초록 ▼

Described is a controlled weight distribution woven terry fabric that includes a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second ends are opposite one another and a first side edge 34 and a second side edge, wherein the first and second side edges are opposite one another and

Described is a controlled weight distribution woven terry fabric that includes a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second ends are opposite one another and a first side edge 34 and a second side edge, wherein the first and second side edges are opposite one another and generally perpendicular to the first and second opposite ends. The terry fabric further includes a plurality of zones extending across the fabric between one of the first and second opposite ends or the first and second opposite edges. Each zone of the plurality of zones has a pile with a pile height and the pile height in a zone differs from the pile height in an adjacent zone and the difference between the pile heights in adjacent zones is in a range between about 0.1 mm and about 2 mm. Also described are articles, such as towels, wash cloths, and bath mats, made from the controlled weight distribution woven terry fabric.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A woven terry fabric comprising: a body including a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second ends are opposite one another,a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the first and second side edges are opposite one another and generally perpendicular to the first and second

1. A woven terry fabric comprising: a body including a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second ends are opposite one another,a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the first and second side edges are opposite one another and generally perpendicular to the first and second opposite ends, anda plurality of zones extending across the fabric between one of the first and second opposite ends or the first and second opposite side edges,wherein the plurality of zones includes a first zone adjacent one of the first end or first edge and a second zone adjacent the opposite second end or second edge, a central zone intermediate to the first zone and the second zone, a first plurality of intermediate zones between the first zone and the central zone, and a second plurality of intermediate zones between the second zone and the central zone, andfurther wherein each zone of the plurality of zones has a pile with a pile height that differs from the pile height in adjacent zones and the pile height in each zone of the first plurality of intermediate zones is greater than the pile height in the first zone and less than the pile height in the central zone, and the pile height in each zone of the second plurality of intermediate zones is greater than the pile height in the second zone and less than the pile height in the central zone, and the difference in pile height between adjacent zones is in a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm and the central zone has a pile height that is not less than 110% of the pile height in each of the first and second zones and is not more than 300% of the pile height in each of the first and the second zones. 2. The woven terry fabric of claim 1 wherein the first zone has a lowest pile height and central zone has a highest pile height and the pile height in each of the first plurality of intermediate zones that are intermediate to the first zone and the central zone incrementally increases from adjacent the first zone to adjacent the central zone. 3. The woven terry fabric of claim 2 wherein the first plurality of intermediate zones includes at least three intermediate zones. 4. The woven terry fabric of claim 2 wherein the first plurality of intermediate zones is in a range between three intermediate zones and thirty intermediate zones. 5. The woven terry fabric of claim 2 wherein the width of the second zone is not greater than 25% of the length of the body and the width of the remaining zones is in a range between 1% to 25% of the length of the body. 6. The woven terry fabric of claim 2 wherein the second zone has a pile height less than the pile height of the central zone and the pile height in each of the second plurality of intermediate zones incrementally increases from adjacent the second zone to adjacent the central zone. 7. The woven terry fabric of claim 6 wherein the second plurality of intermediate zones includes at least three intermediate zones. 8. The woven terry fabric of claim 6 wherein the second plurality of intermediate zones is in a range between three intermediate zones and thirty intermediate zones. 9. The woven terry fabric of claim 1 wherein a difference between the pile height in adjacent zones is in a range between 0.1 mm and 0.6 mm. 10. The woven terry fabric of claim 1 wherein the pile height, measured as the distance that the pile projects from one side of the ground fabric, is in a range between 5 mm and 10 mm. 11. The woven terry fabric of claim 1 wherein the fabric includes a first length of yarn in the pile and a second length of yarn in the ground warp and the ratio of the length of yarn in the pile to the length of yarn in the ground warp is in a range between 3:1 and 12:1. 12. The woven terry fabric of claim 1 wherein the body has a length and a width and each of the plurality of zones has a length and a width that are generally perpendicular to the length and width of the body and the width of each the plurality of zones is not greater than 25% of the length of the body. 13. The woven terry fabric of claim 1 wherein the width of each the plurality of the zones is in a range between 1% to 25% of the length of the body. 14. A terry fabric article comprising the terry fabric of claim 1. 15. The terry fabric article of claim 14 wherein the terry fabric article is selected from the group consisting of a bath mat, a wash cloth, and a towel. 16. The terry fabric article of claim 15 wherein the towel is selected from the group consisting of a bath sheet, a bath towel, a hand towel, and a dish towel. 17. The terry fabric article of claim 14 further comprising a first end section adjacent the first end of the body and a second end section adjacent the second end of the body. 18. The terry fabric article of claim 17 further comprising a first border section intermediate to the first end section and the first end of the body and a second border section intermediate to the second end section and the second end of the body. 19. A method of weaving the terry fabric of claim 1 comprising weaving a terry fabric having a plurality of zones extending across the fabric between one of the first and second opposite ends or the first and second opposite side edges, wherein the plurality of zones includes a first zone adjacent one of the first end or first edge and a second zone adjacent the opposite second end or second edge, a central zone intermediate to the first zone and the second zone, a first plurality of intermediate zones between the first zone and the central zone, and a second plurality of intermediate zones between the second zone and the central zone, andfurther wherein each zone of the plurality of zones has a pile with a pile height that differs from the pile height in adjacent zones and the pile height in each zone of the first plurality of intermediate zones is greater than the pile height in the first zone and less than the pile height in the central zone, and the pile height in each zone of the second plurality of intermediate zones is greater than the pile height in the second zone and less than the pile height in the central zone, and the difference in pile height between adjacent zones is in a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm and the central zone has a pile height that is not less than 110% of the pile height in each of the first and second zones and is not more than 300% of the pile height in each of the first and the second zones. 20. The woven terry fabric of claim 1 wherein the pile height in the first zone is equal to the pile height in the second zone. 21. The woven terry fabric of claim 1 wherein the differences in pile height between adjacent zones is not readily apparent upon casual visual inspection. 22. The method of claim 19 wherein the differences in pile height between adjacent zones is not readily apparent upon casual visual inspection.