Garment for use with sensitive skin, and method and fabric for us in making same

Abstract

Garments designed for use by people with sensitive skin, such as those suffering from eczema or dermatitis, which enhance wearer comfort are described. The garments have a lower coefficient of friction and superior moisture transport properties relative to conventional cotton T-shirts currently recommended for wear by sensitive skin sufferers. The garments are made from polyester fabrics which are specially constructed to minimize the coefficient of friction, optimize moisture transport, and provide antimicrobial characteristics. Fabrics and methods or making and using the fabrics are also described.

Description

BACKGROUND At one time or another, a large segment of the population suffers from sensitive skin or another skin disorder, including but not limited to atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, injury from burns, allergies, bedsores, etc. (Such ailments will be collectively referred to hereinafter as “sensitive skin”.) As will be readily appreciated by such sufferers, the wearing of clothing can often cause great discomfort, due to the irritation resulting from the garments rubbing against the skin, seam irritation, and the like. At least one attempt has been made to provide garments that are more comfortable to such sensitive skin sufferers. For example, one such product is made from yarns that are a blend of cotton and rayon with a chitosan additive. This product was touted as having a “softer hand” than cotton, superior moisture retention (that was purported to enable the fabric to hydrate the skin), and bacteriastatic activity. However, testing has indicated th...

Examples

Example

Example B

A 28 cut fabric was jersey knit in a conventional manner from 150 denier (2 / 70 / 100) false twist textured yarns made from semi-dull round cross-section polyester. The fabric was then scoured. The fabric was then treated in a dye jet with a dye chemistry including 1% defoamer, 0.25% lubricant, 0.1% surfactant, 3% Lubril QCJ, 0.45% acetic acid at 84% concentration, and 0.15% optical brightener. The fabric was held at 266° F. for 20 minutes and rinsed. All %s are on weight of fabric. The fabric was then heat set at 370° F. at a speed of 30 yards per minute. The initial track width was 68 inches and the exit width was 68 inches overall. A mixture of 2.5% Witcobond polyurethane and 0.5% Alphasan® antimicrobial chemistry (available from Milliken Chemical of Spartanburg, S.C.), 0.5% Igepal DAP-9 were applied via a pad using a wet pick up of 100%. The fabric was then passed through a tenter at a width of 68 inches at 240° F. at a speed of 30 yards per minute, achieving a final wid...

Example

Example C

Example C was a commercially available conventional 100% cotton T-shirt fabric (Jockey Classic, available from Jockey International of Kenosha, Wis.) of the variety typically recommended by dermatologists for wear by their patients with sensitive skin. The shirt was made from 28 / 1 ring spun combed cotton yarns, and had 34 wales per inch and 41 courses per inch.

Test Methods

Shrinkage: Fabric shrinkage was measured according to AATCC Test Method 135-1992 after five home washes at 105° F.

Pilling: Pilling was tested according to ASTM Test Method D-3512-02 after 60 minutes using a rating scale of 1-5 (5 being the best.)

Soil Release: Soil release for corn oil was tested according to AATCC Test Method 130-1995, using a 1-5 rating scale (5 being the best.)

Dynamic Coefficient of Friction: Dynamic coefficient of friction was measured according to ASTM Test Method D1894-00. The back of the fabric (which will be the skin-contacting surface) was tested in each of the walewise ...

BACKGROUND At one time or another, a large segment of the population suffers from sensitive skin or another skin disorder, including but not limited to atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, injury from burns, allergies, bedsores, etc. (Such ailments will be collectively referred to hereinafter as “sensitive skin”.) As will be readily appreciated by such sufferers, the wearing of clothing can often cause great discomfort, due to the irritation resulting from the garments rubbing against the skin, seam irritation, and the like. At least one attempt has been made to provide garments that are more comfortable to such sensitive skin sufferers. For example, one such product is made from yarns that are a blend of cotton and rayon with a chitosan additive. This product was touted as having a “softer hand” than cotton, superior moisture retention (that was purported to enable the fabric to hydrate the skin), and bacteriastatic activity. However, testing has indicated th...

Examples

Example

Example B

A 28 cut fabric was jersey knit in a conventional manner from 150 denier (2 / 70 / 100) false twist textured yarns made from semi-dull round cross-section polyester. The fabric was then scoured. The fabric was then treated in a dye jet with a dye chemistry including 1% defoamer, 0.25% lubricant, 0.1% surfactant, 3% Lubril QCJ, 0.45% acetic acid at 84% concentration, and 0.15% optical brightener. The fabric was held at 266° F. for 20 minutes and rinsed. All %s are on weight of fabric. The fabric was then heat set at 370° F. at a speed of 30 yards per minute. The initial track width was 68 inches and the exit width was 68 inches overall. A mixture of 2.5% Witcobond polyurethane and 0.5% Alphasan® antimicrobial chemistry (available from Milliken Chemical of Spartanburg, S.C.), 0.5% Igepal DAP-9 were applied via a pad using a wet pick up of 100%. The fabric was then passed through a tenter at a width of 68 inches at 240° F. at a speed of 30 yards per minute, achieving a final wid...

Example

Example C

Example C was a commercially available conventional 100% cotton T-shirt fabric (Jockey Classic, available from Jockey International of Kenosha, Wis.) of the variety typically recommended by dermatologists for wear by their patients with sensitive skin. The shirt was made from 28 / 1 ring spun combed cotton yarns, and had 34 wales per inch and 41 courses per inch.

Test Methods

Shrinkage: Fabric shrinkage was measured according to AATCC Test Method 135-1992 after five home washes at 105° F.

Pilling: Pilling was tested according to ASTM Test Method D-3512-02 after 60 minutes using a rating scale of 1-5 (5 being the best.)

Soil Release: Soil release for corn oil was tested according to AATCC Test Method 130-1995, using a 1-5 rating scale (5 being the best.)

Dynamic Coefficient of Friction: Dynamic coefficient of friction was measured according to ASTM Test Method D1894-00. The back of the fabric (which will be the skin-contacting surface) was tested in each of the walewise ...