Photochromic hybrid fabric

Abstract

A photochromic yarn can be formed by combining one or more photochromic dyed synthetic fiber filaments and can be formed by combining one or more photochromic dyed synthetic fiber filaments with one or more natural fiber filaments. A photochromic fabric can be formed by weaving one or more photochromic yarns together and by weaving one or more photochromic yarns with one or more natural fiber yarns. A method of making photochromic yarns and fabrics that have improved photochromic qualities, includes the steps of dyeing, buffer coating, spinning and weaving.

1 . A photochromic yarn comprising: 
 one or more natural fiber components, composed of one or more natural fiber filaments; and    one or more synthetic fiber components, composed of one or more synthetic filaments;    wherein the synthetic fiber components are dyed with a photochromic dye during the yarn manufacturing process.    
   
   
       2 . A natural fiber component as in  claim 1  wherein the natural fiber component is composed of one or more materials selected from the group comprising: cotton, wool, camel hair, linen, and silk.  
   
   
       3 . A synthetic fiber component as in  claim 1  wherein the synthetic fiber component is composed of one or more materials selected from the group comprising: acetate, acrylic, aramid, elastane, modal, nylon, olefin, optical fiber, and rayon.  
   
   
       4 . A natural fiber component as in  claim 2  wherein the natural fiber component is cotton.  
   
   
       5 . A synthetic fiber component as in  claim 3  wherein the synthetic fiber component is Kevlar brand aramid.  
   
   
       6 . A synthetic fiber component as in  claim 3  wherein the synthetic fiber component is a 62.5/125 micron multimode optical fiber.  
   
   
       7 . A photochromic stretch yarn comprising: 
 a natural fiber component composed of one or more natural fiber filaments selected from among cotton, wool, camel hair, linen, silk, and other natural fiber filaments;    a first synthetic component composed of one or more synthetic fiber filaments selected from among acetate, acrylic, aramid, elastane, modal, nylon, olefin, optical fiber, rayon, and other synthetic fiber filaments, and wherein the first synthetic component is dyed with a photochromic dye during the yarn manufacturing process; and    a second synthetic component composed of elastane or another stretch fiber filament;    wherein the natural fiber component and the first synthetic fiber component are together wrapped around the second synthetic fiber component.    
   
   
       8 . A photochromic fabric comprising: 
 one or more photochromic yarns, each yarn composed of at least one photochromic dyed synthetic filament; wherein the photochromic yarns are woven together to create a photochromic fabric.    
   
   
       9 . A photochromic fabric comprising: 
 at least one photochromic yarn composed of at least one photochromic dyed synthetic filament; and    at least one natural fiber yarn composed of natural fiber filaments; and    wherein the photochromic yarn and the natural fiber yarn are woven together to create a photochromic fabric.    
   
   
       10 . A photochromic fabric as in  claim 9  comprising: 
 a “stretch” photochromic yarn, composed of a ring-spun cotton filament and a photochromic dyed aramid filament, that are together wrapped around an elastane filament core; and    a natural fiber yarn, composed of ring-spun cotton filaments; and    wherein the photochromic yarn and the cotton fiber yarn are woven together to create a stretch photochromic fabric.    
   
   
       11 . A photochromic fabric as in  claim 9  comprising: 
 a “stretch” photochromic yarn, composed of a ring-spun cotton filament and a photochromic dyed 62.5/125 micron multimode optical fiber filament, that are together wrapped around an elastane filament core; and    a natural fiber yarn, composed of ring-spun cotton filaments; and    wherein the photochromic yarn and the cotton fiber yarn are woven together to create a stretch photochromic fabric.    
   
   
       12 . A method of making a photochromic yarn, the method comprising: 
 dyeing one or more synthetic filaments with a photochromic dye;    applying a protective buffer coat to the photochromic dyed filaments; and    combining the dyed and buffer coated filaments together to form a photochromic yarn.    
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 12  wherein the synthetic filaments are twisted together in a rope before being dipped into a photochromic dye.  
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 12  wherein the buffer coat is applied to the individual photochromic dyed filaments, and the buffered filaments allowed to completely dry before further manufacturing processing.  
   
   
       15 . A method as in  claim 12  wherein the buffer coat material is selected from among acetate, acrylic, neoprene, nitrile, polystyrene, rayon, and urethane; and wherein the buffer coat is applied to a thickness of less than 100 microns.  
   
   
       16 . A method of making a photochromic fabric, the method comprising: 
 dyeing one or more synthetic filaments with a photochromic dye;    applying a protective buffer coat to the photochromic dyed filaments;    combining the dyed and buffer coated filaments together to form a photochromic yarn; and    weaving the photochromic yarns together create a photochromic fabric.    
   
   
       17 . A method as in  claim 16  wherein the synthetic filaments are twisted together in a rope before being dipped into a photochromic dye.  
   
   
       18 . A method as in  claim 16  wherein the buffer coat is applied to the individual photochromic dyed filaments, and the buffered filaments allowed to completely dry before further manufacturing processing.  
   
   
       19 . A method as in  claim 16  wherein one or more photochromic yarns are woven together with one or more natural fiber yarns to make a photochromic fabric.  
   
   
       20 . A method as in  claim 12  wherein the buffer coat material is selected from among acetate, acrylic, neoprene, nitrile, polystyrene, rayon, and urethane; and wherein the buffer coat is applied to a thickness of less than 100 microns.