WO2011151827A1

WO2011151827A1 - Volumetric article and method of its manufacture

Info

Publication number: WO2011151827A1
Application number: PCT/IL2011/000429
Authority: WO
Inventors: Danielle Ram; Zivia Kay
Original assignee: Bezalel Laboratories Ltd.
Priority date: 2010-06-01
Filing date: 2011-06-01
Publication date: 2011-12-08

Abstract

A volumetric article, a system comprising the article and a method of its formation. The article comprises at least two panels defining a confined space therebetween, at least one of the panels configured with an elastic woven portion, and the at least one elastic woven portion being manipulable so as to allow access to an inner, confined space of the article upon deformation of at least a segment of the elastic woven portion.

Description

Volumetric Article and Method of its Manufacture

FIELD OF THE PRESENTLY DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed towards volumetric article and a method of manufacturing the same configured with at least a manipulable portion. BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENTLY DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER

A wide variety of two or three dimensional articles having manipulable portions are known in the art. Articles configured to hold or cover articles are also known. Examples of such articles may be found in the fashion industry (e.g. bags, wallets etc), furniture and bedding articles, and various covers utilized in industries varying from food, fashion, medical and military industries.

Examples of known prior art are listed as follows: US 4879084; US 3322176; US 5909833; US 5845994; GB 681522; GB 173244; US 4932790; US 7191621 and US 6957164.

Another example of a prior art woven cover for a dog tag or an identity tag is illustrated in Fig. 23. The cover illustrated is a warp and weft weave formed around the tag using a plurality of strings and is removable by unweaving at least a portion thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER The presently disclosed subject matter is directed towards volumetric articles and method of its manufacture, the article being configured with at least two panels, at least a portion of at least one of the panels being woven from an elastic material, wherein at least a segment of said elastic woven portion is manipulable.

The terms "weave", "woven", "weaving" as used herein refer to any type of interlacing, intertwining, interweaving, braiding, crocheting, loop formation and the like, performed using one or more strands. For example, the woven panel in accordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter may be formed by interlacing one or more strands to form a warp and weft pattern, alternatively one or more strands may be knitted to form a looped pattern. The interlacing or intertwining in accordance with an embodiment of the invention may be of any angle, namely the strands may interlace at angles other than a right angle typically used in warp and weft basketweaves.

The term "panel" as used herein refers to any portion of the volumetric article, such as a face or a portion thereof, or any planar or non planar surface of the article, or a portion thereof.

The panels may be integrated with one another (e.g. by sewing, welding, etc.) or may be continues, unitary panels, forming the article. Furthermore, any one or more of the panels may be formed of rigid, pliable or flexible material, or combinations thereof.

The term "elastic" as used herein refers to the capability of being easily stretched or expanded and resuming shape and size after deformation.

The term "elastic material" and "elastic strand" are used interchangeably and as used herein refer to any material which, upon application of a biasing force, is stretchable, i.e. elongatable to a biased length which is substantially longer than its relaxed unbiased length and which, will substantially recover its elongation upon release of the biasing, elongating force.

The elastic material may be in a form of a strand, a yarn, a volumetric material etc and denotes a substantially elongate member having elastic/stretchable properties and may be unitary in construction; that is, it may be formed in one piece. Alternatively the material/strand may be formed by interconnecting non elongated elements having elastic/stretchable properties so as to form an essentially elongated member. Such element may have any geometrical shape, such as a circle, square, rectangle, rhombus, combination of shapes etc. According to yet an example, the material/strand may be formed from several elastic/stretchable strips or yarns.

The elastic material may comprise additional layers or components to form a composite elastic material.

The term "composite elastic material" as used herein refers to an elastic material which may be a multi-component material or a multilayer material. For example, a multilayer material may have at least one elastic layer joined to at least one gatherable layer at least at two locations so that the gatherable layer is gathered between the locations where it is joined to the elastic layer. The gatherable layer may have elastic properties or may be an inelastic material.

