GB2234705A

GB2234705A - Variable insulation pile fabric

Info

Publication number: GB2234705A
Application number: GB8916569A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Anthony Scott
Original assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Current assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Priority date: 1989-07-20
Filing date: 1989-07-20
Publication date: 1991-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2009-07-20
Also published as: GB8916569D0; GB2234705B

Abstract

A fabric consists of two parallel layers (10, 14) of material to which are connected a plurality of fibres (12). Parallel relative movement of the layers (10, 14) causes rotation of the fibres (12) varying the separation of the layers (10, 14) and hence the insulation properties of the fabric. <IMAGE>

Description

v w VARIABLE INSULATION PILE FABRICS This invention relates to variable insulation pile fabrics, and in particular to garments made from such fabrics.

Military personnel operating in a cold climate require a wide variation in thermal insulation. Minimum warmth and butt are required when the ambient temperature is between +10 and +20or, or when the wearer is moving or walking. Maximum warmth is required when the wearer is static, for example lying in a ditch, and when temperatures are from OOC down to -400C. At present the only way of dealing with the differing requirements is for personnel to wear layers of clothing that can be removed or added according to temperature conditions. This is inconvenient as additional items have to be carried when not worn.

There is therefore a need for a fabric for use in a garment such that the garment may have variable thermal insulation.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a material comprising a first layer, a plurality of fibres attached thereto and a second layer wherein relative movement of the first and second layers allows the height of the fibres to be varied.

When the fibres are fully erected the material has maximum insulation and when fully retracted it has minimum insulation.

The first layer preferably is a knitted layer towhich the plurality of fibres are attached and the ends of the fibres remote from the first layer are preferably attached to the second layer which can be either a windproof woven fabric or a knitted fabric.

Alternatively the second layer could be disposed part of the way up the fibres, close to the first layer and could also be knitted or couldcomprise a fine textile mesh.

The fibres are preferably ling, stiff and of low density and the knitted or woven layers preferably have good soft handle and drape. If a woven fabric is used this can provide the necessary strength, physical durability and camoufiage printed colours required of an outer garment layer.

Preferably, when the fibres are fully retracted the material is very thin ie less than 5mm and then when erected is preferably several cm thick. The fibres could be made from acrylic, modacrylic and/or polyester.

By enabling the height of the fibres to be varied the material exhibits a wide variation in thermal insulation properties.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a garment made from material comprising a first layer and a plurality of fibres attached thereto and a second layer wherein relative movement of first and second layers allows the height of the fibres to be varied thus allowing the garment to have variable degrees of insulation.

When the fibres are all fully erected the garment will provide the wearer with maximum thermal insulation with a typical insulation value of approximately five Tog. When the fibres are fully retracted the garment will provide the wearer with minimum thermal insulation with a typical insulation value of 0.5 Tog. Thus the wearer requires only one garment for use in temperatures between approx -400C and +100C which will provide him with the right amount of insulation.

Additionally the garment can be folded neatly into a small space for storage or carriage when the fibres are fully retracted.

Typical garments are a sleeveless waistcoat to cover the torso of the wearer and trousers to cover the legs. In order to allow for erecting and contracting fibres of the material the garments could be provided with russets in the side seams of the garments which can

be open or closed by use of a zip or Velcrol, Such gussets are

arranged so that closure of the zip or Velcrotcollapses the fibres and pulls the garment close to the body, thus removing as many insulative air spaces as possible. Release of the fastener will cause erection of the fibres and loosening of the garment on the body. If a material is used where the pile is directional as in for example fur fabric, the gussets are arranged so that the pile direction collapses towards the closure system.

The garments are also provided with extra non-closable gussets which provide extra room in the garment when the fibres are fully collapsed and gussets closed.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figs la and lb show one embodiment of the variable insulation pile fabrics; Figs 2a and 2b show another embodiment of the variable insulation pile fabric; Fig 3 shows a waistcoat made from the material shown in Fig 1 or Fig 2; Fig 4 shows a pair of trousers made from the material shown in Fig 1 or Fig 2; and Fig 5 shows how the material operates when incorporated into the garments of Figs 3 or 4.

