Three-dimensional structural materials

Abstract

To provide a three-dimensional structural material capable of enhancing the form stability of a cavity part while maintaining the flexibility of a fabric.SOLUTION: A three-dimensional structural material 1 comprises a cavity part 5 formed of a hollow cylindrical body 4 which expands / contracts in the axial direction and accordingly contracts / expands in the direction orthogonal to the axis and has shape recoverability, and a base part 2 made of a fabric formed into a bag-like part 3 in which the cylindrical body 4 is housed. The base part 2 is formed of the fabric obtained by integrally weaving or knitting the bag-like part 3. The cylindrical body 4 is formed of a braid body obtained by cylindrically weaving a wire material having the shape recoverability.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a three-dimensional structural material in which voids that can be easily deformed and have morphological stability are formed.

Background Art

[0002] Three-dimensional structural materials having cushioning properties due to voids formed in sheet materials such as fabrics have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a three-dimensional structural fabric in which high-shrinkage yarns are woven into the single-woven parts of the upper and lower ground tissues and the high-shrinkage yarns are floating yarns in the double-woven part, and the double-woven part is formed into a continuous cylindrical shape by shrinking the high-shrinkage yarns.

[0003] In addition, three-dimensional structural materials having cushioning properties by inserting a cushioning material into voids formed in a sheet material have also been proposed. For example, Patent Document 2 describes a futon configured by overlapping two pieces of fabric and sewing them at predetermined intervals to form an insertion cylinder part, and inserting a cylindrical net-like body having cushioning properties into the formed insertion cylinder part. Patent Document 3 describes a backrest cushion having cushioning properties by storing a cushion pad in a sleeve of an exterior body sewn using a fabric.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the upper and lower ground tissues are used to form a continuous cylindrical shape, creating a gap to provide cushioning. However, in the cylindrical portion, when pressed in a direction perpendicular to the axis, the curved threads tend to collapse sideways, which presents a problem in terms of cushioning.

[0006] As described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, when a cushioning material such as a cushion pad is inserted into an insertion part formed in fabric, the cushioning effect is enhanced, but it becomes harder than the flexibility of the fabric, making it unsuitable for applications where flexibility is required, and thus having drawbacks in terms of versatility.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a three-dimensional structural material that enhances the morphological stability of voids while maintaining the flexibility of the fabric. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The three-dimensional structural material according to the present invention is a hollow cylindrical body that expands and contracts in the axial direction and in a direction perpendicular to the axis, while also having shape-restoring properties. and the inside of the cylindrical body The structure comprises a void formed therein and a base made of fabric with a bag-like portion that encloses the tubular body, the tubular body being a braided cord woven into a tubular shape using linear material that has shape-recovering properties. Another three-dimensional structural material according to the present invention is a hollow cylindrical body that expands and contracts in the axial direction and in a direction perpendicular to the axis, while also having shape-restoring properties. and the inside of the cylindrical body The structure comprises a void formed therein and a base made of fabric having a bag-like portion that encloses the cylindrical body, wherein the void is formed by multiple cylindrical bodies. In each of the bag-shaped portions formed in parallel Multiple units are formed by being built-in. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] Because the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to create a void by a tubular body that expands and contracts in the axial direction and in a direction perpendicular to the axis, while also having shape-restoring properties. This allows for increased morphological stability of the void while maintaining the flexibility of the fabric, as well as weight reduction, resulting in a highly versatile three-dimensional structural material. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view relating to a three-dimensional structural material according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the case when a stretchable bag-like portion is pressed and deformed. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view relating to a modified example of the embodiment shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figures 1 and 1 show a perspective view and a plan view relating to another modified example of the embodiment shown in Figure 1. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of a cylindrical body and a perspective view showing the cylindrical body stretched in the axial direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. While the embodiments described below are preferred examples for carrying out the present invention and therefore have various technical limitations, the present invention is not limited to these forms unless specifically stated in the following description to limit the invention.

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view relating to a three-dimensional structural material according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 1. The three-dimensional structural material 1 has a base portion 2 made of fabric with a bag-shaped portion 3 formed thereon, and a cylindrical body 4 is built inside the bag-shaped portion 3 to form a void portion 5. In this example, the three-dimensional structural material 1 is formed in a strip shape by connecting the bag-shaped portions 3 to the base portion 2, and the multiple void portions 5 formed inside the bag-shaped portions 3 are arranged in parallel in a cylindrical manner.

