Abstract: A composite spar having an upper and lower wall region connected by leading and trailing edge regions is provided including a plurality of first laminates and a plurality of second laminates. The plurality of first laminates includes one or more intermediate modulus graphite plies having an intermediate modulus. The plurality of first laminates is arranged in one or more intermediate modulus layers to form at least a portion of the upper wall region, lower wall region, leading edge region and trailing edge region. The plurality of second laminates includes one or more high modulus graphite plies having a high modulus. The plurality of second laminates is arranged in one or more high modulus layers. The high modulus layers are generally interposed between intermediate modulus layers.

Abstract: A breathable security blanket may include a breathable material layer attached to various ornamental or aesthetic additions without interfering with the breathable material layer. Attachments to the breathable security blanket may also include breathable material.

Abstract: An integral sail to generate a propulsion following a thrust from the wind has an integral layered structure delimited externally by a first external layer and by a second external layer, both made with a smooth layer of thin and continuous film of flexible material. Furthermore, to each of said first external layer and second external layer at least a layer of parallel fibers, adjacent to each other, is associated internally with respect to the layered structure. The whole is made solid by means of at least a layer of thermofusible glue, disposed inside the external layers and in coordination with the corresponding layers of parallel fibers.

Abstract: A fabric for an air-bag comprising interwoven sets of warp and weft yarns, wherein the yarns of one of the least 1.5, and the yarns of the other set of yarns are not tape-like and have a width-depth ratio less than 1.5.

Abstract: Methods for creating three dimensional lattice structures in computer-aided design models. A method includes receiving a solid model containing a plurality of boundary surfaces for a void region, computing a bounding box of the solid model and a plurality of grid points on an axis-aligned grid within the bounding box, creating a lattice cell layout for a lattice structure within the void region, computing an implicit model defined by a scalar value for each of the grid points on the axis-aligned grid, extracting the lattice structure in the solid model based on the implicit model.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing reinforced, formed fabrics, consisting in producing a continuous fabric alternated with a membrane (34) containing embedded reinforcing elements, which is prepared in overlapping portions on a conveyor belt (29) which passes over a preparation table (25). The membrane (34) and the reinforcing elements are then positioned under a press consisting of an upper air-filled chamber (1), the lower part thereof comprising a flexible element (4), and a lower water-filled chamber (14), the upper part thereof comprising a flexible element (17). According to the invention, a forming bar (10) is adjustably mounted in the upper chamber (1). When the aforementioned forming bar (10) is adjusted to adopt a particular shape, the different flexible elements can deform at the forming bar and the membrane and the reinforcing elements are hot pressed with a portion corresponding to the forming bar having a three dimensional shape, thereby defining the form of the fabric produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reinforcing textile thread (82) for an inflatable sail, such as a rigging sail or a flight sail, including a plurality of filaments which are agglutinated so as to form an elongate unitary body (820), and a binder (822) which ensures the cohesion among at least some of the filaments (821) of the unitary body (820), and which consists of a coating material. In order to guarantee an effective, directed reinforcement effect within an inflatable sail without limiting the lifespan of said sail, the unitary body has, in the cross-section thereof, an oblong outline, wherein the ratio of the maximum width (e) of said outline, which corresponds to a thickness of the unitary body, to the maximum length (l) of said outline, which corresponds to a width of the unitary body, is less than 0.06, a plurality of filaments (821) being arranged in series over the thickness of the unitary body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions useful for the manufacture of sails. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to shaped, reinforced fabrics that can be used to make high-performance, shaped, reinforced sails.

Abstract: Sail membrane preferably made of a woven fabric of synthetic fibers, with said membrane having a microroughness in the form of parallelly extending grooves arranged so as to achieve a density of 5 to 25 grooves/mm deposited on or integrated into said membrane surface.

Abstract: Membrane body (1) comprising at least one pair of panels (10, 11) connected together in an adhesive manner and for each pair of said panels (10, 11), at least one flexible sheath (15) arranged stably according to a set pattern to resist membrane stress acting on the panels (10, 11); each sheath (15) housing a respective tie rod (16), connected to the panels (10, 11) in an end position in a set manner in such a way as to be suitable for resisting normal stress to free the panels (10, 11) from the respective membrane stress, thereby maintaining the—group of the panels (10, 11) flexible and maintaining the corresponding production method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible article having resistance against ballistic impacts wherein said article comprises a stack of at least two unconnected plies, each ply containing at least two connected monolayers containing polymeric tapes and wherein said monolayers are free of any matrix material.

