Clothing components and articles of clothing including fabric woven with a multi-layered region and a single-layered region, and methods of making such woven fabrics

Abstract

Components adapted for use in an article of clothing, and articles of clothing including such components, include a woven fabric comprising at least one multi-layered region and at least one single-layered region. The at least one multi-layered region can comprise a first woven fabric layer and a second woven fabric layer that is opposite from the first woven fabric layer, where the first and second woven fabric layers are separated from each other. The at least one multi-layered region and the at least one single-layered region can be weaved from the same sets of warps and wefts to form an integral fabric. Methods of making an item of apparel include forming a woven fabric comprising at least one multi-layered region and at least one single-layered region weaved from the same sets of warps and wefts, and cutting the woven fabric along a predetermined pattern to form one or more components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A component adapted for use in an article of clothing, the component including a woven fabric comprising:
 at least one multi-layered region comprising a first woven fabric layer and a second woven fabric layer that is opposite from the first woven fabric layer, wherein the first and second woven fabric layers are separated from each other; and   at least one single-layered region;   wherein the woven fabric changes between the at least one multi-layered region and the at least one single-layered region with the same sets of warps and wefts.   
     
     
         2 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein warps and wefts of the first woven fabric layer of the at least one multi-layered region are distinct from warps and wefts of the second woven fabric layer of the at least one multi-layered region. 
     
     
         3 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one single-layered region comprises warps and wefts of the first and second woven fabric layers woven together as a single, woven fabric layer. 
     
     
         4 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one multi-layered region is configured as an opening in the woven fabric for creating a pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one multi-layered region is configured as an opening in the woven fabric for receiving a drawstring. 
     
     
         6 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein each set of warps comprises one or more yarns, and each set of wefts comprises one or more yarns. 
     
     
         7 . An article of clothing, comprising:
 a plurality of components coupled together, wherein at least one component of the plurality of components includes a woven fabric comprising:
 a multi-layered region comprising a first woven fabric layer and a second woven fabric layer, wherein warps and wefts of the first woven fabric layer are distinct from warps and wefts of the second woven fabric layer; and 
 a single-layered region woven from the same groups of warps and wefts used in the first and second woven fabric layers of the multi-layered region. 
   
     
     
         8 . The article of clothing of  claim 7 , wherein the single-layered region comprises:
 the warps of both the first and second woven fabric layers interwoven into a single layer with the same group of wefts; and   the wefts of both the first and second fabric layers interwoven into a single layer with the same groups of warps.   
     
     
         9 . The article of clothing of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of components are coupled together to form at least a portion of one of shorts, pants, shoes, a jacket, a shirt, a sweatshirt or a coat. 
     
     
         10 . The article of clothing of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one multi-layered region is configured as an opening in the woven fabric for creating a pocket. 
     
     
         11 . The article of clothing of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one multi-layered region is configured as an opening in the woven fabric for receiving a drawstring. 
     
     
         12 . The article of clothing of  claim 7 , wherein each warp comprises one or more yarns, and each weft comprises one or more yarns. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making an item of apparel, the method comprising:
 forming a woven fabric including:
 at least one multi-layered region comprising a first woven fabric layer and a second woven fabric layer that is opposite from the first woven fabric layer, wherein the first and second woven fabric layers are separated from each other; and 
 at least one single-layered region; 
 wherein the at least one multi-layered region and the at least one single-layered region are weaved from the same sets of warps and wefts; and 
   cutting the woven fabric along a predetermined pattern to form one or more components from the woven fabric.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein forming the woven fabric including at least one multi-layered region comprises:
 weaving warps and wefts of the first woven fabric layer; and   weaving warps and wefts of the second woven fabric layer,   wherein the warps and wefts of the first woven fabric layer are woven separate and distinct from the warps and wefts of the second woven fabric layer.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein forming the woven fabric including the at least one multi-layered region comprises:
 forming the first woven fabric layer with a length that is different than a length of the second woven fabric layer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein forming the woven fabric including at least one single-layered region comprises:
 weaving warps of both the first and second woven fabric layers with the same sets of wefts; and   weaving wefts of both the first and second woven fabric layers with the same sets of warps.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each set of warps comprises one or more yarns, and each set of wefts comprises one or more yarns. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising coupling the one or more components together. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one multi-layered region is configured as an opening in the woven fabric for creating a pocket. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one multi-layered region is configured as an opening in the woven fabric for receiving a drawstring.