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Title:
AN ENVELOPED ELEMENT COMPRISING A WARP KNITTED ENVELOPMENT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/110079
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to an enveloped element comprising at least one elongated element and an envelopment. The elongated element is provided with at least one lighting component and has a longitudinal axis X. The envelopment comprises a warp knitted structure comprising multifilament yarns. The multifilament yarns comprise at least 8 filaments and have maximum 150 torsions per meter. The underlap has a main orientation axis Y. The included angle defined between the longitudinal axis X of the at least one elongated element and the main orientation axis Y of the underlap of the stitches of the warp knitted structure ranges between 15 degrees and 60 degrees The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such an enveloped element. Furthermore, the invention relates to a textile structure comprising at least one enveloped element integrated in this textile structure and to a method of manufacturing such a textile structure.

Inventors:
VANHAUWERMEIREN JO (BE)
MUYSEWINKEL ILSE (BE)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2017/081329
Publication Date:
June 13, 2019
Filing Date:
December 04, 2017
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
VAMUTEX BVBA (BE)
International Classes:
D04B21/20
Domestic Patent References:
WO2008129118A12008-10-30
Foreign References:
EP3196347A12017-07-26
DE102008018805A12009-10-22
EP3196347A12017-07-26
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BRANTSANDPATENTS BVBA (BE)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. An enveloped element (10) comprising at least one elongated element and an envelopment (11 ) surrounding said at least one elongated element, said elongated element being provided with at least one lighting component, said at least one elongated element having a longitudinal axis X, said envelopment (11 ) comprising a warp knitted structure (1 ) comprising multifilament yarns, said multifilament yarns comprising at least 8 filaments, said multifilament yarns being provided with maximum 150 torsions per meter, said warp knitted structure (1 ) being formed by stitches (2) having an overlap (3) and an underlap (4), said underlap (4) having a main orientation axis Y, with the included angle defined between said longitudinal axis X of said at least one elongated element and said main orientation axis Y of said underlap (4) ranging between 15 degrees and 60 degrees.

2. The enveloped element (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the warp knitted structure (1) has a cover factor of at least 90 %.

3. The enveloped element (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the warp knitted structure (1 ) comprises consecutive courses (5) of stitches (2), with the distance between course n and course n + 2 ranging between 1 mm and 2 cm. 4. The enveloped element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the included angle defined between said longitudinal axis X of said elongated element and said main orientation axis Y of said underlap (4) ranges between 20 degrees and 60 degrees.

5. The enveloped element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said warp knitted structure (1) comprises at least 4 multifilament yarns.

6. The enveloped element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said multifilament yarns comprising between 8 and 300 filaments.

7. The enveloped element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of torsions per meter of said multifilament yarns is lower than 100 torsions/meter.

8. The enveloped element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said multifilament yarns have a circular, oval or multi-lobbed cross-section.

9. The enveloped element (10) according to any one the preceding claims, wherein said warp knitted structure (1) comprises a circular knitted structure.

10. The enveloped element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one lighting component comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

1 1. A method of manufacturing an enveloped element (10), said method comprising the steps of providing at least one elongated element provided with at least one lighting component, said elongated element having a longitudinal axis X;

providing multifilament yarns comprising at least 8 filaments and having maximum 150 torsions per meter;

- enveloping said at least one elongated element with an envelopment (1 1 ) by warp knitting said multifilament yarns around said at least one elongated element to form a warp knitted structure (1 ) around said at least one elongated element, wherein said warp knitted structure (1 ) is formed by stitches (2) having an overlap (3) and an underlap (4), said underlap (3) having a main orientation axis Y, with the included angle defined between said longitudinal axis X of said at least one elongated element and said main orientation axis Y of said underlap (3) ranging between 15 degrees and 60 degrees.

12. A textile structure (12) comprising at least one enveloped element (10) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said textile structure (12) comprises a woven structure, a braided structure or a knitted structure, for example a warp-knitted structure.

13. A method of manufacturing a textile structure (12) comprising at least one enveloped element (10), said method comprises the step of weaving, braiding or knitting at least one enveloped element (10) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 and at least one yarn.

14. A method of connecting a textile structure as defined in claim 12 to a substrate, said method comprising the steps of

providing a textile structure (12) as defined in claim 12;

providing a substrate;

- cutting said textile structure (12) at a predetermined length;

connecting said textile structure (12) cut at a predetermined length with said substrate; connecting said textile structure (12) with a power source.

