Abstract: Light filler material consists of a bonded, woven or knitted, short- or long-fibered material web into which thermoplastic hollow microglobes are embedded. This voluminized fiber web is compressed by means of a sewing or stitch-bonding process with the aid of pre-tensioned sewing threads. In the process, the hollow spaces between the voluminized microglobes are reduced in an exactly calculable form by the adjustable thread tension.

Abstract: A material for relief has a sheet obtained by heating and compressing a sponge made of a cellulose and a base attached to the back of the sheet. By forming a pattern on the sheet and supplying a water in such a manner as to correspond to the pattern, a raised-portion is formed.

Abstract: A thermally insulated down-fill fabric of reduced thickness and having a down-fill composition. A patterned envelope is formed and defines a pouch in which down or a down-fill composition is inserted and distributed substantially evenly within the envelope. The envelope is then compressed and stitch seams are formed to define a quilt pattern of closely spaced stitch lines to reduce the loft of the down-fill composition by about twice the normal loft thereof. This procedure is repeated over the entire envelope whereby the fabric has at least half the thickness of the normal loft of the down-fill composition.

Abstract: A stitch-bonded fabric suitable for use as an airbag.

Abstract: A sleeve for padding a hazardous-duty garment strap, such as a firefighting suspender shoulder strap, or for padding a hazardous-duty pack strap, includes an elongated inner strip of padding material, an outer layer of heat and flame resistant material substantially surrounding the inner padding strip, and a central passage shaped to slidably receive the strap of the garment or pack strap therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, the padding is made of heat and flame resistant closed cell foam material, and the outer layer is made of an aramid material.

Abstract: A process of decorating fabric includes the step of imparting wrinkles to the fabric oblique to the warp and weft directions and heat setting the wrinkles into the fabric. The wrinkle imparting step may include moving the fabric longitudinally and simultaneously moving portions of the fabric from side to side by frictionally engaging the fabric to an oscillating means such as an elastomeric pad or interleaved fingers and oscillating the pad or fingers from side to side. Heat setting of the fabric includes exposing the wrinkled fabric to heat at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient duration to set the wrinkles in the fabric. Desirably, the wrinkled fabric is in contact with a transfer print paper while the fabric passes through the heat setting step to set the wrinkles and fix color on the fabric. The longitudinal movement is desirably coordinated with the side to side movement to obtain aesthetically pleasing results. The invention also includes apparatus and the product.

Abstract: An absorbent material and method for making same comprising a fiber web, including a fiber blend comprising from about 50 to about 75 weight percent of a fiber having fineness less than about 3 denier and from about 25 to about 50 weight percent of a fiber having fineness ranging from about 3 to about 5 denier wherein the fiber web is bound together by fiber bundles transverse to the plane of the web. The fiber blend may further comprise from about 3 to about 7 percent by weight of a fiber having fineness greater than about 5 denier. The fibers comprising the fiber blend may be entirely hydrophobic, or the about 3 to about 5 denier fiber may be hydrophilic. The absorbent material exhibits a high degree of absorption and fluid retention and does not wet back even under compression. The transverse fiber bundles formed during the mechanical bonding of the web function as wicks for transferring fluid from the surface of the material to the inner portion of the material.

Abstract: An inflatable, self-standing, transparent insulating jacket for a hot water tank is disclosed. The jacket is comprised of an inflatable hood, a platform and an attachment means. The hood surrounds, but is spaced outwardly from, the hot water tank. The hood comprises transparent inner and outer members each defining a cylindrical chamber and having an open end and a peripheral edge surround the open end. The inner and outer member edges are bonded together at or near their respective peripheral edges so as to form an impermeable fluid tight inflatable pocket between the members. A valve is provided on the outer member to inflate and deflate the inflatable pocket. The platform, having an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the hood, is disposed beneath the hot water tank. The attachment means, preferably a zipper type fastener, secures the hood to the platform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a machine for producing a reinforcement in the form of a block for a composite component formed by said reinforcement embedded in a cured matrix.According to the invention, said block (B) is made up by continuously forming a succession of superposed sheets, and the machine, comprising a stand provided with a subframe and with uprights for mounting at least one frame which can move along said uprights, capable of receiving a thread laying-down tool which can move in a plane transverse to said uprights, is noteworthy in that it comprises an additional frame (6) which can move along said uprights (4) and is provided with pegs (9) for hooking on said straight portions of thread (F).

