METHOD FOR PRODUCE A GARMENT WITH VARIABLE THERMAL PROPERTIES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a garment with evolving thermal properties, as well as a garment manufactured by implementing such a method.

[0002] It applies in particular to an article of clothing intended to be worn on the torso during the practice of a sporting activity, such as for example an undershirt, in order to contribute to the regulation of the temperature and / or perspiration of the user during different stages of said sporting activity.

[0003] We know from document US-2016 / 0366963 of an undershirt comprising a central section covering the torso and two lateral sections covering one arm of the user respectively, said undershirt comprising air cushions located in particular at the level of the chest, shoulder blades and back.

[0004] In particular, the garment can be made from a seamless knit, featuring an outer panel and an inner panel which are layered and then sealed together using adhesive and / or stitching to form the air tubes.

[0005] We also know from document EP-0 924 999 of a thermal insulation module that can be integrated into a garment such as a jersey or jacket, said module being equipped with air bladders that can be inflated by the user, in particular by blowing into an inflation valve that can be inserted into a nozzle located on said module, in order to allow said user to adapt the arrangement of said module, and therefore the regulation of his temperature and / or perspiration, according to the intensity of the physical effort he provides.

[0006] In particular, this module can be made by sealing together two inner and outer membranes at certain points to form inflatable air tubes, or by folding a single sheet of membrane which is sealed to itself to form a peripheral seal and several air tubes. Furthermore, for attaching the module to a garment, one of the membrane walls can be laminated to a fabric, the unmembrane side of said fabric then forming the outer surface of the garment. Document JP 2013 129940 A discloses a method for manufacturing a garment with variable thermal properties, the method involving the superposition of two textile layers with weldable and airtight membranes, and the partial welding of the membrane sections to each other to form a thermal insulation network comprising at least one air tube extending between the layers.

[0007] The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing a process for manufacturing in a simple way a clothing article incorporating a thermal insulation network, in particular by being able to confer evolving properties for the comfort of the user.

[0008] To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a method for manufacturing a garment with evolving thermal properties, said garment comprising at least one section covering a part of a user's body, said method providing for: to make a tubular textile sleeve comprising a main portion with geometry analogous to the geometry of the cover section and a complementary portion adjacent to said main portion, each of said portions having an external wall; to associate a membrane on the external wall of the main portion and a membrane on the external wall of the complementary portion, said membranes being airtight and weldable to each other; to fold the complementary portion over the main portion by placing their external walls opposite each other to form a cover section comprising the main portion as the inner layer and the complementary portion as the outer layer, at least a part of the respective membranes of said portions being arranged opposite each other between said layers;partially weld the membrane sections together to form a thermal insulation network comprising at least one air gap extending between the layers of the overlap section; manufacture the garment comprising the overlap section thus obtained.

[0009] According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a garment manufactured by implementing such a process, said garment comprising at least one section covering a part of a user's body, said section comprising an inner textile layer and an outer textile layer between which extends a thermal insulation network comprising at least one air seal formed by welding parts of membrane associated respectively with one of said layers, the textile layers being made together by seamless knitting.

[0010] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: [ Fig.1a ], [ Fig.1b ] And [ Fig.1c ] schematically represent in longitudinal section different stages of a manufacturing process for a garment according to an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig.2 ] schematically represents in longitudinal section the arrangement of an air cushion between the layers of a garment according to an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig.3a ], [ Fig.3b ] And [ Fig.3c ] schematically represent an example of a clothing item produced by the process shown in the preceding figures, respectively in front view ( figure 3a ), side view ( figure 3b ) and viewed from the rear ( figure 3c ).

[0011] In relation to these figures, a manufacturing process for a garment with evolving thermal properties is described below, as well as a garment manufactured by implementing such a process.

[0012] The article of clothing includes at least one section covering a part of the user's body. On the figures 3a , 3b et 3c The clothing item is an undershirt intended to cover the upper part of the user's body, particularly during the practice of a sporting activity, and includes a central section 1 covering the torso and two lateral sections 2 covering one arm of said user respectively.

