Fabric Items Having Strands With Inner and Outer Layers

Abstract

A fabric-based item may include fabric formed from intertwined strands of material. The strands of material may include interior layers and exterior layers that surround the interior layers. The interior layers may have different properties from the exterior layers, such as different conductivities, adhesiveness, magnetic properties, colors, reflectivities, as examples. The strands of material may be selectively etched to expose portions of the interior layers. In this way, the properties of the interior layers may be visible and/or exposed, and the strands may have a modified appearance or functionality in the exposed regions. Other strands or external equipment may be coupled to the interior layers within the exposed regions. Adjacent strands in a layer of fabric may have adjoining exposed portions to modify the properties of a region of the layer of fabric.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fabric-based item comprising:
 a layer of fabric comprising strands of material, wherein each of the strands includes an interior yarn and an exterior yarn that surrounds the interior yarn, wherein the layer of fabric has first portions and second portions, wherein the extruded strands in the first portions have some of the exterior yarn removed to expose the interior yarn, and wherein the extruded strands in the second portions have the exterior yarn fully surrounding the interior yarn.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 1 , wherein the interior yarn is a first color and the exterior yarn is a second color that is different from the first color, and wherein the layer of fabric exhibits the first color in the first portions and exhibits the second color in the second portions. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first portions of the fabric layer form a logo. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first portions of the fabric layer form text. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 1 , wherein the interior yarn is conductive and the exterior yarn is insulating. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 5 , wherein the second portions of the fabric layer surround the first portions to form openings, and wherein external equipment is configured to attach to the conductive interior yarn through the openings. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 additional conductive yarn, wherein the second portions of the fabric layer surround the first portion to form openings, and wherein the additional conductive yarn is attached to the interior conductive yarn through the openings.   
     
     
         8 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 1 , wherein the interior yarn is magnetic and the exterior yarn is insulating. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 1 , wherein the interior yarn comprises adhesive and the exterior yarn is free from adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 9 , wherein the second portions of the fabric layer surround the first portions to form openings, and wherein external equipment is configured to attach to the adhesive interior yarn through the openings. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 1 , wherein the interior yarn comprises thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 1 , wherein the interior yarn comprises a first material with a first reflectivity and the exterior yarn comprises a second material with a second reflectivity that is different from the first reflectivity. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 12 , wherein the interior yarn comprises embedded glass beads, and the first reflectivity is greater than the second reflectivity. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional layer of fabric, wherein the layer of fabric forms a tag that is attached to the additional layer of fabric.   
     
     
         15 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the extruded strands further comprise an additional yarn interposed between the interior yarn and the exterior yarn, and wherein the interior yarn, the exterior yarn, and the additional yarn are different colors. 
     
     
         16 . The fabric-based item defined in  claim 1 , wherein the exterior yarn is configured to wear down gradually over time to expose additional portions of the interior yarn. 
     
     
         17 . A fabric, comprising:
 a layer of intertwined strands of material having first and second areas, wherein each of the strands of material comprises a core layer surrounded by an exterior layer, and wherein some of the exterior layer is removed to expose portions of the core layer.   
     
     
         18 . The fabric defined in  claim 17 , wherein the core layer is an interior yarn and the exterior layer is an exterior yarn, and wherein the core layer has a first color and the exterior layer has a second color that is different from the first color. 
     
     
         19 . The fabric defined in  claim 18 , wherein the exposed portions of the core layer are configured to form a marking selected from the group consisting of: text, a logo, a design, a pattern, and an image. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus, comprising:
 fabric comprising strands of material, wherein each of the strands includes a core and an exterior layer that surrounds the core, wherein the core has a first property and the exterior layer has a second property that is different from the first property, and wherein portions of the exterior layer are removed to expose portions of the core having the first property.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus defined in  claim 20 , wherein the first property and the second property comprise a characteristic selected from the group consisting of: color, conductivity, magnetism, and reflectivity.