Elastic Fabrics And Methods And Apparatus For Making The Same

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for making a length of woven fabric comprising an elastomeric weft yarn. The lengths of fabric obtained are particularly useful as shoulder straps for garments such as bras. Preferred embodiments relate to tapered fabric which is useful as a component of articles of clothing, especially a bra wing.

1 . A method of making a length of woven fabric having a variable width, the method comprising weaving warp yarn with weft yarn; and characterised in that the weft yarn is elastomeric and is arranged across the warp yarn to vary the width of the woven fabric along its length. 
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the elastomeric weft yarn is arranged by varying the weft yarn feeding speed. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the warp yarn consists of or comprises an elastomeric yarn. 
   
   
       4 . A method of making a fabric as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the elastomeric weft yarn is arranged to produce a tapered fabric. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the elastomeric weft yarn is arranged to produce a tapered fabric by increasing or decreasing the weft yarn feeding speed incrementally. 
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the tapered fabric has outer edge portions flanking an inner body panel; and wherein the outer edge portions have different elastic modulus properties as compared to the elastic modulus properties of the inner body panel. 
   
   
       7 . A method of making a length of woven fabric comprising weaving warp yarn and elastomeric weft yarn; wherein either the pick density, the warp density, or both the pick density and warp density is varied during weaving to produce two or more portions along either the length, the width, or both the length and width of the woven fabric having different elastic modulus properties. 
   
   
       8 . A method of making a length of woven fabric comprising weaving elastomeric warp yarn with elastomeric weft yarn under tension, whereby the width of the woven fabric increases compared to its width in a relaxed state upon applying a longitudinal load to the fabric. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a step of incorporating the length of fabric into a textile article. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the textile article is an article of clothing. 
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the fabric is incorporated as all or part of a shoulder strap or waistband. 
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the article of clothing is a bra. 
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the length of fabric is incorporated into a non-textile article as all or part of a shoulder strap. 
   
   
       14 . A length of woven elastic fabric obtainable by a method as claimed in  claim 1  the fabric having along its length two or more portions of different width. 
   
   
       15 . A length of woven fabric having two or more portions of different width along its length; wherein the fabric comprises elastomeric weft yarn arranged across warp yarn. 
   
   
       16 . A length of woven fabric as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the fabric is tapered. 
   
   
       17 . A length of woven fabric as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the warp yarn consists of or comprises an elastomeric yarn. 
   
   
       18 . A length of woven fabric comprising warp yarn and elastomeric weft yarn; characterised in that the elastomeric weft yarn is arranged whereby the width of the fabric can be increased compared to its width in a relaxed state by applying a longitudinal load to the fabric. 
   
   
       19 . A length of woven fabric comprising elastomeric weft yarn arranged across warp yarn; wherein either the pick density, the warp density, or both the pick density and the warp density varies along either the length, the width, or both the length and width of the woven fabric to produce two or more portions having different elastic modulus properties. 
   
   
       20 . A tubular fabric formed from a length of woven fabric as defined in  claim 14 . 
   
   
       21 . A textile article incorporating a length of fabric as claimed in  claim 14 . 
   
   
       22 . A textile article as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the article is an article of clothing. 
   
   
       23 . An article as claimed in  claim 22  selected from sportswear and undergarments. 
   
   
       24 . An article as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the length of fabric is incorporated as all or part of a shoulder strap. 
   
   
       25 . An article as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the length of fabric is incorporated as all or part of a waist band. 
   
   
       26 . A non-textile article which incorporates a length of fabric as claimed in  claim 14  as all or part of a shoulder strap. 
   
   
       27 . (canceled)