Abstract: Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeabilities. The inventive fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions which require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessary low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated airbag possesses a coating of at most 3.0 ounces per square yard, most preferably about 0.

Abstract: An elastomeric fabric woven in a leno weave, with the warp yarns being elastomeric yarns. The elastomeric warp yarns have a minor axis disposed in the direction perpendicular to the fabric surface. The fabric is calendered to reduce the thickness of the elastomeric yarns along the minor axis at the cross-over of the warp yarns in the leno weave.

Abstract: Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeability. The inventive inflatable fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions that require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessarily low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated inflatable airbag comprises a film laminated on at least a portion of the target fabric surface wherein the film possesses a tensile strength of at least 2,000 and an elongation at break of at least 180%.

Abstract: An elastomeric breathable three-dimensional composite material and the process for producing the same are disclosed. A carrier material is supplied onto a top surface of continuous portions of an elastomeric film to form the composite material. A pressure differential is applied to a bottom surface of film for a period of time sufficient for three-dimensional apertured structures to be formed in the film.

Abstract: A flat composite fabric is provided by incorporating wire made of memory metal, or made of an alloy possessing shape memory properties into a flat fabric. By means of appropriate heating and cooling, e. g. electric heating, the composite fabric is contracted and released thereby providing a massaging effect.

Abstract: There is provided a woven fabric for use in endovascular grafting, said fabric being biostable, composed of substantially non-elastomeric yarn, and expansible in at least one yarn direction, preferably the weft direction. Expansibility of the fabric is achieved by introducing non-linearity into a yarn (such as polyester or polytetrafluoroethylene) used in weaving the fabric. The non-linear yarn is maintained in that form by an agent which may itself be a yarn. Following fabric formation resilience is advantageously imparted to the non-linear yarn prior to release of the agent. In a preferred embodiment the yarn is polyester and is crimped or twisted around the agent which is a PVA yarn. After weaving, the fabric is washed in hot water to heat-set the water insoluble yarn in its non-linear form and to selectively dissolve the agent. An endovascular graft comprising the fabric of the invention is also described.

Abstract: A fabric used with an inflatable penile prosthesis and having a high fabric weave density is disclosed. The fabric is comprised of substantially non-distensible warp fibers and expandable/contractible fill fibers. The warp fibers are made of a 40 denier polyester yarn and the fill fibers are made of a 70 denier spandex yarn wrapped with a 40 denier polyester yarn. The fill fibers and warp fibers have sufficient fabric weave density so as to resist fabric distortion, such as fill separation.

Abstract: A press pad for use in hot laminating presses includes a woven fabric of warp threads and weft threads. At least some of the threads include at least one elastomer selected from among fluoroelastomers, fluorosilicone elastomers, blend elastomers prepared by copolymerizing a mixture of raw crude silicone and fluorosilicone rubbers, and blend elastomers prepared by copolymerizing a mixture of raw crude silicone and fluorinated rubbers. The overall woven fabric contains a substantial proportion, such as at least 10% or more, of the selected elastomer. The selected elastomer is preferably applied as a coating or sheath over a multi-strand core of copper, brass, high-grade alloy steel or stainless steel strands to form the weft threads. The press pad has good elastomeric resilience, excellent temperature resistance for constant duty use above 250° C., and excellent chemical resistance.

Abstract: Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeability. The inventive inflatable fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions that require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessarily low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated inflatable airbag comprises a film laminated on at least a portion of the target fabric surface wherein the film possesses a tensile strength of at least 2,000 and an elongation at break of at least 180%.

Abstract: Extruded net with at least some strands which melt away upon the application of heat while other strands maintain elastic, or other desirable, properties. This netting is advantageously combined with a fabric in which the low melting strands function as an adhesive, while the high melting strands maintain their designed properties in the final laminate product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tubular fabric for receiving an underwire in a garment such as a bra. The tubular fabric is formed by arranging a fusible yarn, such as Grilon (Registered Trade Mark), on the interior surface of the tube and melting said yarn to coat the interior surface.On cooling the melted yarn sets to form a durable lining which exhibits excellent resistance to penetration by underwires.The invention also relates to garments, such as bras, basques and swimming costumes, incorporating the tubular fabric of the invention.

