A fashion item including a thin-walled body having regions that can be selectively locally inflated

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fashion item (100) comprising a flexible thin wall having regions that can selectively expand locally, the thin wall comprising: a core (30) made of a lining material that can expand upon contact with a liquid; a support layer (10) comprising an outer surface (11) opposite an inner surface (12), the core (30) being arranged on the inner surface, the support layer (10) being configured such that expansion of the lining material does not cause significant deformation thereof; an impermeable cover layer (20) attached to the support layer (10) so as to closely surround the core (30), the cover layer comprising one or more through-holes (21) that lead to the core (30) and are arranged relative to each other to form a predetermined array, the cover layer (20) being configured such that expansion of the lining material causes significant deformation thereof. The present invention also relates to a chain belt and a method for manufacturing the fashion item (100).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of fashion items including thin walls, in particular strip-shaped items that can be worn by a user, such as in the field of chain belts, in particular chain belts intended to be attached to a watch or jewelry, belts, necklaces, etc.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a fashion item including a thin wall having locally selectively inflatable regions.

[0003] In the present context, the fashion item according to the invention is described in one of its preferred applications, in which it is strip-shaped, in particular in the shape of a chain belt intended to be worn on the user's wrist. Background Art

[0004] Generally, the structures and materials for producing fashion items including flexible thin walls, in particular strip-shaped structures and materials, depend on the aesthetic and functional and / or usage choices required for said fashion items.

[0005] More specifically, in the watchmaking or jewelry field, chain belts are made in whole or in part of leather, textile fibers, polymers (such as rubber) or metallic materials (such as steel, titanium or gold).

[0006] For example, materials such as textile fibers and polymers are intended for chain belts and not for sports activities, and metallic materials are reserved for underwater or humid environments.

[0007] In addition, the chain belt may have decorative elements on its outer surface, the shape of which depends on the material of said chain belt. For example, the decorative elements / decorative elements may be in the form of a combination of materials, in the form of a specific color or finish of the outer surface coating of the chain belt, in the form of a relief produced by machining or shaping the material constituting the chain belt, etc.

[0008] The production of the decoration on the chain belt depends on a dedicated manufacturing process that implements specific manufacturing means suitable for each decoration. For example, specific tools can be used to make the decoration, such as a press including a die suitable for making specific indentations on the fashion item, or an injection press suitable for overmolding a decorative layer on a base layer according to a die of a given shape.

[0009] Therefore, changing the decoration involves changing its manufacturing process and often the tools associated therewith.

[0010] Therefore, the user can freely choose a chain belt with a decoration from a range of commercially available decorations, but given the aforementioned drawbacks resulting from changing the decoration of the chain belt, the decoration of the chain belt is neither customized nor customizable.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need for a chain belt whose decoration can be customized in a simple, fast, and low-cost manner according to the user's wishes.

[0012] The terms "simple and fast" here mean that the customization of the chain belt decoration does not involve changing the process or production method of the chain belt.

[0013] Regardless of the form of the prior art fashion items (such as in the form of belts, necklaces, bags, clothes, etc.), the above-mentioned drawbacks will exist. Summary of the Invention

[0014] The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a fashion item whose structure allows for the generation of a specific decoration according to the user's wishes. In other words, different decorative patterns of the fashion item can be proposed on the basis of the fashion item satisfying the same characteristics, i.e., the characteristics of the present invention, without modifying their manufacturing process and also without modifying the corresponding production means.

[0015] To this end, the present invention relates to a fashion item comprising a thin wall, preferably flexible, having regions that can selectively expand locally, the thin wall comprising:

[0016] - A core made of a lining material that can expand when in contact with a liquid, such as when in contact with water;

[0017] - A support layer comprising an outer surface opposite to the inner surface on which the core is disposed, the support layer being configured such that the expansion of the lining material does not cause significant deformation of the support layer;

[0018] - An impermeable cover layer attached to the support layer so as to closely surround the core, the cover layer comprising one or more through-holes leading to the core and arranged relative to each other to form a predetermined array, the cover layer being configured such that the expansion of the lining material causes its significant deformation.

[0019] When the fashion item comes into contact with a liquid, the liquid penetrates into the holes until it contacts the core and causes local expansion of the lining material, and thus causes deformation of the cover layer.

[0020] This deformation of the cover layer produces a relief / bump on the visible surface of the fashion item, and the shape of this relief can be selected to correspond to any desired graphical representation according to the array defined by the set of holes.

[0021] Due to these features, it is possible to obtain a fashion item comprising a thin wall made of a material having regions that can selectively expand locally, and its aesthetic appearance can be uniquely obtained, for example, for the specific wishes of the user, without changing the manufacturing process or manufacturing tools of the fashion item.