Abstract: There is provided herein a protective cover made from conjugate fiber nonwoven fabric having a basis weight between about 1 and 8 osy laminated with a film. The conjugate fibers may be in a configuration such as sheath/core, side-by-side and islands in the sea and may be formed from polyolefins and polyamides. The preferred fiber embodiments are a side-by-side polypropylene-polyethylene fiber and a sheath/core polyethylene/nylon 6 fiber. The fabric is preferably extrusion coated with a polyethylene film to form the protective cover. The cover is light weight, waterproof and provides sufficient burst and tensile strength so that the cover may be used during transportation of, for example, a boat.

Abstract: A composite fabric having inner and outer layers and a middle layer therebetween is disclosed. The inner and outer layers may be the same or different and each layer is made up of a plurality of sub-layers. The individual sub-layers are resin bonded substantially unidirectional anti-ballistic non-woven fibers. The same or a different number of sub-layers may be used as the inner and outer layers, respectively. The middle layer is made up of a plurality of woven fabric sub-layers. Each sub-layer is a woven fabric, comprising anti-ballistic fibers or yarns, which has been calendared to an extent sufficient to flatten the sub-layer fabric and to spread the fibers of the woven yarns into the void spaces created by the weaving.

Abstract: A flexible clay liner in roll form for use on steep slopes. The liner includes a layer of geotextiles. The geotextiles are stitched together in rows of stitches which extend along the length of the liner. The thread used to make the stitching is a multifilament thread treated with a resin to prevent wicking through the liner. The spacing of the rows of stitches and the frequency of stitches along the rows are sufficient to transfer shear stresses through the bentonite layers, thus preventing the bentonite from becoming a shear plane.

Abstract: A quilt design planner in the form of relatively thin but substantially rigid panels or strips having a grid marking on an upwardly exposed surface thereof positioned in overlying relation to the sashings and/or borders on the quilt top to enable a quilter to more effectively plan the design to be formed on the sashings and/or borders prior to making any marks on the quilt top. The panels or strips having the grid marking thereon have an easily erasable surface on which designs may be formed by using templates or stencils and a marking pencil or other marker. This enables a quilter to form, lay out and adjust the design on the panels or strips with the planned design overlying the sashing and/or borders around each block of the quilt top.

Abstract: A unique composite material impregnated with a heat curable resin comprising a layer of conductive fibers and one or more resin carrying layers is utilized to reinforce utility poles by wrapping the material around a portion of the utility pole and causing a current to flow through the conductive fibers to resistively heat the material to the resin. The composite material can also be incorporated into molds to produce cured composite parts. The composite material is also used in the construction of large parts without the need for huge, expensive molds. The conductive fibers in composite parts are oriented in a manner to ensure that the entire part is thoroughly heated during the curing process.

Abstract: Sleeve intended to be placed around a container, such as a can or the like, in order to constitute an information medium and formed by a body made of a plastic sheet which is shaped in order to fit on the perimeter of the container and capable of taking printing, wherein at least two flap-forming parts (7, 8) are fixed to the sleeve body (6) by a fixing mechanism (5), each by a first edge parallel to the generatrix of the body (6), and extending so as to be able to end up covering all or part of the sleeve body (6), and wherein at least one of the faces of the flap-forming parts is also capable of taking or displaying printing.

Abstract: An anchoring strip for a pull-in rod is used for shaping the profile of upholstery materials for upholstered parts, which are covered on their outside by a covering material. For this purpose, an anchoring strip has a sewing-on flag, which can be connected with the covering material. The anchoring strip consists of a molded plastic body which is formed in one piece and has a basic connector bar, which can be anchored flexibly to the upholstery material. Along the longitudinal extent of the basic connector bar, receiving elements for a pull-in rod are provided and which are disposed at intervals from one another and point to the outside of the upholstered part. The pull-in rod can be interlocked from the outside of the upholstered part with the receiving elements to form a firm holding engagement.

