Stretch fabric

Abstract

A laminated elastic fabric includes a first carrier layer of non-elastic, open fabric, and a second layer which is elastic in a direction extending longitudinally of the fabric; a first outer fabric layer and a second outer fabric layer on opposing sides of the first carrier and second elastic layers, and a binder bonding the layers together. The carrier layer can be a warp knit/weft insertion fabric having knit yarns and fill yarns and oriented with the knit yarns thereof extending longitudinally of the fabric, the knit yarns being non-elastic, each of the knit yarns extending longitudinally of the fabric including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced knitted loops, and each of the fill yarns extending transversely of the fabric and through loops of the knit yarns.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A elastic fabric comprising: 
 a first carrier layer of a non-elastic, open fabric;    a second layer, which is elastic in a direction extending longitudinally of the fabric;    a first outer fabric layer and a second outer fabric layer on opposing sides of the first carrier and second elastic layers; and    a binder bonding the layers together.    
     
     
         2 . The elastic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fabric comprises a warp knit/weft insertion fabric having knit yarns and fill yarns and oriented with the knit yarns thereof extending longitudinally of the fabric, said knit yarns being non-elastic, each of said knit yarns extending longitudinally of the tape and including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced knitted loops, and each of the fill yarns extending transversely of the fabric and through loops of the knit yarns.  
     
     
         3 . The elastic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is selected from the group consisting of woven, nonwoven, warp knit/weft insertion and knitted fabrics.  
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the binder is in adhesive contact with all layers of the fabric.  
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the binder impregnates the first carrier layer and coats the second elastic layer.  
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 5 , wherein the binder penetrates a partial thickness of the first and second outer layers.  
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 5 , wherein the binder penetrates up to about 95% of the thickness of the first and second outer layers.  
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 5 , wherein the binder penetrates in the range of about 25% to about 75% of the thickness of the first and second outer layers.  
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 5 , wherein the binder penetrates up to 50% of the thickness of the first and second outer layers.  
     
     
         10 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom outer layers are selected from the group consisting of nonwoven materials, woven materials, knitted materials, and warp knit/weft insertion fabrics.  
     
     
         11 . The fabric of  claim 10  wherein said nonwoven is selected from the group consisting of nylon, rayon, cellulosics, cotton, polyester, polyamide, acrylics, polyethylene, and polypropylene.  
     
     
         12 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises individual elastic strands spaced transversely of the fabric relative to each other and extending longitudinally of the fabric.  
     
     
         13 . The fabric of  claim 12 , wherein said elastic strands have a denier less than about 1000.  
     
     
         14 . The fabric of  claim 12 , wherein said elastic strands are spaced at a density in the range of 5 to 15 per inch measured transversely of the bandage.  
     
     
         15 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the knit yarns of the warp knit/weft insert fabric comprises polyester.  
     
     
         16 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the fill yarns of the warp knit/weft insertion fabric comprise a plurality of yarns.  
     
     
         17 . The fabric of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the carrier fabric has an openness of up to about 95%.  
     
     
         18 . The fabric of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the carrier fabric has an openness of up to about 70%.  
     
     
         19 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a self-curing adhesive.  
     
     
         20 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the binder is a thermosetting adhesive.  
     
     
         21 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the binder is a thermoplastic adhesive.