Coated, Impregnated, Or Autogenous Bonded Patents (Class 442/218)
  • Patent number: 6933251
    Abstract: A fabric for welding is provided which has a welding portion integral with the fabric which extends partially or completely over the width of the fabric. The welding portion of the fabric comprises at least a warp or weft which melts under hot pressing to adhere the fabric to a substrate. The substrate may be a cloth sheet, a synthetic resin sheet, or the like. This enables one to attach the sheet to a column, a stake, a log, a building, a footing, etc., or to attach the welding fabric to another sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Mathui Tape Kougyousho, Kabushiki Kaisha Orusen
    Inventor: Yuzo Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6908869
    Abstract: A woven fabric structure for outdoor furniture use is provided. The woven fabric structure is a blended fabric containing a coated multifilament yarn and an elastomeric yarn that is resistant to water, ultraviolet, heat degradation or other significant outdoor exposure. The elastomeric yarn is provided in the fill direction and the coated multifilament yarn is provided in the warp direction. Additionally, the coated multifilament yarn can be combined with a yarn such as spun acrylic, polyester, nylon yarn, texturized filament yarns; or other uncoated filament yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Phifer Wire Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Haun, Reese Brooks
  • Patent number: 6905985
    Abstract: A fabric cartridge for an automotive beating and cooling system. The apparatus includes: a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly including a housing; and a single-ply, die cut fabric web disposed therein. In the preferred embodiment, the fabric web includes: a float-free fabric substrate; at least one surface including a laminated film; and a plurality of apertures for diverting airflow in the heating and cooling system; and a noise/friction reduction agent for reducing the interaction between the housing and the fabric web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Highland Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Schindzielorz, Stephen P. Lengyel
  • Patent number: 6899941
    Abstract: A fabric for providing reinforcement and the like which is made from a two dimensional flat fabric which includes portions that the warp and weft fibers are interlocked together and portions that are non-interlocked together that allow the fabric to be folded to create a three dimensional structure without the need for cutting and darting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Techniweave, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Goering, James Crawford, Bruce Bond
  • Patent number: 6897170
    Abstract: Tuftable fabrics comprise a plurality of warp and weft tapes in a balanced construction of tapes with balanced dimensions of tapes in the warp and the weft and stabilization of the fabric to impart dimensional stability. The fabrics are useful as backings for tufted carpets and especially patterned carpets and carpet tile owing to a surprising combination of tuftability, resistance to edge curl and stability during tufting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Propex Fabrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Barkis, Charles F. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20040229537
    Abstract: An abrasion resistant and water resistant fabric is disclosed. The fabric is particularly well suited for use in constructing luggage. The fabric, however, is also well suited for many other applications, such as use in constructing sportswear, outdoor apparel, military apparel, and the like. The fabric is treated with a chemical composition. It has been discovered that the chemical composition greatly enhances the abrasion resistance of the fabric. In one embodiment, the fabric is made from nylon multifilament yarns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Joey K. Underwood, T. Doyle Kelley
  • Publication number: 20040219851
    Abstract: A flexible composite includes a ply having a non-orthogonal orientation. The flexible composite may be a component of a flexible assembly. The flexible assembly may be any number of fabric-based assemblies such as a radome cover of a radome, a belt for an industrial machine, an expanision joint to connect ducts of a factory, and/or a roof or skylight of a structure (notably permanent structures). The ply may be individually stabilized by a stabilizing agent such as a matrix material. The ply may be woven and may include warp yarns and fill yarns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Katherine M. Sahlin, Michael P. Cushman
  • Publication number: 20040219845
    Abstract: A cement panel that is reinforced with a fabric made of carbon fibers. The cement panel includes a core layer that is made of a lightweight cement composition. This core layer is covered with a layer of reinforcing carbon fabric on the top and on the bottom, each bonded to the core with a coating of cementitious material on the top and on the bottom of the core layer. On the edges of the cement panels, the fabric layers are overlapped so as to augment the strength of these edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Samuel E. Graham, George C. McLarty
  • Publication number: 20040219850