Description:
An enveloped element comprising a warp knitted envelopment Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an enveloped element. The enveloped element comprises in particular an elongated element provided with lighting components as for example light emitting diodes (LEDs) enveloped with a warp knitted textile structure. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such an enveloped element. The invention furthermore relates to a textile structure comprising at least one enveloped element integrated in this textile structure and to a method of manufacturing such a textile structure.

Background art

[0002] Elongated elements such as wires, strips and cables provided with light emitting diodes (LEDs) are known in the art and are for example used for home decoration or decoration for the holidays. To be suitable for decoration, the elongated elements can be integrated or incorporated in structures, for example in textile structures. As textile structures need to meet a number of requirements such as being washable, being flexible, being drapable and for some applications being stitchable, it is difficult to successfully integrate or incorporate lighting components in textile structures.

[0003] As the integration or incorporation of elongated elements provided with lighting components in a textile structure requires a minimum mechanical strength of the elongated elements, elongated elements provided with lighting components can be provided with an envelopment. EP 3 196 347 describes an electrical component provided with a textile structure as envelopment. Although the electrical component is protected by means of the envelopment, the enveloped electrical component has a drawback that the light emission of the LEDs through the envelopment is limited.

Summary of the invention

[0004] It is desired to provide an elongated element provided with one or more lighting components that can be further processed in a textile structure.

[0005] It is desired to provide an enveloped element having an envelopment around an elongated element whereby the envelopment protects the elongated element and whereby the elongated element cannot be removed easily from the envelopment.

[0006] It is also desired to provide an enveloped element in which the elongated element is invisible or almost invisible for the human eye although the intensity of the light transmitted or diffused through the envelopment is high.

[0007] Furthermore it is desired to provide a method to manufacture a textile structure incorporating at least one enveloped element. [0008] It is further desired to provide a textile structure, such as a ribbon comprising an elongated element provided with lighting components that is washable, flexible, stitchable, drapable and that can be cut at the desired length.

[0009] The present disclosure pertains to an enveloped element as defined in appended claim 1. The disclosure furthermore pertains to a method of manufacturing such an enveloped element as defined in appended claim 1 1. The disclosure also pertains to a textile structure comprising at least one enveloped element as defined in appended claim 12 and to a method of manufacturing such a textile structure as defined in appended claim 13. Furthermore, the disclosure pertains to a method of connecting a textile structure to a substrate as defined in appended claim 14.

[0010] The enveloped element according to the present disclosure comprises at least one elongated element and an envelopment surrounding said at least one elongated element. The elongated element is provided with at least one lighting component and has a longitudinal axis X. The envelopment comprises a warp knitted structure comprising multifilament yarns. Preferably, the length direction of the warp knitted structure is corresponding with the longitudinal axis X of the at least one elongated element. The multifilament yarn comprise at least 8 filaments. The multifilament yarns have no torsions or a limited number of torsions. The number of torsions is preferably maximum 150 torsions per meter. The warp knitted structure is formed by stitches (made by the multifilament yarn) having an overlap and an underlap. The underlap has a main orientation axis Y. The main orientation Y of the underlap of the stitches and the longitudinal axis X of the elongated element define an included angle ranging between 15 degrees and 60 degrees. A larger included angle between the main orientation Y of the underlap of a stitch and the longitudinal axis X of the elongated element has a negative impact on the intensity of light that is diffused or transmitted through the warp knitted structure. A knitted structure characterized by a smaller included angle between the main orientation Y of the underlap of a stitch and the longitudinal axis X of the elongated element do not provide a sufficient protection of the elongated element.

[0011] The envelopment allows to process the enveloped element into a textile structure without damaging the elongated element provided with lighting component(s). The envelopment offers a good protection of the elongated element and the lighting component and allows the bending of the elongated element during the processing of the enveloped element and allows that the enveloped element is bent when integrated or incorporated in a textile structure without risking that the elongated element protrudes through the envelopment of the enveloped element.

