High Visibility Protective Fabric

Abstract

A fabric which meets the high visibility standards of ANSI / ISEA 107 2004 or CSA Z-96 is disclosed. Yarn used in the fabric includes Aramid-based fibers and fibers that are capable of being dyed to meet the high visibility standards. The fibers may be selected and / or positioned so that the standards of ASTM D4108-87 and / or ASTM F1506 are met. The fabric may be used for safety garments

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to fabric and garments, which are easily seen. Such fabrics and garments may be used as safety apparel.BACKGROUND[0002]Safety experts recognize the importance of high visibility garments, especially for workers in hazardous situations. For example, high visibility garments can greatly reduce the danger to a worker in occupations such as traffic control, construction, electrical maintenance, road maintenance, and equipment operation. A goal of high visibility garments is to make the presence of the worker known to others in the vicinity, thereby giving others an opportunity to warn the worker and / or take action to minimize or eliminate a danger. Previous attempts to achieve a high visibility garment have used heat retardant combinations of modacrylic, cotton, polyester, linen, wool and other similar natural and man-made fibers, but these provide a lower level of personal protection per weight of fabric. In addition, these garm...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Such a fabric may be fashioned into a garment, which can protect the person wearing the garment from dangerous situations The fabric may be of the type formed of warp and weft yarns. One or more of the yarns may have one or more types of Aramid-based fibers, and one or more types of dyeable fibers. As used herein, the word “fiber” includes staples and filaments.

[0013]The fabric may meet the standards of ASTM F1506 and / or ASTM D4108-87. Such a fabric would then provide not only the benefits that come from being easily seen, but also may provide protection from electric arcs and / or flames.

Problems solved by technology

Previous attempts to achieve a high visibility garment have used heat retardant combinations of modacrylic, cotton, polyester, linen, wool and other similar natural and man-made fibers, but these provide a lower level of personal protection per weight of fabric.

In addition, these garments have proven deficient because they either lose their fire retardant characteristics gradually through washing, or offer inferior personal protection from heat or fire.

Although Aramid-based yarns and / or fibers perform well in a vertical flame test, they are difficult to dye.

A lengthy and harsh process is required in order to dye Aramid-based yarns, and the available colors are limited in number.

In addition, the traditional dyeing process for Aramid fibers requires high temperature and a long time, and the strong chemicals used will, in most cases, chemically “burn” or destroy other fire-resistant fibers that might be desired in a yarn.

Although manufacturers have been able to dye Aramid-based yarns and / or fibers in high visibility tones that match the required chromaticity criteria specified by the American National Standards Institute (“ANSI”) and the International Safety Equipment Association (“ISEA”) in ANSI / ISEA 107 2004, manufacturers have not been able to achieve the required luminance factor required to meet these standards.

Although fleece is established as providing protection from cold weather, and as an insulator, fleece does not perform well in cold and windy conditions.

By holding the wearer's perspiration against the wearer, the wearer becomes uncomfortable and may become cold.

In addition, such garments are expensive.

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