CLOTH COMPRISING PORTIONS SECURED BY AN ADHESIVE LAYER AND METHOD OF MAKING A CLOTH

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cloth comprising a first portion and a second portion, which portions have a first edge portion and a second edge portion respectively, and a layer having a first end, secured to the first edge portion and a second end secured to the second end portion.

The invention also relates to a method of making a cloth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A method of making a seamless garment is known from WO 2005/020732 Al. In this international patent publication a method is described for making a seamless garment comprising a first and a second portion of a fabric, which portions are in contact with each other and which portions are secured to each other by an adhesive layer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a cloth of the kind set forth in the opening paragraph having a joint between two or more textile substrates or portions of a fabric, wherein the joint has additional functionality next to being a means for securing said substrates or portions of a fabric.

According to the invention this object is realized in that the first edge portion and the second edge portion are positioned at a distance from each other, wherein the layer is an at least partially transparent layer for forming a transparent portion between both edge portions.

Fabrics, non-woven as well as woven fabrics, such as brocades, jacquard- woven fabrics, fabrics woven from chenille yarns of fabrics woven from synthetic fibers, tend to seam slippage may be provided with a highly reliable joint realized by the layer of the cloth according to the invention. Such woven fabrics may have a transparent or semi- transparent optic, which optic may be favorably matched with requirements, e.g. of an aesthetical nature, by the cloth and the method of making a cloth according to the invention.

Openings of any shape may be created within e.g. a textile substrate. Such openings are advantageously coverable by a transparent layer comprised by the cloth according to the invention, so that the textile substrate will retain its form.

Within the portion covered by the transparent layer of the cloth according to the invention, devices may be placed visible or invisible to the naked eye. These devices may e.g. be barcodes or labels, usable for determining product code, size or price or other product information.

Holograms or other surface patterns may be formed in the transparent layer during, before or after the fusion of the transparent layer with e.g. a fabric. Responsive materials such as thermo-chromic materials, fluorescent materials, magnetic materials or shape memory materials may be included in a transparent layer or in between two transparent layers. Storage space may be formed within a transparent layer or in between two transparent layers, for example for the inclusion of fluids or chemical components such as perfume either in micro-encapsulated form, or in (fluid) storage pouches. Electronic devices placed in the portion covered by the transparent material may include sensors, such as light or temperature sensors, microcontrollers, energy storing devices such as batteries or capacitors, electronic connections such as cables, plugs, tags such as RFID tags, light emitting devices such as LED's, OLED 's or light guides, antennas, electronic connectors, switches, such as push-buttons to switch on and off an electronic function, displays, light collecting elements such as photovoltaic cells, switchable elements such as NCAP that may change the appearance or (optical) properties of a transparent layer of the cloth according to the invention.

A transparent layer of the cloth according to the invention may provide mechanical and electric insulation for electronic components. Also, a defined spacing between electronic components may be obtained by positioning and sealing such components between two layers. The components may be placed in the region covered by the transparent layer that is between the first and second portion of the cloth according to the invention or they may be positioned on a non- visible side of the cloth in the area where the transparent layer is covering and overlapping one of the portions of the cloth according to the invention. Within the portion covered by the transparent materials, electronic tags may be placed, such as RFID tags. They may be used for preventing theft, or for logistic purposes.

A further functionality is provided by application of the cloth according to the invention in furnishings such as curtains, where functionalities such as energy collection by solar cells or light emitting features such as the inclusion of LED's, OLED 's or light guiding

fibers may be included. Furthermore the invention may be advantageously applied as part of advertising banners, showroom furnishings and furniture coverings.

The portions of the cloth according to the invention may provide shielding properties, while the transparent layer of the cloth according to the invention may be flexible. By stretching the flexible transparent layer to a desired shape, a selective shielding may be provided. This may be used for example in radiation therapy or UV therapy.

