US2630573A - Heat retaining garment - Google Patents

Description

INVENTOR HENRY J. RAND gg NEY H J RAND HEAT RETAINING GARMENT March l0, 1953 File@ Nov. 4, 195o- `Patented Mar. 10, 1953 HEAT RETAINING GARMENT Henry J. Rand, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to Deering, Milliken & Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 4, 1950, Serial No. 194,115

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to coats having selected portions thereof laminated with heat `reflective coating made up of a large number of foliated metal flakes to form a reflective surface within the garment.

inasmuch as the mechanism for maintaining uniform body temperature includes the loss of body heat through radiation, the inverse of the proposition would call for keeping the body warm by reducing the radiation lost therefrom.

It is accordingly a fundamental object of the instant invention to provide a coat structure having selected portions thereof lined with a foliated metallic structure to `render them heat reflective.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coat or jacket having a heat reflective lining.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious in part and appear in part hereinafter.

The invention comprises a coat or similar garment which has on the inner surface thereof either on the coat material itself or the appropriate portions of a properly placed lining, a heat reflective layer of foliated metallic flakes oriented to present substantially a continuous reflective surface to radiant heat so that when placed around the body a coat functions to reflect back to the source such radiant heat as would normally be lost.

A better understanding of the invention is gained from an examination of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a coat viewed from the front;

Figure 2 represents a section of a coat through the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section taken vertically through the garment along the line 3--3;

Figure 4 is a section through a sleeve taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken across the mid-esection of the coat to show the laminated structure thereof; and

Figure 6 is a development of a typical pattern for a coat showing the several pieces which are fitted together to form the garment.

Figure 'l is a plan view of the woven material for fabric constituting the liner and indicating the natural openings created by the crossing of warp and weft threads.

Figure y8 is a section view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 'l illustrating the direction of spray, the manner in which the threads are partially covered with metallic particles by the spray tion of reflective materials.

Figure 9 is a greatly enlarged section of one of the threads of the weave comprising the liner material after coating said material with metallic illm but indicating that each of such threads is free of metallic particles at the portion thereof covered by an intersecting transverse thread; and,

Figure 10 is a section view of the thread shown in Figure 91 illustrating the separate filaments which make up each of the threads and the manner in which the metallic layer coats one side of each of the threads of the liner, creating additional air spaces and leaving intact the natural interstices between such separate filaments.

Referring back to Figure 1, I0 represents the garment having a body II, collar I2 and sleeves I3 and I4. In the conventional coat structure the body portion will have front panels I5 and I6 and one or two back panels I1 and I8. Also, commonly, a coat sleeve will be made of an outer and. inner panel.

In Figure 2, which is a section taken along the line 2`2 of Figure 1. the arrangement of coat material and liner carrying the reflective layer is readily seen. Thus, in the figure, 20 represents the outer garment material, 2| is the liner which max be of any of the conventional fabrics used for lining coats, and 22 is the foliated metallic heat reflective layer which is adhered to the liner. The liner is, of course, secured at spaced and appropriate points to the coat material.

In Figure 3, the section down through the garment, the same structure is apparent showing the outer garment material 20, the liner material 2|, and the foliated metallic layer 22. The same arrangement of garment material, liner, and foliated metallic layer is found in Figure 4. which is a section through a sleeve.

For purposes of illustration, Figure 5 represents an enlarged section across the coat structure to illustrate the arrangement of garment material 20, liner 2l, and foliated metallic layer 22. It will be seen that in the ordinary garment as it hangs on the wearer, there will be not only the heat reflective layer to return radiated heat to the body, but there will also be an air space between the garment material 20 and the heat reflective layer which will add to the eiiiciency of the garment in keeping the body warm.

Figure 6 illustrates the form which typical panels which are cut for assembly of the garment will take. Thus 60 represents a back panel, 6l a front panel, and 62 a sleeve panel. In assembling a garment the outer material takes this form, and for convenience in assembling the garment having the coated liner material, lining panels corresponding to 60, 6l and 6 2 may be cut from coated material and assembled with the garment panels..