Such a multilayer composite elastic material may be stretched to the extent that the inelastic material gathered between the bond locations allows the elastic material to elongate. This type of multilayer composite elastic material is disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. No. 4,720,415, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively the multilayer material may have at least one elastic layer associated with at least one additional layer, the additional layer being coiled or wrapped around the at least one elastic layer. This type of multilayer composite elastic material is disclosed, for example, by FR2869047 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

According to yet an embodiment, composite elastic material is configured with an embedded layer of material deformable upon biasing of the elastic strand. According to another embodiment, composite elastic material may refer to an elastic material configured with segments of different components.

The composite elastic material in accordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter may include an optional stress-bearing member embedded in or surrounding the material. The stress-bearing member preferably is formed from one or more synthetic polymer material(s) or from natural textile fibers like cotton, wool, silk, metal and linen. The length of the stress-bearing member(s) is greater than the length of the non biased elastic member and less than the maximal length of the biased to stretch elastic member such that a portion of the elongating, biasing stress imposed on the elastic material is carried by the stress-bearing member(s).

The term "functional member" refers to one or more components or layers that have at least one functionality or exhibit at least one property that extends beyond mechanical properties commonly associated with elastic fibers. According to an embodiment, the functional member may be a smart textile or a portion thereof. In accordance with another embodiment the functional members may be or comprise shape memory alloys (SMA), such as nitinol.

Functionalities or properties associated with functional member can, for example, include: biological activities; thermoresponsive activities; optical activities, such as light transmission, reflection, illumination or luminescence; activity under electrical, or magnetic fields; ability to convert energy from one form to another by responding to a stimuli; sensory, monitoring or actuation applications; thermal signature application; conductivity and/or any other application or functionality. The functional member may include: piezoelectric, electrostrictive, ferroelectric, magnetostrictive, photonic, or electrochromic fibers.

The terms "volumetric" or "3D article" as used herein are used interchangeably and refer to a body configured with a confined space defined by at least two panels, said space may be continuous, partitioned, closed (entirely surrounded by panels) or partially open (partially surrounded by panels). Thus, a "volumetric" or "3D article" is a substantially hollow article having any desired geometrical shape and size in three dimensions, for example, a cube, a ball, a polyhedron, a torus, a tube, a semi-sphere, a concave/convex shaped body, etc.

The term "manipulable" as used herein refers to a property or a functionality of at least a portion of the article which allows manipulation thereof without substantially impairing the integrity of the portion following manipulation. For example, elastic deformation of the elastic woven portion to access the space within the article is considered a manipulation in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

It should be noted that an article in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter may assume a non volumous, substantially flat state wherein two or more panels thereof extend over substantially parallel surfaces and adjoin each other and a second state in which two or more panels are spaced apart such as to define a confined 3D space therebetween.

In accordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter, the at least elastic portion is formed from a material having substantially elastic characteristics. Such material may for example be latex, rubber, silicone and the like or comprise any such material so as to impart elastic characteristics to the final article.

The at least one elastic woven panel of the 3D article in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter may have one or more non-defined/preassigned opening(s) allowing access substantially to the inner space of the article. The phrase "non-defined opening" refers to an opening arbitrarily chosen by a user to allow access to the inner space of the article without being preassigned to the function by the structure of the article. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the elastic woven panel is formed with numerous slits on the surface thereof defined by the type of weave used and the space between the woven strand portions such that by stretching or expanding the space entailed by the slit, opening is formed allowing access substantially to the inner space of the article.

Alternatively, the article may be configured with a marked opening formed in the article, e.g. color marked rim of the slit, a flap fitted to a portion of the strand to pull on, an insert forming the limits of the slit opening, etc.

In accordance with yet an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter, the article may be a polyhedron with one of its panels or a portion thereof being fitted with an elastic woven material panel. In accordance with this embodiment, remaining panels of the polyhedron may be non-woven, such that access to the inner space of the polyhedron is possible through the woven, elastic portion. Such a polyhedron may for example be used for storing items therein, such items being introduced and removed to and from the volumetric article through the elastic portion thereof. It will be appreciated that other than polyhedral shapes are envisioned, for example portion of a spherical article may be configured with an elastic woven material.

In accordance with another embodiment all panels of the 3D article are elastic woven panels.