[0022] Advantageously, the holes can be made at the last moment before selling the fashion item according to an array selected, for example, by the end customer.

[0023] In a plurality of specific embodiments, the invention may also include one or more of the following features, which can be obtained individually or in any technically feasible combination.

[0024] In a plurality of specific embodiments, the lining material consists of a hydrophilic thermoplastic elastomer material, superabsorbent fibers, and a compatibilizer.

[0025] In a plurality of specific embodiments, the lining material consists of a compatibilizer, a polyurethane having a hardness of approximately 40 Shore A, and superabsorbent fibers in an amount of 5% to 45% by weight.

[0026] Advantageously, the lining material can be selected such that when the lining material is no longer in contact with the liquid, the lining material returns to its initial state, i.e., the state it was in before swelling.

[0027] In a plurality of specific embodiments, the support layer includes a bottom wall connecting two side walls to each other, and the bottom wall and the side walls form a groove in which the inner core is placed.

[0028] In a plurality of specific embodiments, the support layer is made of a material having an elastic modulus greater than 10 MPa and a elongation at break less than or equal to 180%.

[0029] In a plurality of specific embodiments, the support layer is overmolded on the inner core.

[0030] In a plurality of specific embodiments, the cover layer is made of a laminated composite, which is composed of an elastic flexible film and a stretched polytetrafluoroethylene film, the elastic flexible film having an elongation at break greater than 600% and an elastic modulus measured at an elongation of 600% less than or equal to 20 MPa.

[0031] In a plurality of specific embodiments, the cover layer is configured to cover the inner core by overmolding or embossing / reforming.

[0032] In a plurality of specific embodiments, the through holes are formed by micro-perforations, particularly by laser machining.

[0033] In a plurality of specific embodiments, the fashion item is formed by a belt, clothing, a bag, or any other flexible or non-flexible container, a chain belt, or a necklace.

[0034] According to another object, the invention relates to a chain belt comprising at least one part having the characteristics of the above-mentioned fashion item.

[0035] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fashion item, the fashion item including a flexible thin wall having regions capable of selectively locally expanding as described above, the method comprising:

[0036] - A first attachment step, in which a cover layer and a core are connected to each other;

[0037] - A second attachment step, in which a support layer is connected to the assembly obtained in the first attachment step such that the support layer and the cover layer tightly enclose the core.

[0038] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fashion item, the fashion item including a flexible thin wall having regions capable of selectively locally expanding as previously described, the method comprising:

[0039] - A first attachment step, in which a support layer and a core are connected to each other;

[0040] - A second attachment step, in which a cover layer is connected to the assembly obtained in the first attachment step such that the support layer and the cover layer tightly enclose the core. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] With reference to the accompanying drawings, other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description given by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

[0042] Figure 1 A perspective view schematically showing a part of a chain belt according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 2 Shows a cross-sectional view taken along Figure 1 section axis A-A;

[0044] Figure 3 Shows a cross-sectional view taken along Figure 1 section axis B-B;

[0045] Figure 4 Shows a cross-sectional view of a chain belt assembled according to a variant embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view showing a preferred exemplary embodiment of a fashion item 100 according to the present invention is shown, the fashion item 100 including a thin wall, preferably a flexible thin wall, having regions capable of selectively locally expanding, wherein the fashion item 100 is in the form of a watchband.

[0047] It should be noted here that the fashion item 100 having a region that can selectively expand locally can be advantageously used for other applications without causing a change in its technical characteristics. As a non-limiting example, the fashion item can be in the form of a belt, a bag, a necklace, clothing, or any other fashion item including a thin, preferably flexible wall.

[0048] Figure 1 Shown is a part of a chain belt according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which includes a support layer 10, and a covering layer 20 is hermetically sealed to the support layer 10 so as to tightly surround a core 30 made of a lining material.

[0049] The term "connected" in this specification means "attached" so as to prohibit any degree of relative movement between the related elements.

[0050] Advantageously, the lining material is expandable when in contact with a liquid.

[0051] For example, the lining material can be a thermoplastic elastomer material.

[0052] In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the lining material consists of a hydrophilic thermoplastic polyurethane, superabsorbent fibers known to those skilled in the art, and a compatibilizer. The polyurethane preferably has a hardness substantially equal to 40 Shore A hardness. The superabsorbent fibers account for 5% to 45% by weight, for example 20%, and the compatibilizer accounts for 2% by weight. The compatibilizer is, for example, polyethylene glycol.

[0053] The core 30 can be directly obtained by molding, or can be cut from a plate or strip of a previously manufactured lining material.