Consideration of the body as a source of radiant heat indicates that appropriately applied reflective surfaces improve the heat retaining ability of the garment by reflecting back to the sources radiant heat thrown out. The reflective coating, as long as it is applied in the appropriate areas, can be adhered either to the garment material itself or to an appropriately located lining material. Thus, in considering a coat, the largest areas are those corresponding to the back of the individual Wearing the coat, the front and the outer surfaces of the arms. These also correspond to the surface which would radiate heat directly into the atmosphere.

Accordingly, in making the improved coat, reference to the section in Figure 3 will indicate the appropriate places for the application of thc reflective coating.

In the figure it will be seen that the outer sleeve panels carry a reflective coating and that the back and front panels of the coat also carry a reflective coating. These may be applied directly to the garment material or they may be equally as conveniently applied by the insertion into the garment of a liner constructed of a material carrying the reflective coating. This is shown in Figure 3 where 2| represents liner sections extending over the .back of a coat and into 'the sleeves over an area corresponding to the outer panel.

The method of preparing appropriate coating compositions to be applied to the coat material and the liner therefor may be learned from an examination of my applications, Serial Nos. 181,756, Coated Fabrics; and 181,755, Method of Making Coated Fabric, now abandoned.

The metal flake to be used in the coating may be any of those metals which are inherently malleable, preferably corrosion resistant, of high reflectivity, and can be worked into ne leaf or flake form, such as aluminum, gold, silver, copper, iron, steel, stainless steel, brass, Monel metal,

zinc, or platinum, maybe used. However, in the f selection of the metal flake, considerations of economics as well as operative characteristics will dictate the selection of a metal which is light, corrosion resistant and easily available commercially, such as aluminum or bronze flakes. These individual flakes form a discontinuous metallic lm as indicated in Figures 7 to 10 inclusive, such film being indicated upon the several warp and weft threads, I and Il respectively, at 3B'.

The binding ingredient for holding the metallic vflake in place may be any film forming polymer,

plasticized or unplasticized, even including some of the synthetic polymeric materials commonly used as bers for textile manufacture. Upon dispersion or solution in a suitable solvent with the metal flake in suspension, there is formed a metallic composition which, after the solvent has evaporated upon application, forms a thin metallic layer composed of metal flakes bound in place by the polymer.

The following synthetic lm forming polymers may be used as the binding agent; vinyl polymer types, such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate and copolymers of the vinyl compounds with other film forming compounds, yinylidine chloride, and even substituted vinyl compounds, such as polystyrene; acrylic acid resins, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl butyl, acrylates or methacrylate and various copolymers thereof; alkyd resins such as the condensation products of glycerol and phthalic acid or anhydride; linear polyamides, the best known of which is nylon; organo silicon polymers such as polymethyl siloxane; melamine resins characterized as condensation products of melamine and formaldehyde.

The garment formed by the lamination of materials with a reflective coating of this nature is heat reflective but air permeable because of the composition used in forming the heat reector layer as well as the manner of depositing it. In the course of preparing the fabric, it is found that the application of the resinous coating in a spray and the nal baking shrinks and clinches the application onto the outer points or surfaces of the fabric weave, while the interstices remain substantially free of metallic particles, thereby providing minute apertures or pores for the passage of air therethrough.

It is seen that where shrinking has occurred and where the metallic particles extend somewhat away from the fabric thread, an air pocket is formed bounded by the thread and metallic particles, thus entrapping air which serves as an excellent insulating or heat absorbing medium. Where air is entrapped at these points, any heat absorbed by the pocket of air may be reflected back by the metallic particles thus increasing the efciency of the coated fabric as a heat barrier. At the same time, permeability is provided since the metallic particles do not completely cross over the interstices provided by the juncture of the warp and woof threads. The air pockets spoken of in the foregoing are clearly shown at 40 in Figure l0, where it is seen that the lm of metallic particles which envelops the upper surface of each exposed thread forms air pockets 4|] in between the separate strands of each thread. As herein shown, each of the threads is composed of such separate strands. Furthermore, the light coating of metallic particles on the exterior upper surface of each thread does not lill nor impregnate any of the natural openings in these strands of the threads, such as openings 35, shown in Figure 10. It is found the metallic particles cover the larger part of each mound where a warp thread surmounts a woof thread or vice versa, Microscopic examination reveals that a metallic particle or aggregate of particles covers the complete surface of each thread up to a point which is somewhat short of its juncture with a thread crossing it laterally. Thus, referring to Figures 8 and 9, it is seen that the spray, having its direction of application projected from the vertical, does not coat or cover the individual threads l0 and Il at the portion thereof where such thread lies underneath the transverse crossing thread or at points of intersection of the threads. The space which remains uncoated by the spray is so indicated in this figure and designated by numeral 32. Since the juncture point is the place where there is air transfer through the fabric, the resulting fabric carrying the metallic application and containing these air transfer points or pores is permeable to the extent dei termlned by the spraying techniques used. At