    Abstract: A method for forming a material having an individually stabilized ply includes providing a ply having a non-orthogonal orientation. A stabilizing agent is then applied to maintain the orientation of the ply. The stabilizing agent could alternately be applied before forming the ply. The ply may be woven in a non-orthogonal orientation, or may have its orientation changed to the final non-orthogonal orientation. Changing may occur over multiple steps and may include using an accumulator and/or payout station to change the orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Katherine M. Sahlin, Michael P. Cushman
  • Patent number: 6809046
    Abstract: The present invention provides non-heat cleaned glass fiber fabrics comprising resin compatible coatings that offer higher tensile strengths than corresponding fabrics that have been heat cleaned and silane finished. These fabrics can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as reinforcements for composites such as printed circuit boards. In one nonlimiting embodiment, the invention provides a non-heat cleaned fabric comprising a plurality of fiber strands in a warp direction and a fill direction, each fiber strand comprising a plurality of E-glass fiber, and having a resin compatible coating composition on at least a portion of a surface of at least one fiber strand, wherein the fabric has a tensile strength of at least 267 Newtons when measured in the warp direction or fill direction. Although not required, the fabric also has a tensile strength of at least 1.5 times that of a corresponding fabric that is heat cleaned by heating the corresponding fabric to a temperature of at least 380° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Vedagiri Velpari, Ernest L. Lawton, William B. Rice, Walter J. Robertson, Kami Lammon-Hilinski, Bruce E. Novich, Xiang Wu
  • Publication number: 20040180591
    Abstract: A belt reinforcing fabric for conveyor belts including sets of longitudinal warp yarns that are woven in leno weave fashion about lateral weft yarns that are made of monofilament. For each area on the fabric including sets of warp yarns, there is also an adjacent area that does not include warp yarns. Therefore, a space or gap is created between the areas occupied by the sets of warp yarns. When the belt is cut, it can be cut along the gap so that only the monofilament weft yarns are visible along the edges and not the warp yarns, which, if exposed at the cut edges, would tend to wick moisture into the belt. The present conveyor belt is particularly useful in conveying food items because of its tendency to reduce the opportunity to pick up and spread contaminating agents such as bacteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Jules A. Haneburger
  • Patent number: 6787488
    Abstract: An electrically conductive fabric plated with a metal is disclosed wherein a percent fabric surface occupancy of warp as a constituent of the fabric is 90% to 110% and that of weft is 40% to 80%. The electrically conductive fabric is superior in all of resin back leak preventing property, flexibility yarn fray preventing property, electrical conductivity and electromagnetic wave shieldability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Seiren Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Takagi, Shigekazu Orita
  • Publication number: 20040152385
    Abstract: A thermal camouflage tarpaulin for hiding heat sources against detection in a thermal image, comprising a base textile composed of a loop-formingly knitted or woven glass fabric is provided on the side which is remote from the heat source with a compound whose reflectance values are in the region of a visual camouflage and/or in the infrared region. Said base textile is provided on that side which faces the heat source with a free-standing polyester film to which has been applied a vapor-deposited coating which reflects thermal radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Manfred Hellwig, Joerg Weber
  • Publication number: 20040142143
    Abstract: A moulding material comprising a fibrous layer carrying resinous material to have at lest one area of relatively high resin content and at least one other area of relatively low resin content defined on a surface of the fibrous layer such that upon curing or partial curing resin from the said relatively high resin content area(s) moves over the relatively low resin content area(s) to provide a substantially even distribution of resin between the areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Corden, Arshad Choudry, Mark Raymond Steele
  • Publication number: 20040142618
    Abstract: This invention provides facing materials for cementitious boards such as those including Portland cement or gypsum cores. The preferred facing material includes, in a first embodiment, a facing layer having an areal weight of about 300 grams/M2, and an air permeability rating of no greater than about 300 CFM/ft2 (FG 436-910 test method). The facing layer reduces the penetration of a slurry of cementitious material during the manufacture of a cementitious board, while permitting the water vapor from the slurry to pass therethrough. The facing materials of this invention can be designed to substantially eliminate the fouling of rolls used in continuous processing of such boards without the use, or with greatly reduced use, of costly viscosity control agents in the slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: Saint Gobain Technical Fabrics