[0013] In the embodiment shown, the torso covering section 1 comprises an inner textile layer 3 and an outer textile layer 4 between which extends a thermal insulation network 5 comprising at least one air seal 6, said air seal being formed by welding parts of membrane 7a, 7b associated respectively with one of said layers.

[0014] In the figures, the garment includes 6 air bladders that extend over the upper torso and over each of the shoulder blades, as these areas of the body are more sensitive to cold, and therefore require greater thermal insulation than the rest of the torso.

[0015] In particular, the garment shown comprises a single thermal insulation network 5 which has a front section 5a and two rear sections 5b covering respectively the torso and the shoulder blades, the front section 5a being in fluidic communication with each rear section 5b by means of respectively a row 5c of air tubes 6, each of said rows extending over respectively a portion covering a clavicle.

[0016] Alternatively, the thermal insulation network 5 can extend to other parts of the torso, for example, the lower back cover and / or the abdominal cover, which are more prone to perspiring during physical activity. The garment may also include additional networks 5 formed on the arm cover sections 2, for example, on the upper shoulder cover portions.

[0017] To form an undershirt, the textile layers 3 and 4 together may have a surface mass of less than 300 g / m². Furthermore, sections 1 and 2 covering the torso and arms each have an appropriate elasticity to allow the undershirt to fit snugly against the user's body, thus providing a "second skin" effect.

[0018] According to the invention, the textile layers 3, 4 are made together by seamless knitting, which makes it possible to form the covering section 1 in one piece, and therefore to facilitate its manufacture, but also to easily obtain a clothing item with suitable elasticity.

[0019] In relation to figures 1a, 1b et 1c We now describe a manufacturing process for a garment with evolving thermal properties, said garment comprising at least one section 1 covering a part of the body as described previously.

[0020] To obtain such a cover section 1, the process first involves making a tubular textile sleeve 8 comprising a main portion 8a with a geometry similar to the geometry of the cover section 1, and a complementary portion 8b adjacent to said main portion, each of said portions having an external wall 9a, 9b ( figure 1a ).

[0021] Advantageously, the main portion 8a and complementary portion 8b of the sleeve 8 have an analogous geometry, which makes it easier to manufacture the cover section 1, and therefore the garment as a whole.

[0022] As mentioned previously, the textile sleeve 8 can be made by seamless knitting, in particular using a circular knitting machine, which allows it to be made in one piece.

[0023] The process then involves associating a membrane 7a on the outer wall 9a of the main portion 8a and a membrane 7b on the outer wall 9b of the complementary portion 8b, said membranes being airtight and weldable to each other ( figure 1b ).

[0024] The membranes 7a, 7b can, in particular, be cut to the desired shape and / or dimensions from a suitable material film and then bonded to the respective external walls 9a, 9b of the main portion 8a and the supplementary portion 8b. Alternatively, the membranes 7a, 7b can be formed directly on the external walls 9a, 9b, for example by coating or extruding a suitable product onto the desired areas of said external walls.

[0025] The process then involves folding the complementary portion 8b over the main portion 8a, placing their external walls 9a, 9b opposite each other, to form an overlap section 1 comprising the main portion 8a as an inner layer 3 and the complementary portion 8b as an outer layer 4, at least a portion of the respective membranes 7a, 7b of said portions being arranged opposite each other between said layers ( figure 1c ).

[0026] In particular, when the cover section 1 is intended to be worn around the torso, portions 8a, 8b may be turned up along a fold line 10 intended to form the upper collar 11 or the lower hem 12 of the garment.

[0027] To finalize the making of the cover section 1, the process then involves partially welding the membrane parts 7a, 7b together to form between them a thermal insulation network 5 comprising at least one air gap 6 which extends between the layers 3, 4 of said cover section.

[0028] In relation to figures 1b et 1c The process involves placing a membrane 7a, 7b on each of the external walls 9a, 9b. According to an unrepresented variant, the same membrane 7a, 7b can be associated on the main 8a and complementary 8b portions of the sleeve 8.

