Cloth-like material and mat

Abstract

To provide a cloth-like material that has preferable water-absorbing property and drying property after centrifugal dehydration and may be used for a mat or the like, and a mat that may be used as a foot wiping mat or the like by using the cloth-like material.SOLUTION: A front side recess part Da recessed toward a rear surface side Cb is formed inside a large number of front side frame-like parts Fa provided on a front surface side Ca of a cloth-like material C forming a mat M by applying an edge cloth H to an end edge portion, and a braid-like yarn body Y3 is provided along an outer peripheral edge of the front surface side Ca of the front side frame-like parts Fa. A rear side recess part Db recessed toward the front surface side Ca is formed inside a large number of rear side frame-like parts Fb provided on the rear surface side Cb. A water-absorbing force acts on the braid-like yarn body Y3 by capillarity phenomenon from the outer peripheral part of the braid-like yarn body Y3 to inward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fabric material that can be used for mats and the like, and to a mat that can be used as a foot mat or the like by using the fabric material. [Background technology]

[0002] JP 2018-876 A describes a mat in which a pile consisting of a woven thread is arranged on a base fabric with its bases bonded to the base fabric. The woven threads constituting the pile comprise a large number of monofilaments with poor water absorption properties as decorative threads, and are densely packed in the circumferential direction so as to form a radial pattern approximately radially around the axis of the woven thread, with the density increasing toward the inside and the density increasing in the axial direction. The mat has excellent water absorption properties.

[0003] JP 2020-90743 A describes a woven fabric with good cushioning and water absorption properties, in which both the warp and weft threads are made of a gusset-like yarn similar to the gusset-like yarn in the mat described in JP 2018-876 A.

[0004] However, when the mat and the woven fabric are dried after being centrifuged in a washing machine, it takes a considerable amount of time to dry. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-876 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-90743 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a cloth-like material that can be used for mats, etc., which has good water absorption and drying properties after centrifugal dehydration, and a mat that can be used as a foot mat, etc., by using this cloth-like material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention can be expressed, for example, as follows.

[0008] (1) A surface side has a number of front frame-shaped portions, A front-side recess that is recessed toward the back side is formed inside the front-side frame-shaped portion, A molding thread is provided along the outer periphery of the surface side portion of all or a required one of the front side frame portions, The said molle-like yarn body holds a large number of non-absorbent or low-absorbent monofilaments as decorative yarns around a core yarn, and these numerous monofilaments are closely packed in the circumferential direction so as to form a radial pattern approximately in the radial direction around the said core yarn, with the density increasing inward and being closely packed in the axial direction, and water absorption force acts from the outer periphery of the molle-like yarn body inward by capillary action.

[0009] (2) The fabric material according to (1) above, in which the above-mentioned hemlock thread, together with fabric material constituent materials other than the hemlock thread, constitutes all or required of the above-mentioned front frame portions.

[0010] (3) A fabric material according to (1) or (2) above, in which a molding thread is provided along 40% or more of the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the surface side portion of all or each of the required front frame-shaped portions.

[0011] (4) The fabric material according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the molding thread constitutes 40% or more of the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the surface side portion of all or each of the required front frame-shaped portions.

[0012] (5) A cloth-like material according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the outer periphery of the molding yarn constitutes the outermost surface portion of the outer periphery in the thickness direction of the cloth-like material for 40% or more of the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the surface side portion of all or each of the required front-side frame-like portions.

[0013] (6) A cloth-like material according to any one of (1) to (5) above, in which the materials constituting the cloth-like material other than the above-mentioned mall-like thread are centrifuged under the same conditions and then dried in a shorter drying time than the above-mentioned mall-like thread.

[0014] (7) A cloth-like material according to any one of (1) to (6) above, wherein the depth of the front-side recess recessed toward the back side is between 2 mm less than the thickness of the cloth-like material and one-third of the thickness of the cloth-like material.

[0015] (8) The fabric material according to any one of (1) to (7) above, wherein adjacent front frame portions share a part of the outer periphery.

[0016] (9) A fabric-like material according to any one of (1) to (8) above, wherein the non-water-absorbent or low-water-absorbent single fiber has a water absorption rate of 3% or less at 20°C and a relative humidity of 65%.