According to yet an embodiment, the entire article is formed from a continuous strand of elastic material. In accordance with this embodiment, the article is easily manipulable to change its shape for example by pulling a portion of the strand at any location on the surface of the article.

Alternatively, an article may be formed by intersecting two or more strands, such as the warp being formed from one strand and the weft from another strand.

In accordance with yet an alternative, each face or panel of an article may be formed separately, and the 3D article may be formed by connecting the faces/panels to each other. According to yet an example, several articles or portions thereof may be interconnected to form articles having larger dimensions.

The articles in accordance with an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter are configured for receiving and holding articles in the confined space thereof and/or on the outer surface, as will be explained in detail herein.

Articles in accordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter may be used as non-rigid container such as a bag, a garment, a belt, a storage container, a cover, a shield and the like. The articles may also be used in conjunction with conventional articles, for example, the articles may be articulated to a conventional bag or a garment.

In accordance with another embodiment, the 3D articles may be used in conjunction with a geometrical skeleton, e.g. by receiving the skeleton and substantially assuming the shape thereof. Alternatively, the 3D article may be manufactured around a geometrical skeleton.

According to yet an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter, the 3D article may be adapted to receive an element configured to vary its shape and size. In accordance with this embodiment, the 3D article may have initial dimensions conforming to a first shape and size and at least one other dimension conforming to a second shape and size of the received element, differing from the first dimension. In accordance with an embodiment, the received element may be an inflatable/deflatable article. In accordance with another embodiment, the received element may have at least a first folded configuration and at least a second unfolded configuration.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter, the 3D articles may be used as garment articles. In accordance with one embodiment the garment articles may be wrapped around body parts of the user, such as the shoulders, the back, arms, legs etc. In accordance with an embodiment the article may be wrapped around the shoulders of the user in its flat state and any desired articles may be placed therein and/or on the outer surface of the garment at least through a portion of an elastic woven panel. The article may be manipulatable to any shape and configuration so as to assume a desired shape or fit the contour of the body part. The article may be configured with various attachments, such as connecting members configured to connect portions of the article, pockets, additional article, straps, belts etc.

According to another embodiment the garment may be worn by a user by passing portions of the body through the panels, for example, an elongate article may be worn as pants, such that the article is folded transversely substantially at its center, an opening is formed at the fold and the legs of the user are passed through the central opening each to the portion of the article extending at the sides of the fold. The feet of the user may be passed through respective opening stretched open at the ends of the article.

According to yet an embodiment, the article may be used as a bag. The bag may be configured with one or more handles. The handles may be articulated to the article or may be integrally formed on the article. In accordance with an embodiment, handles may be formed from one or more strands of the elastic panel. In accordance with yet an embodiment, one or more openings may be stretched open in the article so as to allow one or both hands of the user to pass therethrough. The article may for example be utilized as a hand bag, a purse, a sling bag, a duffel bag, satchel, a back pack or any other type of bag as desired, wherein the straps or handles, being optionally formed from one or more strands of the article itself or may be articulated thereto. It will be appreciated that the articles may be provided with specifically assigned to the task one or more strands or portions thereof which are interwoven during the manufacturing process or thereafter. Such strands may have different from the rest of the strands/material characteristics which for example make it easier to the user to identify them. The article in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter may be used interchangeably as a garment, a bag, an accessory and the like by simply manipulating it into a desired shape and configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1A-7D are illustrations of articles having various shapes manipulated by the user in accordance with examples of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 8 is an illustration of an article having one elastic woven panel in accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 9 is an illustration of an article in accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter, wherein a portion of one of its panels is woven from an elastic material;

Figs. 10-15 illustrate steps of forming an article in accordance with one example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 16A-17D illustrate alternative method of forming an article in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 18 is an illustration of an article fitted over a deformable member in accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter; Fig. 19 is an illustration of an article comprising a structural skeleton in accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 20 is an illustration of an article in accordance with yet an example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 21 is an illustration of an article in accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter fitted with inserts;

Fig. 22A to 22D are illustrations of a portion of a composite elastic material in accordance with examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, Figs. 22C and 22D being a cross section of the portion illustrated in Fig. 22B in a relaxed and biased configurations, respectively; and

Fig. 23 is an illustration of a known in the art warp and weft woven cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Examples of articles formed in accordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter are illustrated in Figs. 1A-7D. Articles illustrated in these figures are formed from a substantially continuous strand of an elastic material intersected to form a basketweave pattern. The articles in these figures are formed as a substantially unitary body from a strand of a continuous elastic material.

