Three-dimensional knitted fabric and mattress cover

Abstract

To provide a three-dimensional knitted fabric that does not interfere with a body pressure dispersion effect of a mattress.SOLUTION: Provided is a three-dimensional knitted fabric 100, in which an outer material structure and a lining material structure are connected by connecting yarns in such a way that spaces between the connecting yarns extending between the outer material structure and the lining material structure are woven such that a dense region 11 and a sparse region 12 are formed in a course direction. The difference between the space of connecting yarns in the dense region 11 and the space of connecting yarns in the sparse region 12 is from 0.05 to 0.6 mm.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a three-dimensional knitted fabric in which a surface fabric and a lining fabric are connected by a connecting yarn, and to a mattress cover using the three-dimensional knitted fabric. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to ensure a comfortable sleep on a mattress for bedding, it is desirable that the mattress does not become stuffy even when used for a long period of time. Therefore, improvements in the breathability of the mattress surface have been investigated.

[0003] For example, in a mattress in which a spring body, which is made of coil springs connected on a flat plate, is covered with fabric (cover), there is a mattress that uses a three-layered three-dimensional fabric in which an upper mesh fabric and a lower mesh fabric are connected with connecting threads as the cover (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the mattress of Patent Document 1, a space is formed between the upper and lower mesh fabrics of the three-layered three-dimensional fabric, so that the surface of the mattress does not come into contact with the entire surface of the user's back, and it is said that breathability is achieved.

[0004] There is also a mat made by laminating a three-dimensional knitted fabric in which two layers of knitted fabric, front and back, are connected with connecting yarns, a moisture-absorbing and quick-drying fabric, and an air mat (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The mat in Patent Document 2 is said to be able to keep the inside and outside of the mat always at a low humidity because the moisture-absorbing and quick-drying fabric quickly absorbs moisture such as sweat, and the moisture in the moisture-absorbing and quick-drying fabric quickly evaporates and dries due to the excellent breathability of the three-dimensional knitted fabric. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-145262 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-276339 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In recent years, high-performance mattresses that improve the body pressure dispersion effect by varying the hardness in different parts have been attracting attention. It is desirable for the covers used in high-performance mattresses to not only have breathability to prevent stuffiness, but also not interfere with the excellent body pressure dispersion effect of the mattress.

[0007] In this regard, the mattress in Patent Document 1 uses a conventional spring body, and the mattress in Patent Document 2 uses an air mattress, so neither of them anticipated the use of a high-performance mattress with different hardness levels in different areas, and neither of them fully considered the obstruction of the mattress's body pressure dispersion effect caused by the cover.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a three-dimensional knitted fabric and a mattress cover that do not impede the body pressure dispersion effect of a mattress. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The characteristic configuration of the three-dimensional knitted fabric according to the present invention for solving the above problems is as follows: A three-dimensional knitted fabric in which a front fabric and a back fabric are connected by a connecting yarn, The connecting yarns that are stretched between the outer fabric structure and the inner fabric structure are knitted so that dense regions and sparse regions are formed in the course direction.

[0010] According to the three-dimensional knitted fabric of this configuration, the connecting yarns that are stretched between the outer fabric and the inner fabric are knitted so that dense and sparse regions are formed in the course direction, and the dense and sparse regions can be arranged according to the characteristics of the parts of the mattress. As a result, the three-dimensional knitted fabric areas arranged in the three-dimensional knitted fabric have different hardness for each part of the mattress with different characteristics, so that when the user lies down, the three-dimensional knitted fabric deforms in response to the sinking of the mattress, and the body pressure dispersion effect of the mattress is not hindered.

[0011] In the three-dimensional knitted fabric according to the present invention, It is preferable that the difference between the spacing of the connecting threads in the dense region and the spacing of the connecting threads in the sparse region is 0.05 to 0.6 mm.