Abstract: Membrane body (1) comprising at least one pair of panels (10, 11) connected together in an adhesive manner and for each pair of said panels (10, 11), at least one flexible sheath (15) arranged stably according to a set pattern to resist membrane stress acting on the panels (10, 11); each sheath (15) housing a respective tie rod (16), connected to the panels (10, 11) in an end position in a set manner in such a way as to be suitable for resisting normal stress to free the panels (10, 11) from the respective membrane stress, thereby maintaining the—group of the panels (10, 11) flexible and maintaining the corresponding production method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing reinforced, formed fabrics, consisting in producing a continuous fabric alternated with a membrane (34) containing embedded reinforcing elements, which is prepared in overlapping portions on a conveyor belt (29) which passes over a preparation table (25). The membrane (34) and the reinforcing elements are then positioned under a press consisting of an upper air-filled chamber (1), the lower part thereof comprising a flexible element (4), and a lower water-filled chamber (14), the upper part thereof comprising a flexible element (17). According to the invention, a forming bar (10) is adjustably mounted in the upper chamber (1). When the aforementioned forming bar (10) is adjusted to adopt a particular shape, the different flexible elements can deform at the forming bar and the membrane and the reinforcing elements are hot pressed with a portion corresponding to the forming bar having a three dimensional shape, thereby defining the form of the fabric produced.

Abstract: Membrane body (1) comprising at least one pair of panels (10, 11) connected together in an adhesive manner and for each pair of said panels (10, 11), at least one flexible sheath (15) arranged stably according to a set pattern to resist membrane stress acting on the panels (10, 11); each sheath (15) housing a respective tie rod (16), connected to the panels (10, 11) in an end position in a set manner in such a way as to be suitable for resisting normal stress to free the panels (10, 11) from the respective membrane stress, thereby maintaining the group of the panels (10, 11) flexible and maintaining the corresponding production method.

Abstract: A sail includes at least two layers of durable sailcloth material (e.g., Mylar), a scrim of load bearing yarns arranged in predetermined load path orientations, and at least one heat-activated adhesive layer securing the layers of material to the scrim, such that the scrim is positioned between the layers of material. At least one of the layers of material includes visible content on an outside surface thereof. The visible content is preferably applied to the outside surface(s) of the layer(s) of material using dye sublimation to provide durable imaging. An opaque layer may be optionally included between the two outer layers of material to prevent the passage of light through the sail. Alternatively, the adhesive layer(s) may be dyed or otherwise colored to effectuate an opaque layer. The sail is preferably manufactured using a high temperature, vacuum lamination process to mitigate the quantity of voids between the layers of material.

Abstract: Sailcloth of longitudinal direction (machine direction) including a carrier layer, an intermediate layer with several plies of laid yarn as well as a finishing layer, with the yarns being bonded under pretension with the carrier layer and the layers joined with each other, the intermediate layer includes at least three yarn layers the yarns of which being laid at an angle ranging between 55 and 125° relative to the longitudinal direction so that at angles of 60° to 120° and 240° to 300° in relation to the longitudinal direction the cloth has a stretching resistance at 1% of expansion of at least 150 Ibf (667 N).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing reinforced, formed fabrics, consisting in producing a continuous fabric alternated with a membrane (34) containing embedded reinforcing elements, which is prepared in overlapping portions on a conveyor belt (29) which passes over a preparation table (25). The membrane (34) and the reinforcing elements are then positioned under a press consisting of an upper air-filled chamber (1), the lower part thereof comprising a flexible element (4), and a lower water-filled chamber (14), the upper part thereof comprising a flexible element (17). According to the invention, a forming bar (10) is adjustably mounted in the upper chamber (1). When the aforementioned forming bar (10) is adjusted to adopt a particular shape, the different flexible elements can deform at the forming bar and the membrane and the reinforcing elements are hot pressed with a portion corresponding to the forming bar having a three dimensional shape, thereby defining the form of the fabric produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing reinforced, formed fabrics, consisting in producing a continuous fabric alternated with a membrane (34) containing embedded reinforcing elements, which is prepared in overlapping portions on a conveyor belt (29) which passes over a preparation table (25). The membrane (34) and the reinforcing elements are then positioned under a press consisting of an upper air-filled chamber (1), the lower part thereof comprising a flexible element (4), and a lower water-filled chamber (14), the upper part thereof comprising a flexible element (17). According to the invention, a forming bar (10) is adjustably mounted in the upper chamber (1). When the aforementioned forming bar (10) is adjusted to adopt a particular shape, the different flexible elements can deform at the forming bar and the membrane and the reinforcing elements are hot pressed with a portion corresponding to the forming bar having a three dimensional shape, thereby defining the form of the fabric produced.

Abstract: A sailcloth in roll good form permits efficient and cost effective construction of cross cut and vertical cut, laminate sails based on “off-angle,” (assymetrical) load bearing fibers. The sailcloth also may include a conventional warp and fill thread or fiber layout. Such sailcloth illustratively is significantly less susceptible to load force stretch, creep elongation, and airfoil shape deformation because, among other things, it is not dependent on the load bearing limitations of symmetrical, woven or knitted roll good sailcloth.