[0029] According to one embodiment, at least two membranes 7a, 7b are associated on each of the external walls 9a, 9b, their respective welding allowing to locate at least two thermal insulation networks 5 between the layers 3, 4 of the cover section 1.

[0030] In relation to the figure 2 , at least a portion 8a, 8b of the sleeve 8 may be made with two zones 13a, 13b having a differentiated textile density, in particular according to the thermal sensitivity of the part of the body covered by said zone.

[0031] Thus, sleeve 8 may have a zone 13a with a high textile density, which is intended to be placed opposite the parts of the body most sensitive to cold, in particular the torso and shoulder blades, in order to provide a greater supply of heat to these parts.

[0032] Similarly, sleeve 8 may have a zone 13b with a lower textile density, in particular openwork, which is intended to be placed opposite the parts of the body most prone to perspiring, in particular the lower back or abdomen, in order to facilitate ventilation and the evacuation of perspiration in these areas.

[0033] In particular, a membrane 7a, 7b can be associated on the external wall 9a, 9b of at least one of the zones 13a, 13b, in order to confer a differentiated compression of the thermal insulation network 5 obtained according to its positioning on the overlap section 1.

[0034] For example, 6 air cushions can extend: on the high textile density zone 13a, in order to improve thermal insulation in the areas of the body most sensitive to cold; and / or on the low textile density zone 13b, in order to keep the fabric soaked with perspiration away from the user's skin, and thus prevent the user from getting cold while facilitating the evaporation of said perspiration.

[0035] The process notably involves welding the membrane parts 7a, 7b together along weld lines 14 delimiting between them at least one air gap 6.

[0036] In particular, the membrane parts 7a, 7b can be welded together to form at least one air seal 6 of variable internal dimension depending on its positioning on the overlap section 1, in order to provide differentiated insulation and / or spacing of the layers 3, 4.

[0037] On the figures 3a , 3b et 3c , the network 5 comprises a front section 5a and two rear sections 5b which each have air tubes 6 of substantially constant cross-section arranged in a nested manner, the tubes 6 of a section 5a, 5b having an increasing length from the inside to the outside.

[0038] Furthermore, the air cushions 6 of each section 5a, 5b communicate with each other through interruptions 15 formed in the weld lines 14 of the membranes 7a, 7b, and the outer air cushion 6a of the front section 5a communicates with the air cushions 6b of the rear sections 5b via lateral cushions 6c extending in rows 5c over the overlapping portions of the clavicles.

[0039] In an alternative not shown, the process may involve welding the membrane parts 7a, 7b together to form a thermal insulation network 5 comprising a single air ring, for example wound on itself.

[0040] The welding of the membrane parts 7a, 7b can in particular be carried out through the internal 3 and external 4 layers of the overlap section 1, with a device adapted to carry out said welding without damaging the textile forming said layers.

[0041] Advantageously, the process provides for equipping the thermal insulation network 5 with a valve 16 for inflating / deflating an air bladder 6, said valve being associated with said network through the outer layer 4 of the cover section 1, in order to allow the user to access it at any time when wearing the garment, particularly during the practice of a sporting activity.

[0042] Thus, the user can, for example by means of a mouthpiece connected to the valve 16, arrange the inflation of the thermal insulation network 5 according to his needs, which change in particular during the sporting activity.

[0043] For example, the user can: Before exertion, inflate the air bladders 6 to create a space for air circulation between your skin and the garment, in order to insulate your body from the cold and provide warmth; during exertion, deflate said bladders to bring said garment into contact with your skin, in order to limit the intake of heat and allow the absorption of sweat by the fabric; and after exertion, reinflate said bladders to move said garment away from your skin again, in order to avoid rapid cooling of your body and unpleasant contact of said skin with the sweat-soaked fabric.

[0044] After obtaining the covering section 1, the process involves making the garment, in particular by joining said section with other covering sections 2 of other parts of the body by means of seams 17.