[0054] As Figure 2 and 3 As shown in the cross-sectional views of

[0055] More specifically, in the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 the support layer 10 includes a bottom wall 13 that connects two side walls 14 to each other. The two side walls 14 extend in the same direction and extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the bottom wall 13. It should be noted that the side walls 14 can be formed by any protrusion, projection, or outgrowth extending from the bottom wall 13.

[0056] Therefore, as Figure 2 and 3As shown, the combination of the bottom wall 13 and each side wall 14 forms a groove for accommodating the inner core 30. More specifically, the inner core 30 is sized to abut against the inner surface 12 of the bottom wall 13 and each side wall 14.

[0057] For reasons of ease of manufacture and mechanical strength, rounded corners can be formed between the inner surface 12 of the bottom wall 13 and each side wall 14.

[0058] Preferably, the support layer 10 is intended to form the frame of the fashion item 100, in the sense that it is intended to impart rigidity and mechanical resistance to stress to the said item.

[0059] Advantageously, the support layer 10 is constructed such that the expansion of the lining material does not cause significant deformation of the support layer 10. In other words, the support layer 10 has such resistance to the pressure generated by the increase in volume of the inner core 30 that it does not deform in a manner perceptible to the user.

[0060] Preferably, the support layer 10 is made of a material having an elastic modulus measured at 100% elongation greater than 10 MPa and a breaking elongation less than or equal to 180%.

[0061] Such materials can be natural or synthetic leather, textiles or elastomers, and can be combined with non-woven textile fibers or any other suitable components to increase their mechanical resistance to deformation.

[0062] The support layer 10 and the covering layer 20 are connected together so as to closely surround the inner core 30.

[0063] The covering layer 20 has the special purpose of protecting the inner core 30 from possible attacks from the external environment, such as impacts, collisions or friction, exposure to ultraviolet rays, moisture, etc., and as will be described in more detail below, in addition to its aesthetic function, it also helps to solve the technical problems to be solved by the present invention.

[0064] The covering layer 20 is advantageously impermeable and includes one or more through-holes 21 that lead to the inner core 30 on the one hand and to the external environment on the other hand. The through-holes 21 are arranged relative to each other to form a predetermined array. The term "array" here means that the plurality of holes form a specific pattern. This pattern can be randomly selected or generated.

[0065] These through-holes 21 advantageously allow liquids present in the external environment of the fashion item 100 to penetrate the covering layer 20, such that the liquids locally contact the inner core 30.

[0066] For this purpose, the through-holes 21 are preferably formed by micropores of, for example, about 50 micrometers, which are spaced apart from each other by an appropriate distance such that the covering layer 20 maintains sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the pressure exerted by the expansion of the lining material of the inner core 30. Such a distance can be at least 500 μm. For example, the micro-perforated portion is formed by laser machining.

[0067] In addition, the covering layer 20 is configured such that the expansion of the lining material causes it to deform significantly. In other words, the covering layer 20 advantageously includes significant elastic characteristics such that the local pressure generated by the expansion of the lining material causes the covering layer 20 to deform in a manner perceptible to the user.

[0068] More specifically, the covering layer 20 is preferably made of a laminated composite composed of a stretched polytetrafluoroethylene film and at least one elastic flexible film, which is made of an elastic material, for example, having an elongation at break greater than 600% and an elastic modulus measured at an elongation of 600% less than or equal to 20 MPa. The stretched polytetrafluoroethylene film is, for example, a film commercially known as "Gore-Tex".

[0069] Thus, thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to cause the lining material to locally expand in a direction opposite to the support layer 10 against each through-hole 21 in a predetermined area according to the distribution of the through-holes 21 and, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by extension on the wearer's wrist, so as to produce a relief with an aesthetic or information function on the fashion item 100, such as a relief representing a logo, letters or words, or any other graphic representation, for example, on a chain belt.

[0070] In fact, as described above, the support layer 10 and the covering layer 20 are configured such that the expansion of the lining material occurs only in one or more directions substantially opposite to the support layer 10 and towards the covering layer 20. Therefore, the relief is visible to the wearer.

[0071] In a first variant embodiment of the present invention, the assembly of the fashion item 100 according to the present invention is carried out through a first attachment step and a subsequent second attachment step. In the first attachment step, the support layer 10 and the inner core 30 are connected to each other. In the second attachment step, the covering layer 20 is connected, for example, by gluing / adhesive bonding to the assembly obtained in the first attachment step.

[0072] The fashion item 100 assembled according to this variant embodiment is shown in Figure 2 and 3 in a cross-sectional view.

[0073] In this way, a fashion item 100 is obtained in which only the covering layer 20 is visible.

[0074] This variant embodiment is preferred when the support layer 10 is made of leather.