Abstract: An improved shaped article comprising a thermoformed composite sheet, which is a layer of thermoplastic polymer attached to a surface of a lightweight conformable fabric, the other surface of the fabric being attached to a layer of rigid foam, provides the article with improved wall thickness uniformity and impact resistance.

Abstract: A woven fabric is formed from polypropylene fibers by simply weaving the fabric using polypropylene fibers in both the warp and weft directions. The edges are left frayed and could become unraveled. In order to prevent the fabric from fraying further, particularly during washing, binding fibers are incorporated at least in the weft direction, but only along the edges. The binding fibers are polyester fibers coated with a low-melting-point thermoplastic adhesive. The thermoplastic adhesive is one that melts at a temperature lower than the melting point of the polypropylene fibers. Once these are incorporated into the fabric at the loom, the fabric is placed in an oven and heated to a temperature above the melting point of the thermoplastic adhesive and below the melting point of the polypropylene fibers to cause the thermoplastic adhesive to melt, binding the polypropylene fibers together.

Abstract: Cloth transfers such as twill numbers and letters include a cloth layer coated with a plastic layer which is, in turn, coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The intermediate plastic layer permits the cloth transfer to be temporarily bonded to a cloth substrate by a very thin film of pressure sensitive adhesive as it is sewn onto the substrate. The intermediate plastic layer prevents the sewing needle from being gummed up with the pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: The invention relates to a beach towel which can be converted into a bag for carrying various accessories. The towel is formed by an elongated sheet, to an upper central part of which a pillow assembly is secured. A pocket is formed between the flexible sheet and the pillow assembly to retain a folded towel after the pocket has been turned inside out. Secured between the elongated sheet and the pillow assembly are a pair of handles which become exposed on the outside after the pocket has been turned inside out.

Abstract: Composite chemical barrier films and fabrics that are particularly useful in protective garments. The composite barrier material may be made by laminating a barrier film to a flexible substrate using a thermoplastic resin and topcoating the barrier film with a similar or dissimilar thermoplastic resin to allow fabric seaming when the fabric is fabricated into a protective garment. Protective garments made from the materials are lightweight while maintaining an adequate balance of strength and chemical protection.

Abstract: A storage sleeve comprising a reinforcing panel and a flexible sheet, wherein the sheet and panel are joined by welding and subsequent sewing, to form a pocket.

Abstract: A process for the production of a two-layer textile reinforcement for the production of bituminous sealing sheets for roofing consists first, from a first layer based on nonwoven cloth, in consolidating this nonwoven cloth by mechanical or hydraulic bonding and in thermostabilizing it. This first consolidated and thermostabilized layer is then assembled with a second mineral fiber layer, either by counter-gluing, or by needling, or by seam knitting. These two latter assembly methods are used only when the second mineral fiber layer is in the form of a grid or cloth of continuous or discontinuous mineral filaments. The first assembly method by counter-gluing is itself used no matter what the structure of the second mineral filament layer, whether it be in the form of a grid or a cloth of continuous or discontinuous mineral fibers or in the form of a scrim of mineral fibers.

Abstract: A shielding blanket for racing engines includes a bag constructed of a lamination of materials including several plies of a high-strength ballistic textile material laminate having a high melting point. The blanket is shaped to fit closely over the cylinder block and oil pan of the engine, and between the block and the exhaust headers. Oil-absorbent pads are secured within the bag for capturing engine oil. Two of the pads face the sides of the cylinder block to prevent oil from escaping through either the engine block or the oil pan from reaching the exhaust headers.

Abstract: Described is a composite comprising at least one textile sheet material composed of synthetic polymer fibers and at least one textile sheet material composed of inorganic fibers, which textile sheet materials are joined to one another by yarns.The textile sheet materials are preferably joined together by sewing, knitting or stitch-bonding.The composite is especially useful as reinforcement for the production of roofing felts.

