Apparel with multi-layer fabric panel

Abstract

A garment includes a waistband with a multi-layer fabric panel. The multi-layer fabric panel includes a first fabric layer coupled to a second fabric layer. The first fabric layer is comprised of a first material and a second material, the first material forming an auxetic structure comprising a pattern of reentrant shapes, and the second material providing a fill portion positioned inside each reentrant shape of the auxetic structure. The second fabric layer is coupled to the first fabric layer along an upper perimeter and a lower perimeter of the waistband, the second fabric layer is free-floating relative to the first fabric layer in a central body portion between the upper perimeter and the lower perimeter of the waistband. A pelvis portion is connected to the waistband.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pants garment comprising:
 a waistband comprising a multi-layer fabric panel including a first fabric layer coupled to a second fabric layer, the first fabric layer comprising a first material and a second material, the first material forming an auxetic structure comprising a pattern of reentrant shapes, and the second material providing a fill portion positioned inside each reentrant shape of the auxetic structure, the second fabric layer coupled to the first fabric layer along an upper perimeter and a lower perimeter of the waistband, the second fabric layer free-floating relative to the first fabric layer in a central body portion between the upper perimeter and the lower perimeter of the waistband; and   a pelvis portion connected to the waistband.   
     
     
         2 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein the second fabric layer is provided by a stretch fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein the second fabric layer is identical to the first fabric layer. 
     
     
         4 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein the first fabric layer is an inner layer on the waistband and the second fabric layer is an outer layer on the waistband. 
     
     
         5 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein each of the reentrant shapes is an auxetic hexagon arranged in an hourglass orientation. 
     
     
         6 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein the pants garment is provided by one of long pants, capri pants, leggings, shorts, or briefs. 
     
     
         7 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein the second fabric layer is defined by a greater power than the first fabric layer, such that the second fabric layer controls stretch and drives recovery of the first fabric layer. 
     
     
         8 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein the second material of the first fabric layer provides a fill portion formed by a plurality of stitches positioned inside of each reentrant shape of the auxetic structure, and wherein the fill portion substantially fills an interior area defined by each reentrant shape. 
     
     
         9 . A pants garment of  claim 8  wherein the first fabric layer is comprised of a warp-knit jacquard fabric wherein the auxetic structure is raised relative to the fill portion on one side of the first fabric layer. 
     
     
         10 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein the pattern of reentrant shapes are auxetic hexagons arranged in an hourglass orientation or in a bow-tie orientation on the waistband. 
     
     
         11 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein the multi-layer fabric panel is near auxetic or true auxetic. 
     
     
         12 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein the auxetic structure lowers a Poisson's ratio of the multi-layer fabric panel. 
     
     
         13 . The pants garment of  claim 1  wherein the waistband is configured to completely encircle a waist of a wearer of the pants garment. 
     
     
         14 . The pants garment of  claim 1 , the waistband further comprising a front stretch panel, wherein the multi-layer fabric panel is arranged on a back of the waistband and is connected to the front stretch panel along at least one side seam. 
     
     
         15 . A waistband for an article of apparel, the waistband comprising:
 a multi-layer rear panel including a first layer defining an auxetic structure and a second layer provided by a stretch fabric, the auxetic structure of the first layer configured to lower a Poisson's ratio of the multi-layer rear panel, the second layer is defined by a greater power than the first layer such that the second layer controls stretch and drives recovery of the first layer; and   a front panel connected to the multi-layer rear panel.   
     
     
         16 . The waistband of  claim 15  wherein the front panel is provided by a stretch fabric connected to the rear panel by at least one seam arranged on a side of the waistband. 
     
     
         17 . The waistband of  claim 15  wherein the auxetic structure is provided by a pattern of reentrant shapes. 
     
     
         18 . A brassiere comprising:
 a first cup section, the first cup section provided by a multi-layer fabric panel including a first fabric layer coupled to a second fabric layer, the first fabric layer comprising a first material and a second material, the first material forming an auxetic structure comprising a pattern of reentrant shapes, and the second material providing a fill portion positioned inside each reentrant shape of the auxetic structure, and the second fabric layer comprising a stretch fabric;   a second cup section; and   a sternum bridge positioned between the first cup section and the second cup section, wherein the second fabric layer is coupled to the first fabric layer of the first cup section along a perimeter portion of the multi-layer fabric panel adjacent to the sternum bridge.   
     
     
         19 . The brassiere of  claim 18  wherein the multi-layer fabric panel is a dual-layer fabric panel, and wherein the second fabric layer is free-floating relative to the first fabric layer at a central body portion located within the perimeter portion of the dual-layer fabric panel. 
     
     
         20 . The brassiere of  claim 18  wherein the first cup section, the second cup section and the sternum bridge are included on a front portion of the brassiere, the brassiere further comprising:
 a back portion coupled to the front portion; and 
 a shoulder strap extending from the front portion to the back portion; 
 wherein the multi-layer fabric panel is a first multi-layer fabric panel, wherein the shoulder strap includes a second multi-layer fabric panel that also includes the auxetic structure, and the first multi-layer fabric panel is connected to the second multi-layer fabric panel by a seam.