    Inventor: John Frederick Porter
  • Patent number: 6750162
    Abstract: An abrasion resistant and water resistant fabric is disclosed. The fabric is particularly well suited for use in constructing luggage. The fabric, however, is also well suited for many other applications, such as use in constructing sportswear, outdoor apparel, military apparel, and the like. The fabric is treated with a chemical composition. It has been discovered that the chemical composition greatly enhances the abrasion resistance of the fabric. In one embodiment, the fabric is made from nylon multifilament yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Safety Components Fabric Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joey K. Underwood, T. Doyle Kelley
  • Patent number: 6740608
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polyester textile fabric having a relatively low level of particulate contaminates and high absorbency is provided by heatsetting the fabric at a temperature of 300° F. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
    Inventors: Brian G. Morin, Daniel T. McBride, Loren W. Chambers
  • Publication number: 20040097149
    Abstract: A pitch precursor yarn, which is stretch broken and formed into a fabric or felt which is heat treated into graphitic fiber media for fuel cell gas diffusion layer substrates and high thermal conductivity reinforced composites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: James Crawford, Jean-Francois LeCostaouec, Paul T. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6734123
    Abstract: The invention is directed to applying a plurality of polyurethane coating layers to a knit, woven or non-woven fabric substrate, following by sealing of two of such coated substrates together by radio frequency sealing, hot air sealing, or ultrasonic sealing to form an improved air-holding restraint system, such as an air curtain or air bag with superior air-holding characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Bradford Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel J. Veiga, Richard J. Satin, Philip R. Rampolla, Leo Lizotte, Ryan Jennings
  • Patent number: 6734125
    Abstract: A woven textile fabric is disclosed which is formed of synthetic yarns of at least two different deniers to which a solid polymeric film is laminated. An adhesive polymeric coating is provided for adhering the solid polymeric film to the woven textile fabric. The combination of yarns of different deniers provides a superior adhesion surface for the polymeric film. The yarns and the polymeric coating are preselected respectively in deniers and thicknesses so as to render the fabric substantially impermeable to fluid under pressure, while maintaining superb packageability and anti-blocking properties for use in vehicle occupant restraint systems. An air bag incorporating the woven textile fabric of the invention and having two outer surfaces and pre-configured air holding cavities woven therein to which a solid polymeric film is bonded for receiving and containing fluid under pressure for use in a vehicle air restraint system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Bradford Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Manuel J. Veiga
  • Patent number: 6726809
    Abstract: An industrial process fabrics having embossed surfaces to facilitate water removal from the product such as paper and paper products being carried thereon by creating voids through embossing to assist in fluid management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Michael J. Joyce, Maryann C. Kenney
  • Publication number: 20040077236
    Abstract: The present invention provides a silicone coated fabric comprising a base woven fabric that is formed from a synthetic fiber weaving yarn that has a yarn size of from 100 to 270 dtex, and a weaving size expressed by a product calculated by multiplying the yarn size of a weaving yarn and a weave density (ends or picks/2.54 cm) of from 10,000 to 25,000 (dtex•ends (or picks)/2.54 cm) in both the warp direction and the weft direction, a silicone being applied to the woven fabric in an amount of from 5 to 25 g/m2, and having on one side a uniform silicone coating layer formeding part of the silicone mentioned above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Hideaki Ishii, Toshirou Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 6713412
    Abstract: Specific fabric articles exhibiting very low air and/or gas permeability (even upon application of high inflation pressures) and very high tear strengths are herein disclosed and claimed. Such a specific fabric also permits the incorporation of discrete openings (through cutting, for example) through which air and/or gas introduced by an airbag inflation canister will travel. Such a specific fabric acts as a barrier to the complete introduction of high pressure inflation gases into an airbag cushion, thereby permitting a more controlled, safer inflation upon the occurrence of a collision event. Thus, the specific inventive fabric permits movement of inflation gas and/or air substantially solely through the openings within the fabric and not through the interstices between the individual fiber constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Co.
