Life vest made with a thicker and more elastic fiber

Abstract

A life vest manufactured from an improved fabric, having a thickness ranging from 1.4 mm to 3.0 mm, and high elasticity provided by knitting with a double circular knitting machine under the setting of 20-28 gauges per inch. The improved thickness and high elasticity fabric is made of non-elastic yarns, selected from polyester, polyamide, or polypropylene, and from elastic yarns, of polyurethane. The combination of woven elastic and non-elastic yarns provides an intricate yet highly comfortable fabric which is soft and “furry” to the touch.

1 . A life vest manufactured from an improved fabric, comprising high elasticity material made of non-elastic yarns, selected from the group of polyester, polyamide or polypropylene, and elastic yarns, selected from polyurethane. 
     
     
         2 . The improved fabric recited in  claim 1  comprising 80 wt % to 97 wt % of said non-elastic yarns and 3 wt % to 20 wt % of said elastic yarns based on the total weight of each of said fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The improved fabric recited in  claim 1  where said fabric is knitted using a double circular knitting machine under the setting of 20-28 gauges per inch. 
     
     
         4 . The improved fabric recited in  claim 1  having an elongation ranging from 30% to 90% in a first direction and an elongation ranging from 60% to 120% in a second direction transverse to the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The improved fabric recited in  claim 1  having a ball burst strength greater than 130 lbs according to the standard of ASTM D 3787. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric recited in  claim 2  wherein said elastic yarn has a fineness ranging from 10 denier to 70 denier. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric recited in  claim 2  wherein said non-elastic yarn has a fineness ranging from 50 denier to 150 denier. 
     
     
         8 . The improved fabric recited in  claim 1  having a thickness ranging from 1.4 mm to 3.0 mm.