Abstract: Three dimensional fiber networks which are semi-rigid and dimensionally stable are made from textile fabrics that have projections and optional depressions which are compressible and return to their original shape after being compressed. The fiber networks are made by the thermo-mechanical deformation of textile fabrics that are in turn made from thermoplastic fibers. The fiber networks have particular utility as cushioning and impact absorbing materials.

Abstract: A fabric laminate (10) comprises first and second stretch fabrics (11 and 12) having an intermediate adhesive securement layer (13) between them. The adhesive securement layer (13) is in the form of a regularly repeated pattern which comprises an array of aligned adhesive elements (14) arranged in successive generally horizontally and vertically extending rows. The array of adhesive elements (14) is capable of offering resistance to elongation as the laminate (10) is subjected to distortion, with the pattern having a differential elongation characterized as offering different magnitudes of resistance to elongation when the fabric laminate (10) is subjected to distortion in selected different directions.

Abstract: The invention provides a highly stretchable fabric having an elongation percentage of 5 to 45% and a recovery percentage of elongation of at least 70% and comprising spun yarns serving at least as warps or wefts, the fabric being characterized in that the spun yarns contain two-component composite fibers comprising a highly shrinkable polyester component A and a polyester component B less shrinkable than the polyester component A, the composite fibers being so oriented that in the vicinity 5 of the crests of weaving crimps of the spun yarn, the polyester component A faces toward the inner side of the crimps. The invention also provides a process for producing the fabric. The fabric is excellent in stretchability and recovery from elongation and is capable of retaining its appearance and hand.

Abstract: A structural reaction injection molded motor vehicle bumper beam comprises a preform formed of layers of interlaced glass fibers and chopped glass fibers wherein most of the interlaced fibers are oriented longitudinally of the bumper beam. A two-component, non-filled reaction injection molding polymeric/pure polyurethane based resin with a neat elongation in excess of about 50% bonds the fiberglass layers together in a composite bumper beam structure wherein the fiberglass provides substantial strength and stiffness and the highly compliant resin allows extensive beam deflection without catastrophic cracking to enable the bumper beam without other assistance to absorb sufficient energy in repeated impacts to meet in-service requirements.

Abstract: Transversely stretchable elastic laminated fabric with cloth-like facings was made by a two-step process. In the first step an inelastic laminate was made by continuously extruding an elastomer sheet between two plies of a fibrous sheet and joining the plies by applying pressure on them between a closed gap niproll assembly. Two longitudinal slits were made into the laminate. Then the rolls of inelastic laminate so made were taken to an oven and the laminate was unwound and pulled through the oven at an elevated temperature, while tension on the web was increased until the slits necked. The necked laminate was wound up on a takeup roll. When samples were unwound, surprisingly they did not grow in width, and they showed good CD-elasticity (elongation and springback). Breathability of the laminate was superior to the laminate formed using an open niproll assembly gap.

Abstract: A combination of rigid, non-elastic wefts with other wefts which are elastic and much thinner allows the creation of a figured, elastic fabric. The floats of the elastic wefts may be stretched between points of bindings. It is the density of the elastic threads along with the length of the elastic weft floats which determines the fabric's elasticity. This ratio is retained throughout the width of the material. Once the weaving process is completed, the fabric undergoes a process which takes place in a tenter subject to temperatures in excess of 100.degree. C., saturated in wet steam. This process acts on the elastic wefts, increasing their elasticity by 100%.

Abstract: Three dimensional fiber networks which are semi-rigid and dimensionally stable are made from textile fabrics that have projections and optional depressions which are compressible and return to their original shape after being compressed. The fiber networks are made by the thermo-mechanical deformation of textile fabrics that are in turn made from thermoplastic fibers. The fiber networks have particular utility as cushioning and impact absorbing materials.