[0017] (10) A mat using the cloth material described in any one of (1) to (9) above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The fabric material of the present invention has good water absorption properties and good drying properties after centrifugal dehydration, and can be used for mats such as foot mats. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of one front frame portion of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the surface side of a main part of the mat. [Figure 4]4 is an enlarged view of a main part of one front frame portion of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of one rear frame portion in FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of one rear frame portion in FIG. 7. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] [1] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] The drawings all show a mat M as an example of an embodiment of the present invention, which is made by attaching a border cloth H to the edge portion of a cloth-like material C as an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] (1) In this example, the fabric material C is a woven fabric using three types of yarns or filaments. This fabric uses the above three types of yarns as warp and weft.

[0023] The three types of yarns or filaments are yarn Y1 (black in the drawing) which is a blend of 75% polyester and 25% acrylic and has an outer diameter of approximately 3 mm, nonwoven yarn Y2 (white in the drawing) which is made by slitting and twisting nonwoven fabric of 60% polyester and 40% rayon and has an outer diameter of approximately 2 mm, and mall-shaped yarn Y3 (gray in the drawing) which has an outer diameter of approximately 6 mm.

[0024] The mall-shaped yarn Y3 has a generally cylindrical shape and is made up of numerous polyester (PET) fiber filaments, which are non-absorbent or low-absorbent monofilaments, held in a roughly tow state as decorative yarns transverse to the core yarn. The filaments are approximately 0.5 denier, with an average cross-sectional aspect ratio of 0.7. The numerous monofilaments are not twisted together and are densely packed in the circumferential direction so as to form a roughly radial pattern around the core yarn, with the density increasing toward the inside and the density increasing toward the axial direction. Water absorption occurs from the outer periphery of the mall-shaped yarn Y3 toward the inside due to capillary action.

[0025] It is preferable that the yarn Y1 and nonwoven fabric yarn Y2, which are the constituent materials of the cloth material C other than the mall-like thread Y3, are centrifuged under the same conditions as those for the mall-like thread Y3 and then dried in a shorter drying time than that of the mall-like thread Y3.

[0026] (2) A large number of substantially identical rectangular front frame portions Fa are formed continuously lengthwise and breadthwise in a grid pattern on the front side Ca of the fabric material C. Each side constituting the outer periphery of a rectangular front frame portion Fa is common to each side constituting the outer periphery of an adjacent front frame portion Fa.

[0027] A large number of substantially identical rectangular rear frame portions Fb are continuously formed lengthwise and breadthwise in a lattice pattern on the rear surface Cb of the fabric material C. Each side constituting the outer periphery of a rectangular rear frame portion Fb is common to each side constituting the outer periphery of an adjacent rear frame portion Fb.

[0028] The front frame Fa and the back frame Fb are identical rectangular shapes (length: approximately 11 mm, width: approximately 14 mm) and are the same length and width, but are offset vertically and horizontally by half a side.

[0029] The thickness of the cloth-like material C is approximately 10 mm, and a front-side recess Da is formed inside the front-side frame-shaped portion Fa, recessed approximately 5 mm toward the back side, and a back-side recess Db is formed inside the back-side frame-shaped portion Fb, recessed approximately 2 mm toward the front side.

[0030] (3) A mole-like thread Y3 is provided along the entire outer periphery of the surface side Ca portion of all of the front side frame-shaped portions Fa, and the mole-like thread Y3, together with the thread Y1 and the nonwoven fabric thread Y2, constitutes all of the front side frame-shaped portions Fa, and on the entire outer periphery of the surface side Ca portion of all of the front side frame-shaped portions Fa, the outer periphery of the mole-like thread Y3 constitutes the portion closest to the surface in the thickness direction of the fabric-like material C.

[0031] These mould-like threads Y3 can absorb water or water-based liquids (for example, water or water-based liquids that adhere to the feet when wiping the feet) on the upper side of the mat M when the mat M is used normally with the surface side Ca of the cloth-like material C facing up.

[0032] (4) This mat M exhibits good water absorption on the surface side Ca due to the mould-like threads Y3 arranged along the entire outer periphery of the surface side Ca portion of all the surface side frame-shaped portions Fa. As a result of having a large number of surface side frame-shaped portions Fa and a large number of back side frame-shaped portions Fb with mould-like threads Y3 arranged along the entire outer periphery, the mat M has good drying properties when centrifuged in a centrifugal dehydrator in a household washing machine or the like and then dried by natural drying or the like.

[0033] [2] The embodiments of the present invention will be further described, including embodiments other than those described above.

[0034] (1) The fabric material of the present invention has a number of front frame portions on the front surface side, and front recesses recessed toward the back surface side are formed inside these front frame portions.

[0035] Examples of such fabric-like materials include, but are not limited to, various woven fabrics such as waffle weave and honeycomb weave, and various knitted fabrics.