[0013] The hollow cylindrical body 4 that forms the void 5 expands and contracts in the axial direction and in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and also has the ability to restore its shape. Because the cylindrical body 4 has the characteristic of expanding and contracting in a direction perpendicular to the axis to restore its shape, when it is housed in the bag-like part 3, it acts to push the bag-like part 3 open and form the void 5.

[0014] Further, when the bag-shaped portion 3 is made of a stretchable fabric, the cylindrical body 4 expands and contracts following the expansion and contraction of the bag-shaped portion 3, and has shape stability against the expansion and contraction deformation of the base portion 2.

[0015] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view regarding the case where the bag-shaped portion 3 having elasticity is pressed and deformed. In this example, the bag-shaped portion 3 is made of a stretchable fabric by woven or knitted elastic yarns, and a cylindrical body 4 is incorporated in the bag-shaped portion 3 to form a void portion 5.

[0016] When an external pressing force F is applied to the bag-shaped portion 3, the cylindrical body 4 incorporated in the bag-shaped portion 3 is compressed in the width direction and thus tends to elongate in the axial direction (FIG. 3(a)), while the bag-shaped portion 3 tends to contract so as to be drawn into the pressed portion by the action of the elastic yarns (FIG. 3(b)). Therefore, the cylindrical body 4 is dragged by the contracting action of the bag-shaped portion 3 and contracts, and is deformed in the direction of increasing the diameter at the pressed portion so as to push and expand the bag-shaped portion 3, and a repulsive force G against the pressing force F is generated (FIG. 3(c)). By thus increasing the repulsive force, the cushioning property can be improved.

[0017] When the shape of the base portion 2 is deformed such as by compression deformation or bending deformation, etc., it follows and deforms, and the void portion 5 acts so as to restore to the original shape. Therefore, it can be easily deformed along the shape of the product to which the three-dimensional structure material 1 is attached, and has versatility that can be attached to various product parts.

[0018] Due to the form restoration property of the void portion 5, the three-dimensional structure material 1 can have a cushioning property, and since the void portion 5 maintains a communicating state, by making it a communicating state in which a linear body such as wiring or an optical fiber can be inserted, the linear body can be protected by the cylindrical body and held in a stable state without applying a load.

[0019] Figure 4 is a perspective view relating to a modified embodiment of the one shown in Figure 1. In this example, the base portion 2 has connecting portions 6 of a predetermined width extending from both sides of the connected bag-shaped portion 3. The connecting portions 6 can be used as seam allowances, allowing the three-dimensional structural material 1 to be easily sewn onto various products.

[0020] Figure 5 shows a perspective view (Figure 5(a)) and a plan view (Figure 5(b)) of another modified example of the embodiment shown in Figure 1. In this example, fastening portions 7 that partially seal or narrow the bag-shaped portion 3 are provided at predetermined intervals. As a result, the void portion 5 is divided into a plurality of partitioned void portions 5a by the fastening portions 7 at predetermined lengths. Since the internal cylindrical body 4 is fastened in the fastening portions 7 so as not to partially shift in the axial direction, the repulsive force against compressive or bending deformation of the cylindrical body 4 is increased in the partitioned void portions 5a, making it possible to improve cushioning.

[0021] Furthermore, the tubular body 4 expands and contracts in the axial direction and in the direction perpendicular to the axis, so when a tensile force is applied along the axial direction and it is stretched, it deforms into a thin, linear shape. Therefore, when weaving or knitting the base part 2, by weaving or knitting the tubular body 4 as an insert yarn into the structure that forms the bag-shaped part 3, it becomes possible to weave or knit the base part 2 integrally while embedding the tubular body 4 in the bag-shaped part 3, thereby efficiently manufacturing a three-dimensional structural material. In addition, the tubular body 4 can be inserted into and attached to the bag-shaped part 3 in a thin, linear shape, and can also be removed, allowing the tubular body 4 to be attached to and detached from the base part 2 as needed, making maintenance and other processes easy.

[0022] The three-dimensional structural material 1 can be formed into shapes other than a strip. For example, a fabric with multiple voids 5 can be formed into a sheet, tube, or bag to constitute the base portion 2, and is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the bag-shaped portion 3 of the base portion 2 can be arranged in various layouts and is not particularly limited. As described above, when the voids 5 are arranged in parallel, at predetermined intervals, or only in a part of the base portion 2, the bag-shaped portion 3 can be formed according to the layout of the voids 5.

