Abstract: A webbing for seat belts having a plurality of warp yarns interwoven with a plurality of weft yarns which are inserted through a shed in the warp yarns is provided. The warp yarns include a first group and a second group, with the second group of warp yarns having a higher density across a portion of the width of the shed than the warp yarns of the first group. At least some of the warp yarns in the second group are separated from one another by the warp yarns of the first group. The webbing has two faces and is flexible from a first, generally flat position to a second, flexed position. When the webbing is in the generally flat position, the first and second groups of warp yarns on one fabric face define a generally smooth surface.

Abstract: A woven fabric is described which is capable of resisting temperatures above 1000.degree. F. without significant loss of strength and which is a functional replacement for similar fabrics manufactured from asbestos. The fabric is woven with a plied yarn in which one ply is a spun yarn comprising spun aramide fibers and the other ply is a continuous glass filament yarn. The relative amounts of aramide ply and glass filament ply making up the total yarn may be varied, however a preferred yarn comprises a minor amount of aramide ply and a major amount of glass filament ply. A most preferred yarn comprises 35 percent aramide ply and 65 percent glass filament ply.

Abstract: A device to weld or splice two ends of a thermoplastic yarn. The device includes means for holding the yarn adjacent a heating element. The heating element is energized and the two ends of the yarn are fused together to form a globule of molten plastic. Thereafter, the heat is terminated and the device automatically pulls the two lengths of yarn apart and holds them under tension, and at the same time, the device molds the globule into a relatively smooth mass that has a width substantially equal to the width or diameter of the yarn.