Abstract: Membrane body (1) comprising at least one pair of panels (10, 11) connected together in an adhesive manner and for each pair of said panels (10, 11), at least one flexible sheath (15) arranged stably according to a set pattern to resist membrane stress acting on the panels (10, 11); each sheath (15) housing a respective tie rod (16), connected to the panels (10, 11) in an end position in a set manner in such a way as to be suitable for resisting normal stress to free the panels (10, 11) from the respective membrane stress, thereby maintaining the group of the panels (10, 11) flexible and maintaining the corresponding production method.

Abstract: A method of casting a sail comprising supplying a carrier film, supporting the carrier film along a support mechanism, forming a sail form with the support mechanism, pulling the carrier film across the support mechanism, forming a first coating, wiping the resin to control resin amount for forming the first coating, applying a yarn on the first coating in a pattern, applying a yarn on the first coating in a second pattern, dispensing a resin onto the carrier film to form a second coating covering at least one of the first pattern and the second pattern, wiping the resin to control the resin amount for forming the second coating, applying an additional element to at least one of the first coating and the second coating, applying a top film on the second coating, calendering the first and second coating, and curing the resin of the first and second coating.

Abstract: A composite iso-stress sail structure comprises a sail body having an expected iso-stress line, when in a chosen sail shape and under a loading within a chosen range of loadings. An iso-stress element is laminated to the sail body material to create an iso-stress portion at a corner of the sail body. An edge of iso-stress portion is shaped to be at least generally parallel to the iso-stress line. The iso-stress portion extends from the corner along at least one of the sides of the sail distances greater than 20% of the lengths of the sides, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for casting sails comprising a roll stand configured to supply a carrier film. The apparatus contains a support mechanism for the carrier film, and further comprises of a drawing mechanism, a first resin dispenser, a first wiper portion, two yarn applicators, a second resin dispenser, a second wiper portion, an element applicator, a calendar, and curing mechanism.

Abstract: A composite iso-stress sail structure comprises a sail body having an expected iso-stress line, when in a chosen sail shape and under a loading within a chosen range of loadings. An iso-stress element is laminated to the sail body material to create an iso-stress portion at a corner of the sail body. An edge of iso-stress portion is shaped to be at least generally parallel to the iso-stress line. The iso-stress portion extends from the corner along at least one of the sides of the sail distances greater than 20% of the lengths of the sides, respectively.

Abstract: A sailboat sail includes a sheet of material that contains stretchable webs that assume a planar orientation when placed against a planar surface, but which can stretch into a sail or airfoil orientation when mounted to a sailboat and exposed to wind loading. The sheet includes at least two webs of PVC vinyl laminated together between which is disposed a scrim of polyester yarn. The yarn is cross-hatched in a predetermined directional pattern. The sail has informational content, such as advertising, printed thereon or otherwise imparted thereto. A method for manufacturing such a sail includes providing a sheet of the aforementioned sail material, printing on one or both sides of the sheet information content to be displayed while the sail is mounted upon a sailboat, and cutting the sheet into the shape of a sail. The sheet may be cut before or after the information is imprinted thereon.

Abstract: A sailcloth is constructed by laminating two layers of cloth together with a central layer of film. The cloth layers are oriented such that stretch resistant yarns in the layers run perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A sail is formed on a mold in a three dimensional fashion. The sail is a laminate having three corners. The sail includes two outer layers of film and an inner yarn structure. Yarns radiate from each corner of the sail and terminate at an edge opposite the corner. Additional secondary reinforcing elements may be added between the film layers.

Abstract: A sail body (3), which can be finished along its edges and corners to create a finished sail (2), includes a number of sail sections(46) joined along their edges (47). Each sail section includes a reinforced material (20) laminated between first and second films (32,42). The reinforced material includes sectors of reinforced material (30,31), each sector having a set of generally parallel reinforcement elements (24), such as fibers. The sectors of reinforced material are preferably elongate sectors in which at least the majority of the sectors have lengths (34) at least five times as long their widths (36). The sectors are arranged in an overlapping pattern and so that the set of reinforcement elements are generally aligned with the expected load lines (28)for that section of the sail body. Sections can be made of different shapes but are typically triangular or quadrilateral. The reinforce material is typically a mesh or scrim containing sets of parallel, transversely oriented fibers (24,26).

Abstract: A process for modelling a sail with a sandwich configuration and a three-dimensional convex shape, wherein the “mould” is formed by a semirigid film material which has a shape identical to that of the sail to be produced. On this kind of “parent sail”, a cloth is prepared by adhering, by means of a removable adhesive, synthetic weft (1) and warp (2) filaments onto the “parent sail”. This cloth will form the inner layer of the final “sandwich”. Two thin external plastic laminates are applied on the cloth, one on each side, after removal of the cloth from the “parent sail”. The thin external plastic laminates are applied in individual pieces adapted to follow the convexity of the cloth. The application of the external laminates is performed on a plane support.