[0012] In the three-dimensional knitted fabric of this configuration, the difference between the spacing of the connecting yarns in the dense areas and the spacing of the connecting yarns in the sparse areas is 0.05 to 0.6 mm, which results in an appropriate difference in hardness between the dense and sparse areas, and allows areas of the three-dimensional knitted fabric with a more appropriate hardness to be positioned depending on the part of the mattress.

[0013] In the three-dimensional knitted fabric according to the present invention, It is preferable that the interval between the connecting threads in the dense regions is 0.6 to 0.8 mm, and the interval between the connecting threads in the sparse regions is 0.8 to 1.2 mm.

[0014] In the three-dimensional knitted fabric of this configuration, the spacing between the connecting yarns in the dense areas is 0.6 to 0.8 mm, and the spacing between the connecting yarns in the sparse areas is 0.8 to 1.2 mm, so that the dense areas and the sparse areas each have a more appropriate hardness.

[0015] In the three-dimensional knitted fabric according to the present invention, The knitting density is 20 courses / 2.54 cm or more. The total fineness of the connecting yarn is 22 to 110 dtex, The ground yarn of the surface fabric preferably has a single yarn fineness of 7 dtex or less and a total fineness of 167 dtex or less.

[0016] According to the three-dimensional knitted fabric of this configuration, the knitting density is 20 courses / 2.54 cm or more, the total fineness of the connecting yarns is 22 to 110 dtex, and the ground yarns of the surface fabric have a single yarn fineness of 7 dtex or less and a total fineness of 167 dtex or less, resulting in a fine mesh, a soft texture, and a pleasant feel against the skin.

[0017] In the three-dimensional knitted fabric according to the present invention, It is preferable that the dense regions and the sparse regions are knitted so as to be continuously connected.

[0018] With the three-dimensional knitted fabric of this configuration, the dense and sparse areas are knitted so as to be continuously connected, so that the hardness changes continuously, and there is no discomfort caused by differences in hardness between areas.

[0019] In the three-dimensional knitted fabric according to the present invention, The outer fabric is preferably a knitted fabric having openings.

[0020] According to the three-dimensional knitted fabric of this configuration, the outer fabric structure is a knitted structure having openings, so that when the three-dimensional knitted fabric is used as a mattress cover, the generation of stuffiness can be suppressed and sleeping comfort can be improved.

[0021] The characteristic configuration of the mattress cover according to the present invention to solve the above problem is as follows: The present invention is characterized by using any one of the above three-dimensional knitted fabrics.

[0022] According to the mattress cover of this configuration, the three-dimensional knitted fabric of the present invention is used, and the mattress cover is knitted to form dense and sparse areas in the course direction, so that the hardness of each area varies. As a result, when the user lies down on the mattress cover, it deforms in response to the sinking of the mattress, and does not interfere with the body pressure dispersion effect of the mattress.

[0023] In the characteristic configuration of the mattress cover according to the present invention, It is preferable that the dense regions and the sparse regions are arranged according to the characteristics of the parts of the mattress.

[0024] With a mattress cover of this configuration, dense and sparse areas are arranged according to the characteristics of each part of the mattress, so that the areas of the mattress cover arranged have different hardness for each part of the mattress with different characteristics, and when the user lies down, the mattress cover follows and deforms as the mattress sinks. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a model that shows a three-dimensional knitted fabric according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA′ of the model of the three-dimensional knitted fabric shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a three-dimensional knitted fabric according to a modified example. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a structure diagram of a three-dimensional knitted fabric in an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The three-dimensional knitted fabric and mattress cover of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the configuration (knit structure) shown in each drawing is appropriately exaggerated or simplified for ease of explanation, and does not accurately reflect the thickness of the knit structure, the size relationship of the yarns included in the knit structure, or the scale relationship.

[0027] <Three-dimensional knit fabric> Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a model that shows a three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the model of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 shown in Fig. 1 at the position AA'. The three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 according to the present invention is used as a mattress cover 1 that is arranged so as to cover at least a part of the surface of a mattress M. The mattress cover 1 is not limited to the sheet-type shape shown in Fig. 1, and may be in the shape of a fitted sheet or a bag.