[0012] By providing the envelopment around the elongated element by a warp knitting operation a close, direct contact is obtained between the elongated element and the envelopment. Because of the direct contact between the elongated element and the envelopment, it can be physically hard to pull the elongated element out of the envelopment. [0013] By providing the elongated element with the warp knitted structure using the multifilament yarn as described above and formed by stitches as described above, the elongated element is substantially invisible or completely invisible for the human eye without considerably limiting the light intensity of the lighting components. This means that although the elongated element provided with the lighting components is quasi 100 % covered by the envelopment, the intensity of the light of the lighting component is not substantially reduced by the envelopment. Preferably, the intensity of the light of the lighting component that is diffused and/or transmitted through the envelopment is at least 80 %, at least 90 % or at least 95 % of the intensity of the lighting component as such, i.e. the lighting component without envelopment. The intensity of the light is expressed in lux.

[0014] As the elongated element provided with the lighting components is hidden, it is clear that nor the multifilament yarns, nor the warp knitted structure formed by the multifilament yarns are either transparent or translucent. With transparent material is meant a material that is transmitting light without appreciable scattering so that bodies beyond the material can be seen clearly. With translucent material is meant a material that is transmitting and diffusing light so that bodies beyond cannot be seen clearly.

[0015] The warp knitted structure of the envelopment has preferably a cover factor of at least 90 %. More preferably, the warp knitted structure of the envelopment has a cover factor of at least 95 %, of at least 97%, of at least 98 % or of at least 99 %. For the purpose of this disclosure the cover factor is defined as the ratio of the area of the warp knitted structure covered by the yarn (the multifilament yarn) to the total area of the knitted structure. The cover factor is an indication of the openness. A closed knitted structure has a cover factor of 100 %. The cover factor of the knitted can be measured using image analysis. To determine the cover factor 10 samples (2 x 2 mm) are analyzed under an appropriate magnification. A grey threshold of a pixel intensity of 80 % is defined. The cover factor corresponds with the number of pixels below the threshold over the total number of pixels multiplied by 100.

[0016] A warp knitted structure comprises consecutive courses. Preferably, the distance between course n and course n+2 ranges between 1 mm and 2 cm, for example between 0.3 mm an 1.5 cm or between 0.5 mm and 1 cm. The distance between course n and course n+2 is amongst others determined by the diameter of the multifilament yarn and/or by the included angle defined by the main orientation Y of the underlap of the stitches and the longitudinal axis X of the elongated element.

[0017] The enveloped element comprises at least one elongated element as core, surrounded by the envelopment. Preferably, the enveloped elements comprises one elongated element. In other embodiments the enveloped element comprises more than one elongated element as for example two, three, four or five elongated elements.

[0018] As elongated element any elongated element that can be provided with at least one lighting component can be considered. The elongated element comprises preferably an electrically conductive material. Examples comprise a wire, in particular a metal wire or a metallized wire, a strip, in particular a metal strip or a metallized strip, a ribbon, in particular a metal ribbon or a metallized ribbon or any other type of elongated element.

[0019] For the purpose of this disclosure an elongated element can be referred to as an electrical component.

[0020] Preferably, the elongated element comprises a number of lighting components, for example a number of lighting components placed at regular distance on the elongated element, for example at a distance ranging between 1 cm and 100 cm, for example at a distance of 2 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm or 50 cm.

[0021] The elongated element provided with the lighting component or lighting component can furthermore be provided with a coating or sheath, such as a polymer coating or polymer sheath.

[0022] The term‘lighting component’ refers to any type of lighting component known in the art. Preferred lighting components comprise light-emitting diodes (LED). A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric current passes through it.

[0023] In preferred embodiments the at least one elongated element comprises a number of LEDs placed at regular distance on the elongated element, for example at a distance ranging between 1 cm and 100 cm, for example at a distance of 2 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 20 cm or 50 cm. The elongated element provided with a the LEDs can furthermore be provided with a coating or sheath, such as a polymer coating or polymer sheath.

[0024] The term‘envelopment’ means a material surrounding or covering the elongated element. According to the present disclosure the envelopment comprises a warp knitted structure.

[0025] The warp knitted structure comprises multifilament yarns. Preferably, the warp knitted structure comprises at least 4 multifilament yarns. Although the maximum number of multifilament yarns is not limited, the number of multifilament yarns in the warp knitted structure ranges preferably between 4 and 24 and is for example equal to 6, 8, 12, 16, 20 or 24.

[0026] Preferably, the number of multifilament yarns corresponds with the number of stitches in a course of the warp knitted structure. Alternatively, one stitch may comprise more than one multifilament yarn, as for example two or three multifilament yarns.