[0045] Thus, in the embodiment shown, the torso cover section 1 obtained is sewn to two arm cover sections 2 to form the undershirt.

[0046] In particular, the process may involve making several sections 1, 2 covering different parts of the body according to the steps described above, and then joining all these sections 1, 2 by sewing 17 to form a garment comprising several thermal insulation networks 5 in different places.

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing an item of clothing with changeable thermal property, said item of clothing comprising at least one section (1) for covering a part of the wearer's body, said method providing for: - producing a tubular textile sleeve (8) comprising a main portion (8a) with a geometry similar to that of the covering section (1) and a complementary portion (8b) adjacent to said main portion, each of said portions having an outer wall (9a, 9b); - attaching a membrane (7a) to the outer wall (9a) of the main portion (8a) and a membrane (7b) to the outer wall (9b) of the complementary portion (8b), said membranes being airtight and weldable to each other; - hitching up the complementary portion (8b) on the main portion (8a) by placing their outer walls (9a, 9b) opposite one another in order to form a covering section (1) comprising the main portion (8a) as an inner layer (3) and the complementary portion (8b) as an outer layer (4), at least part of the respective membranes (7a, 7b) of said portions being arranged facing one another between said layers; - partially welding the membrane parts (7a, 7b) on top of one another in order to form between them a thermally insulating network (5) comprising at least one sausage-shaped air cushion (6) extending between the layers (3, 4) of the covering section (1); - producing the item of clothing comprising the covering section (1) thus obtained.

2. Manufacturing method according to claim 1, characterised in that the textile sleeve (8) is manufactured by seamless knitting, in particular by means of a circular knitting machine.

3. Manufacturing method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the main portion (8a) and the complementary portion (8b) of the sleeve (8) have a similar geometry.

4. Manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the membranes (7a, 7b) are laminated onto the respective outer walls (9a, 9b) of the main portion (8a) and the complementary portion (8b).

5. Manufacturing method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it provides for welding the membrane parts (7a, 7b) together along weld lines (14) delimiting at least one sausage-shaped air cushion (6) between them.

6. Manufacturing method according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it provides for welding the membrane parts (7a, 7b) together to form at least one sausage-shaped air cushion (6) with an internal dimension that varies depending on its position on the covering section (1).

7. Manufacturing method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it provides for welding the membrane parts (7a, 7b) together to form a thermally insulating network (5) comprising a single sausage-shaped air cushion (6).

8. Manufacturing method according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it provides for equipping the thermally insulating network (5) with a valve (16) for inflating / deflating a sausage-shaped air cushion (6), said valve being associated with said network through the outer layer (4) of the covering section (1).

9. Manufacturing method according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it provides for placing at least two membranes (7a, 7b) on each of the outer walls (9a, 9b), their respective welding enabling to locate at least two thermally insulating networks (5) between the layers (3, 4) of the covering section (1).

10. Manufacturing method according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it provides for producing at least one portion (8a, 8b) of the sleeve (8) with two zones (13a, 13b) having different textile densities, a membrane (7a, 7b) being associated with the outer wall (9a, 9b) of at least one of said zones to impart differentiated compression to the thermally insulating network (5) obtained depending on its positioning on the covering section (1).

11. Item of clothing manufactured by implementing a method according to any of claims 1 to 10, said item of clothing comprising at least one section (1) for covering a part of a user's body, said section comprising an inner textile layer (3) and an outer textile layer (4) between which extends a thermally insulating network (5) comprising at least one sausage-shaped air cushion (6) formed by welding membrane parts (7a, 7b) associated respectively with one of said layers, said item being characterised in that the textile layers (3, 4) are made together by seamless knitting.

12. Item of clothing according to claim 11, characterised in that the textile layers (3, 4) together have a surface weight of less than 300 g / m2 to form an undershirt.

13. Item of clothing according to claim 12, characterised in that the covering section (1) has an elasticity that allows the undershirt to fit snugly to the body.