[0001] This invention concerns a new type of Raschel fabric which, on the good side, bears
a normal relief ornamental jacquard pattern obtained by using synthetic threads, while
being provided with a continuous reverse side made of a natural or special synthetic
fiber, soft to the touch.
[0002] As it is already known, Raschel type fabrics, and in particular lace fabrics, are
used for manufacturing corsage items. Said known fabrics are usually obtained using
synthetic fibers. However, these fibers, when contacting the skin of a user, in particular
when used for corsage items, may cause allergy problems, or the like. It has already
been proposed to manufacture Raschel fabrics, by means of Raschel looms of the jacquard
and/or electronic, and/or mechanical type wherein, in addition to the synthetic fibers,
also a natural fiber is used, for instance cotton or wool, but in such a case, the
natural fiber yarn is inserted into the pattern and it gets distributed on both faces
of the resulting fabric.
[0003] Conversely, it is an object of this invention to provide a Raschel type fabric particularly
suitable for the manufacturing of corsage items, wherein the reverse side of the fabric
comprises a layer made exclusively of a natural and/or special synthetic fiber, soft
to the touch, whereby a fabric free from the above drawbacks is provided.
[0004] Said object is achived by providing a double-layer fabric comprising respectively
a good side bearing a relief jacquard pattern made up of synthetic fibers, and a reverse
side comprised entirely of a natural and/or special synthetic fiber yarns.
[0005] In order to obtain such a fabric, Raschel looms are used, of a jacquard and/or electronic
and/or mechanical type, suitably modified as it will be disclosed in the following.
Said modifications comprise further new features of this invention.
[0006] The fabric provided in accordance with this invention, in addition to solving the
main problem, i.e. just that of avoiding allergy troubles to a user, has a further
advantage of making it possible to improve the shaping of the corsage items, as it
will be described in the following.
[0007] Further advantages and features of this invention will become apparent to those skilled
in the art from the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, reference
being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a modified jacquard type Raschel loom;
Figure 2 shows the reverse side of the fabric manufactured by a conventional, unmodified
loom;
Figure 3 shows the reverse side of the fabric manufactured by a modified loom, as
shown in Figure 1; and
Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the new fabric of Figure 3.
[0008] Referring now to Figure 1, the loom according to this invention includes a front
portion 1 and a rear portion 2, and the side portions, among which only side portion
3 is shown. On the above side portions there is mounted a number of yarn carrier beams,
i.e. beam 4, where ground threads or warp threads 5 unwind from, jacquard beam 6 carrying
weft threads 7, which tie up ground threads 5, beam 8 where elastomeric warp threads
9, for instance licra yarns, unwind from. For sake of clarity of the drawing of Figure
1, only one thread has been shown for each beam. Yarn carrier bars are provided for
the number of yarns, and precisely carrier bar 10 carries ground threads 5, carrier
bar 11 carries jacquard threads 7, carrier bar 12 carries elastomeric warp threads
9.
[0009] Carrier bars 13 are eventually provided for carrying weft threads for the ornamental
relief pattern.
[0010] Through motions typical of the Raschel looms, the above mentioned bars are subjected
to combined motions while linking the respective threads, whereby they provide Raschel
type fabrics comprising ornamental relief patterns that change according to the displacements
said bars are subjected to.
[0011] In a new fashion, the loom mentioned above includes a beam 14, providing additional
weft threads 15, which may comprise natural fibers, like cotton, wool and/or a special
synthetic fiber, soft to the touch, and similar to a natural fiber. Thus, each bar
16 carriers, at the rear of the loom front portion, additional threads 15.
[0012] Said additional threads carried by bar 16 link up with the threads carried by bars
10, 11, 12, 13, whereby they provide a layer of soft material on the reverse side
of fabric T, separate from the layer on the good side.
[0013] Cloth-pulling rollers 17, while rotating, gradually withdraw fabric T which is formed
by looping members 18, and winds up on roll 19.
[0014] Said additional threads 15 are operated upon by small springs 20, which automatically
recover the threads and keep them continuously tight.
[0015] The additional threads mentioned above operate within the weft, i.e. horizontally,
on the fabric reverse side, whereby the latter shows two separate layers. The good
side, bearing the relief pattern, with the weft operating threads, and the reverse
side overlapping the pattern, still with weft operating threads.
[0016] Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the difference between the reverse side of a
conventionally obtained fabric and that obtained according to this invention may be
appreciated.
[0017] In fact, as it may be seen in Figure 2, the fabric obtained without additional bar
16, on its reverse side A has the ornamental pattern 21, for instance in warp 22,
without any concealing layer, while in Figures 3 and 4, where the new additional bar
16 has been introduced, the reverse side B of the fabric thus obtained shows a layer
of horizontal threads in the weft 23, which completely conceal the layer patterned
through the warp 22.
[0018] In other words, by means of this invention, a Raschel fabric is obtained having an
ornamental relief pattern on the good side, while the reverse side shows a full body
and a concealing texture, whereby taking the transparency out of the fabric, while
it maintains the ornamental patter on the good side.
[0019] The elastomeric yarn 9 might be done away with, whereby a non-extensible fabric in
the vertical warp direction would result, while still keeping additional bar 16, with
the feature of the two separate layers on the good and on the reverse side.
[0020] Said choice of alternatives might depend upon the use of said fabric one desires
to make: in the first embodiment the extensible fabric is advantageously used in the
corsage items for underwear since, in addition to avoiding allergy problems when in
contact with the skin, the fabric extensibility advantageously enhances the ability
of said items to perfectly adhere to the wearer's body.
[0021] In the second embodiment, i.e. non-extensible fabric, said fabric may be used for
non-underwear items of clothing, but still in contact with the skin, and therefore
it would be a matter of items having an advantageously soft and smooth reverse side,
and a good side bearing an ornamental relief pattern.
1. A fabric comprised of two layers, obtained by means of Raschel looms, of a Jacquard
and/or electronic, and/or mechanical type, characterized in that said fabric (T) has
a layer on the good side, bearing an ornamental jacquard relief pattern, obtained
by means of synthetic threads, and a layer (B) on the reverse side, obtained by means
of different threads comprising natural fibers or special synthetic fibers, soft to
the touch.
2. The fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that said layer (B) on the reverse
side of fabric (T) is obtained using weft threads (23) which conceal warp threads
(22) of the ornamental pattern.
3. The fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that fabric
(T) may contain elastomeric warp threads (9), for instance licra, in order to provide
an elastic fabric (T).
4. A loom adapted to manufacture said fabric (T) according to the above claims, including
a bar (10) carrying ground threads (5), a bar (11) carrying jacquard threads (7),
bars (13) carrying threads for the relief pattern, and possibly a bar (12) carrying
elastomeric threads (9), characterized in that said loom is provided with a bar (16)
carrying additional threads (15) comprising a natural and/or a special soft synthetic
fiber, said last bar (16) being positioned on the loom in a rear area, in order to
obtain a weft (23) on the entire reverse side (B) of fabric (T), whereby on the reverse
side there is provided a soft concealing layer (23), separate from patterned layer
(22) on the good side.
5. The loom according to claim 4, characterized in that small springs are positioned
around additional threads (15) for recovering the same, whereby said threads (15)
are kept constantly tight.