    Inventor: Thomas Wayne Newbill
  • Publication number: 20040053550
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a shell laminated structure realizing a further light weight formation of a helmet while improvement for shock absorbing characteristic is assured. There is provided a laminated structure in which either the net-like member or the sheet-like member having many holes is placed at an entire region of the shell having a reinforcing base material or between the laminated layers at a part of the shell in such a manner that the sheet-like member is extended along the layer to which its front and rear surfaces are faced, bitten into the layer and fixed. With such an arrangement as above, a further light weight formation of the shell is realized while a high safety characteristics of the helmet is assured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Michio Arai
  • Patent number: 6701971
    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 0.8 ounces per square yard, and exhibits a leak-down time (a measurement of the time required for the entire amount of gas introduced within the airbag at peak pressure during inflation to escape the airbag at 10 psi) of at least 7 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Mililken & Company
    Inventors: John A. Sollars, Jr., Shulong Li
  • Patent number: 6698458
    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%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: John A. Sollars, Jr., Shulong Li
  • Patent number: 6673728
    Abstract: Specific fabric articles exhibiting very low air and/or gas permeability (even upon application of high inflation pressures) and very high tear strengths are herein disclosed and claimed. Such a specific fabric also permits the incorporation of discrete openings (through cutting, for example) through which air and/or gas introduced by an airbag inflation canister will travel. Such a specific fabric acts as a barrier to the complete introduction of high pressure inflation gases into an airbag cushion, thereby permitting a more controlled, safer inflation upon the occurrence of a collision event. Thus, the specific inventive fabric permits movement of inflation gas and/or air substantially solely through the openings within the fabric and not through the interstices between the individual fiber constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Thomas Wayne Newbill
  • Patent number: 6632753
    Abstract: An air bag of the type utilized in a vehicle occupant restraint system has at least one panel of coated air bag fabric comprising a base fabric coated with a urethane coating material. The base fabric is woven in warp and fill directions from synthetic multifilament yarns. In at least one of the weave directions, the yarns comprise first yarns of a first yarn size and second yarns of a second yarn size, with the second yarn size being a lesser yarn size than the first yarn size. The first yarns and the second yarns are in predetermined positions in the base fabric to produce a crest and trough pattern on a surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Safety Components Fabric Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alonzo W. Beasley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6632754
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an unbalanced twill weave fabric having fill yarns at least about three times larger than the warp yarns. Such a fabric thus has increased strength provided by the fill direction. The present invention further relates to an airbag restraint device for vehicles, where the airbag is constructed of the unbalanced twill weave fabric and has the fill yarns oriented substantially parallel to the longest direction of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Precision Fabrics Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Otis Bryce Rose, III, Ronald J. Small, Wilford Allen Leonard, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030181117
    Abstract: A doctor blade for removing water from a mating member, such as a grooved elastic belt in the press part of a papermaking machine, comprises a resin-impregnated fibrous laminate, in which at least a part of the warp of a base material in the laminate, which comes into contact with the mating member, is brush-shaped, so that the warp enters the insides of the grooves to remove water therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Tetsuo Takeuchi, Hirofumi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6602574
    Abstract: An extendible, coilable member is reversibly configurable between a coiled form and an extended form. At least one surface of the member, typically an inner surface, is provided with resilient protrusions. Upon extension of the member to the extended form, the protrusions adopt a first state in which they protrude from the surface of the member. Upon rolling of the member to the coiled form, the protrusions flex so as to lie between the turns of the coiled member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Rolatube Technology Limited
    Inventor: Andrew J. Daton-Lovett
  • Publication number: 20030129897
    Abstract: A forming panel having board with a release barrier of a substrate and a barrier/release layer secured to the board by an adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Howell B. Eleazer, Allan M. Smith, Thomas E. Godfrey, William S. Freeman
  • Patent number: 6576323
    Abstract: Articles designed to clean/refresh soiled fabrics are improved by means of texturing at least one surface and/or by applying tackiness agents. In use, the articles rub against the fabrics, whereupon lint removed from the fabrics is trapped and retained by the tackiness agent. Refolding of the articles during use is substantially minimized by imparting texture to one or more of the article's surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Procter & Gamble
    Inventors: Rodney Mahlon Wise, Steven Barrett Rogers
  • Patent number: 6555488
    Abstract: A light-weight and impact-resistant composite material formed from a three-dimensional textile structure preform comprising at least three systems of yarns that define a plurality of interstices within the textile structure. A cellular matrix material impregnates the textile structure so as to fill the interstices of the three-dimensional textile structure and to coat at least a portion of the surface area thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Yiping Qiu, Mansour H. Mohamed, Wei Xu
  • Patent number: 6547924