[0027] As multifilament yarn any yarn comprising multiple filaments or multiple fibers can be considered. Within the context of this disclosure the terms ‘filaments’ and ‘fibers’ are used interchangeably.

[0028] The multifilament yarn used for the envelopment comprises at least 8 filaments. More preferably, the multifilament yarn comprises between 8 and 300 filaments or between 20 and 200 filaments, as for example 50, 60, 72 or 100 filaments.

[0029] The multifilament yarn may comprise a single strand or may comprise multiple strands.

[0030] The filaments of the multifilament yarn may comprise natural filaments or man-made filaments, or a combination of both. Man-made filaments are obtained by a manufacturing process, as distinct from natural filaments which occur naturally in fibrous form. Natural filaments include, but are not limited to silk, types of wool, such as sheep, angora or cashmere, cotton, flax, bamboo, hemp, jute and cellulose derived filaments such as viscose or rayon. Common manmade filaments include, but are not limited to polyester, polyamide, polylactic acid (PLA), polyolefins such as polypropylene, acetate, acrylics and metals or metal alloys. Preferably, multifilament polyester or spun cotton yarns are used for the envelopment. These yarns have preferably a linear density between 50 and 1000 dtex, more preferably a linear density between 250 and 450 dtex.

[0031] The multifilament yarn has no torsions or a limited number of torsions. A torsion of a multifilament is defined as a turn about the axis of the multifilament yarn. The number of torsions is expressed as the number of torsions per length unit of the multifilament, i.e. the number of torsion per meter of multifilament yarn. The torsions may be Z torsions or S torsions. Yarn has S- torsions if the spirals around its central axis slope in the same direction as the middle portion of the letter S when the yarn is held vertically; yarn has Z-torsions if the spirals around its central axis slope in the same direction of the middle portion of the letter Z.

[0032] The number of torsion of the multifilament yarn ranges from 0 torsion per meter to maximum 150 torsions per meter. More preferably, the multifilament yarn has less than 100 torsions per meter as for example 90 torsions per meter, 70 torsions per peter or 50 torsions per meter. In a particular embodiment the multifilament yarn has no torsions.

[0033] The multifilament yarn may have any type of cross-section, such as a circular or substantially circular cross-section, an oval or substantially oval cross-section or a multi-lobbed cross-section. Preferred multifilament yarn has a circular or substantially circular cross-section of a multi-lobbed such as a tri-lobbed cross-section.

[0034] The warp knitted structure is formed by stitches (made by said multifilament yarn) having an overlap and an underlap. The underlap has a main orientation axis Y. The main orientation Y of the underlap of the stitches and the longitudinal axis X of the elongated element define an included angle ranging between 15 degrees and 60 degrees. More preferably, the included angle between the main orientation Y of the underlap and the longitudinal axis X of the elongated element ranges between 20 degrees and 60 degrees, for example between 30 degrees and 50 degrees, between 30 degrees and 50 degrees as for example 45 degrees.

[0035] According to another aspect of the present disclosure a method to manufacture an enveloped element is provided. The method comprises the following steps

providing at least one elongated element provided with at least one lighting component, the elongated element having a longitudinal axis X;

providing multifilament yarns comprising at least 8 filaments and having maximum 150 torsions per meter;

enveloping the at least one elongated element with an envelopment by warp knitting the multifilament yarns around the at least one elongated element to form a warp knitted structure around said at least one elongated element, wherein the warp knitted structure is formed by stitches having an overlap and an underlap, the underlap having a main orientation axis Y, with the included angle defined between the longitudinal axis X of the at least one elongated element and said main orientation axis Y of the underlap ranging between 15 degrees and 60 degrees.

[0036] In preferred methods the at least one elongated element is enveloped by circular knitting the multifilament yarns around the at least one elongated element.

[0037] According to another aspect of the present disclosure a textile structure comprising at least one enveloped element as described above is provided. The at least one enveloped element is integrated or incorporated in the textile structure.

[0038] The term‘textile structure’ refers to any structure obtained by a textile operation. Preferred textile structures comprise woven, knitted or braided structure. A particular preferred textile structure comprises a warp-knitted structure.

