Article of apparel
An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.
1 . A composite material comprising:
a first textile layer having a first elongation value;
a second textile layer having a second elongation value that is greater than the first elongation value;
a stitch network comprising stitching that secures the first textile layer with the second textile layer; and
a plurality of cells defined at areas disposed within the stitch network and between the first textile layer and the second textile layer, wherein at least some of the cells are enclosed cells defined by stitching of the stitch network that forms a cell perimeter around each enclosed cell and a pocket between the first textile layer and the second textile layer and within the cell perimeter.
2 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the cells are interconnected along the stitch network such that adjacent cells share at least one stitch line of the stitching.
3 . The composite material of claim 2 , wherein at least some of the enclosed cells have polygonal shapes.
4 . The composite material of claim 3 , wherein at least some of the enclosed cells have auxetic shapes.
5 . The composite material of claim 2 , wherein at least some of the enclosed cells have an arrowhead shape.
6 . The composite material of claim 2 , wherein at least some of the enclosed cells have an hour glass shape.
7 . The composite material of claim 2 , wherein at least some of the enclosed cells include stitch lines having a wavy shape.
8 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the second textile layer has an elongation value of at least 100% and a recovery value of at least 50%.
9 . The composite material of claim 8 , further comprising:
a fourth layer secured with the second layer so as to define an exterior surface of the composite material.
10 . The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the stitch network comprises embroidered stitching that secures the first textile layer with the second textile layer.
11 . An article comprising the composite material of claim 1 , wherein the article comprises a brassiere, a shirt, pants, or an upper for a shoe.
12 . A composite material comprising:
a first textile layer having a first elongation value;
a second textile layer having a second elongation value that is greater than the first elongation value; and
a plurality of cells defined at areas along the composite material, wherein at least some of the cells are enclosed cells, each enclosed cell comprises a void located between the first textile layer and the second textile layer and bound by a perimeter in which the first textile layer is secured with second textile layer;
wherein:
in a relaxed state with no tension applied to the composite material, portions of the first textile layer located at the cells extend outward and away from the second textile layer; and
in response to tension being applied by stretching the composite material along a first dimension, the portions of the first textile layer located at the cells collapse toward the second textile layer.
13 . The composite material of claim 12 , wherein the cells are interconnected along composite material such that adjacent cells share at least one common perimeter line by which the first textile layer is secured with the second textile layer.
14 . The composite material of claim 12 , wherein at least some of the enclosed cells have polygonal shapes.
15 . The composite material of claim 3 , wherein at least some of the enclosed cells have auxetic shapes.
16 . The composite material of claim 2 , wherein at least some of the enclosed cells have an arrowhead shape or an hour glass shape.
17 . The composite material of claim 12 , wherein the second textile layer has an elongation value of at least 100% and a recovery value of at least 50%.
18 . The composite material of claim 12 , further comprising:
a third layer disposed between and secured with the first textile layer and the second textile layer.
19 . An article of apparel comprising the composite material of claim 12 .
20 . An article of footwear comprising an upper, wherein the upper comprises the composite material of claim 12 .
21 . The composite material of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third layer disposed between and secured with the first textile layer and the second textile layer.