Abstract: A contoured continuous length fabric having warp yarns extending latitudinally thereof which are positioned closer together as they approach the outer contoured surface of the fabric and weft yarns extending longitudinally and being substantially equally spaced along the length thereof relative to each other.

Abstract: A loom for weaving contoured cloth has a shed forming part for forming a warp yarn shed, a rapier apparatus for inserting successive lengths of weft yarn through the shed, a beating up apparatus for beating up the weft yarns into a woven fabric, a contoured rotatably driven mandrell positioned downstream, relative to the direction of the warp yarn movement, for receiving the woven fabric and drawing it from the beating up apparatus, the mandrel having at least a part thereof with a spheroidal shape for giving a spheroidal shape to the fabric passed around the mandrel, nip rollers pressing the woven fabric against the mandrel for causing said mandrel to draw the woven fabric from the beating up apparatus and shape the fabric according to the contour of the mandrel, a fabric guide having a contour along the mandrel corresponding to the contour of said mandrel and guiding the fabric into engagement with the mandrel, and warp yarn path length extenders positioned along the path of the fabric from the beating up a