    Abstract: A paper machine for manufacturing textured soft paper comprises a press section with a press nip, through which an impermeable belt and a felt run with the fibrous web between them, a drying cylinder and a transfer roll forming a nip for transfer of the web to the drying cylinder. According to the invention the belt is a texturing belt having a back layer and a web-contacting layer having depressions with surface portions situated between them to form a relief pattern in the web upon passage through the press nip, the texturing belt running from the press to the drying cylinder in order to carry the textured web to the transfer nip. The felt runs away from the texturing belt before a water film formed in the press nip on the texturing belt breaks up. A device is provided before the transfer nip to apply adhesive on the drying cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Metso Paper Karlstad AB
    Inventors: Ingvar B.E. Klerelid, Anders T. Lindén, Robert S. Ampulski, Ward W. Ostendorf, Osman Polat
  • Patent number: 6518207
    Abstract: An improved agricultural belting (1) formed of multiple fabric by layers (2, 3 or 4), interposing rubber layers (5, 6) and rubber cover layers (7, 8). The fabric plies are a woven of warp yarns (10) extending in the longitudinal direction of the belt (1) and fill yarns (11) extending in the transverse direction of the belt (1). To optimize the transverse stiffness of the belting and other properties of the belt, any of the fabric plies (2, 3, or 4) are formed with selective replacement of the multifilament fill yarns (11) with monofilament cords (13). The fabric ply (2, 3, or 4) formed with monofilament cords (13) has at most fifty percent monofilament fill cords (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Frederic Pember Andresen, Jenny Zhaoxia Yu
  • Patent number: 6475935
    Abstract: The present invention provides a regenerator which has uniform performance and extremely high productivity and can keep performance and reliability as a regenerator, as well as a regenerative material used in the regenerator, in order to solve technical problems in mass production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignees: Irie Kouken Co., LTD, ECTI
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ishizaki, Yuzo Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20020142688
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a textile-elastomer composite. The inventive procedure involves (a) producing an elastomer composition of at least three ingredients (an anionically-stabilized waterborne polymer dispersion, an acid-generating chemical, and a cloud-point surfactant); (b) applying the composition onto a porous textile substrate; and (c) heating said coated fabric to cause coagulation of the elastomer composition over the fabric substrate and to dry the resultant composite without destroying the coagulated structure. The resultant composite obtains a suppleness and appearance that is similar to that of leather, while exhibiting improved resistance to ultraviolet radiation and hydrolysis and other types of polymer degradation. The composite may be utilized as upholstery fabric in furniture or in automobiles, in apparel, and the like. The particular composites produced are also contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Kirkland W. Vogt
  • Patent number: 6458724
    Abstract: The invention is directed to multi-layered textile fabrics having a plurality of polymeric coating layers of polyurethane and/or polysiloxane coated thereon. The coating layers are applied to such multi-layered woven textile fabric substrates having preconfigured air-holding cavities therein to form an improved air-holding vehicle restraint system, such as an air bag or side air curtain with superior air-holding characteristics. In certain instances, the multi-layered textile fabrics are coated on one side only, and in others they may be coated on both sides, i.e., opposed first and second surfaces. The layers of the multi-layered fabric can then be joined by means of heat sealing, RF welding or combinations thereof, for purposes of forming an air bag or side air curtain without the need for sewing or stitching. The coated fabrics facilitate manufacture of air bags, side curtains or the like with both reduced cutting and sealing steps than fabrics of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Bradford Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel J. Veiga, Richard J. Satin
  • Patent number: 6455449
    Abstract: A coated woven textile fabric is disclosed which is formed of synthetic yarns of more than one denier preferably synthetic filamentary yarns of differing deniers. A polymeric coating such as polyurethane is layered on at least one side thereof, but may also be provided on both sides. The combination of yarns of different deniers provides a superior adhesion surface for the polymeric coating. The yarns and the polymeric coating are preselected respectively in deniers and thickness so as to render the fabric substantially impermeable to fluid under pressure, while maintaining superb packageability and antiblocking properties for use in vehicle occupant restraint systems. A flexible lightweight air bag for receiving and containing fluid under pressure for use in a vehicle air restraint system is also disclosed, incorporating the woven textile fabric of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Bradford Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel J. Veiga, Richard J. Satin
  • Publication number: 20020106956
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to fabrics, preferably woven fabrics, the fabrics including therein a fabric layer having at least one fiber of a first type and at least one fiber that is different from the first type. In preferred embodiments, the fiber of the first type comprises a high performance fiber having a tensile strength of at least about 10 g/Denier and a fiber of the second type comprises a natural or synthetic fiber having a tensile strength less than 10 g/Denier and most preferably, less than about 8 g/Denier. In especially preferred embodiments, the non-performance fiber type can be characterized by one or more desirable attributes, for example, dyability, spinnability, abrasion resistance, breathability, softness, hand fill, etc., which attributes are desired to be imparted to the overall fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventor: Charles A. Howland
  • Publication number: 20020081926