Abstract: To produce a pultrusion which can be machined without undue strength loss bidirectional woven fiber fabric is modified to be pultrudable into a high shear strength composite member. In a preferred form of the invention the fabric is pleated in the pultrusion process to create an endless wall of stacked switchback pleated layers which defines a box beam wall in one example, and the shaft of a bolt in another. Products produced by this process have improved isotonic strength qualities over currently produced pultrusions, which are limited to unidirectional fibers, continuous fiber mats, or alternating layers of non-woven 0.degree. and 90.degree. cloth and do not have the shear strength inherent in the pleated configuration.

Abstract: A fabric structure comprising a shell and a lining in close proximity to each other. The shell includes an outer woven synthetic fabric, a relatively high-tensile-strength stratum printed on the inner face thereof and covering from 10 to 90% of the surface of the inner face, and fluorocarbon impregnation thereof. The lining includes an inner synthetic polymer or cotton-blend fabric, an optional synthetic polymer water-vapor-permeable membrane, and an optional outer synthetic polymer fabric. Preferably, the shell and lining are secured together by stitching at the edges and seams.

Abstract: A rigid improved penetration resistant composite of the type comprising a plurality of fibrous layers comprising network of fibers in a polymeric matrix selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting resins or a combination thereof, at least two of said layers secured together by a securing means, said improvement comprising a securing means which comprises fiber stitches wherein the average stitch length is greater than the average stitch path, a process for forming the composite and articles fabricated from said composite.

Abstract: A spacing fabric (3), in particular velour fabric, which spacing fabric has a first and second layer (4, 5) and intermediate webs (7) connecting these layers (4, 5) and is made of a technical yarn like aramide fibre, carbon fibre, ceramic fibre, or, in particular, glass fibre, with a resetting force inherent to the intermediate webs (7) which tends to automatically keep the layers (4, 5) of the spacing fabric (3) apart, especially also after resinification. The invention proposes that, in order to control the spacing of the layers of the spacing fabric, the layers (4, 5) of the spacing fabric (3) be attached to one another so that they can be detached.

Abstract: A label having indicia thereon is attached to the shell of a firefighter's garment by stitching which passes through the label and the shell, with portions of the stitching extending outwardly of the label. A transparent protective layer is adhesively secured to the label and covers the outer surface of the label and the outwardly extending stitching portions. The protective layer is heat and abrasion resistant and is substantially waterproof.

Abstract: A soft, flexible patch which will not fray, but which may be ironed on to the softest garments, especially suitable for decoration or reinforcement of fleece or flannel sweatsuits, as well as a method of manufacturing such a patch. The patch is made of a layer of fleece material such as flannel, bonded to a layer of heat-fusible transfer web. The patch is trimmed to a pattern and bound with thread using an overlock stitch of 2.5 to 5 stitch per cm density and approximately 5.+-.2 mm depth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a non-woven layer that consists substantially of short polyolefin fibers the nonwoven layer being a felt with in the plane of the layer substantially randomly oriented fibers with a length of 40-100 mm, a tensile strength of at least 1.2 GPa and a modulus of at least 40 GPa. The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of this felt and to layered structures in which the felt is used. Layered structures comprising a non-woven layer according to the invention have improved specific energy absorption on impact of ballistic projectiles.

Abstract: A three-side covering seam-type bellows includes a plurality of essentially C-shaped sheets of mutually identical configuration, the sheets being piled to each other for forming the bellows. The bellows has a pair of obliquely extending lower edges provided for each of the sheets. An outer sewing line extends along the outer peripheral edge of each of the sheets, the outer sewing line extending to the inner end of the obliquely extending lower edges, and an inner sewing line extends along the inner peripheral edge of each of the sheets, the inner sewing line being terminated at terminating points on the inner peripheral edges extending from the inner end of the obliquely extending edge and spaced apart from the inner end. A pair of unsewn portions are formed between the inner ends and the termination points.

