Thermoplastic non-woven textile elements

摘要

A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing a composite element incorporated in an article of apparel, the method comprising:
locating a component adjacent to a surface of a non-woven textile formed from a plurality of filaments that include a thermoplastic polymer material, wherein the component is in contact with at least a portion of the plurality of filaments, wherein the component includes a woven textile that is formed of a plurality of yarns, the plurality of yarns being mechanically manipulated to exhibit a one-directional stretch which allows the woven textile to stretch in a first direction but limits stretch of the woven textile in a direction perpendicular to the first direction; melting at least a first portion of the plurality of filaments of the non-woven textile such that the at least first portion of the plurality of filaments exhibits a non-filamentous configuration, wherein the non-filamentous configuration has no permeability to gaseous and liquid fluids; heating and compressing the component and the non-woven textile to bond the component to the non-woven textile, wherein the component includes a thickness that is comparable to the thickness of the non-woven textile thereby securing the component to the non-woven textile by a heatbonding process; forming a composite element, wherein the at least first portion of the plurality of filaments is in contact with the component, wherein the non-filamentous configuration of the at least first portion of the plurality of filaments increases the stretch-resistance of the composite element; and incorporating the component and the non-woven textile into the article of apparel.