[0023] As a three-dimensional structural material 1, it is possible to form a pipe-like structure with a single connected void 5 by forming a base portion 2 so as to cover a single cylindrical body 4, and it can be configured in various shapes according to the application. It is also possible to create a three-dimensional structural material by laminating multiple void portions 5 in multiple layers.

[0024] The bag-shaped portion 3 formed on the base portion 2 can be formed in a continuous state, as shown in Figure 1, or partially sealed or narrowed, as shown in Figure 5, allowing the void portion 5 to be set to a continuous or partitioned state according to the application. In this case, the bag-shaped portion 3 can be partially sealed or narrowed by methods such as weaving, knitting, or sewing, and can also be formed by partially bonding using known means such as press heating or ultrasonic heating.

[0025] The base portion 2 is preferably made of a fabric woven or knitted from yarn made of a fibrous material. The fibrous material used for the yarn can be any known material and is not particularly limited, but examples of synthetic fibrous materials include polyester, nylon, acrylic, polypropylene, para-aramid, meta-aramid, polyarylate, and polybenzimidazole, while examples of natural fibrous materials include cotton, wool, and hemp, and examples of inorganic fibrous materials include glass. Furthermore, a mixture of these fibrous materials may also be used.

[0026] Monofilament or multifilament yarns made from such synthetic or natural fiber materials are preferred, and when elastic yarns are used to impart elasticity, elastic yarns made from elastic materials such as polyurethane, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or silicone are preferred.

[0027] The yarn, made from synthetic or natural fiber materials, is not particularly limited in fineness, but is preferably between 30 decitex and 1200 decitex.

[0028] For elastic yarns, if polyurethane is used, a fineness of 13 to 2500 decitex is preferred, and more preferably 22 to 1240 decitex. For yarns using synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or silicone, a single yarn diameter of 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm is preferred, and more preferably 0.4 mm to 1.3 mm.

[0029] Furthermore, while monofilament yarn, multifilament yarn, or spun yarn can be used as the yarn, those composed of filament yarn are preferred. The yarn should be twisted 10 to 300 times per meter to prevent the constituent fiber material from unraveling.

[0030] The bag-shaped portion 3 formed on the base portion 2 can be integrally formed by known weaving methods such as bag weaving or tubular weaving, or known knitting methods such as bag knitting or tubular knitting. Alternatively, it can be formed into a bag shape by sewing multiple pieces of fabric together at predetermined intervals, or by placing a strip of fabric on the surface of the fabric and sewing both ends of the fabric together to form a bag shape.

[0031] As the tubular body 4, a braided cord woven into a tubular shape using linear material with shape-recovering properties is preferred. By using such a braided cord for the tubular body 4, tubular bodies of various weights and sizes can be obtained by changing the weaving density of the linear material, thereby obtaining three-dimensional structural materials that can be finely adapted to various applications.

[0032] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the cylindrical body 4 (Figure 6(a)) and a perspective view of the cylindrical body 4 when stretched in the axial direction (Figure 6(b)). Because this braided body is formed into a cylindrical shape by weaving multiple linear materials in a spiral manner, it expands and contracts in the axial direction, and expands and contracts in the direction perpendicular to the axis due to the expansion and contraction. Furthermore, because the linear materials have shape-recovering properties, even if the braided body is deformed by compression or bending, it will return to its original cylindrical shape, and is lightweight and has shape stability.

[0033] Furthermore, by pulling the braided body in the axial direction, it stretches axially and deforms into a long, slender cord, making it possible to use it as an insert thread when weaving or knitting the base part 2. Then, after weaving or knitting the base part 2, the braided body expands in diameter to return to its original shape, thereby forming a void.

[0034] When manufacturing the three-dimensional structural material illustrated in Figure 4, when weaving or knitting the base part 2 while it is stretched into a long, narrow string shape, the fastening part 7 is formed so that it narrows to both sides of the deformed braided body. After manufacturing, the part of the braided body narrowed at the fastening part 7 does not expand in diameter, while the other parts expand in diameter to return to their original shape, thereby forming a partitioned void 5a.

[0035] Preferred linear materials with shape-recovery properties for use in braided structures include monofilament or multifilament yarns made from synthetic fiber materials such as polyester, nylon, and polypropylene, as well as linear materials made from metallic materials such as shape memory alloys and superelastic alloys.

[0036] Furthermore, in the case of monofilament or multifilament yarns made from synthetic fiber materials, the diameter of the single yarn is preferably 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm, and more preferably 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0037] The braided body is preferably formed with a diameter of 3 mm to 30 mm, and more preferably with a diameter of 5 mm to 20 mm. When weaving the braided body, the number of bends is preferably set to 8 to 64, and more preferably to 16 to 48. The braid angle is preferably set to 30 to 60 degrees, and more preferably to 40 to 50 degrees.

