Stretch knit metal chain fabrics

Abstract

A knitted metal fabric of at least two rows of loops, the rows of loops comprising metal chain knitted together to form a knitted metal fabric. The metal chain comprises a plurality of links of metal linked together to form the chain. The knitted metal chain fabric may be made into garments or used in any manner as other fabrics. A method for making the fabric includes providing at least one metal chain of links flexibly linked together, feeding the metal chain into a knitting machine, maintaining an even tension on the chain, knitting the metal chain into a knitted pattern to form a fabric, and weighting the fabric.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a knitted metal fabric comprising:
 forming a single continuous metal chain including a plurality of links each having a hole with each link being axially connected to adjacent links at an intersection of two adjacent links to form a single co-axial row of connected links to form the chain,   intertwining the single continuous metal chain with itself by forming a plurality of loops without creating any new links or connecting any additional links to the links in the chain to form a flexible and stretchable knit textile,   wherein chain loops comprised of individually co-axially connected links are intertwined at the intersection of an adjacent loop such that the flexible and stretchable knit textile moves and stretches in multiple directions to conform to a shape of an object while in contact with an object and returning to an original shape when not in contact with an object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal of the chain is non-magnetic. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metal of the chain is a noble metal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metal of the chain is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, copper, brass, palladium, rhodium, titanium, tungsten, tungsten carbide, nickel and stainless steel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metal of the chain is an alloy of two or more metals. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two rows of metal chain are knitted or sewn to a non-metal fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal chain comprises two different types of chains. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the links of the metal chain have holes ranging in size from about 0.5 mm×0.5 mm to about 4.0 mm×4.0 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the holes are 3.0×3.0 mm or less in size. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the links have a length and width and the length is greater than the width. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the links have a length and width and the length is equal to the width. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the links have a length of 11 mm or less. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the links have a width of 11 mm or less. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal of the chain is a ferrite material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the holes are at least 10 mm or more in size.