An advantageous embodiment of a cloth according to the invention is defined in that the layer is adhered to a first face of the first edge portion and to a second face of the second edge portion. By adherence of a layer to said faces it is possible to create a transparent, very flat, flexible and elastic or compliant joint between two or more portions of the cloth according to the invention, e.g. in the form of different textile substrates, e.g. fabrics. Such adherence may be realized by application of the method of making a cloth according to the invention, which method may comprise a heat-bonding technique. If the cloth according to the invention is used e.g. as a garment, portions of the body may still remain visible through the transparent layer, e.g. in the form of a transparent seam. The method according to the method of the invention provides a very strong connection which gives the impression to the cloth according to the invention of being a seamless connection.

An advantageous embodiment according to the invention is defined in that a further layer substantially similar to the already mentioned layer is adhered to a further first face of the first edge portion and to a further second face of the second edge portion. The distance between the first portion of the cloth and the second portion of the cloth forms an opening in the cloth. The layers form a double-sided coverage of the opening, there being the side of the first face of the first portion and the further first face of the first portion as well as the second face of the second portion and the further second face of the second portion. A gap may be formed in between the layer and the further layer, which gap offers extended functionality as described above.

An advantageous embodiment of the cloth according to the invention is defined in that a layer comprises polyurethane. Extended functionality of the joint between the portions of the cloth according to the invention is provided by an elastic and flexible transparent layer. Such properties may be advantageously provided by polyurethane, particularly when the layer comprises 100% polyurethane.

An advantageous embodiment of the cloth according to the invention is defined in that the cloth is a garment. In other words the invention also relates to a garment comprising a cloth according to the invention. The extended functionality may be advantageously used in the application field of garments. An advantageous embodiment of the garment according to the invention is defined in that the layers comprise polyurethane and in that a layer has a surface mass density greater than 200 gram per square meter and in that the further layer has a surface mass density less than 70 gram per square meter.

The further layer may be arranged to be worn in contact with the skin of a person using the garment. The transition from a portion of the cloth to the surface of the further layer forms a step having an edge that touches the skin of a person wearing the garment. The possible contact between the edge and the skin may be experienced as annoying or irritating. The layer has a surface mass density of more than 200 gram per square meter, while the further layer has a surface mass density less than 70 gram per square meter. If the layers are of comparable materials the thickness of the further layer is less than the thickness of the layer. For this reason the step mentioned above has increased height on the side of the garment where the layer is secured and the edge formed by the layer will be experienced as less comfortable than the edge formed by the thin further layer. Thus, an embodiment of a garment is provided that offers extended comfort during use. The method according to the invention is characterized by the phases of positioning of a first edge portion of a first portion of at least one fabric and a second edge portion of a second portion of at least one fabric at a distance from each other, positioning of a first adhesive end of a transparent adhesive or at least partially transparent layer and a second adhesive end of the transparent layer onto a first face of the first edge portion and a second face of the second edge portion respectively, pressing said adhesive ends at a temperature (T) and a pressure (P) for a predetermined period of time (t) for which the temperature (T) exceeds a required temperature of adhesion (Ta), to secure the first end and the second end of the transparent adhesive layer to the first face and the second face respectively. Such a method may be a method of manufacturing a garment. Use may be made of a 100% polyurethane layer. Under standard conditions such a layer may not be adhesive. However, application of a temperature rise in combination with pressure as described below, results in adhesive properties and increased transparency of the polyurethane layers.

The method may be advantageously used in creating a garment using a single size of one or more fabrics, which may be adapted to different clothes sizes by adjusting the width of the transparent layer. The method according to the invention enables a simple way for customization of such a garment. The method may be advantageously used in creating garments or cloths in which the (polyurethane) layer is three-dimensionally shaped, for example to adapt the garment to the body- shape, or to realize unusual decorative or functional garment shapes. The three-dimensional shape may be realized for example in the heat-pressing process.

