Puncture resistant, optionally cut and abrasion resistant, knit garment made with modified knit structure

Abstract

A knit fabric having a modified knit structure, having a front layer of knit fabric and a back layer of knit fabric, wherein the front layer and back layer are joined together by rows of tuck stitches formed from a yarn having no more than 3% elongation and wherein the knit fabric is puncture resistant, and optionally cut and/or abrasion resistant, and a protective garment made therefrom.

1 . A knit fabric having a modified knit structure, comprising:
 a front layer of knit fabric and a back layer of knit fabric, wherein the front layer and back layer are joined together by rows of tuck stitches formed from a yarn having elongation that is sufficiently low such that the tuck stitches hold the knit fabric tightly together, providing the desired puncture resistance;   
     wherein the knit fabric is puncture resistant. 
   
   
       2 . The knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the front layer and back layer are each a knit jersey layer. 
   
   
       3 . The knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the rows of tuck stitches are rows of alternating tuck stitches. 
   
   
       4 . The knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the front layer and back layer comprise one or more composite yarns. 
   
   
       5 . The knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the knit fabric is cut and abrasion resistant. 
   
   
       6 . The knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the tuck stitches are formed from a yarn having no more than 2.5% elongation. 
   
   
       7 . The knit fabric of  claim 6 , wherein the tuck stitches are formed from a yarn having no more than 2% elongation. 
   
   
       8 . The knit fabric of  claim 7 , wherein the tuck stitches are formed from a yarn having no more than 1.5% elongation. 
   
   
       9 . The knit fabric of  claim 8 , wherein the tuck stitches are formed from a yarn having no more than 1% elongation. 
   
   
       10 . The knit fabric of  claim 9 , wherein the tuck stitches are formed from a yarn having no more than 0.5% elongation. 
   
   
       11 . A protective garment made from the knit fabric of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       12 . A protective garment made from the knit fabric of  claim 5 . 
   
   
       13 . The protective garment of  claim 11 , wherein the protective garment is a member selected from the group consisting of aprons, gloves, shirts, pants, jumpsuits, and arm coverings. 
   
   
       14 . The protective garment of  claim 12 , wherein the protective garment is a member selected from the group consisting of aprons, gloves, shirts, pants, jumpsuits, and arm coverings. 
   
   
       15 . The protective garment of  claim 13 , wherein the protective garment is an apron. 
   
   
       16 . The protective garment of  claim 15 , wherein the apron is formed entirely from the knit fabric having a modified knit structure, except for the closure system used to keep the apron in place on the wearer. 
   
   
       17 . The protective garment of  claim 14 , wherein the protective garment is an apron. 
   
   
       18 . The protective garment of  claim 17 , wherein the apron is formed entirely from the knit fabric having a modified knit structure, except for the closure system used to keep the apron in place on the wearer. 
   
   
       19 . The knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the tuck stitches are formed from a yarn having no more than 3% elongation.