[0028] The three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is a multi-layer knitted fabric in which the outer fabric 101 and the inner fabric 102 are connected by a connecting yarn 103. For example, it is preferable that the multi-layer knitted fabric is knitted using a warp knitting machine such as a double raschel knitting machine, and it is more preferable that the multi-layer knitted fabric is knitted using a knitting machine with a gauge of 22 or more. The three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 has breathability because it is a multi-layer knitted fabric. The three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 may be knitted as a triple or more multi-layer knitted fabric having another knitted fabric between the outer fabric 101 and the inner fabric 102, but it is preferable that the knitted fabric is a double knitted fabric in order to obtain good breathability. In addition, if the multi-layer knitted fabric is knitted using a knitting machine with a gauge of 22 or more, the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 becomes a fine-meshed fabric, has a soft texture suitable for bedding, and is pleasant to the touch.

[0029] The three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 has a first region 11 and a second region 12. The first region 11 and the second region 12 are arranged along the course direction of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100. In the present invention, the course direction refers to the width direction of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 perpendicular to the knitting direction of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100, and the wale direction refers to the knitting direction of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the first region 11 is a region where the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 that are hung between the front fabric structure 101 and the back fabric structure 102 are dense in the course direction, and the second region 12 is a region where the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 are sparse in the course direction. In the first region 11 and the second region 12, the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 in the course direction (hereinafter simply referred to as "intervals of the connecting yarns 103") are different from each other, so that the hardness of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 differs depending on the region. Such a structure can be produced, for example, by passing less yarn through the guide eye in the section of the knitting machine where the yarn that will become the connecting yarn 103 in the second region 12 is introduced than in the section where the yarn that will become the connecting yarn 103 in the first region 11 is introduced.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 3, the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 may have a third region 13 between the first region 11 and the second region 12, in which the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 gradually increase from the first region 11 side toward the second region 12 side, or the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 gradually decrease from the second region 12 side toward the first region 11 side. By having the third region 13, the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is knitted so that the first region 11 and the second region 12 are continuously connected. In this configuration, the hardness of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 changes continuously from the first region 11 to the second region 12, and the discomfort caused by the difference in hardness between the regions can be reduced.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the positions and shapes of the first region 11 and the second region 12 are preferably formed so as to correspond to the positions and shapes of the hard portion M1 and the soft portion M2 having different characteristics in the mattress M when the course direction of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the mattress M, that is, the direction in which the user lies down, and the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is used as a mattress cover 1. The hard portion M1 and the soft portion M2 of the mattress M are portions that have different characteristics by changing the bubble size, the bubble rate, etc., when the mattress M is made of a low-resilience urethane foam material, for example. For example, by configuring the hard portion M1 to be harder than the soft portion M2, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the head, lower back, and feet of the user lying down on the mattress M are firmly supported by the hard portion M1, while the back, buttocks, and thighs, which are easily loaded, are allowed to sink into the soft portion M2, thereby providing an excellent body pressure dispersion effect. The positions and shapes of the first region 11 and the second region 12 are formed to correspond to the positions and shapes of the hard portion M1 and the soft portion M2 of the mattress M, so that the hardness of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 differs at the corresponding positions for each portion of the mattress M having different characteristics. As a result, the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 deforms appropriately in response to the sinking of each portion of the mattress M, and does not impede the body pressure dispersion effect of the mattress M.