The method advantageously allows for adjusting the elasticity of the garment or cloth in the area of the layer, by shaping the interface and width of the layer, as the layer and the cloth may have different elastic properties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the cloth according to the invention will be exemplarily elucidated and described with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic top view on a part of an embodiment of the cloth according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a part of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a garment according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 schematically depicts a cloth 1. The cloth 1 comprises a first portion 3 and a second portion 5, which portions 3 and 5 have a first edge portion 7 and a second edge portion 9 respectively, and a layer 11 having a first end 13, adhered to the first edge portion 7 and a second end 15 adhered to the second end portion 9. The first edge portion 7 and the second edge portion 9 are positioned at a distance indicated by a double headed arrow L from each other, wherein the layer 11 is an at least partially transparent layer for forming a transparent portion 17 between both edge portions 7 and 9. The first end 13 and the second end 15 of layer 11 overlap the first edge portion 7 and the second edge portion 9 of cloth 1. The size of the overlap determines to a considerable extent the strength of the joint between portions 3 and 5 of cloth 1. A very strong joint may be obtained.

In Fig. 2 a sectional view is schematically depicted of the embodiment of Fig. 1. The layer 11 is adhered to a first face 19 of the first edge portion 7 and to a second face 21

of the second edge portion 9. A further layer 23 similar to layer 11 is adhered to a further first face 25 of the first edge portion 7 and to a further second face 27 of the second edge portion 9. The layers 11 and 23 may e.g. comprise 100 % polyurethane. The layer 11 is placed on the faces 19 and 21. Portions 3 and 5 may comprise fabrics, e.g. wool, cashmere, cotton, cotton mixes with synthetic fiber or a combination of these materials.

The layer 11 has a surface mass density greater than 200 gram per square meter to provide strength to the joint between portions 3 and 5 of cloth 1. The further layer 23 has a surface mass density less than 100 gram per square meter, e.g. to restrict its thickness. Preferable, when used as a garment the layers 11 and 23 comprise 100% polyurethane, wherein the two layers 11 and 23 have a surface mass density between 360 and 380 gram per square meter, and wherein the further layer 23 has a surface mass density between 50 and 100 gram per square meter.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2 a gap 35 formed as an interspace between the layer 11 and the further layer 23 may be used in a myriad of ways as described above, e.g. for integration of electronics or electronic connections in between layer 11 and further layer 23 or for integration of light guiding elements in between the transparent layers 11 and 23.

Making of the cloth 1 comprises a first phase of heat-pressing. During the first phase the ends 13 and 15 of the layer 11 are secured or adhered to the first faces 19 and 21 of portions 3 and 5 respectively. Next, the further layer 23 is placed on the further faces 25 and 27. During a second phase of heat-pressing, further ends 31 and 33 of further layer 23 are secured and adhered to the further faces 25 and 27 of portions 3 and 5 respectively. The polyurethane layers may act as adhesive films under the influence of appropriate temperature and pressure. Process conditions involve a temperature (T) which is preferably between 170- 180 degrees Celsius in combination with a pressure (P) between 4 and 8 bar applied during a period of time (t) of at least 60 seconds. During the next phase the preferred temperature and pressure are kept constant during at least 100 seconds. These conditions apply for polyurethane layers, wherein one of the layers has a surface mass density between 250 and 300 gram per square meter, and wherein the further layer has a surface mass density between 50 and 100 gram per square meter. Other thicknesses may need different process conditions. In Fig. 3 an embodiment of a garment 46 according to the invention is schematically depicted. The garment 46 comprises a piece of fabric 50. The fabric 50 is positioned on the front side of a person 48. A transparent joint 52 connects the fabric 50 to a further piece of fabric 54 (not shown in Fig. 3) on the back side of the person. The joint 52 being transparent, the fabric 50 may be perceived as floating on the body of the person 48.

Being secured by joint 52 the fabrics 50 and 54 may maintain their shape, which is difficult to realize if the garment 46 is provided by holes, which holes are cut into the garment 46.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. For example, the distance between the first and the second edge portion may be constant or may be varied as a function of place as shown in Fig. 1.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. Devices, elements and components, known per se, have not been described in detail, as the skilled person is familiar with the matter. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single mechanism or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.