Fig. 1A is a photo of a garment generally designated 10, covering the upper body. The garment 10 is worn in the form of a vest and is formed from a substantially rectangular, 3D body wrapped around the arms 15 of the user with the two ends of the rectangle connected to each other. The two ends are connected by a connecting member (not seen). The article 10 being a garment allowing the wearer to store items within the garment, e.g. by manipulating the elastic strands on the face of the garment 10 and inserting the items to be stored through the formed opening 20, 38 (e.g. seen in Figs. IB and 4, respectively) or to be held by interlaced strands on the surface thereof (as seen in Fig. 3). Additional possible uses and manipulations of the article 10 are described with reference to Fig. 6.

Fig. IB illustrates a bag 20 formed from an article in the form of a cube, fitted with a connecting member 25 connecting two opposite ends of the cube, thus forming a shoulder strap. Alternatively, the strap can be an integral part of the article, e.g. by pulling one or more of the elastic strands forming the outer surface of the article (e.g. as seen in Fig. 2B). Fig. 2A illustrates another example of possible use of the article in Fig. 1A. In this example, the article 10 is provided with strands 12 on the inner surface thereof, which in use are pulled out of the article 10, so as to form a bag fitted with handles 12.

Fig. 3 is an illustration of yet another example of possible use of an article 30 in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter. As can be seen in this example, the elastic strands 32 on the outer surface of the article are used for holding objects such as a cell phone 34, a water bottle 36, etc. the elastic strands are stretched so as to allow the article to be inserted underneath the strands and released to resume their previous position, thus pressing the objects against the outer surface of the article.

Fig. 4 illustrates the elasticity of the article in accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter. As seen on the right hand side of the photo, an opening 38 is formed in the article 20 by stretching a slit between intersecting strands. Due to the elasticity of the article, entailed by the elasticity of the strand forming it and the weaving pattern of the article, the opening 38 may assume dimension large enough to allow access to the inner space of the article.

Fig. 5 illustrates an article 40 in accordance with yet another example of the presently disclosed subject matter. In accordance with this example, the article is in a form of a double walled tubular body, worn around the hand of the user. As can be seen, an opening 42 is formed in the article 40 allowing a bottle 45 to be inserted therein with the neck 47 of the bottle protruding therefrom and held by the force entailed by the elasticity of the strands surrounding it.

Figs. 6A-6E illustrate various ways of manipulating an elongated rectangular article 50 in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter. Fig.6A is an illustration of elasticity of the article and in particular the elasticity of the slits formed by the criss-cross pattern of the surface of the article. The user chose an arbitrary location on the surface of the article 50 and stretched opened the slit to form an opening 52, for example to facilitate passing of a hand therethrough as illustrated in Fig. 6B. In accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter, the point of entry of the hand may be marked by interweaving a strand of a different color either of the inner surface (Fig.6A) or the outer surface around the desired location for the opening.

Figs. 6C-6E illustrate two different ways of manipulating the article around the body of the user, Fig. 6E being a front view of the article worn in Fig. 6C. The article 50 may be wrapped around the body of the user either by wrapping it around the shoulders of the user, with a middle portion of the article wrapping the shoulders and the upper back and passing the two ends under the arms, respectively. To secure the article in its position, the two ends thereof are connected at the back using a connecting member 55. To further form a unitary surface of the back of the user, the connected ends may further be connected to the middle portion of the article. Fig. 6D illustrates an alternative way of wrapping the article 50 around the user, with the middle section placed around the lower back and the two ends passed underneath the arms and brought together around the neck or upper back of the user. In accordance with yet an example, as illustrated on the right hand side of Fig. 7C, the article may be placed around the shoulders of the user and the arms may be passed through the article, thus forming a sleeved garment. It should be appreciated that the ends of the rectangular article may be connected to each other using any type of connecting means.