[0032] The difference between the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 in the first region 11 and the second region 12 is preferably 0.05 to 0.6 mm, and more preferably 0.2 to 0.6 mm. Here, the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 are determined by preparing a sample piece by center-cutting the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 so as to divide it into the front fabric structure 101 and the back fabric structure 102, enlarging the sample piece using a microscope (100 to 300 times), and measuring the distances of the connecting yarns 103 adjacent to each other in the course direction at multiple points (for example, 50 to 100 points), and the average value is determined. If the difference in the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 between the first region 11 and the second region 12 is within the above range, the hardness of the first region 11 and the second region 12 will be appropriately different, and therefore, when the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is used as a mattress cover 1, the first region 11 and the second region 12 can be formed to have appropriate hardness for each part of the mattress M. If the difference in the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 between the first region 11 and the second region 12 is less than 0.05 mm, the difference in hardness between the first region 11 and the second region 12 becomes small, which may hinder the body pressure dispersion effect of the mattress M. If the difference in the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 between the first region 11 and the second region 12 exceeds 0.6 mm, the first region 11 may become excessively hard, which may hinder the body pressure dispersion effect, or the second region 12 may become excessively soft, which may cause the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 to be crushed during use, resulting in insufficient breathability. The intervals of the connecting yarns 103 in the first region 11 are preferably 0.6 to 0.8 mm, and the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 in the second region 12 are preferably 0.8 to 1.2 mm. If the intervals of the connecting yarns 103 in the first region 11 and the second region 12 are within the above ranges, the first region 11 and the second region 12 each have a more appropriate hardness.

[0033] The knitting density of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is preferably 20 courses / 2.54 cm or more, more preferably 30 to 50 courses / 2.54 cm, and even more preferably 35 to 45 courses / 2.54 cm. If the knitting density of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is within the above range, the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 will have finer stitches, a softer texture, and a more pleasant feel. If the knitting density of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is less than 20 courses / 2.54 cm, the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 may have poor texture and a more pleasant feel. The knitting density of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is further preferably 22 wales / 2.54 cm or more. If the knitting density of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 in the wale direction is within the above range, the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 will have finer stitches, a softer texture, and a more pleasant feel. If the knitting density of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is less than 22 wales / 2.54 cm, the texture and feel of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 may be inferior.

[0034] The thickness of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is preferably 2.0 to 8.0 mm, more preferably 3.0 to 7.0 mm, and even more preferably 4.0 to 6.0 mm. If the thickness is within the above range, the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100, when used as a mattress cover 1, has breathability to suppress stuffiness, while having a moderate hardness that does not hinder the body pressure dispersion effect of the mattress. If the thickness is less than 2.0 mm, there is no sufficient space between the outer fabric 101 and the inner fabric 102, resulting in poor breathability and a risk of not being able to suppress stuffiness. If the thickness exceeds 8.0 mm, the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 becomes hard overall, which may hinder the body pressure dispersion effect of the mattress.

[0035] <Connecting thread> The connecting yarn 103 may be any yarn that is alternately woven into the front fabric structure 101 and the back fabric structure 102 to connect them, and may be, for example, hung vertically, diagonally, or cross-hatched between the front fabric structure 101 and the back fabric structure 102, or a combination of these.

[0036] The connecting yarn 103 is preferably in the form of a monofilament. If the connecting yarn 103 is a monofilament, excessive sinking is suppressed when the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is used as a mattress cover 1, and excellent sleeping comfort is obtained. The fineness of the connecting yarn 103 is preferably 22 to 110 dtex. If the fineness of the connecting yarn 103 is within the above range, the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 has a soft texture and reduces irritation when it touches the skin. If the fineness of the connecting yarn 103 is less than 22 dtex, there is a risk that the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is crushed during use and sufficient breathability is not obtained. If the fineness of the connecting yarn 103 exceeds 110 dtex, there is a risk that the texture of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 becomes hard, irritation when it touches the skin is strong, and sleeping comfort is poor.

[0037] Examples of fiber materials for the connecting thread 103 include polyester-based fibers such as polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate. Of these, polyethylene terephthalate, which has firmness, is preferred from the viewpoint of maintaining the thickness of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100.

