Abstract: A process for producing a tapered multifilament yarn comprising feeding a drawable filament to a drawing apparatus and changing the take-over speed relative to the feed speed of the filament in order to change the thickness of the filament in a longitudinal direction, characterized by making the take-over speed slower than the feed speed under heating in a part of the filament in the longitudinal direction and thereby shrinking and thickening the part of the filament. According to the process, the ratio of the thickness of the thickest part of the tapered multifilament yarn to the thickness of the thinnest part thereof can be easily increased.

Abstract: A Bicycle Sprocket Lock (1) with indents (2) fits holes (3) to impede or free the sprocket (5) and is secured by a shackle (4) through holes (3) intersecting said lock.

Abstract: A method for increasing the energy absorption of a fabric constructed of high tenacity fiber. This method modifies the ballistic stress-deflection curve of the fabric by effectively toughening the fabric by controlling the peak stresses generated in the fabric layer. These stresses are controlled by perforating the fabric into relatively narrow portions or cutting the fabric into relatively narrow strips, preferably along the bias. This unexpected property is counter-intuitive to known expertise in this area in that the weakening of the fabric by cutting or perforating actually improves the ballistic performance.

Abstract: A process for producing a potentially bulky yarn which is a substantially non-interlaced multifilament yarn of a thermoplastic synthetic fiber satisfying the characteristic values of R.sub.max /R.ltoreq.2.5, .DELTA.S.sub.5 .gtoreq.1.5, .DELTA.S.sub.50 .ltoreq.3.0, Y.gtoreq.1.3 and X.sub.T -X.ltoreq.1.0, where R.sub.max is maximum tension fluctuation width, R is average tension fluctuation width of a normal portion, .DELTA.S.sub.5 is difference in maximum shrinkage among each filament of a sample having a length of 5 cm, .DELTA.S.sub.50 is difference in maximum shrinkage among each filament of a sample having a length of 50 cm, X.sub.T is maximum tension, X is average tension and Y is degree of bulkiness/dry heat shrinkage.

Abstract: A textile product formed of at least one thermoplastic yarn is texturized by subjecting the yarn simultaneously to a mechanical traction force and a high frequency electrical field applied at local points on the yarn. In order to increase the efficiency of texturizing, the yarn is moistened before it is subjected to the electrical field.