Figs. 7A-Fig.7D illustrate use of an elongated rectangular article 60 in accordance with the invention, worn as pants (seen in Fig. 7C). In accordance with this example, as illustrated on the left hand side of the photos, the rectangular article 60 is folded in two, an opening 62 is formed by stretching open a slit and the legs of the user are passed through the tubes formed on each side of the article, the pants are then pulled up (seen in Fig. 7B), the feet are passed through respective opening stretched open in the ends of the article 60.

Fig. 8 illustrates a polygonal volumetric article, having a shape of a cube, generally designated 500. In accordance with this example, one of the cube's panels 510 is elastic woven. The non-elastic woven panels of the cube, according to this example, are made of a plastic material. The elastic woven panel 510 can be attached to its surrounding panels during the cube manufacturing process, e.g. molding, or thereafter. The attachment may be chemical, mechanical or a combination thereof, alternatively, any other means of articulation may be utilized.

Fig. 9 illustrates a polygonal volumetric article 600 differing from the article presented in Fig. 8 in that only a portion 615 of one of the cubes panels 610 is made from an elastic woven material.

Figs. 10-15 illustrate steps of forming an article in accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter. The pattern of the weave is chosen such that numerous slits are formed on the faces thereof and it will be appreciated that any other type of weaving other that the one exemplified herein may be utilized to achieve this purpose.

The shape of the article to be formed is determined by the shape of a model/die/skeleton used for its formation. In accordance with this example, the envisioned article has a shape of a substantially rectangular prism. Thus the model, generally designated 90, used for forming the article has a shape substantially corresponding to the envisioned article (seen in Fig. 15). In accordance with this example the model 90 has a top, first surface Al, a second, bottom surface A2 both defined by the width and the length of the prism, a first side face A3 (not seen), a second side face A4 both defined by the length and the height of the prism, and a third A5 and fourth A6 side faces defined by the width and the height of the prism.

According to this example, the model is a frame, each face being defined by interconnected ribs. Alternatively, the model may be a solid body. The model may be made from any material which can substantially withhold its shape, e.g. metal, wood, plastic and the like. It should be appreciated that the model may have any desired shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the envisioned article, e.g. cube, torus, polyhedron, etc.

The article is formed from a single strand 100 of an elastic material having a first, fixed end 110 and a second working end 120. In order to prevent unintentional unwrapping of the strand, the first end is fixed to the skeleton through a hook element 115. The strand is first wrapped tightly around the elongated faces of the prism A1-A4 with the first strand fixed adjacent the corner between the faces Al, A4 and A6. The strand is then wrapped in the direction of arrow 130 until the working end 120 reaches a position adjacent the corner formed by the faces Al, A3 and A5 thus forming the warp strands. At this stage, as seen in Figure 11, upon reaching the corner Al, A3 and A5, the strand 100 is wrapped around a hook element 117. The strand is then continued to be wrapped around the faces A3, A4, A5 and A6 in the direction of an arrow 140, forming a weft strand of the article. On faces A3 and A4, the strand 110 is interlaced with the warp strands in a criss-cross pattern, whilst on the A5 and A6 faces are now wrapped in a weft pattern. The wrapping is stopped upon reaching the corner A2, A3, and A6 corner, where an additional hook 119 is placed so as to fix the working strand at the corner by wrapping it therearound. The working strand 120 is fixed thereto and is further wrapped in the direction of an arrow 150 and the strand is then interlaced with the warp strands around faces A2, Al, A5 and A6 in a crisscross pattern forming the weft strand of the article. The working strand eventually reaches the Al, A4 and A6 corner where the working end 120 it is connected to the fixed end 110 of the strand 100 thus forming a three dimensional hollow article 200 wrapped around the model 90. At this stage the hooks are removed from the model.

In accordance with this example, each center point CP between each two warp WRl and WR2 and two weft WFl and WF2 strands forms a slit which, as seen in Fig. 14, may be manipulated to form an opening 220 by pushing away from each other either the strands WRl and WR2 or WFl and WF2 or stretching open the slit by stretching away all four strands.

