is generally held there is some small element of movement or conformability as between the layers. This may add to the considerably to the comfort and attractive handle of the garment. Indeed, the handle of the textile material is fully soft and acceptable, with fleece extending along both faces of the internal water-proofing layer. Nonetheless the invention may be practised with an adhesive application over part of all or all of the contacting surfaces, in the absence of a textile internal layer. It will be appreciated that the surfaces in contact with the water repellent interlayer of fabric or adhesive are themselves not fleeced. We have found that this gives a material improved over any material in which both layers are fleeced on both sides.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An expanse of composite textile material comprising two outer layers of knitted fabric each with an outer surface mechanically treated to give a fleece-like appearance both attached to an interposed layer or layers which is water-repellent but vapour-permeable. 2. An expanse of composite material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two outer layers are stitched together back to back through an interposed textile layer. 3. An expanse of material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two outer layers are adhered together over their whole contacting surfaces with a layer of water-repellent but vapour-permeable adhesive. 4. An expanse of material as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the outer layers are the same in respect of extent or length of fleece characteristic, colour or knit. 5. An expanse of material as claimed in claims 1, 2 or3, wherein the outer layers are different in respect of extent or length of fleece characteristic, colour or knit. 6. An expanse of material as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the weight per unit area of the knitted fabric, the yarn and knit sizes lie between 100 and 500 grams/linear metre. 7. An expanse of material as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the weight per unit area of one outer layer lies between 100 and 500 grams/linear metre, and the weight per unit area of the other outer layer lies between 100 to 400 grams/linear metre. 8. An expanse of material as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the interposed layer is a breathable, waterproof and windproof layer of GORETEX or PERTEX fabric. 9. An expanse of material as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying Figures 1 or 2.

Inventors: BURMAN DUNCAN, STEWART GRAHAM R, WATERSON NEIL, BURMAN, DUNCAN, STEWART, GRAHAM, R., WATERSON, NEIL
Applicants: DAWSON CONSUMER PROD, DAWSON CONSUMER PRODUCTS LIMITED
Application year: 1992
Main classification: D04B1
IPC codes: B32B5, D04B1