Segmented Knitted Fabric for Flame Resistance and Comfort

Solution Overview

Problem

Current textile fabrics that meet flame resistance and high visibility standards are stiff and uncomfortable for wearers, failing to provide apparel-like hand and comfort properties.

Innovation Solution

A textile fabric is constructed with two types of yarns, where modacrylic fibers providing flame resistance and high visibility are on one face and conventional apparel fibers for comfort are on the opposite face, allowing for a knitted or woven construction that meets both ASTM F-1506 and ANSI/ISEA-107 standards while ensuring comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If modacrylic fibers are used to meet flame resistance and high visibility standards, then flame resistance and high visibility properties are improved, but fabric hand and comfort are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame resistanceVSAvoidcomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric is segmented into two distinct yarn types: modacrylic yarn for flame resistance and high visibility on the outer face, and conventional apparel yarn for comfort on the inner face. This segmentation allows each yarn type to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the fabric have different qualities - the outer face has modacrylic yarn with flame resistance and high visibility properties, while the inner face has conventional apparel yarn with comfortable hand properties. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by assigning different functions to different parts of the same fabric.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If modacrylic fibers are used to meet flame resistance and high visibility standards, then flame resistance and high visibility properties are improved, but fabric hand and comfort are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh visibilityVSAvoidcomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric is segmented into two distinct yarn types: modacrylic yarn for flame resistance and high visibility on the outer face, and conventional apparel yarn for comfort on the inner face. This segmentation allows each yarn type to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the fabric have different qualities - the outer face has modacrylic yarn with flame resistance and high visibility properties, while the inner face has conventional apparel yarn with comfortable hand properties. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by assigning different functions to different parts of the same fabric.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If modacrylic fabrics are used to meet safety standards, then flame resistance and high visibility are improved, but fabric stiffness and abrasiveness are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame resistanceVSAvoidstiffness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric is segmented into two distinct yarn types: modacrylic yarn for flame resistance and high visibility on the outer face, and conventional apparel yarn for comfort on the inner face. This segmentation allows each yarn type to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the fabric have different qualities - the outer face has modacrylic yarn with flame resistance and high visibility properties, while the inner face has conventional apparel yarn with comfortable hand properties. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by assigning different functions to different parts of the same fabric.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS7553782B2Flame-resistant high visibility textile fabric for use in safety apparel

Publication Date: 2009.06.30 INNOVATIVE TEXTILES LLC

AI summary

A knitted textile fabric for use in safety apparel, comprising a first yarn containing modacrylic fibers and a second yarn containing cellulosic fibers. The first and second yarns are intimately interknitted with one another in plated relationship with the modacrylic yarn disposed predominantly at an outer face of the fabric for imparting flame resistant properties and an affinity for high visibility dyes and with the cellulosic yarn disposed predominantly at the opposite face of the fabric for imparting a hand suitable for comfortable body contact with a user's skin.