Surface element

US6083857A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• HELSA-WERKE HELMUT SANDLER GMBH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Kerstin Bottger · Monsheim, DE
• Regina Hoffmann · Münchberg, DE
• Peter Stocker · Murrhardt, DE
• Hermann Wolfrum · Münchberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 11, 1997
• Grant date: Jul 4, 2000
• Expiry date: Jul 11, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T442/674
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Described is a surface element (10) which is provided for controlledly transporting moisture and for the storage of moisture and which has an air-permeable carrier (14) provided with an adsorbent. The surface element (10) also has an absorbent, moisture-storing fleece layer (12), wherein the adsorber carrier (14) and the fleece layer (12) are connected together in areal relationship by needling (16) to give an air-permeable composite material (22; 22'). The needling (16) is oriented from the fleece layer (12) towards the adsorber carrier (14). The fiber barbs (18) of the needling (16) extend from the fleece layer (12) to the adsorber carrier (14) and through the adsorber carrier (14). The fiber barbs (18) provide a wick action for the moisture, whereby moisture transport to the fleece layer (12) is optimized. Particularly upon saturation of the fleece layer (12) excess moisture is stored in the adsorbent of the adsorber carrier (14).