[0038] <Outer fabric and lining fabric> The outer fabric 101 and the inner fabric 102 may be knitted in the same knitting pattern or in different knitting patterns. The knitting patterns of the outer fabric 101 and the inner fabric 102 are preferably warp knitting patterns such as Denbi knitting, cord knitting, and atlas knitting. In particular, since the outer fabric 101 is the side that contacts the user when the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is used as a mattress cover 1, it is preferably knitted in a knitting pattern having mesh or net-like openings in the ground fabric in order to prevent stuffiness and improve sleeping comfort. The size of the mesh openings is 0.0005 to 0.5 mm. 2 It is preferable that the thickness is 0.002 to 0.2 mm. 2 It is more preferable that the openings of the mesh have any shape, such as a hexagon, an octagon, or the like.

[0039] The ground yarns of the front fabric 101 and the back fabric 102 may be the same or different. The ground yarns of the front fabric 101 and the back fabric 102 (hereinafter collectively referred to as "ground yarns") are preferably in the form of multifilament yarns. The ground yarns preferably have a single yarn fineness of 7 dtex or less, and a total fineness of 167 dtex or less. If the single yarn fineness and total fineness of the ground yarns are within the above ranges, the fabric of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 will have an appropriate softness. If the single yarn fineness of the ground yarns exceeds 7 dtex or the total fineness exceeds 167 dtex, the fabric of the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 will become hard, which may hinder the body pressure dispersion effect of the mattress M.

[0040] The fiber material of the ground yarn is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, and polypropylene, natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and silk, and regenerated fibers such as rayon and acetate. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The ground yarn may be a yarn made by spinning one or more of these fiber materials alone or in combination of two or more. Furthermore, these yarns may be interwoven to form the outer fabric 101 and the lining fabric 102. The form of the fiber is not particularly limited, and may be either long fiber or short fiber. Here, the ground yarn of the outer fabric 101 preferably contains hydrophilic fibers. By containing hydrophilic fibers in the ground yarn of the outer fabric 101, moisture such as absorbed sweat can be quickly diffused and dissipated over a wide area. As a result, when the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is used as a mattress cover 1, the occurrence of stuffiness can be further suppressed. The hydrophilic fibers include not only natural fibers such as cotton and silk, which are generally known as hydrophilic fibers, and semi-synthetic fibers such as rayon, but also synthetic fibers that have been hydrophilically treated, and hydrophilic fibers, either alone or in combination, can be used as the hydrophilic fibers for the ground yarn of the outer fabric 101. Examples of hydrophilic treatments for synthetic fibers include conventionally known methods such as in-bath sweat absorption treatment, and are not particularly limited.

[0041] The three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 preferably has a total fineness of 500 dtex or less. In the present invention, the total fineness refers to the total fineness of the yarns used in the knitted structure of the surface fabric 101, and can be calculated as the product of the number of reeds in the knitted structure of the surface fabric 101 and the total fineness of the ground yarns. If the total fineness is 500 dtex or less, the surface fabric 101 that contacts the user when the three-dimensional knitted fabric 100 is used as a mattress cover 1 will have a fine mesh, a soft texture, and a pleasant feel to the touch. If the total fineness exceeds 500 dtex, the texture and feel of the surface fabric 101 may be poor.

[0042] The ground yarns constituting the front fabric structure 101 and the second region 12 and the connecting yarns 103 may contain components such as deodorants, antiviral agents, antibacterial agents, antistatic agents, antifungal agents, insect repellents, etc. Furthermore, the ground yarns constituting the front fabric structure 101 and the second region 12 and the connecting yarns 103 may be yarns that have been subjected to processing to impart functionality such as quick drying, cool / warm sensation, and improved texture. EXAMPLES

[0043] Three-dimensional knitted fabrics (Examples 1 to 4) having the characteristic configuration of the present invention were produced, and the interval between connecting yarns and knitting density were measured and subjected to a sensory evaluation. For comparison, a three-dimensional knitted fabric (Comparative Example 1) not having the characteristic configuration of the present invention was produced, and the same measurements and evaluations were performed.

