i urn iiiiiiii 111 urn mil urn inn urn mil urn inn Huh nt nut mi
US005269862A
United States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 5,269,862
Nakajima et al. [45] Date of Patent: Dec. 14,1993
[54] FABRICS HAVING A SPECIAL STRUCTURE AND METHODS OF PRODUCING THE FABRICS
[75] Inventors: Tamotu Nakajima, Kouka; Miyoshi Okamoto, Takatsuki; Hisao Shimizu, Otsu, all of Japan
[73] Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc., Japan
[21] Appl. No.: 689,061
[22] PCT Filed: Oct. 18,1989
[86] PCT No.: PCT/JP89/01066
§ 371 Date: Jun. 11,1991
§ 102(e) Date: Jun. 11,1991
[87] PCT Pub. No.: WO91/05897
PCT Pub. Date: Feb. 5,1991
[51] Int. CI.' B32B 31/00
[52] U.S. CI 156/155; 156/191;
156/193; 156/291; 156/304.5; 156/304.7
[58] Field of Search 428/181; 156/155, 191,
156/193, 291, 304.5, 304.7, 305
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,443,506 4/1984 Schmolmann et al 428/181
4,780,346 10/1988 Denoel 428/176
5,059,378 10/1991 Petterson et al 428/176
The present invention relates to fabrics having a special structure, methods of producing the fabrics, and various articles including clothes comprising such fabric. Specifically, the fabrics of the invention are characterized in that many narrow strips forming an overlapping structure are combined together so that each overlap between adjacent narrow strips provides an opening in the width direction of the strips. The methods of producing the fabrics are characterized in that narrow strips are put one on top of another while slightly shifting the positions thereof to form an overlapping structure, followed by combining the adjacent narrow strips while maintaining the overlap. Where used as material for clothes, for instance, these fabrics produce clothes_ that prevent the skin of the wearer from being exposed directly to sunlight and rain and have unique features including a high fashionability and a high air permeability ensuring a good ventilation. In addition to clothes the fabrics also serve to produce novel variations of various articles including clothing items other than clothes, bedclothes, soil and sand fixing sheets, agricultural and horticultural greenhouse, footwear, perishable storage containers, beach umbrellas, tents, filtering materials, chair covering materials, partitions and curtains.
5 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
