Patent ID: 7694696

Claim:
A three-dimensional multilayer fabric, comprising a surface layer, a backing layer and an intermediate layer connecting the surface layer and the backing layer wherein the surface layer includes sequential unstitched surface portions and sequential stitched surface portions formed in an alternating and repeating pattern, the unstitched surface portions being essentially composed of surface warp threads only and the stitched surface portions being composed of the surface warp threads and intermediate warp threads; the backing layer includes sequential unstitched backing portions and sequential stitched backing portions formed in an alternating and repeating pattern, the unstitched backing portions being essentially composed of backing warp threads only and the stitched backing portions being composed of the backing warp threads and the intermediate warp threads; and the intermediate layer includes sequential intermediate portions composed of the intermediate warp threads only, each of the intermediate portions consisting of a first intermediate portion and a second intermediate portion connected to the stitched surface portions and the stitched backing portions in an alternating and repeating pattern, the intermediate warp threads being woven without interlacing with weft threads on the surfaces of the unstitched backing portions and exposed to the outside, followed by shearing.