[0036] The fabric-like material of the present invention may be used as a mat or for other purposes, either by itself or with a backing.

[0037] The mat of the present invention has at least the entire or part of the front side made of the fabric material of the present invention, and can be used as a foot mat or other mat by providing a lining or the like.

[0038] (2) Front frame part

[0039] The front frame-shaped portion has a closed periphery when viewed in plan on the front side of the fabric material. Examples of this closed shape include, but are not limited to, polygonal shapes such as a square, rectangle, rhombus, parallelogram, and hexagon, and closed curve shapes such as a circle and ellipse. Preferably, the front frame-shaped portion has a polygonal shape such that adjacent front frame-shaped portions share a portion of the periphery or that minimizes the distance between adjacent front frame-shaped portions.

[0040] The multiple front frame portions may be substantially identical to one another, or may be two or more types with different sizes and shapes.

[0041] The multiple front frame-shaped portions may be provided over the entire surface side of the fabric-like material, or may be provided in one or more portions.

[0042] The multiple front frame-shaped portions may be positioned adjacent to one another, or may be positioned at intervals, or may be both.

[0043] Examples of front frame portions positioned adjacent to each other include those in which adjacent front frame portions share a portion of the outer periphery, for example, those that are polygonal in plan view and share one side, but are not limited to this.

[0044] The dimensions of the front frame portion, if rectangular, may be, for example, 4 to 20 mm on a side, preferably 6 to 18 mm on a side, and more preferably 8 to 16 mm on a side, and if circular, may be, for example, 4 to 26 mm in diameter, preferably 8 to 24 mm on a side, and more preferably 10 to 20 mm on a side.

[0045] The thickness of the fabric-like material may be, for example, 5 to 30 mm, preferably 6 to 20 mm, and more preferably 7 to 16 mm.

[0046] (3) Front recess

[0047] A front-side recess recessed toward the rear surface side is formed inside the front-side frame-shaped portion.

[0048] The horizontal cross section of the front-side recess can be, for example, one that narrows toward the back side (for example, one that narrows roughly along the outer surface of a polygonal truncated pyramid or a circular truncated cone), or one that does not narrow toward the back side (for example, one that is roughly constant), but is not limited to these.

[0049] The depth of the front-side recess recessed toward the back side can be, for example, from the thickness of the fabric material minus 2 mm to one-third of the thickness of the fabric material, and preferably from the thickness of the fabric material minus 3 mm to one-half of the thickness of the fabric material.

[0050] (4) Molded thread

[0051] (4-1) A molle-like yarn body has a core yarn and a large number of non-absorbent or low-absorbent single fibers as decorative yarns. These numerous single fibers are densely packed in the circumferential direction, radially arranged approximately in the radial direction around the core yarn, with the density increasing toward the inside and the density increasing toward the axial direction. The absorbency of the molle-like yarn body acts from the outer periphery toward the inside by capillary action.

[0052] (4-2) A molding thread is provided along the outer periphery of the surface portion of all the front frame portions or required front frame portions (for example, front frame portions selected at a certain proportion evenly throughout the entire surface [for example, 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, or 90% or more]).

[0053] The term "molding threads are arranged along the outer peripheral edge of the surface side portion of the outer frame-shaped portion" includes not only cases where the outer peripheral portion of the mole-shaped threads constitutes the most surface-side portion in the thickness direction of the fabric-like material, but also cases where the mole-shaped threads can absorb water or water-based liquids on the surface side of the fabric-like material even if they do not constitute the most surface-side portion in the thickness direction of the fabric-like material (for example, cases where the mole-shaped threads are exposed on the surface side of the fabric-like material and can absorb water or water-based liquids in normal use when wiping water or water-based liquids off an object on the surface side of the fabric-like material).

[0054] Furthermore, "a molle-like thread is provided along the outer peripheral edge of the surface side portion of the front frame-shaped portion" can be taken to mean that the molle-like thread is provided along the outer peripheral edge of, for example, 20% or more or 30% or more, preferably 40% or more or 50% or more, more preferably 60% or more or 70% or more, and even more preferably 80% or more, 90% or more, or 95% or more of the entire circumference of the outer peripheral edge of the surface side portion of all front frame-shaped portions or each of required front frame-shaped portions (preferably, the outer peripheral portion of the molle-like thread constitutes the portion closest to the surface in the thickness direction of the fabric-like material).

[0055] When adjacent front frame portions share a part of the outer periphery, a common molding thread may be provided in the shared portion.

