Method of manufacturing mechanoreception stimulation fabric
AssigneeNaboso Technology Inc.
InventorEmily Splichal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for manufacturing the mechanoreception fabric for incorporation into a garment or item of apparel sets a liquid substrate to a fabric weave to produce a plurality of protuberances in graticulate array and spaced apart across a surface of the fabric. The plurality of protuberances includes pyramidal nodes, each independent and separate from other nodes, not less than 1 mm apart at the base and not more than 5 mm apart at each apex and 1.5 mm in height. Because the nodes are separated and not in contact with each other, the fabric produced is still stretchable and wearable when incorporated into an item of apparel despite the nodes having a hardness of between Shore A 60 and 80.
Claims17
A method of manufacturing a mechanoreception stimulation garment or item of apparel for wearing by a user comprising:
- cutting a mold plate to a shape appropriate for use in molding an arrangement of a plurality of protuberances upon an interior surface of a garment or item of apparel;
- scoring the mold plate to include a plurality of inverse pyramidal nodes upon a surface thereof, said nodes arranged in an array corresponding to the position of the plurality of protuberances;
- dispensing controlled volumes of liquid polymer or liquid substrate into the inverse pyramidal nodes in the mold plate such that the surface of the liquid polymer or liquid substrate is congruent with the surface of the mold plate without overflowing;
- heating the mold plate so that the surface of the liquid polymer or liquid substrate reaches a set temperature;
- placing a fabric upon a positioning plate corresponding to the shape of the mold plate such that a surface of the fabric contacts a surface of the mold plate wherein the liquid polymer or liquid substrate is housed;
- subjecting the fabric in contact with the mold plate to press at a target pressure;
- cooling the fabric and mold plate so that the mold temperature falls to a desired cooling temperature;
- and
- peeling the fabric from the mold plate after the mold plate has cooled to the desired cooling temperature;
- wherein the plurality of protuberances is affixed to the surface of the fabric, each node independent, separate from, and not in contact with any adjacent node, whereby the fabric is stretchable;
- and
- forming the garment or item of apparel from the fabric, wherein the plurality of protuberances is upon the interior surface of the garment or item of apparel and configured to contact the innervate skin of the user when the user wears the garment or item of apparel.
A method of manufacturing a mechanoreception stimulation garment or item of apparel for wearing by a user comprising:
- cutting a mold plate to a shape appropriate for use in molding an arrangement of a plurality of protuberances upon an interior surface of a garment or item of apparel;
- scoring the mold plate to include a plurality of inverse pyramidal nodes upon a surface thereof, said pyramidal nodes being 2.5 mm by 2.5 mm at the opening at the surface of the mold, not more than 1.5 mm deep, and not more than 1 mm apart, said nodes arranged in a graticulate array corresponding to the position of the plurality of protuberances upon a garment or item of apparel;
- dispensing controlled volumes of liquid polymer or liquid substrate into the inverse pyramidal nodes in the mold plate such that the surface of the liquid polymer or liquid substrate is congruent with the surface of the mold plate without overflowing;
- heating the mold plate to approximately 400° C. for at least two minutes such that the surface of the liquid polymer or liquid substrate reaches a specific set temperature;
- placing fabric upon a positioning plate corresponding to the shape of the mold plate such that a surface of the fabric contacts a surface of the mold plate wherein the liquid polymer or liquid substrate is housed;
- subjecting the fabric in contact with the mold plate to a pressure of about 500 kg/cm2, cooling the fabric and mold plate so that the mold plate temperature falls to approximately 100° C.;
- and
- peeling the fabric from the mold plate after the mold plate has cooled;
- wherein the plurality of protuberances is affixed to the interior surface of the fabric and arranged not more than 1 mm apart at each base and not more than 5 mm apart at each apex, and wherein each node is independent, separate from, and not in contact with any adjacent node, whereby the fabric is stretchable;
- and
- forming the garment or item of apparel from the fabric, wherein the plurality of protuberances is upon the interior surface of the garment or item of apparel and configured to contact the innervate skin of the user when the user wears the garment or item of apparel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.