the same time, since the metallic particles cover the major superficial area of each thread, it is found that the fabric is eiilciently utilized for reiiective purposes. In this manner both qualities of permeability and heat reflectivity are obtained without impairment of either characteristic.

' The polymer used as the binding agent should be of a suillciently high molecular weight to be solid at ambient temperatures, which means it should have a molecular weight exceeding about 2500 or 3000. On the other hand, however, it is best that the molecular weight be not too high, for extremely high molecular weight polymers, those of several hundred thousand, are of such limited solubility in the common solvents that they render them too diillcult to use. Also they are so frangible that they do not form flexible illms without plasticizers. Normally polymers having molecular weights of the order of 5000 to 10,000 or 20,000 will be adequate for thel purpose. A further criterion of a suitable molecular weight for the polymer is that it should be solid and dry to the touch at ambient temperatures and reach a state of incipient fusion at a temperature level which will not injure the fabric to which it applied.

The general formula for preparing the solution of binder in which the metallic flake is suspended involves dispersing the finely divided polymer in a solvent for the polymer, and a small amount of plasticizer, and milling or mixing While raising the temperature slowly to about 50 C. to form a clear solution or stable organosol. The smallest amount of binder which will give effective adhesion of the flake should be employed. Usually the weight of binder should be at least about the weight of metal ilake used, but amounts from 2 to 10 times that weight will do. Hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, hydroformer, residues, or others of similar aromatic nature, serve as extendeis of the primary solvent i,

for the binding agent. To a solution of the binding agent of this type there is added the metal flake in ilnely divided form preferably 300 mesh or finer, to form the suspension which is used in the coating operation.

The proportioning of ingredients will be best understood from the following few typical examples:

Eample 1 105 parts of polyvinyl chloride having a molecular weight of about 8000 is dissolved in 145 parts by Weight of toluol, and to this is added a paste by wetting 21 parts by weight of aluminum flake of at least 300 mesh with 29 parts by Weight of toluol. The solution thus formed will have the aluminum flake in suspension in a 39 per cent b v weight solution of polyvinyl chloride and is ready for being sprayed onto a material. It is to be understood, of course, that variation in the amount of thinner used in the process will develop different viscosities for use in spraying. Similarly variation in the amount of resin will effect that result. Any of the metal flake materials mentioned, such as bronze, steel, copper, silver, etc., may be used;

Also, it should be understood that the various metal flakes will have widely different specillc gravities and may have quite different areas per unit weight, so that adjustment of the proportions of resin and solvent to carry the metal powder will be in order. Where a relatively heavy metal such as copper is used, it may be necessary to prepare a spray suspension having a lesser pro portion of solids and possibly a higher viscosity i than that described. This, of course, is readily adjustable by persons skilled in the art. Polymers for use in formulating the composition for the metallic application can be conveniently used if ilrst prepared as organcsols or pastes which are characterized as dispersions of the organic polymer in a plastlcizer. Polyvinyl chloride organoils are good examples of this kind of formula- Briefly, a polyvinyl chloride organosol is prepared from conventional emulsion polymerized vinyl chloride which, if necessary, is reduced to the desired state of subdivision by grinding after drying. The polymer powder is mixed with the ,plasticizer in any suitable mechanical mixer for such materials. In this mixing operation the polyvinyl chloride particles are dispersed in the plasticizer to produce a high viscosity paste. As may be needed, the viscosity of the paste is reduced by blending with additional plasticizer. The paste can also be prepared by polymerizing the starting material in the presence of the desired plasticizer. When prepared in this form with any of the common plasticizers, the paste is very useful in formulating the binding compositions for the metallic application characterizing this invention.

