Article of apparel incorporating a modifiable textile structure

Abstract

An article of apparel is disclosed that includes a textile with at least one property that changes upon exposure to a physical stimulus. The textile has a modifiable structure formed from one or more yarns that exhibit a dimensional transformation upon exposure to the physical stimulus. The yarns have a first set of dimensions when unexposed to the physical stimulus, and the yarns have a second set of dimensions when exposed to the physical stimulus. The structure of the textile is modified by exposing the textile to the physical stimulus such that the yarns transform from the first set of dimensions to the second set of dimensions and change the property of the textile. Reinforcing structures, incisions, partial incisions, and coatings may also be utilized to enhance the textile structures

1 . A textile comprising: 
 a first material that exhibits a dimensional transformation upon exposure to a physical stimulus to change a property of the textile; and    a second material that constrains the change of the property in at least a portion of the textile.    
   
   
       2 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the physical stimulus is water.  
   
   
       3 . The textile recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first material is at least one of a filament and a fiber that absorbs the water.  
   
   
       4 . The textile recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first material is a yarn that absorbs the water.  
   
   
       5 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the physical stimulus is a change in a temperature of the textile.  
   
   
       6 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first material is concentrated at a first surface of the textile, and the second material is concentrated at a second surface of the textile, the first surface being opposite the second surface.  
   
   
       7 . The textile recited in  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of incisions are formed through the textile, the incisions extending from the first surface to the second surface.  
   
   
       8 . The textile recited in  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the incisions are non-linear.  
   
   
       9 . The textile recited in  claim 7 , wherein the incisions are formed through a laser cutting process.  
   
   
       10 . The textile recited in  claim 7 , wherein the incisions are formed through a knitting process.  
   
   
       11 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of incisions are formed through the textile, the incisions extending from a first surface of the textile to a second surface of the textile.  
   
   
       12 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first material and the second material are yarns that are mechanically-manipulated to form the textile.  
   
   
       13 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second material is a yarn that is substantially dimensionally-stable upon exposure to the physical stimulus.  
   
   
       14 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second material is less stretchable than the first material.  
   
   
       15 . The textile recited in  claim 14 , wherein the second material is secured to the first material.  
   
   
       16 . The textile recited in  claim 14 , wherein the second material is at least one sheet of material that is bonded to the first material.  
   
   
       17 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second material is a coating that extends around at least a portion of the first material and limits exposure of the first material to the physical stimulus.  
   
   
       18 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the textile is a non-woven textile that includes a plurality of filaments of the fist material and the second material.  
   
   
       19 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the textile is a non-woven material having a first layer formed from the first material and a second layer formed from the second material.  
   
   
       20 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second material is a spacer mesh and the fist material is a plaited on a surface of the spacer mesh.  
   
   
       21 . The textile recited in  claim 1 , wherein the textile is incorporated into an article of apparel.  
   
   
       22 - 37 . (canceled)  
   
   
       38 . A textile comprising: 
 a material that exhibits a dimensional transformation upon exposure to a physical stimulus, the material having a first set of dimensions when unexposed to the physical stimulus, and the material having a second set of dimensions when exposed to the physical stimulus, a structure of the textile being modified by exposing the textile to the physical stimulus such that the material transforms from the first set of dimensions to the second set of dimensions; and    a constraining structure incorporated into the textile to constrain the change of the property in at least a portion of the textile.    
   
   
       39 . The textile recited in  claim 38 , wherein the physical stimulus is water.  
   
   
       40 . The textile recited in  claim 39 , wherein the first material is at least one of a filament and a fiber that absorbs the water.  
   
   
       41 . The textile recited in  claim 39 , wherein the first material is a yarn that absorbs the water.  
   
   
       42 . The textile recited in  claim 38 , wherein the physical stimulus is a change in a temperature of the textile.  
   
   
       43 . The textile recited in  claim 38 , wherein the first material is concentrated at a first surface of the textile, and the constraining structure is concentrated at a second surface of the textile, the first surface being opposite the second surface.  
   
   
       44 . The textile recited in  claim 43 , when a plurality of incisions are formed through the textile, the incisions extending from the first surface to the second surface.  
   
   
       45 . The textile recited in  claim 44 , wherein at least a portion of the incisions are non-linear.  
   
   
       46 . The textile recited in  claim 44 , wherein the incisions are formed through one of a laser cutting process and a knitting process.  
   
   
       47 . The textile recited in  claim 38 , wherein a plurality of incisions are formed through the textile, the incisions extending from a first surface of the textile to a second surface of the textile.  
   
   
       48 . The textile recited in  claim 38 , wherein the textile is a non-woven textile that includes a plurality of filaments of the material and the constraining structure.  
   
   
       49 . The textile recited in  claim 38 , wherein the textile is a non-woven material having a first layer formed from the material and a second layer formed from the constraining structure.  
   
   
       50 . The textile recited in  claim 38 , wherein the second material is less stretchable than the first material.  
   
   
       51 . The textile recited in  claim 50 , wherein the second material is at least one sheet of material that is bonded to the first material.  
   
   
       52 . The textile recited in  claim 38 , wherein the textile is incorporated into an article of apparel.  
   
   
       53 - 142 . (canceled)