Upon completion of the weaving process, the model 90 is removed from the article 200 surrounding it through any of the slits formed on the article. The final article is shown in Fig. 15.

It will be appreciated that articles in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter may have desired size and shape.

The articles may be formed as one unitary body formed from a single strand. Alternatively, the articles or portions thereof may be formed from two or more strands, e.g. a warp pattern may be formed from one strand and the weft from another strand. According to yet an alternative only one panel of the article is woven from an elastic material. One advantage of an article formed from a single strand is that when in the finished article one or more strands are pulled on, this will shrink the area around the pulled string. This may be used for example for altering the appearance of the article and providing it with an abstract shape.

According to an example of the invention the articles may be formed with "built- in" partitions formed by weaving two dimensional nets between the inner walls of the article. Alternatively, a closed 3D article may be formed having a desired shape and additional elements may be attached thereto to form additional compartments to the article. The article may be connected to the additional elements element by merely placing the end of an article to which the element is to be connected against the additional element and leading any type of connection means through the strands of the two bodies. Such connection means may be mechanical, e.g. clips, by sewing the strands, the strands may be adhered to each other etc. Figs. 16A-17D illustrate steps of forming a non unitary strand for producing an article in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter. In accordance with an example illustrated in Fig. 16A, the strand is formed by interconnecting band like elements having elastic/stretchable characteristics, such as a rubber band. According to

5 this example three bands are used to form the article in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter, such that the length of each flattened band is sufficient to be wrapped around four faces of the model. For the sake of convenience, Fig. 16A (a-d) illustrates one manner of interconnecting the bands.

Two rubber bands generally designated 310 and 320 are connected to each other

10 by inserting the portions 310A and 320A of each rubber band 310, 320 through the center of the other band 320, 310 and pulling the portions 320A and 310A away from each other (seen in Fig. 16A(b)) so as to form a knot seen in Fig. 16A (c-d). During the weaving process, to form a continuous strand made of rubber bands, each rubber band is added at a time through the previous band, thus constituting a leading band. In

15 accordance with this example, as seen in Figs. 16B-16D, instead of fixing the strand around a hook, the corner is formed by the interconnection of the band elements. Rest of the weaving process is essentially similar to that disclosed with reference to Figs. 11-15.

According to yet an example illustrated in Figs. 17(A-D), instead of using a band like element, an elongated element 410, 420 having at its ends apertures 410A,

20 410B, 420A and 420B, respectively, is used. The elements 410 and 420 are interconnected by passing one end 410B of a first band 410 through the end 420A of the second band 420 (seen in Fig. 17(B)) and passing the end 410A through the end 410B of the same band 410 (as seen in fig. 17C). The end 410A is then pulled at a direction of an arrow 450 thereby forming a knot 460 seen in Fig. 17D.

25 It will be appreciated that as many as necessary elements may be added during the weaving process such as to form a strand of a length sufficient to follow the next step of the process and to eventually form the article.

Fig. 18 is yet an example of an elastic woven article generally designated 500 and its function in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter. The article 30 500 in a form of a rectangle is illustrated with an inflated round member 510 received therein. In accordance with this example, the inflatable member 510 was inserted into the article 500 while in a deflated state (not shown) and inflated while within the article through its inflation orifice 512 which is illustrated protruding from an arbitrarily formed opening 514 in the article 500 formed by manipulating the strands forming the weave of the article 500. The elasticity of the strand forming the article allows its deformation from its first dimensional shape and size to a second, substantially different dimensional shape and size following the inflation of the member so as to conform to the shape of the member. Upon deflation of the inflatable member 510, the article 500 will substantially resume its shape and dimensions prior to deformation. Although in the present example the article is illustrated as having an initial, rectangular shape, it will be appreciated that an article having any geometrical shape may be used to achieve the purpose of the described subject matter.

