Textile Fabric for Martial Arts Clothing

Abstract

The disclosed device relates to woven or knitted textile fabric for employment in martial arts clothing, such as fabric used for manufacture of gis and kimonos for karate and of Brazilian jiu jitsu. The textile fabric is formed of two different types of yarn. The first yarn is comprised of a strong material such as KEVLAR and the second is comprised of cotton.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 353,258, filed on Jun. 22, 2016, which is included herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present device relates generally to clothing and uniforms. More particularly, the disclosed device relates to woven or knitted textile fabric for employment in martial arts clothing, such as fabric used for manufacture of gis and kimonos for karate and of Brazilian jiu jitsu.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A martial arts gi or kimono, such as those used in karate or jiu jitsu is generally formed of cut portions of textile material which are sewn to a uniform worn by students and participants in the many types of martial art sports. Because of the nature of martial arts training and competition such as karate or Brazilian jiu jitsu, which can include striking, kicking, and grappling and tossing the opponent to the mat, the gi undergoes constant stress.[0004]Grappli...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]It is an object of the present invention to provide a textile fabric employable for the manufacture of martial arts garments such as gis and kimonos, which includes synthetic materials in percentages with cotton, to enhance the strength of the formed fabric while maintaining the flexibility of the formed fabric.

[0011]It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a woven or knitted textile fabric which is thin and light, but stronger and equally absorbent as conventional cotton fabrics used for martial arts textiles.

[0013]In accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides an improved textile fabric woven or knitted from individual yarns or threads formed of cotton, and a secondary synthetic or other fiber, to enhance the formed textile material to resist tearing and damage from abrasion. As noted, in the field of martial arts uniforms, due to requirements of organizations sponsoring competition, GIs are required to be tailored using cotton or cotton-like fabric only. Further, the cotton fabric may not be so thick or hard as to impede an opponent from gripping it.

[0018]By using KEVLAR yarn for a percentage of the total weight of the formed fabric, significant resistance is provided to ripping and tearing over that of cotton alone. The KEVLAR yarn may be used in the warp along with adjacent strands of cotton yarn, or it may be used in the fill or weft of the formed textile fabric in a percentage by weight with the cotton yarn. It may also be employed in both the warp and weft in percentages by weight of the total fabric which have been found to yield a tough material, which still provides the flexibility and coolness of cotton. Currently in a preferred mode of the fabric invention herein, a percentage of weight for the cotton yarn is 70% of the total weight of the woven fabric, and the KEVLAR will be 30% by weight of the total weight of the fabric.

[0019]In a second preferred mode of the textile fabric herein, which also provides high tensile strength and resistance to tearing and bursting on impacts, the first yarns comprise spun or filament yarn comprised of cotton material. The second yarn in this second preferred mode, is formed of SPECTRA fiber, which is a patented fiber sold by DUPONT. In this mode of the material, the warp includes the first yarn formed of cotton, and may include some yarn strands in the weave formed of SPECTRA. The fill or weft also may include SPECTRA fiber yarns along with cotton yarns. In this mode of the formed textile fabric, the weight of the cotton yarn is substantially 70% of the total weight of the woven fabric, and the weight of the SPECTRA yarn is substantially 30% of the total weight of the fabric.

[0020]Finally, in a third mode of the improved textile fabric herein, the first yarn is formed of cotton material, and the second yarn is configured of a flat or oval yarn, as opposed to the conventional round shape of the cotton yarn. The second yarn in the planar or oval shape, is formed of yarn spun from polynosic rayon, or beechwood or bamboo material, all of which are stronger than cotton yarn, and both of which breathe and absorb moisture to help keep the wearer cooler. In this mode also, the weight of the first yarn of cotton as a percentage of the total weight of the woven fabric, is substantially 70%, and the weight of the second yarn formed of one or a combination of polynosic rayon, beechwood, or bamboo, is 30% of the total weight of the woven fabric.

Problems solved by technology

Further, in day to day use for practice, thin cotton fabrics have a tendency to wear prematurely due to the constant tugging from practice sessions, and impacts and friction from hitting a mat when thrown.

While “cotton like” fabrics with more strength have been tried in the past, such fabrics are generally formed of polyester material which retains heat and participants wearing such garments lose the cooling qualities of cotton during the exertion of training and competition.

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