From this example, the general principle governing the formulation of binder composition for the metal application will be seen as requiring solution of the polymeric binder in a volatile solvent to give a low viscosity consistent with retaining good spraying characteristics and quick drying when the solution is sprayed. There should be sufficient binder present to hold the metal flake on the surface of the fabric and, generally, the amount of binder will vary with its identity, but will be in the range from a Weight about equal to that of the flake used to about 5 times that weight.

The choice of binding agents is wide, and with the common solvents permits a wide variety of combinations which allows for adjustment of volatility of the new composition to match the processing of the fabric. Typical hy'drocarbon solvents are benzene, toluene, xylene and hydroformer residues which represent a moderate choice of aromatic solvent; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as petroleum ether, hexane and stoddard solvents have only limited solvent power for many polymers and for that reason are not as useful as the volatile aromatics. Ester solvents include methyl formate, ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, isobutyl propionate, butyl lactate, and are quite useful 'but relatively expensive. Also the various cellosolves, such as ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, etc. may' be used. Similarly, chlorinated vhydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, ethylene dichloridle and chlorobenzene may be used. Ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cycl-ohexanone and similar volatile ones find use as solvents in the composition. Certain volatile ethers such as diethyl ether, dioxane, or disopropyl ether also may lbe used. Certain alcohols such as isobutanol and cyclohexanol and even some acids have some use as solvents for some resins. The classes of solvents may also vbe used in admixture with each other consistent with the principles set forth.

'Though the choice of solvents is wide, it will usually be governed by cost and volatility to match the processing rate of the fabric. Also the polymers vary in their solubility in the various solvents. Briefly, the composition to be used for spraying the coating on the fabric should be of a viscosity' which permits it to break up into a cloud of discrete droplets and the volatility of the solvent should be such that it evaporates substantially as fast as the composition strikes the fabric.

Common plasticizers which may be used in the coating composition in amounts of about to 150 per cent or more of the binding agent are: abietic acid esters, castor oil, tung oil, linseed oil, soy bean oil, as typical natural products; dimethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate di octyl phthalate (I2-ethyl hexyl), di-B-butoxy ethyl phthalate and various mixed phthalates, butyl stearate and related esters, methyl glycolate and tricresyl phosphate as typical esters.

The method of application of the foliated metallic flake coating to the material is based on spraying of the composition by means of conventional spray equipment, but other techniques. such as roller or printing operations are feasible. For example, a variation of the technique is to apply a` ilrst light coating to the fabric, which may be clear binder, prior to the reflective coat ing. Also the application of a very light clear coating over the reflective layer is sometimes desirable. The spraying operation has the virtue that the pressure of the spray tends to lay the akes of metal on the superficial surface of the textile fabric as represented by the tops of the threads in the Weave and does not penetrate into the interstices of the individual fibers or the opening defined by crossing of threads, which leaves the fabric pliable and porous. The natural interstices or openings in the fabric 'between the individual threads are designated by 3l in Figure 7. They remain free of the metallic particles and thus, insofar as these interstices be concerned, the fabric retains its porosity.. Since it is important to apply a predetermined amount of the material per unit area. of the fabric to insure retention of its porosity, close control of the amount of metallic flake and binder deposited per unit area of the fabric should be observed. This cannot be stated generally, for it varies with the weight of the material and the degree of reflectivity desired to be developed. In general, the reflective coating is substantially uniform over the entire superficial area of the textile fabrics and is the equivalent of at least about a single layer of the metal flake over the supere icial surface of the material. Measurement of the amount of deposition can be based on the altered weight of the fabric, but as pointed out above, itis best controlled by means of a measurement of either 'transmitted or reflected radiation.

Following the coating operation and drying of the coating, it will be observed that the fabric will develop a slight stiffness somewhat resembling thatV of lightly starched material, but this is readily overcome 'by distorting the material, for

example, through application of tension on the bias. The result is that the coherence among particles of binder, formed by the discrete droplets of the spray, holding metal flakes on the fabric is broken but the adherence of the flake to the fabric is undisturbed and the tiny microscopic particles of binder permit the fabric to develop its original pliabilit 1 Though this invention has been described with reference only to the single embodiment shown in the drawings, it is understood that variations thereof may be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