[0039] Preferably, the textile structure comprises at least one yarn. The yarn can be a monofilament, a multifilament or a spun yarn. The yarn may be made out of natural or man-made fibers, or a combination of both. Man-made fibers are fibers obtained by a manufacturing process, as distinct from natural fibers which occur naturally in fibrous form. Natural fibers include, but are not limited to silk, types of wool, such as sheep, angora or cashmere, cotton, flax, bamboo, hemp, jute and cellulose derived fibers such as viscose or rayon. Common man-made fibers include, but are not limited to polyester, polyamide, polylactic acid (PLA), polyolefins such as polypropylene, acetate, acrylics and metals or metal alloys.

[0040] In preferred embodiments the textile structure comprises a thin band of materials made of textile yarns. Such thin band can be woven, knitted or braided. An example of such textile structure comprises a narrow fabric such as a ribbon. Such ribbon has for example a width ranging between 0.5 and 20 cm, for example ranging between 1 and 5 cm. A particular preferred textile structure comprises a warp-knitted ribbon.

[0041] A textile structure according to the present invention has the advantage that it can be further processed onto or into a substrate. Furthermore, the textile structure is drapable, flexible, washable and stitchable. A further advantage of a textile structure according to the present invention is that it can easily be cut at the desired length. This makes a textile structure according to the present invention very convenient to be used for decoration applications. The desired length can be cut from a textile structure, for exam pie from a roll of a textile structure. The textile structure cut at the desired length can then be connected with a power supply and/or can be connected to a substrate such as a garment for example by gluing, stitching, pasting, welding and needling.

[0042] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure a method to manufacture a textile structure comprising at least one elongated element provided with a lighting component or provided with lighting components. The method to manufacture a textile structure comprises for example weaving, braiding or knitting at least one yarn and at least one enveloped element as described above.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment the method to manufacture a textile structure comprising at least one enveloped element comprises warp-knitting. In such method the at least one enveloped element is preferably used as weft thread. In a first example the enveloped element is kept straight in the final textile structure. In a second example the enveloped element is positioned in a nonstraight way, for example in a zig-zag like way in the final textile structure. In the first example the enveloped element can be pulled out of the textile structure, in the second example it is impossible or very hard to pull out the enveloped element out of the textile structure.

[0044] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure a method to connect a textile structure comprising at least one enveloped element as described above to a substrate is provided. The method comprises the steps of

providing a textile structure comprising at least one enveloped element as described above;

providing a substrate;

cutting said textile structure at a predetermined length;

connecting said textile structure cut at a predetermined length to said substrate;

connecting said textile structure with a power source.

[0045] The term ‘substrate’ refers to any type of object to which a textile structure can be connected. Substrates include utilitarian objects, decorative objects, protective or household objects. Such objects comprise for example clothing, such as a shirts, jackets, caps, hats, shoes, beds, chairs, Christmas trees, flowers, carpets, furniture, such as poufs, sofas, chairs and the like. Substrates include component materials for making an object or for direct use. Such substrate can be wood, plastic, foil, foam, a textile material, cork, glass, silicone and the like. Such direct use can be use such as wall covering, curtains and the like. Preferred substrates comprise garments.

[0046] Cutting the textile structure according to the present invention can be done by any technique that is able to cut the textile structure at the desired length so that all different aspects of the textile structure and the enveloped element is cut at the desired length. These techniques can be, but are not limited to, slicing, laser cutting and using scissors. Preferably, according to the present invention scissors are used to cut the textile structure at the desired length.

[0047] Connecting a textile structure according to the present invention to a substrate or object can be done by any technique that is able to temporary or permanently connect, attach or adhere a textile structure to or onto a substrate. These techniques can be, but are not limited to, gluing, stitching, pasting, welding and needling. Preferably, according to the present invention the textile structure is stitched onto a substrate. [0048] As power source any available power source that is capable to actively power the elongated element in the textile structure can be considered. These sources can be, but are not limited to, batteries, plug in, solar panels and the like. Preferably batteries are used to power the elongated element. Preferably the battery can be removed from the substrate, for example to wash the substrate.

[0049] Connecting the power source with the enveloped element or with a textile structure comprising at least one enveloped element can be done by any available method that is capable to bring the power to the elongated element. These connecting methods can be, but are not limited to, push buttons, cable connections and the like.

Brief description of the drawings

[0050] The present invention will be discussed in more detail below, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates the terminology used with respect to a warp knitted structure;

Fig. 2 illustrates an example of an enveloped element according to the present disclosure; Fig. 3 illustrates a textile structure comprising an elongated element according to the present disclosure.