Abstract: A non-woven composite interlining fabric, which is capable of being fused on by application of an adhesive substance, contains a non-woven fabric having a mass per unit area of 10 to 40 g/m.sup.2 with warp reinforcement, which warp reinforcement contains 5 to 25 g/m.sup.2 textured warp yarn having a primary elongation of 10 to 35% with a total denier of 30 to 120 dtex. The weight ratio of warp yarn:non-woven fabric is from 1:3 to 3:1. The thread count is 3 to 25/inch. The composite fabric is manufactured in a warp knitting machine having a non-woven fabric feed, the non-woven fabric being reinforced with textured filaments and, at the end, the composite being thermofixed and provided with the melting adhesive. After the warp yarn is fed and prior to the thermofixing, the composite fabric is subjected to a shrinking process. The composite fabric exhibits a final elongation in the longitudinal direction of 50 to 120%.

Abstract: Processes are provided for forming composites comprising a LaMnO.sub.3 perovskite coatings (or a related perovskite) on a mat of ceramic particles (e.g., fibers, microballoons, or mixtures thereof) or LaMnO.sub.3 -family sol-gel binders infused into the mat to form the connecting, rigidifying bridges.

Abstract: Fibrous substrates for the production of carbon and/or ceramic (including mixtures of these) fiber reinforced carbon and/or ceramic (including mixtures of these) composites and to methods of manufacture of same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cover for shielding an article from incident heat energy and includes a first, non-heat reflective, sheet of material, a second sheet of material adapted to reflect heat, and a layer of non-abrasive sheet material. The sheets are superimposed and secured together to comprise a laminate, with the covering being tailored to provide a desired configuration. The covers are flexible thermal insulation covers tailored to fit and cover a particular shape of article which requires thermal insulation. The cover has spaced round its perimeter pockets or flaps into which are secured extensible members having a free end adapted to be hooked round a part of the article to maintain the cover securely in position.

Abstract: An improved rigid composite of the type comprising a plurality of fibrous layers at least two of which are secured together by a securing means, said improvements comprising a securing means which comprises at least two adjacent paths.

Abstract: There is supported, from support cables under tension, a porous textile product suitable for use in shielding farm plants or animals from adverse weather. A hem cable of a pliable multifilament wire inside a soft sheath is sewn around one or more edges of a panel of a preferred cloth, with its free ends exteriorised at one corner. Frangible plastic clips are used to make loops around both the hem cable and the support cables. Optional panel stretching uses a hem cable anchor holding the cables to a fixed support located by one corner of the panel, a pulley at each adjacent corner, and a hem cable tensioner located at the free ends may be used to maintain the panel in a spread-out state. Alternative ways to provide a fabric panel with edge reinforcements are described.

Abstract: A woven fabric useful for air bags capable of smoothly opening in an initial stage of inflation and having a high burst strength and an excellent safety satisfies all the requirement that(A) a stress strain curve of the woven fabric in at least one of the warp and weft directions is a substantially downwardly convex curve, where the elongation .epsilon. is in the range: 1%.ltoreq..epsilon..ltoreq.20%;(B) where the elongation .epsilon. is in the range: .epsilon..ltoreq.10%, the tensile strength S(.epsilon.) of the woven fabric is 10 to 100 kg/3 cm in both the warp and weft directions; and(C) the woven fabric has a tensile toughness of 2,000 to 4,000 kg.%/3 cm in both the warp and weft directions, the tensile toughness being represented by an area of a region, in a graph showing a stress-strain curve of the woven fabric in each of the warp and weft directions, defined by the stress-strain curve and an abscissa corresponding to a stress of zero.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bullet resistant fabric which is capable of withstanding the penetration of a 9 mm or a .357 magnum bullet, has an areal density fo about 0.65 to 0.87 pound per square foot, and which is made up of a plurality of quilted together sub-plies of woven fabric having substantially no binder or matrix resin associated therewith.

