Hybrid yarns, method of making hybrid yarns and fabrics made of hybrid yarns

Abstract

A hybrid yarn and a fabric including the hybrid yarn are provided. The hybrid yarn is formed of a plurality of fibers of a plurality of different fiber compositions. The different fiber compositions are interspersed throughout the yarn. The yarn may be formed using fibers made of the same material or a plurality of different materials. The different fiber compositions may include fibers of three or more different cross sections, fibers made of different materials or a combination of the two. The materials may be synthetic and/or natural materials. The yarn may be constructed to impart selectable functional characteristics to a fabric without the need to include chemicals to impart those characteristics. Fabrics made with the hybrid yarn will have selectable functional features and also be of lighter weight than previously possible. Hybrid spinnerets may be used to produce hybrid yarns with three or more different fiber cross sections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hybrid yarn comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the plurality of fibers includes fibers of a plurality of different compositions and wherein the fibers of the plurality of different compositions are interspersed with one another throughout the yarn. 
     
     
         2 . The hybrid yarn of  claim 1  formed of one or more polymeric materials. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid yarn of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of different fiber compositions comprises three or more different cross sections and all of the plurality of fibers are made of the same material. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid yarn of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of different fiber compositions comprises making the plurality of fibers of a plurality of different materials. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid yarn of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of different materials includes one or more natural materials. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid yarn of  claim 1  wherein one of the plurality of different fiber compositions is a material that can provide fire retardant functionality to the hybrid yarn. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid yarn of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of different fiber compositions is a fiber with a cross section that is at least partially voided. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid yarn of  claim 7  wherein the fiber with a cross section that is at least partially voided comprises between about 15% and about 85% of the total number of fibers of the hybrid yarn. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid yarn of  claim 1  wherein the number of fibers of each of the plurality of different compositions may be the same or different. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid yarn of  claim 1  wherein the yarn is a spun yarn. 
     
     
         11 . A fabric formed using one or more yarns wherein at least one of the one or more yarns is a hybrid yarn comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the plurality of fibers includes fibers of a plurality of different compositions are interspersed with one another throughout the yarn. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric of  claim 11  wherein the at least one hybrid yarn is formed of a plurality of different materials. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of different fiber compositions comprises fibers of three different or more different cross sections and all of the plurality of fibers are made of the same material. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of different fiber compositions comprises making the fibers of a plurality of different materials. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of different materials includes one or more natural materials. 
     
     
         16 . The fabric of  claim 11  wherein one of the plurality of different fiber compositions includes fibers made of a material that can provide fire retardant functionality to the fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The fabric of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the plurality of different fiber compositions is a fiber with a cross section that is at least partially voided. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric of  claim 17  wherein the at least one fiber with a cross section that is at least partially voided comprises between about 15% and about 85% of the total number of fibers of the hybrid yarn. 
     
     
         19 . The fabric of  claim 11  wherein the number of fibers of each of the plurality of different fiber compositions may be the same or different. 
     
     
         20 . The fabric of  claim 11  wherein the at least one hybrid yarn is configured to enable fluid transport management through the fabric.