Patent EA-005018-B1 (EA)
Title: Three-dimensional fabric with porous layer
Inventor: MORRISON MARY ELIZABETH
IPC: A41D31/00
Filed: 2002-01-09
Abstract: 1. A fabric comprising a porous layer that is porous in the direction along the layer, the porous layer including fibres extending across the layer, whereby, in use, fluid is arranged to be driven along the porous layer, characterized in that the cross fibres are arranged in a pattern to provide one or more channels through the fabric for preferential fluid flow through the one or more channels in the direction along the layer. 2. A fabric as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fabric comprises an upper surface and, spaced therefrom, a lower surface, the porous layer being provided therebetween. 3. A fabric as claimed in claim 2 wherein the lower surface, in use, is adjacent to a body. 4. A fabric as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the lower surface is permeable to the fluid. 5. A fabric as claimed in any one of claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein the lower surface is permeable to moisture. 6. A fabric as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the porous layer has located adjacent to it on its upper side an impermeable layer or surface which is substantially impermeable to the fluid driven in the porous layer thereby to constrain the fluid to move along the porous layer. 7. A fabric as claimed in claim 6 wherein the impermeable layer or surface is permeable to moisture. 8. A fabric as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the upper surface comprises the impermeable layer by tight knitting of the upper surface. 9. A fabric as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the impermeable layer or surface comprises a layer laminated to the upper surface of the fabric. 10. A fabric as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the porous layer includes one or more fibre(s) selected from the group comprising staple fibres, elongate fibres, continuous filaments or monofilament(s). 11. A fabric as claimed in claim 10 wherein the fibre(s) comprises a monofilament. 12. A fabric as claimed in either claim 10 or 11 wherein the fibre(s) comprises polyester. 13. A fabric as claimed in any one of claims 10, 11 or 12 wherein the fibre(s) comprises flame retardant fibre, treated flame retardant fibre or a combination thereof. 14. A fabric as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the fibre(s) is or are knitted, needled or woven. 15. A fabric as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the fabric comprise fibres selected from the group comprising staple fibres, elongate fibres, continuous filaments or monofilament(s). 16. A fabric as claimed in claim 15 wherein the fibres of the upper and lower faces comprise fibres selected from the group comprising inherent flame retardant fibres, treated flame retardant fibres, treated cotton, natural fibres, man made fibres and/or a combination of different fibres in both upper and lower surfaces. 17. A fabric as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the surface in use next to the body includes fibres with wicking properties. 18. A fabric as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the fibres comprising the porous layer and the upper and lower surfaces are needled, knitted or woven as a single fabric. 19. A fabric as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the fabric comprises warp or weft knitting. 20. A fabric as claimed in claim 19 wherein the fabric comprises weft knitting and the upper and lower surfaces include a plain knit, single jersey or double jersey. 21. A fabric as claimed in either claim 19 or 20 wherein the cross fibres are knitted into the upper and lower surfaces on an alternative side sequence. 22. A fabric as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the porous layer is formed by knitting in one operation in which the upper and lower surfaces are knitted simultaneously and the cross fibre of the porous layer is passed singly from the upper to the lower surface. 23. A fabric as claimed in claim 22 wherein the cross fibre is knitted into each surface as it passes across. 24. A fabric as claimed in claim 23 wherein the cross fibre comprises a single yarn and each pass is a single pass. 25. A fabric as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 24 wherein the fabric is formed by weft knitting using a knitting sequence of (1) stitch loop formation, (2) the cross fibre crosses to opposite side and is laid into the opposite side stitch loop, (3) the opposite stitch loop is formed, (4) the cross fibre is then passed back to the original side and laid into the stitch loop, followed by repeating of the sequence. 26. A fabric as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least part of the lower surface of the porous layer, or a porous fabric attached thereto, is arranged, in use, to contact the skin of a user over at least part of its extent. 27. A fabric as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when dependent on claim 9 wherein the laminated layer, comprises a film. 28. A fabric as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when dependent on claim 9 wherein the laminated layer, comprises a hydrophilic layer or membrane. 29. A fabric as claimed in claim 28 wherein the hydrophilic layer or membrane, in use, is arranged to attract moisture from inside the fabric and through the hydrophilic layer or membrane. 30. A fabric as claimed in any one of claims 9-29 wherein the laminated layer comprises a flame retardant layer. 31. A fabric as claimed in any one of claims 9-30 wherein the laminated layer comprises a material selected from the group comprising polyurethane, polyester urethane or PVC films. 32. A fabric as claimed in any one of claims 9-31 wherein a third layer is provided on the outer side of the laminated layer to protect the laminated layer. 33. A fabric as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31 wherein a further porous layer is provided on the laminated layer such that the laminated layer is located between two porous layers. 34. A fabric as claimed in claim 33 wherein both of the porous layers, in use, are arranged to have fluid driven through them in the general direction of the layer. 35. A fabric as claimed in claim 33 or 34 wherein a further laminated layer is provided on the further porous layer, and a fifth layer is provided on the further laminated layer which comprises a fabric to protect the further laminated layer. 36. A fabric as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 35 wherein in use the fabric is arranged for a first fluid to be circulating in the first porous layer and the second porous layer is arranged to carry a second fluid. 37. A fabric as claimed in claim 36 wherein the fluid comprises a gas. 38. A fabric as claimed in claim 37 wherein the gas comprises air. 39. A fabric as claimed in claim 36 wherein the second fluid comprises an inert gas. 40. A fabric as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fabric includes at least one fluid inlet through which the fluid is arranged to pass in order that the fluid can flow along the porous layer or layers and at least one outlet through which the fluid that has passed through at least part of the porous layer or layers is arranged to exit the fabric. 41. A fabric as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fibres extending across the porous layer are arranged in a pattern to direct fluid passing along the porous layer. 42. A fabric as claimed in claim 41 wherein the pattern comprises one or more channels and/or one or more chambers. 43. A fabric as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein in use the fluid is arranged to be forced along the porous layer by power means. 44. An article comprising the fabric as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. 45. An article as claimed in claim 44 which is an article of clothing. 46. An article of clothing as claimed in claim 45 which comprises a suit or cladding that covers part of the body only. 47. An article of clothing as claimed in claim 46 which comprises a glove, cuff, collar, thigh or chest part. 48. An article of clothing as claimed in any one of claims 45 to 47 wherein the clothing comprises different areas of knit structure for different places in the clothing. 49. An article of clothing as claimed in claim 48 wherein the clothing comprises different areas of fluid channeling, to force more fluid through particular areas. 50. An article as claimed in claim 44 which is a vehicle seat. 51. A method of cooling a body comprising causing heat from the body to enter a porous layer of fabric, wherein the porous layer includes fibres extending across the porous layer, and powering fluid through the layer such that fluid is caused to flow along the layer to cause the fluid to take up heat from the layer. 52. A method as claimed in claim 51 further comprising attracting moisture from the body into the porous layer. 53. A method as claimed in claim 51 or 52 further comprising cooling the fluid prior to the fluid entering the porous layer. 54. Use of a fabric as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 43 to cool a body. 55. Use of a fabric as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 43 to heat a body.