Patent Publication Number: US-2018050521-A1

Title: Fabric for support

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fabric for support, and more particularly to the fabric suitable for making a support that in itself has sufficient fixing strength despite being thin. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A thin support is known in which a less stretchable area is formed by partially bonding a synthetic resin to stretchable fabric (for example, see Patent Literature 1). 
     However, since the synthetic resin bonded area of such a conventional support is difficult to stretch compared to the other area, there was a problem that though the conventional support somewhat compresses the corresponding part of a human body at the time of wearing, fixing strength applied to an affected area, such as a joint, is insufficient. On the other hand, since the difference in the degree of stretch between the stretchable fabric and the synthetic resin more increases if a much less stretchable synthetic resin is bonded in order to increase fixing strength, there was a problem that the synthetic resin peels from the stretchable fabric. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: JP 2005-125541 A 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention, which has been made in view of the foregoing problems, is directed to a fabric for support that in itself has sufficient fixing strength despite being thin and prevents the peeling of a synthetic resin part. 
     Solution to Problem 
     As a result of extensive research aimed at solving the above-mentioned problems, the inventor of the present invention found that a very good result can be achieved by forming on a top surface of a stretchable substrate a first synthetic resin film layer that is less stretchable than the stretchable substrate and by forming and coating on the first synthetic resin film layer a second synthetic resin film layer that is less stretchable than the first synthetic resin film layer, and thus the inventor has completed the present invention. 
     That is, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by a fabric for support, in which, at least, a first synthetic resin film layer that is less stretchable than a stretchable substrate is formed on a top surface of the stretchable substrate within the stretchable substrate, and a second synthetic resin film layer that is less stretchable than the first synthetic resin film layer is formed on a top surface of the first synthetic resin film layer within the first synthetic resin film layer. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     The fabric for support of the present invention, in which synthetic resin film layers are sequentially laminated on the stretchable substrate, has sufficient fixing strength in itself and does not necessarily need a fixing strap or the like. 
     Additionally, the difference in the degree of stretch between the stretchable substrate and the first synthetic resin film layer and the difference in the degree of stretch between the first synthetic resin film layer and the second synthetic resin film layer do not increase remarkably, so that the first synthetic resin film layer and/or the second synthetic resin film layer are prevented from peeling. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of fabric for support according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the fabric for support according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the fabric for support according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of an ankle support made by using the fabric for support according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an example of wearing the ankle support of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , reference numeral  10  designates a stretchable substrate, reference numeral  20  designates a first synthetic resin film layer, and reference numeral  30  designates a second synthetic resin film layer. 
     The stretchable substrate  10  is not particularly limited as long as it has a stretch and, for example, a commonly used thin (about 0.3 to 2 mm thick) fabric for support is preferably used. 
     The first synthetic resin film layer  20  is less stretchable than the stretchable substrate  10 , that is, the first synthetic resin film layer  20  has a low stretch ratio, and the first synthetic resin film layer  20  is formed on a top surface of the stretchable substrate  10  within the stretchable substrate  10 . 
     The second synthetic resin film layer  30  is less stretchable than the first synthetic resin film layer  20 , that is, the second synthetic resin film layer  30  has a low stretch ratio, and the second synthetic resin film layer  30  is formed on a top surface of the first synthetic resin film layer  20  within the first synthetic resin film layer  20 . 
     The method of forming the first synthetic resin film layer  20  and the second synthetic resin film layer  30  is not particularly limited and, for example, a method of pressing and forming the synthetic resin film layers through an adhesive applied thereto or a method of pressing and forming by applying heat at a temperature above the melting point of the synthetic resins of the synthetic resin film layers  20 ,  30  is preferable. In particular, pressing and forming by applying heat at a temperature above the melting point in the latter method causes part of the upper synthetic resins to be impregnated into the lower stretchable substrate  10  or to be melted and integrated with the lower first synthetic resin film layer  20 , which advantageously prevents peeling of the first synthetic resin film layer  20  and/or the second synthetic resin film layer  30  in a more reliable manner. 