[0038] Other materials besides the braided cord described above can be used as the cylindrical body, and are not particularly limited. For example, an elastic tube made of an elastic material such as polyurethane or silicone may be used. Alternatively, a cylindrical body with deformation characteristics similar to that of a braided cord can be created by hollowing out a mesh-like structure from a thin cylindrical body made of resin or metal material, similar to that of a braided cord. Furthermore, by forming a cylindrical body from a linear material made of resin or metal into a coil spring shape, it is possible to give it the properties of expanding and contracting in the axial direction and in the direction perpendicular to the axis, while also having shape recovery properties.

[0039] As described above, three-dimensional structural materials can be manufactured by inserting an elongated tubular body into a base material during weaving or knitting. Alternatively, they can be manufactured by inserting an elongated tubular body into a bag-like section of a base material. Furthermore, they can be manufactured by placing a tubular body on a fabric, overlapping it with another fabric to cover it, and then sewing or bonding both sides of the tubular body to form a bag-like section. [Examples]

[0040] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0041] [Example 1] <Materials used> 〇Base part For the warp threads, polyester multifilament yarn (167 decitex) and double-covered polyurethane yarn (core yarn: polyurethane yarn 620 decitex, sheath yarn: polyester multifilament yarn 167 decitex) were used. For the weft threads, polyester multifilament yarn (167 decitex) was used. 〇Cylindrical body Polyester monofilament yarn (single yarn diameter 0.2 mm) was used as the linear material.

[0042] <Manufacturing of cylindrical bodies> A wire-like material was set in a braiding machine and braided into a round cord using 32 strands, resulting in a braid angle of 40 to 50 degrees, to obtain a cylindrical body with a diameter of approximately 8 mm.

[0043] The resulting cylindrical body exhibits properties of expanding and contracting in the axial direction as well as in a direction perpendicular to the axis. It was confirmed that after narrowing to a width of approximately 3 mm when fully extended, it could return to its original shape.

[0044] <Manufacturing of three-dimensional structural materials> As shown in Figure 1, a three-dimensional structural material was manufactured by weaving a strip-shaped base portion with three connected bag-like sections using tubular weaving, and by weaving in the tubular sections in an extended state as insert threads. The warp and weft threads were set on the loom, and the tubular sections were set as warp threads in an extended state. The base portion with connected bag-like sections was woven by weaving the base portion in a strip-like shape and connecting the sections at equal intervals along the warp direction, and the tubular sections were woven in such a way that they were inserted into the bag-like sections to obtain the three-dimensional structural material.

[0045] The resulting three-dimensional structural material showed that a cylindrical body contained within the bag-like portion expanded, forming a void approximately 8 mm in diameter. It was confirmed that the void possessed shape-restoring properties, returning to its original shape after compression and bending deformation.

[0046] Furthermore, it was confirmed that the three-dimensional structural material has elasticity in the longitudinal direction of the base portion, and that the cylindrical body expands and contracts in accordance with the longitudinal expansion and contraction of the base portion, thus possessing shape recovery properties. It was also confirmed that the void portion maintains a continuous pipe-like state from the start to the end, exhibiting shape stability. In addition, it was confirmed that when the void portion of the three-dimensional structural material is compressed and deformed, a rebound force is generated in response to the deformation, indicating that it possesses cushioning properties.

[0047] [Example 2] <Materials used> The same materials as in Example 1 were used. <Manufacturing of cylindrical bodies> It was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1.

[0048] <Manufacturing of three-dimensional structural materials> As shown in Figure 4, a three-dimensional structural material was manufactured by weaving a strip-shaped base portion with connecting parts on both sides of three connected bag-shaped portions using tubular weaving, and weaving in the tubular bodies in an extended state as insert yarn. Similar to Example 1, the tubular bodies were set in the loom along with the warp and weft threads as insert yarn, and the base portion with connected bag-shaped portions and connecting parts was woven by weaving a strip-shaped base fabric at equal intervals along the warp direction and connecting both sides at a predetermined width, and the tubular bodies were woven in such a way that they were inserted into the bag-shaped portions to obtain a three-dimensional structural material.

[0049] The resulting three-dimensional structural material showed that a cylindrical body contained within the bag-like portion expanded, forming a void approximately 8 mm in diameter. It was confirmed that the void possessed shape-restoring properties, returning to its original shape after compression and bending deformation.

