Abstract: A lightweight shear-resistant frame slat (A) is disclosed for use with a heddle frame assembly (10). The frame slat includes a thin wall, roll-formed steel back plate (B) and a thin wall, roll-formed steel front plate (C). A first ledge (38) is formed on the back plate (B) and a second ledge (54) is formed on the front plate (C). The ledges (38) and (54) are spaced apart to define a heddle rod mounting socket (62) which receives a stem (63) of a heddle rod (20) to mount the heddle rod with reduced shearing forces on the frame slat. A box shaped core space (58) is formed between the front and back plates in which a honeycombed structure (66) is disposed for increasing the stiffness of the frame slat. A reduced neck portion (50) is formed between the mounting socket (62) and the core space front and back sides are flush with each other and may be secured by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding.

Abstract: A loom reed (10) comprised of plastic dent strips (A, B) is illustrated having a profiled section (32, 34) which is reinforced for weft yarn beat-up into the cloth (C). The profiled section includes a web (38, 48) of reduced thickness which creates additional air space facilitating passage of knots and the like in the warp yarn through the space between adjacent dent strips. A rim (40, 50) created by the reduced web maintains the warp yarn generally out of contact with the remaining plastic surface of the dent to reduce surface drag and friction. A metal insert (56) is utilized in the dent strips at the edge of the reed for additional stiffness where the cloth beat-up forces are attenuated. A tunnel forming recess (36, 52) is formed in the dent strips to form a tunnel across a length of the reed facilitating weft insertion by containment of a fluid jet.