[0044] <Example 1> Using a 22-gauge double raschel knitting machine, a front fabric was knitted with 84 dtex / 36 f polyethylene terephthalate multifilament yarn introduced into reeds L1 and L2 according to the knitting structure shown in Fig. 4, a back fabric was knitted with 84 dtex / 36 f polyethylene terephthalate multifilament yarn introduced into reeds L4 and L5, and a 33 dtex polyethylene terephthalate monofilament yarn was introduced into reeds L3 and L4 so that the interval between the connecting yarns in the first region was 0.7 mm and the interval between the connecting yarns in the second region was 1.0 mm, and the two ground structures were connected to obtain the three-dimensional knitted fabric of Example 1. The connecting yarn was introduced into reeds L3 and L4 so as to knit the first region, second region, and third region in the arrangement shown in Fig. 3.

[0045] <Example 2> A 28-gauge double Russell knitting machine was used, and yarns were introduced to reeds L3 and L4 so that the spacing between the connecting yarns in the first region was 0.6 mm and the spacing between the connecting yarns in the second region was 0.8 mm.Otherwise, a fabric was knitted using the same knitting structure and yarn usage as in Example 1, and the three-dimensional structure knitted fabric of Example 2 was obtained.

[0046] <Example 3> 110 dtex / 48f polyethylene terephthalate multifilament yarn was introduced into reeds L1, L2, L4, and L5, and 110 dtex polyethylene terephthalate monofilament yarn was introduced into reeds L3 and L4 so that the spacing between connecting yarns in the first region was 0.8 mm and the spacing between connecting yarns in the second region was 1.2 mm.Otherwise, the knitted fabric was knitted using the same knitting machine and knitting structure as in Example 1, and the three-dimensional knitted fabric of Example 3 was obtained.

[0047] <Example 4> The yarns were introduced into reeds L3 and L4 so that the spacing between the connecting yarns in the first region was 0.6 mm and the spacing between the connecting yarns in the second region was 1.2 mm.Otherwise, the knitted fabric was knitted using the same knitting machine, knitting structure, and yarn usage as in Example 1, and the three-dimensional knitted fabric of Example 4 was obtained.

[0048] <Comparative Example 1> The yarns were introduced into reeds L3 and L4 so that the spacing between the connecting yarns in all areas was 1.2 mm, and otherwise the knitted fabric was knitted using the same knitting machine, knitting structure, and yarn usage as in Example 1, thereby obtaining the three-dimensional knitted fabric of Comparative Example 1.

[0049] [Connecting thread spacing] The three-dimensional knitted fabric was cut so as to be divided into a front and a back, and the connecting yarn was cut so as to be at approximately the same height as the knitted surface to prepare a test piece. The first and second regions of the test piece were photographed from the vertical direction of the knitted surface at a magnification of 100 to 300 times using an image analyzer (VHX-200, manufactured by Keyence Corporation). The distance in the course direction of the connecting yarn was measured at 50 to 100 points in the images of the first and second regions, respectively, and the average value was taken as the distance between the connecting yarns.

[0050] [Editing density] The number of stitches per 2.54 cm was measured in the course direction and the wale direction at five points on the three-dimensional knitted fabric, and the average value was taken as the knitting density.

[0051] [Sensory evaluation] The three-dimensional knitted fabric was placed to cover the surface of the mattress so that the course direction was along the longitudinal direction of the mattress, creating a mattress cover. Ten test subjects lay on their backs on the mattress cover and evaluated the following items, and the average scores were calculated.

[0052] Evaluation item 1 <Discomfort> The degree of discomfort felt on the back due to differences in hardness in different areas was evaluated qualitatively based on the following criteria. 4: I don't feel it. 3: Barely felt. 2: I feel it slightly. 1: Feel.

