Fabric, protective garments made therefrom, and methods of making

Abstract

Disclosed herein are protective garments comprising an inner surface or portion of an inner surface with both absorbent and stain resistant properties while maintaining the soft feel, breathability and aesthetic properties associated with traditional “non protective” intimate apparel. The fabrics and methods of constructing the garments are also disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment portion, comprising:
 at least one absorbent layer comprising a body-contacting surface, and an absorbent capacity of at least about 300 g/m 2 ; and   at least one repellent layer disposed adjacent to the at least one absorbent layer and comprising an outer surface disposed opposite the body-contacting surface.   
     
     
         2 . The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the at least one absorbent layer and the at least one repellent layer is a knit fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein one or both surfaces of the at least one absorbent layer comprises a napped, sueded or texturized surface. 
     
     
         4 . The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein one or both surfaces of the at least one repellent layer comprises a napped, sueded or texturized surface. 
     
     
         5 . The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one absorbent layer comprises a second layer adjacent to the body-contacting layer, wherein the body-contacting layer is adapted to absorb fluid and to wick the absorbed fluid through to the adjacent layer. 
     
     
         6 . The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one repellent layer comprises a water repellant finish. 
     
     
         7 . The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one repellent layer comprises a fabric which has been coated or saturated with an elastic water repellent polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one absorbent layer and at least one repellent layer are bonded together. 
     
     
         9 . The garment portion of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one absorbent layer and at least one repellent layer are bonded together at an edge of each layer. 
     
     
         10 . The garment portion of  claim 1 , comprising a combined weight of less than about 20 oz/yd 2 . 
     
     
         11 . The garment portion of  claim 1 , comprising a combined absorbent capacity of at least about 40 ml. 
     
     
         12 . The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the garment portion is a gusset portion of the undergarment. 
     
     
         13 . The undergarment of  claim 12 , wherein the gusset comprise a front edge, a side, a back edge and opposing side edges, and the front and back edges are attached to a front and a back of the undergarment at a front seam and a back seam. 
     
     
         14 . The undergarment of  claim 13 , wherein one or more of the front and back seams comprise an inverted triangular shape. 
     
     
         15 . The undergarment of  claim 13 , wherein one or more of the front and back seams extend to an upper edge of the undergarment. 
     
     
         16 . The undergarment of  claim 15 , wherein one or more of the front and back seams and one or more of the opposing edges comprises a hydrophobic coating. 
     
     
         17 . A garment portion, comprising:
 at least one absorbent layer comprising a body-contacting surface; and   at least one repellent layer disposed adjacent to the at least one absorbent layer and comprising an outer surface disposed opposite the body-contacting surface;   wherein the garment portion comprises a combined weight of less than about 20 oz/yd 2 .   
     
     
         18 . A garment portion, comprising:
 at least one absorbent layer comprising a body-contacting surface; and   at least one repellent layer disposed adjacent to the at least one absorbent layer and comprising an outer surface disposed opposite the body-contacting surface;   wherein the garment portion comprises a combined absorbent capacity of at least about 40 ml.