     A number of other synthetic resin film layers (not shown), if appropriate, may be laminated on a top surface of the second synthetic resin film layer  30 . In this case, the above other synthetic resin film layers are less stretchable than the synthetic resin film layer thereunder and are formed within the synthetic resin film layer. This is desirable to obtain a support that has fixing strength and prevents peeling. 
     As described above, a number of other synthetic resin film layers  40  may be laminated on a top surface of the uppermost one of the laminated synthetic resin film layers beyond any synthetic resin film layers thereunder (i.e., the second synthetic resin film layer  30  and the first synthetic resin film layer  20  of  FIG. 3 ) and within the stretchable substrate  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In this case, while the synthetic resin film layer  40  may be more stretchable than any lower synthetic resin film layers (i.e., the second synthetic resin film layer  30  and the first synthetic resin film layer  20  illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) and the stretchable substrate  10 , the synthetic resin film layer  40  may be formed of a film layer that is more stretchable than any lower synthetic resin film layers (i.e., the second synthetic resin film layer  30  and the first synthetic resin film layer  20  illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) and is less stretchable than the stretchable substrate  10 . This is desirable to obtain a support that maintains fixing strength and prevents peeling. 
     Materials of the synthetic resin films for the first synthetic resin film layer  20 , the second synthetic resin film layer  30 , and other synthetic resin film layers are not particularly limited and, for example, thermoplastic rubbery synthetic resins are preferably used, which are preferably about 0.05 to 0.5 mm thick. 
     Assuming a stretch ratio of the stretchable substrate  10  is 10, the following stretch ratios of the first synthetic resin film layer  20  and the second synthetic resin film layer  30  are desirable in maintaining fixing strength and preventing peeling, where the stretch ratio of two-layer part comprised of the stretchable substrate  10  and the first synthetic resin film layer  20  is 2 to 3, and the stretch ratio of three-layer part comprised of the stretchable substrate  10 , the first synthetic resin film layer  20  and the second synthetic resin film layer  30  is 1 (herein a tensile tester for determining the stretch ratio is, for example, “STROGRAPH VES5D” manufactured by Toyo Seiki Co., Ltd.). 
     As described above, the fabric for support according to the present invention includes at least the first synthetic resin film layer  20  that is less stretchable than the stretchable substrate  10  and more stretchable than the second synthetic resin film layer  30  and that is interposed between the most stretchable substrate  10  and the least stretchable second synthetic resin film layer  30 , so that the difference in the degree of stretch between the stretchable substrate  10  and the first synthetic resin film layer  20  is less than the difference in the degree of stretch when the least stretchable second synthetic resin film layer  30  is directly laminated on the top surface of the stretchable substrate  10 , thus preventing the first synthetic resin film layer  20  from peeling from the stretchable substrate  10 . Similarly, the difference in the degree of stretch between the first synthetic resin film layer  20  and the second synthetic resin film layer  30  is less than the difference in the degree of stretch between the stretchable substrate  10  and the second synthetic resin film layer  30 , thus preventing the second synthetic resin film layer  30  from peeling from the first synthetic resin film layer  20 . 
     Accordingly, when the outer shape of the fabric for support according to the present invention is formed in accordance with a body part on which the fabric for support is worn, and detachable hook-and-loop fastener is provided at some ends thereof, a support can be obtained that has sufficient fixing strength despite being thin and prevents the peeling of the synthetic resin film layers. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary ankle support made by using the fabric for support according to the present invention. The fabric for support is configured such that peripheral of the fabric for support (i.e., stretchable substrate  10 ) are formed into a generally concave curved shape in order to avoid “sagging” when wound and attached on the ankle, and detachable hook-and-loop fastener  50  is provided at the end. 
     Wearing this ankle support on the ankle as illustrated in  FIG. 5  enables an ankle to be securely held using only the support and without using a strap or the like. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       10 : stretchable substrate 
       20 : first synthetic resin film layer 
       30 : second synthetic resin film layer 
       40 : other synthetic resin film layer(s) 
       50 : hook fastener