Nonwoven Material with Three-Dimensional Active Wicking and Evaporation

Abstract

A material having one or more optional permeable facing layers and a body of fibrous absorbing material. The body may include a fibrous lofted nonwoven material. The fibrous absorbing material is adapted to be situated adjacent to a surface having or producing moisture. At least a portion of fibers of the fibrous lofted nonwoven material may have a generally vertical orientation relative to the surface having or producing moisture. The generally vertical orientation may have a general visible trend forming an angle of about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. The material may be capable of absorbing and/or transferring moisture, permeable, resilient, or a combination thereof.

1 . An article comprising:
 one or more permeable facing layers;   a body of fibrous absorbing material, wherein the body comprises a fibrous lofted nonwoven material;
 wherein the fibrous absorbing material is adapted to be situated adjacent to a surface having or producing moisture; 
 wherein at least a portion of fibers of the fibrous lofted nonwoven material have a generally vertical orientation relative to the surface having or producing moisture, 
 wherein the fibers having a generally vertical orientation have a general visible trend preferably forming an angle of about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees; 
   wherein the article is capable of absorbing and/or transferring moisture, is permeable, and is resilient, and   wherein the article is wearable or adapted to be incorporated into a wearable item.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers have a generally vertical orientation prior to any compression operation. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous absorbing material includes hydrophilic fibers. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is dry to the touch at the surface having or producing moisture before the entire article has dried. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein fluid is exchanged within the article by expelling the fluid from the article upon compression and drawing in new fluid upon recovery. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous absorbing material has an extended portion that increases open surfaces of the fibrous absorbing material to air flow to provide enhanced evaporation and/or dryness to the touch at the surface to the fibrous absorbing material. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous absorbing material is adapted to be located between the surface having or producing moisture and an opposing surface. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the lofted nonwoven material is a carded and lapped material, and wherein the lapped material is a vertically lapped or rotary lapped material. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the lofted nonwoven material is an air laid material. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article includes one or more moisture wicking facing materials. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surface having or producing moisture is skin and/or hair of a body or a garment wetted with moisture. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous absorbing material wicks moisture in a direction generally parallel to the surface having or producing moisture; toward an extended portion. 
     
     
         26 . The article of  claim 25 , wherein evaporation of moisture absorbed by the fibrous absorbing material occurs from multiple directions at the extended portion. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is adapted to be used with a backpack, wherein the article is positioned at a back contact portion, a side panel, a strap, a waist harness, or any combination thereof of the backpack. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is adapted to be used with a sporting pad or helmet. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is adapted to be used with an article of footwear. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is adapted to be used in a garment or vest. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the lofted nonwoven material has a weight of about 100 g/m 2  or greater, about 2000 g/m 2  or less or both. 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the lofted nonwoven material has about 70% or greater and about 90% or less fibers oriented in a generally vertical direction, and wherein the lofted nonwoven material has about 10% or greater and about 30% or less fibers oriented in a generally horizontal direction. 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous lofted nonwoven material has a thickness of about 1 mm to about 50 mm. 
     
     
         58 .- 63 . (canceled)