[0056] (4-3) Non-absorbent or low-absorbent single fibers

[0057] The non-water-absorbent or low-water-absorbent single fibers may have a water absorption rate of, for example, 3% or less at 20°C and a relative humidity of 65%. Preferably, the water absorption rate is 2% or less, and more preferably 1% or less, at 20°C and a relative humidity of 65%. Such single fibers may be made of filaments of polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, polyamide fibers, etc. (preferably polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, or polyethylene fibers). If necessary, all or part of the single fibers used as decorative threads may be subjected to a hydrophilization treatment using various surfactants, etc.

[0058] (4-4) Single fiber fineness, length, etc.

[0059] The fineness of the single fiber used as the decorative thread is, for example, 0.03 to 5 denier, preferably 0.03 to 3 denier, more preferably 0.03 to 2 denier, and even more preferably 0.03 to 1.5 denier, and can also be 1.2 denier or less, 1 denier or less, or 0.8 denier or less.

[0060] The length of the filament as the decorative thread can be, for example, 3 to 40 mm, but is not limited to this. It is also desirable that the length of the decorative thread is constant, but is not limited to this.

[0061] (4-5) Water absorption of the strip-shaped yarn The single fibers used as decorative threads in the above-mentioned mall-shaped thread body, i.e., the numerous single fibers that are densely packed circumferentially in a radial pattern around the core thread, with the density increasing toward the inside and packed closely together in the axial direction, are non-absorbent or have low water absorption, so that water absorption force acts from the outer periphery of the mall-shaped thread body toward the inside due to capillary action.

[0062] This allows the outer periphery of the absorbed woven fabric to rapidly absorb a relatively large amount of water inward, and the moisture content of the outer periphery of the woven fabric is low due to capillary action. Moreover, since the outer periphery is formed by the tips of non-absorbent or low-absorbent single fibers, the area occupied by the fibers is relatively small, and the fibers themselves remain non-wet. Therefore, the outer periphery, once water is absorbed, is less likely to feel sticky.

[0063] It is desirable that the filaments used as decorative yarns are basically independent of each other except for the portions held by the core yarn. The decorative yarns are preferably filaments that are not twisted together (single filaments that are not twisted to form a thread or bundled by twisting) (for example, tow can be used as decorative yarns), but this is not limitative.

[0064] The decorative yarn may be, for example, approximately 10,000 to 250,000 single fibers per 1 cm of axial length of the mall-shaped yarn body, closely spaced radially from the axis and closely spaced in the axial direction.

[0065] The average cross-sectional flatness of the numerous single fibers serving as numerous decorative threads in the woven fabric can be, for example, 0.5 or more (e.g., 0.5 to 0.9). It is preferably 0.55 or more, more preferably 0.6 or more. When the average cross-sectional flatness of the numerous non-absorbent or low-absorbent single fibers constituting the numerous decorative threads in the woven fabric is 0.5 or more, the woven fabric has significantly higher water absorption than woven fabrics having non-absorbent or low-absorbent single fibers serving as decorative threads with a low flatness. The flatness f means f = (ab) / a, where a is the maximum dimension of the cross section and b is the dimension perpendicular to the maximum dimension. The cross-sectional shape, such as the flatness of the single fibers, can be substantially the same in any cross section, but is not necessarily limited to this.

[0066] (4-6) Morphology of the Mole-like Threads

[0067] The mohair thread may have a generally cylindrical shape. The mohair thread may also be formed by twisting together multiple (e.g., two) mohair yarns around the core yarn of each mohair yarn, with the twisted part forming a single mohair thread.

[0068] The outer peripheral surface of the approximately cylindrical shape of the mall-shaped yarn body can be formed by the tip of a single fiber (including a tow) that is a decorative yarn.

[0069] The outer diameter of the molle-like thread may be, for example, 4 to 40 mm, and is preferably substantially constant. The natural diameter of the molle-like thread is preferably 6 to 25 mm, more preferably 8 to 20 mm.

[0070] (5) Fabric-like materials other than mall-like threads

[0071] (5-1) Among the fabric-like material constituent materials, materials other than the molle-like threads include, but are not limited to, threads made of non-absorbent or low-absorbent fibers, such as threads made by twisting non-absorbent or low-absorbent filaments or staples, threads made by slitting and twisting non-absorbent or low-absorbent fiber nonwoven fabrics, and threads made by twisting two or more of these materials together. For example, fibers with relatively high absorbency, such as rayon fibers, can also be used in part. The molle-like threads, together with fabric-like material constituent materials other than the molle-like threads, can constitute all or only required of the front frame-shaped portions of the front frame-shaped portions.