[0053] Evaluation item 2 <Sinking> The degree to which the body was supported was evaluated qualitatively based on the following criteria. 4: Very comfortable with moderate sinking. 3: The amount of sinking is slightly less or slightly more, but comfortable. 2: The amount of sinking is somewhat small or somewhat large, making it uncomfortable. 1: It sinks in too much or not enough and is uncomfortable.

[0054] Evaluation item 3: Feeling of stuffiness After lying down for 2 hours, the feeling of stuffiness felt at the areas where the buttocks and back were in contact with the mattress cover was qualitatively evaluated sensorily according to the following evaluation criteria. 4: Barely felt. 3: Feels slightly stuffy. 2: Feels a little stuffy. 1: Extremely stuffy.

[0055] Evaluation item 4 <Sleeping comfort> The time that participants could endure without moving while lying down was evaluated according to the following criteria. 4: More than 2 hours. 3: More than 1 hour but less than 2 hours. More than 2:30 minutes but less than 1 hour. Less than 1:30 minutes.

[0056] Table 1 shows the configurations, measurement values, and evaluation results of the three-dimensional knitted fabrics of Examples 1 to 4 and the three-dimensional knitted fabric of Comparative Example 1.

[0057] [Table 1]

[0058] The three-dimensional knitted fabrics of Examples 1 to 4 all received high marks in the sensory evaluation. From these results, it is believed that the three-dimensional knitted fabrics of Examples 1 to 4 have excellent breathability and can be suitably used as mattress covers that do not impede the body pressure dispersion effect of the mattress, particularly as covers for high-performance mattresses that have excellent body pressure dispersion effect.

[0059] On the other hand, the three-dimensional knitted fabric of Comparative Example 1 received low scores in all items of the sensory evaluation, and was particularly uncomfortable in the evaluation of sinking in. This is thought to be because the spacing between the connecting yarns was uniformly set to 1.2 mm in all regions, and therefore the three-dimensional knitted fabric of Comparative Example 1 did not form a first region where the spacing between the connecting yarns was dense, and a second region where the spacing between the connecting yarns was sparse, preventing the body pressure dispersion effect of the mattress. [Industrial Applicability]

[0060] The three-dimensional knitted fabric of the present invention can be used, for example, as a cover for a mattress for bedding, particularly a high-performance mattress with excellent body pressure dispersion effect, and can also be used as a cover for chairs, sofas, vehicle seats, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1 Mattress cover 11 First region (dense region) 12 Second area (sparse area) 100 Three-dimensional knitted fabric 101 Outer fabric 102 Lining organization 103 Connecting Thread

Claims

1. A three-dimensional knitted fabric in which a front fabric and a back fabric are connected by a connecting yarn, The connecting yarns are knitted so that a dense region and a sparse region are formed in the course direction of the connecting yarns that are stretched between the outer fabric structure and the inner fabric structure, The total fineness of the connecting yarn is 22 to 110 dtex, The surface fabric is a knitted fabric having openings, the size of the openings being 0.0005 to 0.5 mm 2 .

2. 2. The three-dimensional structure knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein the difference between the spacing of the connecting yarns in the dense regions and the spacing of the connecting yarns in the sparse regions is 0.05 to 0.6 mm.

3. The three-dimensional structure knitted fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spacing between the connecting yarns in the dense regions is 0.6 to 0.8 mm, and the spacing between the connecting yarns in the sparse regions is 0.8 to 1.2 mm.

4. The knitting density is 20 courses / 2.54 cm or more. The three-dimensional knitted fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ground yarn of the surface fabric has a single yarn fineness of 7 dtex or less and a total fineness of 167 dtex or less.

5. The three-dimensional knitted fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dense regions and the sparse regions are knitted so as to be continuously connected.

6. A mattress cover using the three-dimensional structure knitted fabric described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. 7. The mattress cover according to claim 6, wherein the dense regions and the sparse regions are arranged according to the characteristics of different parts of the mattress.

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