Fabric and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a fabric including at least one interlaced thermoplastic yarn. The fabric includes a first region and a second region. At least a portion of the thermoplastic yarn in the first region is fused together, and the thermoplastic yarn in the second region is not fused.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fabric comprising at least one interlaced thermoplastic yarn, wherein the fabric comprises a first region and a second region, at least a portion of the thermoplastic yarn in the first region is fused together, and the thermoplastic yarn in the second region is not fused. 
     
     
         2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the first region of the fabric is non-stretchable, and the second region of the fabric is stretchable. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein a material of the first region of the fabric is the same as a material of the second region of the fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein an interlacing pattern of the first region and an interlacing pattern of the second region are substantially the same. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic yarn comprises a thermoplastic fiber, at least a portion of the thermoplastic fiber in the first region is fused together, and the thermoplastic fiber in the second region is not fused. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic yarn comprises a functional fiber, and the functional fiber in the fabric is not fused. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 6 , wherein the functional fiber is an elastic fiber, and an elongation at break of the elastic fiber is equal to or greater than about 500%. 
     
     
         8 . A method for manufacturing a fabric, comprising:
 (a) providing at least a thermoplastic yarn;   (b) interlacing the thermoplastic yarn into an intermediate fabric, wherein the intermediate fabric comprises a first region and a second region; and   (c) fusing at least a portion of the thermoplastic yarn in the first region together.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein step (b) comprises interlacing the first region and the second region by a same interlacing method. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the interlacing method includes weaving, knitting, crocheting or braiding. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein step (c) comprises heating the first region of the fabric, such that the portion of the thermoplastic yarn in the first region is fused together. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first region of the fabric is non-stretchable, and the second region of the fabric is stretchable. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a material of the first region of the fabric is the same as a material of the second region of the fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoplastic yarn comprises a thermoplastic fiber, and step (c) comprises fusing the thermoplastic fiber in the first region. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the thermoplastic yarn comprises a functional fiber, and the functional fiber in the fabric is not fused. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the functional fiber is an elastic fiber, and an elongation at break of the elastic fiber is equal to or greater than about 500%. 
     
     
         17 . A fabric comprising at least one interlaced thermoplastic yarn, wherein the fabric comprises a first region and a second region, at least a portion of the thermoplastic yarn in the first region is fused together, the thermoplastic yarn in the second region is not fused, the thermoplastic yarn comprises a thermoplastic fiber and a functional fiber, at least a portion of the thermoplastic fiber in the first region is fused together, the thermoplastic fiber in the second region is not fused, and the functional fiber in the fabric is not fused. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric of  claim 17 , wherein an interlacing pattern of the first region and an interlacing pattern of the second region are substantially the same, and the interlacing pattern is weaving pattern, knitting pattern, crocheting pattern or braiding pattern.