Automotive accessory fabric

Abstract

The present application relates to an automotive accessory fabric. The fabric includes an inner layer and an outer layer adjacent the inner layer. The stitching defines a visible pattern on the outer layer. The pattern includes pattern elements with each pattern element having lines extending in at least three directions. Advantageously, the lines extending in at least three directions may provide increased visual contrast when compared with elements having stitching lines extending less than three directions. Accordingly, an automotive tent incorporating the fabric may be more easily located at night when a camper discerns the visual contrast by firelight or torchlight.

1 . An automotive accessory fabric including:
 an inner layer;   an outer layer adjacent the inner layer; and   stitching defining a visible pattern on the outer layer, the pattern including pattern elements with each pattern element having lines extending in at least three directions.   
     
     
         2 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lines extend in at least three directions to provide increased visual contrast when compared with elements having stitching lines extending in less than three directions. 
     
     
         3 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fabric can be easily located at night when a camper discerns the visual contrast by firelight or torchlight. 
     
     
         4 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stitching shimmers or is reflective, and/or has a shiny or satin finish. 
     
     
         5 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pattern is superimposed on the outer layer. 
     
     
         6 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pattern is a hexagonal pattern with each element being a hexagon. 
     
     
         7 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stitching is a ripstop stitching to impede or contain ripping of the fabric. 
     
     
         8 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer is an adhesive or bonded coating applied to the outer layer. 
     
     
         9 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer is and one or more of waterproof, silver, reflective, heat reflective and UV reflective, preferably with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50+. 
     
     
         10 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer is light reflective inside the accessory to provide passive illumination when reflecting light sources. 
     
     
         11 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer is light reflective through the outer layer. 
     
     
         12 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the outer layer diffuses light reflected from the inner layer. 
     
     
         13 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer includes a sheet. 
     
     
         14 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet includes a polymer, in turn, including polyester such as 300D polyester. 
     
     
         15 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer is waterproof or has a matte finish. 
     
     
         16 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer is more light reflective than the outer layer. 
     
     
         17 . An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is chemically treated to be fire retardant, fungal treated to impede fungal growth and/or lightweight, preferably less than about 200 GSM. 
     
     
         18 . An automotive accessory including the automotive accessory fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , the automotive accessory including an automotive awning or an automotive tent. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing automotive accessory fabric, the method including:
 applying an inner layer to an adjacent outer layer; and   stitching a visible pattern to the outer layer, the pattern including pattern elements with each pattern element having lines extending in at least three directions.   
     
     
         20 . Automotive accessory fabric including:
 an inner heat and light reflective layer;   an outer layer adjacent the inner layer; and   stitching defining a visible pattern on the outer layer.