    Abstract: A fabric for providing reinforcement and the like which is made from a two dimensional flat fabric which includes portions that the warp and weft fibers are interlocked together and portions that are non-interlocked together that allow the fabric to be folded to create a three dimensional structure without the need for cutting and darting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Jonathan Goering, James Crawford, Bruce Bond
  • Patent number: 6399524
    Abstract: A composite material includes a highly aligned discontinuous fibers. The material comprises a plurality of substantially aligned warp fibers which have been woven about a plurality of weft filaments, each warp fiber having a series of crossover points with adjacent warp fibers. A plurality of matrix polymer filaments are associated with the warp fibers, the polymer matrix filaments having been treated such that each warp fiber adheres to the matrix polymer filament at at least the crossover points such that the warp fibers are attached to each other at the crossover points. A series of preselected patterned cuts are made in at least some of the warp fibers. The invention is also for a method of making a composite material with discontinuous fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Terry S. Creasy
  • Patent number: 6383959
    Abstract: A fabric positioned within an automotive air conditioning system to direct the flow of air from a supply manifold to a distribution manifold. The fabric includes apertures provide different combinations of airflow directions at different longitudinal positions of the fabric. The fabric has warp and fill yarns combined in a satin weave, and a coating. The fabric is positioned so that the float of the fill yarns is oriented in the same direction as the longitudial direction of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: David D. Morris, Shulong Li, Jules A. Haneburger
  • Publication number: 20020031966
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a wet wipe comprising a substrate that has tensile strength of at least 5 N/inch and which is biodegradable. In a further aspect, the present invention provides a flushable wet wipe comprising a substrate having a loading factor of at least 1.5 grams of cleaning composition per gram of substrate and which is biodegradable. The wet wipes is suitable for cleaning hard surfaces, especially lavatories and is flushable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Vincenzo Tomarchio, Andrea Piccini
  • Patent number: 6350709
    Abstract: A coated textile fabric is disclosed for manufacturing an air holding device for a vehicle restraint system, including a base woven, knitted or non-woven base textile fabric having a first surface and a second surface. The base textile fabric is completely or partially coated with an adhesive polyurethane to form a first coating layer, the first coating layer being coated with a second composite coating layer. The second composite coating layer is preferably a polyurethane, a polysiloxane, and an epoxy resin which acts as a filler and adhesion promoter. A third coating layer is formed of a polymeric polyurethane material coated on the second composite layer. A method of producing the coated textile fabric is also disclosed. A heat sealing die for forming sealing beads to seal such coated textile fabrics to form air holding devices is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Bradford Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Manuel J. Veiga
  • Publication number: 20020016118
    Abstract: A laminate is disclosed for high strength, low weight gas enclosure applications such as aerostats or airships. The laminate is formed of at least one woven fabric layer with an aggregate strength greater than 10 grams per denier. The yarns in the fabric have sufficient twist to provide the desired tensile conversion but less than the amount of twist that would produce unsatisfactory flex fatigue. The fabric has a yarn to fabric strength ratio sufficient to impart tear resistance to the fabric, but less than the coarseness ratio at which flex fatigue performance is unsatisfactory, and the fabric has the minimal number of crossing points among the woven yarns that will impart sufficient integrity for the fabric to be manufactured into the laminate. A gas barrier material is then laminated to the fabric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: W. Neal Bebber, Charles A. Howland, Gregory D. Williams
  • Patent number: 6323144
    Abstract: A convertible fabric having improved acoustical and heat transfer properties comprising an elastomeric polymer coating on a double woven fabric. The double woven having the standard sateen weave and the backing fabric of a plain weave interconnected to the sateen weave fabric with one surface of the plain weave coated with an elastomeric polymer to provide air spaces between the fabrics of the double woven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Charles E. Dalbec
  • Patent number: 6294487
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag fabric which is woven in such a manner as to possess a cover factor of less than about 1900 but which simultaneously, through the presence of a film (laminate) or coating, possesses an extremely low air permeability. The utilization of such a loosely constructed fabric within airbag cushions has heretofore not been possible, even with the application of standard airbag coatings (such as silicones) over the fabric surface since such coatings with not easily remain in contact over the loosely constructed fabric surface (i.e., the coating would leak through the fabric). The coupling of a low cover factor fabric with a laminate film (or with a coating wherein the cover factor is at least 1600), however, solves such a problem and permits the utilization of inexpensively produced woven fabrics within airbag applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Ramesh Keshavaraj
  • Patent number: 6281149
    Abstract: A multilayer laminated woven structure for ballistic protective wear that is moldable to substantially conform to a female torso and capable of retaining that molded shape for providing increased comfort and ease of movement when the protective wear is in use. A three-dimensional woven material is used for the base functional layer of the ballistic protective wear. Also, a thermoplastic material is employed to fuse the fibers of the three-dimensional woven material to each other to provide improved handling during lamination of the material and improved ballistic resistance during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: 3Tex, Inc.
    Inventors: Mansour Hussein, Grey Parker