What is claimed is:

l. A garment comprising an outer fabric and an inner fabric liner, said inner fabric liner being pliable, porous and heat reflective and comprised of a, preformed textile weave of fibrous warp and weft threads, a discontinuous film composed of a multiplicity of heat reflective metallic flakes applied to the outer side of said liner, a

binder between the heat reflective metallic flakes and the threads to adhere said flakes to thethreads, the opposite side of said liner being sub-` stantially free of said metallic flakes, the film of said interstices and the surfaces of the fibrous warp and weft threads at said points of intersection being substantially free from said metallic flakes, the outer exposed surfaces of the threads of said inner fabric liner facing said outer fabric being substantially covered by the discontinuous heat reflective metallic film, the metallic film enveloping the upper exposed surfaces of each warp and weft thread but being discontinuous adjacent the areas of intersection of the warp and weft threads, whereby said inner fabric liner is porous, pliable and reflective to radiated heat, said'outer fabric being uncoated with said metallic flakes, said outer fabric and said liner being secured to each other at spaced points to maintain them in laminated relationship.

2. The product as defined in claim 1 in which the heat reflective metallic flakes cover approximately one-half of the surface of the warp and weft threads of said inner fabric liner.

3. The product 'as defined in claim 1 in which the warp and weft threads of said inner fabric liner form substantially largev interstices which are substantially free of metallic flakes and in which each of the warp and weft threads is comv posed of a plurality of filaments having interstices therebetween, said interstices between said filaments being substantially free of metallic flakes forming the film.

4. A garment comprising an outer fabric and an inner fabric liner, said inner fabric liner being a pliable, porous and heat'reflective fabric and comprising a preformed textile weave of fibrous warp and weft threads, a discontinuous film composed of a multiplicity of heat reflective metallic flakes applied to the side of said liner facing said outer fabric, a binder between the heat reflective metallic flakes and the threads to adhere said flakes to the threads, the opposite side of said liner being substantially free of said metallic flakes and binder, the Warp and weft threads at the intersections thereof providing interstices in the inner fabric liner, said interstices and the surfaces of the fibrous warp and weft threads at said points of intersection being substantially free from said metallic flakes, the outer exposed surfaces of the threads of said inner fabric liner on the coated side beine' substantially completely covered by the discontinuous heat reflective metallic film, the metallic lm enveloping the upper exposed surfaces of each warp and weft thread but being discontinuous'adjacent the areas of intersection of the warp and weft threads, said warp and weft threads defining additional substantially large interstices, which interstices are substantially free of metallic flakes, whereby said inner fabric liner is porous, pliable and reflective to radiated heat, said outer fabric being uncoated with said metallic flakes, said outer fabric and said liner being secured to each other at spaced points.

5'.,The product as defined in claim 4 in which each of the Warp and weft threads of said inner fabric liner is composed of a plurality of laments having interstices therebetween, said interstices between said filaments being substantially free of metallic flakes forming the iilm.

6. A garment comprising an outer fabric and an inner fabric, said inner fabric being a. liner, at least one of said fabrics being pliable, porous and heat reflective and comprising a preformed textile weave of brous warp and weft threads, a discontinuous lm composed of a multiplicity of heat reflective metallic ilakes applied to the side of said one fabric facing the other of said fabrics, a binder between the heat reflective metallic flakes and the threads to adhere said flakes to the threads, the opposite side of said one fabric being substantially free of said metallic iiakes and binder, the warp and weft threads at the intersections thereof providing interstices in said one fabric, said interstices and the surfaces of the brous warp and weft threads at said points of intersection being substantially free from said metallic flakes, the outer exposed surfaces of the threads of said one fabric on the coated side being substantially completely covered by the discontinuous heat reflective metallic film, the metallic film enveloping the upper exposed surface of each warp and weft thread but beingV discontinuous adjacent the areas of intersection of the warp and weft threads defining additional substantially large interstices, which interstices are substantially free of metallic ilakes, whereby said one fabric is porous, pliable and reflective to radiated heat, said other fabric being uncoated with said metallic flakes, both of said fabrics being secured to each other at spaced points.

7. The product as defined in claim 6 in which each of the warp and weft threads of said one fabric is composed of a plurality of filaments having interstices therebetween, said interstices between said filaments being substantially free of metallic flakes forming the lm.

HENRY J. RAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date

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