Description of embodiments

[0051] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings. The invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

[0052] Figure 1 is an illustration of a warp knitted structure 1. Figure 1 is introduced to explain the terminology of knitting. The warp knitted structure 1 is formed by stitches 2 and has a longitudinal axis L. The longitudinal axis L of the warp knitted structure 1 corresponds with the longitudinal axis X of the elongated element that is enveloped by the warp knitted structure 1.

[0053] As indicated in Figure 1 , a stitch 2 comprises an overlap 3 and an underlap 4. For the purpose of this disclosure a stitch or lap 2 corresponds with a kink of a yarn that is intermeshed at its base and its top. A stitch or lap 2 corresponds with the length of yarn that consists of an overlap 3 and of an underlap 4.

[0054] The overlap 3 corresponds with the length of yarn that has been placed over the needle during loop formation and comprises two legs and a top arc. The underlap 4 corresponds with the length of yarn in a warp-knitted fabric that connects two overlaps 3 in consecutive courses 5. A course is defined as a series of loops connected horizontally. [0055] As indicated in Figure 1 an underlap 4 has a main orientation axis Y. The inclined angle between the main orientation axis Y of an underlap 4 and the longitudinal axis X is indicated as angle a. The angle a ranges preferably between 15 degrees and 60 degrees. More preferably, the included angle between the main orientation Y of an underlap 4 and the longitudinal axis X ranges between 20 degrees and 60 degrees, for example between 30 degrees and 50 degrees, between 30 degrees and 50 degrees as for example 45 degrees.

[0056] The distance D between course n and course n + 2 preferably ranges between 1 mm and 2 cm and more preferably between 0.3 mm an 1.5 mm or between 0.5 and 1 mm. The distance D is determined by determining the distance between two equivalent points of a stitch of a yarn, a first point of a stitch in course n and the second point of a stitch in course n+2 in the wale formed by this yarn.

[0057] A wale is defined as the series of loops that intermeshes vertically.

[0058] Fig. 2 illustrates an example of an enveloped element 10 according to the present disclosure. The enveloped element comprises a warp knitted envelopment 1 1 surrounding an elongated element provided with LEDs. The elongated element comprises a LED decorated string with a LED every six centimetre. From Fig. 2 it is clear that the elongated element provided with the LEDs is fully covered by the envelopment 12 and is not visible.

[0059] The warp knitted envelopment 1 1 was obtained using multifilament yarn. The multifilament yarn comprises 72 polyester filaments. The multifilament yarn has about 90 torsions per meter. The multifilament yarn has a tri-lobbed cross-section. The linear density of the multifilament yarn is 330 dtex.

[0060] The warp knitted envelopment 1 1 was obtained by circular knitting 2 x 6 multifilament yarns on a 6 cylinder Semel knitting machine. The inclined angle a between the main orientation axis Y of an overlap of a stitch and the longitudinal axis X of the elongated element is about 40 degrees. The distance D between course n and course n + 2 is 5 mm.

[0061] Although the elongated element provided with the LEDs is fully covered by the envelopment, the light intensity of the LEDs is not substantially reduced by the envelopment.

[0062] Figure 3 shows a textile structure 12 in which an enveloped element 10 as for example the enveloped element as shown in Figure 2 is integrated. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 the enveloped element 10 is used as a weft thread in a warp knitting process to produce a textile structure 12. The textile structure 12 comprises for example a ribbon width a width of 3 centimeter. By the warp knitted construction it was possible to place the enveloped element 10 in the middle of the ribbon. Polyester yarns with a linear density of 330 dtex were used to perform the warp knitting. Six yarns were used on a Comez warp knitting machine. Preferably, after the knitting action, the textile structure 12 goes directly through calendaring rolls, that have a pressure of fer example 1 bar, to consolidate the textile structure 12. [0063] The textile structure 12 is for example used to decorate a piece of clothing for example to decorate a collar of a shirt with an illuminable ribbon.

[0064] 43 centimeters of the so produced ribbon were cut from the textile structure 12 with a pair of scissors. This piece of ribbon was stitched to the outside of the collar of the shirt. The wire of the electrical component were connected on the back side of the shirt with a cable to a battery pack of 3.7 V that was inserted in an inner pocket of the shirt.

[0065] The resulting shirt was washed, after removing the battery pack, ten times on a washing cycle of 30°C. After washing and inserting the battery pack, the LED string still illuminated.