Figs 6a and 6b show how the material operates when incorporated into a garment.

A variable insulation pile fabric (Fig la, lb) comprises a first knitted layer 10, a plurality of fibres 12 attached thereto and second knitted or woven layer 14 to which the ends of the fibres remote from the first layer 10 are attached. The material is shown in two states - one (Fig la) when the fibres are fully erected and the other (Fig lb) when the fibres are retracted.

An alternative arrangement for the material is shown in Figs 2a,b where the second layer is arranged close to the first knitted layer 10. This second layer 16 may also be knitted or comprise a fine textile mesh. The material is shown with fibres erect and with the fibres retracted.

In use, relative movement of the first layer 10 and the second layer 14, 16 in the direction shown by the arrows in Figs 1 and 2 allows the fibres 12 to be erected or retracted.

Garments made of the material shown in Figs 1 and 2 are shown at Figs 3 and 4: a waistcoat in Fig 3 and trousers in Fig 4.

The waistcoat 30 in Fig 3 has closable gussets 32 down each side seam and an extra non-closable gusset 34 in the back seam of the waistcoat 30. The closable gussets 32 are fitted with zips or 'IelcroCT.I1) The trousers 40 have closable gussets 42 on the outside side seams and the inside side seams are fitted with an extra nonclosable gusset 44.

Figs 6a and 6b shows how the closable gussets 32, 42 allow the fibres 12 of the material to be erected and retracted.

When maximum insulation is required the wearer opens the zips or velcro of the closable gussets 32, 42. As shown in Fig 6 this causes the fibres 12 to be erected. The extra gusset 34, 44 is not required in this situation and is effectively closed by the erect fibres 12 as shown in Fig 6a. When minimum insulation is required the wearer closes the closable gusset 32, 42 with a zip or velcro which causes the fibres 12 to bend toward the gusset 32, 42 and become retracted. The garment is pulled closer to the body causing the extra gusset 34, 44 to open out as shown in Fig 6b, allowing extra room for the wearer.

When the material shown in Fig 1 is used in garments it is preferable that the second layer 14, which is worn to the outside of the garment, is wind-resistant and also preferably waterproof.

The link 60 underneath the zip 62 should be relatively stiff so that closure of the zip causes the fibres 12 to collapse inwards towards the zip.

There is therefore provided one garment which is capable of providing a wearer with variable degrees of thermal insulation.

It will be realised that other arrangements of closable and nonclosable gussets with many different types of garments are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is 1. A material comprising a first layer, a plurality of fibres attached thereto and a second layer wherein relative movement of the first and second layers allows the height of the fibres to be varied.
2. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second layer is attached to the ends of the fibres remote from the first layer.
3. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second layer is disposed in a position between the first layer and the ends of the fibres remote from the first layer.
4. A material as claimed in any previous claim wherein the first layer is a knitted fabric.
5. A material as claimed in any previous claim wherein the second layer is a knitted fabric.
6. A material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the second layer is a windproof woven fabric.
7. A material substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. A garment made from material comprising a first layer and a plurality of fibres attached thereto and a second layer wherein relative movement of the first and second layers allows the height of the fibres to be varied thus allowing the garment to provide the wearer with variable degrees of insulation.
9. A garment as claimed in claim 8 wherein the garment includes a closable gusset such that when the gusset is closed the fibres are fully retracted and the garment provides a minimum insulation and when the gusset is open the fibres are fully erect and the garment provides maximum insulation.
10. A garment as claimed in claims 8 or 9 wherein the garment further includes a non-closable gusset to provide extra room in the garment when the closable gusset is closed.
11. A sleeveless waistcoat according to any one of claims 8 to 10.
12. A pair of trousers according to any one of claims 8 to 10.
13. A garment substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.