Abstract: A flame barrier made of nonwoven fabric for use as a component of a planar multilayer structure, especially a vehicle or aircraft passenger seat. The flame barrier contains staple fibers made of phenolic resin, para-aramid, or melamine resin, alone or mixed with 20 to 60 wt % preoxidized polyacrylonitrile staple fibers. The nonwoven fabric barrier also contains 15 to 30 wt % vermiculite, which is distributed through the entire volume of the nonwoven fabric. The flame barrier possesses a mass per unit area of 100 g/m.sup.2 to 210 g/m.sup.2. The method of manufacturing the nonwoven fabric flame barrier makes use of water jet needling.

Abstract: A collar connection device is provided for use with a garment having a double-layer collar, the device having a first functional layer strip connected to sections of the garment by openable closures and a second functional layer strip also connected to sections of the garment by additional openable closures and where the two functional layer strips are attached in a line by a waterproof adhesive seam.

Abstract: A padded cover for use with a mattress which provides added postural support (as well as extra thermal insulation and padding). The padded cover includes a sheet of support material which covers essentially the full length of the mattress. This sheet of support material is stiffened over the middle part of the mattress length. Thus, this arrangement provides extra firmness under the torso, while maintaining an essentially flat upper surface. This cover structure can be retrofitted to existing mattresses. The disclosed innovations also provide improved methods for manufacturing bedding material with stable and longitudinally nonuniform postural support. For example, in the presently preferred embodiment, three layers are fed into a standard quilting machine: an upper layer of ticking, a middle layer of convoluted-foam support material, and a bottom layer of quilt backing. The support material thus is quilted between the two other layers, giving a quilted fabric that may be made into a mattress cover.

Abstract: A device to capture, contain and collect hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline and diesel before they can be spilled or leaked from the ventilation valve or fuel intake port of the fuel tank of a vessel and on to the surface of the water during fueling operations at marine fueling facilities. The device is formed as a low-profile box with a floor section and upright wall sections having stratified layers of a textile material and a solidifying polymer enclosed within a outer envelope of textile material. A seamed area at the center of the device with slits in the textile material allows the device to circumscribe the annular conduit of a device passing through the seamed area.

Abstract: Armor is constructed by sewing together a multiplicity of plies of energy absorbing cloth made of polyaramid fibers with stitching thread of relatively lower tensile strength in a pattern such that, upon impact by a projectile, the stitching threads break at multiple locations in response to stresses from fibers stretched by the impact. The armor can be sewn together to form a blanket or vest garments, etc., for protection of persons from projectiles.

Abstract: An insulated freight container quilt comprises first and second elongate cover sheets coated on an outer side with polypropylene fiber, the cover sheets being of a material selected from a group of spun bonded polypropylene and spun bonded polyester. A batt of polyester staple fibers mounted together with an acrylic binder is sandwiched between inner sides of the first and second sheets. A seam structure along perimeter edges of the sheets secures the batt between the sheets.

Abstract: A wind blocking hand covering including a back portion of the hand covering formed of a sandwich of three layers of material joined by binding the three layers to each other along at least one seam. The first layer being an outer fleece layer, the second layer being a waterproof breathable layer and the third, inner layer, being adapted to contact the wearer's hand. A front portion of the hand covering formed of at least one layer of material adapted to cooperatively form a hand covering with the back portion of the hand covering when attached. Securing means for securing the back portion of the hand covering to the front portion of the hand covering to form a hand covering which is suitable for blocking wind from reaching at least the back portion of a wearer's hand. The wind blocking fabric for use in a hand covering includes a first layer of a fleece material.

Abstract: A roofing membrane having a reinforcing fabric saturated with a bituminous material. The reinforcing fabric having a first fiberglass scrim layer to which is stitched a non-woven polyester mat.

Abstract: A mattress tape for securing the edge of a mattress comprising a fabric formed of yarn. The fabric has a first section, a second section and a third section disposed between the first section and second section. The third section is formed with greater shape holding capability than the first and second sections. This greater shape holding capability is caused by greater thickness, weight or stiffness of said central third section.