Fig. 19 illustrates an article generally designated 600 in accordance with yet an example of the invention. The article 600 is of a substantially cubic configuration fitted over a three dimensional skeleton 610. In accordance with this example, the article is formed for example in accordance with the method illustrated in Figs. 10-13 over the skeleton 610 forming a confined, substantially cubic space between the panels of the article and sustained by the ribs 620 (Fig. 19 illustrating ribs 620A, 620B, 620C, 620D) of the skeleton 610. The space may be accessed from any side and portion of the article by manipulating the strands of the article 600.

Fig. 20 illustrates yet another example of an article generally designated 700 in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter. In accordance with this example, a rectangular article 700 is placed over a foot 710, by manipulating the strands of the article to form an opening 720 through which the foot is introduced into the space formed by the article.

Fig. 21 illustrates a portion of an article generally designated 800, fitted with hollow, ring like inserts 810 by manipulating the elastic strands of the article 800 so as to form openings 820 allow the user's fingers to grasp the article thereby. It will be appreciated that one or more inserts having different geometrical shapes and sized may be utilized with articles in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter. The inserts may be permanently attached thereto or readily removable to allow the article to return to its original configuration. It will be appreciated that the elastic strand(s) described herein may be formed from a composite elastic material. In accordance with an example illustrated in Fig. 22A the composite elastic material comprises one elastic layer E and an additional, gatherable layer G joined to the elastic layer E so that the gatherable layer G is gathered between the locations where it is joined to the elastic layer E. The gatherable layer may have elastic properties or may be an inelastic material. The layers in accordance with the illustrated example are mechanical joined at a portion thereof P, e.g. stitched together. It will be appreciated that the layers may be joined by any other way, e.g. thermally, adhesively, etc. depending of the types of materials used.

Alternatively, the elastic material E' may be wrapped with or have a coiled thereupon second layer of material C as illustrated in Figs. 22B to 22C. The elastic strand(s) or material(s) may optionally include a stress-bearing member embedded in or surrounding the material (not shown).

The strands in accordance with an example of the disclosed subject matter may comprise one or more functional members. Such members may be imbedded in the elastic material, imprinted thereon or adjoined thereto as described for example with reference to Figs. 22 A and 22B.

In accordance with an example, the composite material may comprise one or more conductive components. It will be understood that use of a continuous strand of such composite material to form an elastic woven volumetric article will allow formation of an electric circuit forming a closed loop giving a return path for the electric current. Optionally, only a portion of an article may be formed from a composite material so as to provide an electric circuit thereon.

Those skilled in the art to which this presently disclosed subject matter pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter, mutatis mutandis.

Claims

Claims:

1. A volumetric article weaved of at least one strand of elastic material, said volumetric article defining a substantially confined space and wherein in at least a segment of said volumetric article, said strand is manipulable by deformation so as to form at least one opening in said volumetric article.

2. A volumetric article comprising:

a. at least two panels defining a confined space therebetween;

b. at least one of the panels configured with an elastic woven portion comprising one or more strands, and wherein c. the at least one elastic woven portion being manipulable so as to form an opening configured to allow access therethrough upon deformation of at least a segment of the elastic woven portion,

3. An article in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening has dimensions larger than a slit formed between adjoining portions of the weaved strand.

4. An article in accordance with claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the strand is a continuous strand.

5. An article in accordance with claim 2, wherein the at least two panels are weaved of at least one strand of elastic material.

6. An article in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of the at least two panels are weaved independently of at least one strand of elastic material and wherein the at least two panels being joined together to form the volumetric article.

7. An article in accordance with any one of the previous claims, wherein the elastic strand is formed from interconnected elastic members.

8. An article in accordance with any one of the previous claims, wherein the strand is a composite material.

9. An article in accordance with any one of the previous claims, wherein at least a portion of the article is configured with functional members.

10. An article in accordance with claims 7, wherein the functional members are embedded in the at least one strand.

11. An article in accordance with any one of the previous claims, wherein at least a portion thereof being fitted over a skeleton.

12. An article in accordance with any one of the previous claims, wherein the article is configured with a deformable member received within the confined space.

13. A method of forming a volumetric article, the method comprising:

a. providing a model having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the article to be formed;

b. providing at least one elastic strand of material;

c. weaving the at least one strand of material to substantially envelope the model.