[0050] Furthermore, it was confirmed that the three-dimensional structural material, similar to Example 1, has a base portion that is expandable in the longitudinal direction, and the cylindrical body expands and contracts in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the base portion in the longitudinal direction, thus possessing shape recovery properties.

[0051] Furthermore, it was confirmed that the connecting portion can be attached to another fabric by sewing, and that the three-dimensional structural material deforms in accordance with the deformation of the attached fabric, exhibiting flexibility and shape recovery. It was also confirmed that the void portion maintains a continuous pipe-like state from the start to the end, exhibiting shape stability. In addition, it was confirmed that when the void portion of the three-dimensional structural material is compressed and deformed, a rebound force is generated in response to the deformation, indicating that it possesses cushioning properties.

[0052] [Example 3] <Materials used> The same materials as in Example 1 were used. <Manufacturing of cylindrical bodies> It was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1.

[0053] <Manufacturing of three-dimensional structural materials> As shown in Figure 5, a three-dimensional structural material was manufactured by weaving a strip-shaped base portion with three connected bag-like sections using tubular weaving, weaving in tubular bodies in an extended state as insertion yarns, and narrowing the bag-like sections at predetermined intervals to form fastening sections. Similar to Example 1, tubular bodies were set in the loom along with the warp and weft yarns as insertion yarns, and while weaving a base structure in a strip shape, they were connected at equal intervals along the warp direction, and the width between the connection lines was narrowed to the width of the extended tubular bodies at predetermined lengths, thereby weaving a base portion with bag-like sections and fastening sections, and at that time, the tubular bodies were woven in so as to be inserted into the bag-like sections to obtain a three-dimensional structural material.

[0054] The resulting three-dimensional structural material had a void formed when the cylindrical body contained within the bag-like portion was expanded in diameter, and the fastening portion was constricted, preventing the cylindrical body from moving. It was confirmed that the void portion partitioned by the fastening portion possessed shape recovery properties, returning to its original shape from a deformed state after compression and bending deformation, and also exhibited elasticity compared to the unfastened portion.

[0055] Furthermore, it was confirmed that the three-dimensional structural material, similar to Example 1, has a base portion that is expandable in the longitudinal direction, and that the partitioned voids expand and contract in accordance with the longitudinal expansion and contraction of the base portion, thereby possessing shape recovery and elasticity. In addition, when the voids of the three-dimensional structural material were compressed and deformed, a greater rebound force was generated in response to the deformation than in Example 1, confirming that the cushioning properties were improved. [Industrial applicability]

[0056] The three-dimensional structural material according to the present invention is lightweight and flexible, and possesses shape recovery and cushioning properties in its voids. Therefore, it can be widely used as a cushioning and shock-absorbing material for various items such as clothing, supports, shoes, mats, cushions, beds, bags, chairs, and car seats. Furthermore, because it possesses shape stability that maintains a connected state in its voids, it can be used as a sleeve material for inserting wires such as wiring and optical fibers, making it applicable to wearable computer technology. As a highly versatile material, it is expected to be utilized in a variety of fields. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 1...Three-dimensional structure material, 2...Base part, 3...Bag-like part, 4...Cylindrical body, 5...Gap part, 6...Connection part, 7...Fixing part

Claims

1. A three-dimensional structural material comprising a hollow cylindrical body that expands and contracts in the axial direction and in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and has shape-recovering properties, a void formed inside the cylindrical body, and a base part made of fabric with a bag-like part that encloses the cylindrical body, wherein the cylindrical body is a braided body woven into a cylindrical shape using linear material that has shape-recovering properties.

2. A three-dimensional structural material comprising a hollow cylindrical body that expands and contracts in the axial direction and in a direction perpendicular to the axis, while also having shape-restoring properties; a void formed inside the cylindrical body; and a base part made of fabric in which a bag-like portion is formed to house the cylindrical body, wherein the void is formed in multiple locations, with each of the bag-like portions formed by arranging multiple cylindrical bodies in parallel.

3. The three-dimensional structural material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base portion is made of a fabric in which the bag-shaped portion is integrally woven or knitted.

4. The three-dimensional structural material according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base portion is made of an elastic fabric.

5. The three-dimensional structural material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the void portion is partitioned by the cylindrical body being fastened to a fastening portion that partially seals or narrows the bag-shaped portion.

6. A cushion structure comprising a three-dimensional structural material according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The three-dimensional structural material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the void portion is connected in a pipe-like manner so that a linear body can be inserted through it.

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