[0072] (5-2) Such non-absorbent or low-absorbent fibers may be fibers having a water absorption rate of, for example, 3% or less at 20°C and a relative humidity of 65%. Preferably, the water absorption rate is 2% or less, and more preferably 1% or less, at 20°C and a relative humidity of 65%. Such fibers may be made of, for example, filaments of polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, polyamide fibers, acrylic fibers, etc. (preferably polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, or polyethylene fibers), and if necessary, all or part of the fibers may be subjected to a hydrophilization treatment using various surfactants, etc.

[0073] (5-3) The fineness of these fibers can be, for example, 0.5 to 5 denier, preferably 0.8 to 3 denier.

[0074] (5-4) The surface side of the fabric-like material has a large number of front-side frame parts with mole-like threads provided along the outer periphery of the front-side portions of all of the front-side frame parts or required front-side frame parts, and front-side recesses that are recessed toward the back side are formed inside these front-side frame parts, so that the fabric-like material dries well when it is centrifuged (generally centrifugal spinning using a centrifugal spinner in a household washing machine or the like) and then dried naturally or by other means, and the surface side of the fabric-like material has mole-like threads that absorb water due to capillary action and extend inward from the outer periphery along the outer periphery of the front-side portions of all of the front-side frame parts or required front-side frame parts, so that the fabric-like material has good water absorption.

[0075] (5-5) It is desirable that the drying time of the fabric-like material constituent materials other than the molle threads when centrifuged under the same conditions (generally centrifuged using a centrifugal spin dryer in a household washing machine or the like) and then dried is shorter than that of the molle threads, in order to shorten as much as possible the drying time when the entire fabric-like material is centrifuged and then dried.

[0076] (5-6) The cloth-like material of the present invention has a number of rear frame-shaped portions on the rear side, and it is preferable that the inside of these rear frame-shaped portions has rear recesses that are recessed toward the front side, in terms of drying properties when the cloth-like material is centrifuged and then dried as described above.

[0077] By providing the molding thread along the outer edge of the back side portion of all or required of the back side frame-shaped portions, in the same manner as the front side frame-shaped portion, the water absorption properties of the back side of the cloth-like material are improved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] C Fabric material Ca surface side Cb back side Da Front recess Db Back recess Fa Front frame Fb Back frame H Edge cloth M Mat Y1 thread Y2 Nonwoven Yarn Y3 Molded thread

Claims

1. A front surface has a number of front frame portions, A front-side recess that is recessed toward the back side is formed inside the front-side frame-shaped portion, A molding thread is provided along the outer periphery of the surface side portion of all or a required one of the front side frame portions, The said molle-like yarn body holds a large number of non-absorbent or low-absorbent monofilaments as decorative yarns around a core yarn, and these numerous monofilaments are closely packed in the circumferential direction so as to form a radial pattern approximately in the radial direction around the said core yarn, with the density increasing inward and being closely packed in the axial direction, and water absorption force acts from the outer periphery of the molle-like yarn body inward by capillary action.

2. 2. The fabric material according to claim 1, wherein the molding threads, together with fabric material constituent materials other than the molding threads, constitute all or a required number of the front frame portions.

3. 2. The fabric material according to claim 1, wherein a molding thread is provided along at least 40% of the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the surface side portion of all or each of the required front frame portions.

4. 2. The fabric material according to claim 1, wherein the molding thread constitutes 40% or more of the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the surface side portion of all or each of the required front frame portions.

5. 2. The fabric material according to claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of the molding thread constitutes the outermost surface portion of the outer periphery in the thickness direction of the fabric material for 40% or more of the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the surface side portion of all or each of the required front frame-shaped portions among the front frame-shaped portions.

6. A fabric-like material as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fabric-like material constituent materials other than the molle-like thread have a drying time that is shorter than that of the molle-like thread when centrifuged under the same conditions and then dried.

7. A fabric-like material according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the depth of the front-side recess recessed toward the back side is between 2 mm less than the thickness of the fabric-like material and one-third of the thickness of the fabric-like material.

8. 7. The fabric-like material according to claim 1, wherein adjacent front frame portions share a part of the outer periphery.

9. 7. The fabric-like material according to claim 1, wherein the non-water-absorbent or low-water-absorbent single fiber has a water absorption rate of 3% or less at 20°C and a relative humidity of 65%.

10. A mat using the fabric material according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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