Abstract: A reinforced laminated cloth is provided comprising outer layers of material having sandwiched therebetween a layer of reinforcing material, the layer of reinforcing material preferably comprising first and second layers of parallel spaced apart strands of stretch resistant material inclined at an angle to one another. In another aspect, the invention comprises a method for the preparation of a reinforced laminated cloth comprising feeding first and second webs of material towards a nip roll, coating the surface of at least one of the webs with adhesive, feeding reinforcing strands between the first and second webs, each of the reinforcing strands preferably being passed through one of a plurality of apertures located on a continuously moving endless belt disposed transversely to the direction of movement of the first and second webs, and continuously passing the first and second webs and the reinforcing strands through the nip roll.

Abstract: A composite sail (mainsail, jib, spinnaker) is provided which is fabricated from a series of panels each of whichis joined to an adjacent panel. The individual panels comprise laminates of two outer layers between which is an inner layer comprising a weft-free warp of strands of a stretch resistant polymer. One of the outer layers can itself be a laminate of at least two layers of material, one of which comprises a film and the other of which comprises non-woven, force-bearing thread material aligned along the principal stress lines experienced by the panel when incorporated in the sail. In a particular embodiment one outer layer is comprised of a plurality of individual segments joined together along abutting edges, each of the segments being formed from a reinforced sheet having a layer of weft-free warp of strands of a stretch resistant polymer. The individual segments in the panel may have differing strand denier density.

Abstract: A composite sail (mainsail, jib, spinmaker) is provided which is fabricated from a series of panels each of which is joined to an adjacent panel. The individual panels comprise laminates of two outer layers between which is an inner layer comprising a weft-free warp of strands of a stretch resistant polymer aligned substantially in the direction of the longitudinal dimension of the panel. One of the outer layers can itself be a laminate of at least two layers of material between which is disposed a non-woven, force-bearing thread material aligned along the principal stress lines experienced by the panel when incorporated in the sail. In a particular embodiment one outer layer is comprised of a plurality of individual segments joined together along abutting edges, each of the segments being formed from a reinforced sheet having a layer of weft-free warp of strands of a stretch resistant polymer.

Abstract: Flexible laminates and methods for their preparation are disclosed. The laminates comprise co-extensive layers bonded together at their interfaces by a synthetic resin adhesive. One outer layer comprises a sheet of dimensionally stable (i.e. stretch resistant) synthetic resin film and the other outer layer is woven fabric, scrim, warp-knit fabric or a synthetic resin film. The laminate has at least one layer which is a warp of spaced individual strands of a stretch resistant synthetic polymer (polyamides and especially aromatic polyamides preferred). Where the second outer layer is a fabric the strands in the inner layer warp are oriented parallel to, or at an acute angle to, the warp in said fabric.In one embodiment the flexible laminates have two inner layers each comprised of a warp of individual spaced apart strands of polymer fiber, the strands in one layer being oriented in a direction which is at an acute angle with respect to the direction of orientation of the strands in the other layer.