[0075] In another variant embodiment of the present invention, the assembly of the fashion item 100 according to the present invention is carried out by a first attachment step and a subsequent second attachment step, wherein in the first attachment step, the cover layer 20 and the inner core 30 are connected to each other, and in the subsequent second attachment step, the support layer 10 is connected, for example, by gluing / adhesive bonding, to the assembly obtained in the first attachment step.

[0076] Thereby, a fashion item 100 is obtained, in which the cover layer 20 and the support layer 10 are visible. The fashion item 100 assembled according to this variant embodiment is shown in Figure 4 a cross-sectional view.

[0077] This variant embodiment is preferred when the support layer 10 is made of an elastic material such as rubber.

[0078] The cover layer 20 may also cover the outer surface 11 of all or part of the support layer 10, thereby allowing the support layer to be protected against external attacks, such as friction, moisture, etc.

[0079] Preferably, according to the variant embodiment considered above, the attachment of the support layer 10 to the inner core 30 or to the assembly formed by the cover layer 20 and the inner core 30 is carried out by overmolding or gluing / adhesive bonding to ensure that the expansion of the lining material takes place in the desired direction, that is, in the direction opposite to the support layer 10.

[0080] Again preferably, according to the variant embodiment considered above, the attachment of the cover layer 20 to the inner core 30 or to the assembly formed by the support layer 10 and the inner core 30 is carried out by embossing / stamping / reforming or by overmolding.

[0081] After the manufacture of the chain belt is completed, that is, after the assembly of the support layer 10, the inner core 30 and the cover layer 20 is completed, the micro-perforated part forming the through holes 21 can be manufactured according to the instructions transmitted by the computer, so as to generate an array of through holes 21 specific to a predetermined graphical representation.

[0082] Alternatively, the through holes 21 can be manufactured on the cover layer 20 before the assembly of the support layer 10, the inner core 30 and the cover layer 20.

[0083] Therefore, by changing the shape of the array of through holes 21 from one fashion item 100 to another fashion item 100, that is, by changing the number of through holes 21 and / or their arrangement relative to each other, the decoration of each chain belt can be customized without changing the manufacturing process and manufacturing device of the said fashion item 100.

Claims

1. A fashion item (100) comprising a flexible thin wall having regions that can selectively expand locally, characterized in that, The thin wall includes: - A core (30) made of a lining material that can expand when in contact with a liquid; - A support layer (10) including an outer surface (11) opposite to an inner surface (12), the core (30) being disposed on the inner surface, and the support layer (10) being configured such that the expansion of the lining material does not cause significant deformation thereof; - An impermeable cover layer (20) attached to the support layer (10) so as to closely surround the core (30), the cover layer partially including one or more through-holes (21) leading to the core (30) and arranged relative to each other to form a predetermined pattern, and the cover layer (20) being configured such that the expansion of the lining material causes significant deformation thereof.

2. The fashion item (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The lining material is composed of a hydrophilic thermoplastic elastomer material, superabsorbent fibers, and a compatibilizer.

3. The fashion item (100) according to claim 2, wherein, The lining material is composed of a compatibilizer, a polyurethane having a Shore hardness A approximately equal to 40, and superabsorbent fibers accounting for 5% to 45% by weight.

4. The fashion item (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The support layer (10) includes a bottom wall (13) connecting two side walls (14) to each other, and the bottom wall (13) and the side walls (14) form a groove in which the core (30) is placed.

5. The fashion item (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The support layer (10) is made of a material having an elastic modulus greater than 10 MPa and a breaking elongation less than or equal to 180%.

6. The fashion item (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The support layer (10) is overmolded on the core (30).

7. The fashion item (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The cover layer (20) is made of a laminated composite composed of an elastic flexible film and a stretched polytetrafluoroethylene film, the elastic flexible film having a breaking elongation greater than 600% and an elastic modulus measured at an elongation of 600% less than or equal to 20 MPa.

8. The fashion item (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The cover layer (20) is configured to cover the core (30) by overmolding or by embossing.

9. The fashion item (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The through-holes (21) are formed by micro-perforations.

10. A chain belt, which includes at least one part having the characteristics of the fashion item according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A method for manufacturing a fashion item (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the fashion item being made of a material having regions that can selectively expand locally, the method including: - A first attachment step, in which the cover layer (20) and the core (30) are connected to each other; - A second attachment step, in which the support layer (10) is connected to the assembly obtained in the first attachment step such that the support layer (10) and the cover layer (20) closely surround the core (30).

12. A method for manufacturing a fashion item (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the fashion item being made of a material having regions that can selectively expand locally, the method including: - A first attachment step, in which the support layer (10) and the core (30) are connected to each other; - A second attachment step, in which the cover layer (20) is attached to the component obtained in the first attachment step such that the support layer (10) and the cover layer (20) closely surround the inner core (30).

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