Fabrics having knit structures exhibiting auxetic properties and garments formed thereby

Abstract

A fabric is provided that includes a knit structure having a geometric shape imparting an auxetic property to the fabric due to rotation of one or more portions of the knit structure. In some aspects, the fabric includes a knit structure having a triangular lattice shape that imparts an auxetic property to the fabric.

1 . A fabric comprising a knit structure having a geometric shape imparting an auxetic property to the fabric due to rotation of one or more portions of said knit structure. 
     
     
         2 . The fabric as in  claim 1 , wherein said geometric shape imparts said auxetic property due to deformation of said one or more portions. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric as in  claim 1 , wherein said geometric shape imparts said auxetic property due to translation of said one or more portions. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric as in  claim 1 , wherein said geometric shape is selected from the group consisting of a re-entrant honeycomb, a star network, a re-entrant rhombic dodecahedron, a triangular lattice, rotating squares, rotating triangles, rotating tetrahedra, a chiral honeycomb, interlocked hexagons, interlocked quadrilaterals, interlocked triangles, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric as in  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is a weft knit fabric or a warp knit fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric as in  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a seamless tube. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric as in  claim 1 , wherein said knit structure comprises yarns made of a material selected from the group consisting of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, auxetic fibers, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric as in  claim 1 , wherein said auxetic property comprises a Poisson's ratio equal to zero. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric as in  claim 1 , wherein said auxetic property comprises a negative Poisson's ratio. 
     
     
         10 . A fabric comprising a knit structure having a triangular lattice shape that imparts an auxetic property to the fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric as in  claim 10 , wherein said auxetic property is imparted due to rotation of one or more portions of said knit structure, and/or translation of said one or more portions, and/or deformation of said one or more portions. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric as in  claim 10 , wherein said knit structure comprises yarns made of a material selected from the group consisting of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, auxetic fibers, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric as in  claim 10 , wherein said auxetic property comprises a Poisson's ratio equal to zero. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric as in  claim 10 , wherein said auxetic property comprises a negative Poisson's ratio. 
     
     
         15 . A garment comprising a fabric having a knit structure that imparts an auxetic property to said fabric due to rotation of one or more portions of said knit structure. 
     
     
         16 . The garment as in  claim 15 , wherein the garment comprises a garment selected from the group consisting of a brassiere, a panty, a camisole, a bathing suit, a pair of pantyhose, a leotard, a retention bandage, a support device, a compression bandage, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The garment as in  claim 15 , wherein said knit structure imparts said auxetic property due to deformation of said one or more portions and/or due to translation of said one or more portions. 
     
     
         18 . The garment as in  claim 15 , wherein said knit structure has a geometric shape selected from the group consisting of a re-entrant honeycomb, a star network, a re-entrant rhombic dodecahedron, a triangular lattice, rotating squares, rotating triangles, rotating tetrahedra, a chiral honeycomb, interlocked hexagons, interlocked quadrilaterals, interlocked triangles, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The fabric as in  claim 15 , wherein said auxetic property comprises a Poisson's ratio of zero or less. 
     
     
         20 . A garment comprising a fabric with a triangular lattice knit structure that imparts an auxetic property to the fabric. 
     
     
         21 . The garment as in  claim 20 , wherein said knit structure comprises yarns made of a material selected from the group consisting of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, auxetic fibers, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The garment as in  claim 20 , wherein the garment comprises a garment selected from the group consisting of a brassiere, a panty, a camisole, a bathing suit, a pair of pantyhose, a leotard, a retention bandage, a support device, a compression bandage, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The garment as in  claim 20 , wherein said auxetic property is imparted due to rotation of one or more portions of said knit structure, and/or translation of said one or more portions, and/or deformation of said one or more portions. 
     
     
         24 . The fabric as in  claim 20 , wherein said auxetic property comprises a Poisson's ratio of zero or less.