# US 10,501,873 B2 · Moisture management support garment with a denier differential mechanism

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- Number: US 10,501,873 B2
- Document ID: US10501873B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/495,209
- Filed: 2017-04-24
- Published: 2017-08-10
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-01-10
- Assignees: NIKE, Inc.
- Applicants: NIKE, Inc.
- Inventors: Rebecca P. Hurd; Susan L. Sokolowski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501873B2

## CPC

- D04B 1/246: {Upper torso garments, e.g. sweaters, shirts, leotards}
- A41B 17/00: Selection of special materials for underwear
- A41C 3/0057: {for sport activities}
- B32B 5/026: {Knitted fabric}
- B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)}
- B32B 7/02: Physical, chemical or physicochemical properties
- A41B 2400/62: through several layers
- A41B 2500/10: Knitted
- B32B 2250/20: All layers being fibrous or filamentary
- B32B 2262/0261: Polyamide fibres
- B32B 2262/0276: Polyester fibres
- B32B 2307/726: Permeability to liquids, absorption
- B32B 2437/00: Clothing
- Y10T 442/45: Knit fabric is characterized by a particular or differential knit pattern other than open knit fabric or a fabric in which the strand denier is specified
- Y10T 442/488: Including an additional knit fabric layer
- D04B: KNITTING
- A41B: SHIRTS; UNDERWEAR; BABY LINEN; HANDKERCHIEFS
- A41C: CORSETS; BRASSIERES
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A moisture management fabric using denier differential to facilitate the movement of sweat away from the wearer's body is presented. An exemplary moisture management support garment constructed from an exemplary moisture management fabric is presented. An exemplary moisture management support garment is a moisture transporting sport bra. A denier differential is employed to provide superior moisture transporting and evaporation of perspiration from a wearer during exertion. The denier differential relies upon a facing layer and a back layer with substantially different yarn thickness and fabric porosity to achieve fluid transport.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A moisture management fabric used to form a garment, the moisture management fabric comprising:
a first fabric layer comprising a first yarn having a first denier per filament; and
a second fabric layer configured to face a body surface when formed into the garment and arranged adjacent the first fabric layer, the second fabric layer comprising a second yarn having a second denier per filament that is greater than the first denier per filament, wherein a denier per filament differential between the first denier per filament and the second denier per filament is at least 0.54.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The moisture management fabric of claim 1, wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer have a surface area and a pore size, wherein the first fabric layer surface area is greater than the second fabric layer surface area, and the first fabric layer pore size is less than the second fabric layer pore size.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The moisture management fabric of claim 1, wherein the first yarn is polyester and the second yarn is polyester.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The moisture management fabric of claim 1, wherein the first yarn is nylon and the second yarn is polyester.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The moisture management fabric of claim 1, wherein the first fabric layer is single-knit and the second fabric layer is single-knit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The moisture management fabric of claim 1, wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are double-knit or plaited single-knit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The moisture management fabric of claim 1, wherein the first fabric layer has a stretch of at least 30%.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The moisture management fabric of claim 1, wherein the second fabric layer has a stretch of at least 30%.

### Claim 9

A garment comprising:
a moisture management fabric including:
a first fabric layer comprising a first yarn having a first denier per filament; and
a second fabric layer configured to face a body surface when the garment is in an as-worn configuration and arranged adjacent the first fabric layer, the second fabric layer comprising a second yarn having a second denier per filament that is greater than the first denier per filament, wherein a denier per filament differential between the first denier per filament and the second denier per filament is at least 0.54.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The garment of claim 9, wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer have a surface area and a pore size, wherein the first fabric layer surface area is greater than the second fabric layer surface area, and the first fabric layer pore size is less than the second fabric layer pore size.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The garment of claim 9, wherein the first yarn is polyester and the second yarn is polyester.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The garment of claim 9, wherein the first yarn is nylon and the second yarn is polyester.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The garment of claim 9, wherein the first fabric layer is single-knit and the second fabric layer is single-knit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The garment of claim 9, wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are double-knit or plaited single-knit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The garment of claim 9, wherein the first fabric layer has a stretch of at least 30%.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The garment of claim 9, wherein the second fabric layer has a stretch of at least 30%.