Reinforced fabric having a thermally fused mat
AssigneeGarland Industries, Inc.
InventorLouis Kevin Horne
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Abstract
A reinforced fabric comprising a fiber group and a mat. The fiber group includes a plurality fibers positioned substantially parallel to one another. The mat is formed of a plurality of threads that intersect one another and are connected together. The mat has an outer surface that is formed of a material having a melting point that is less than the melting point of the fibers. At least a portion of the mat is heat bonded to a plurality of the fibers to at least partially maintain the fibers in position relative to one another.
Claims23
A reinforced fabric comprising a first fiber group and a mat, said first fiber group including a plurality of fibers positioned substantially parallel to one another, said mat formed of a plurality of threads, a plurality of said threads intersecting one another, said mat having an outer surface that is formed of a material having a melting point that is less than the melting point of said fibers in said first fiber group, at least a portion of said mat heat bonded to a plurality of said fibers to at least partially maintain said fibers in position relative to one another.
A reinforced fabric comprising a first fiber group and first and second mats, said first fiber group including a plurality of fibers positioned substantially parallel to one another, each of said mats formed of a plurality of threads, a plurality of said threads intersecting one another and a plurality of said threads are connected together, each said mats having an outer surface that is formed of a material having a melting point that is less than the melting point of said fibers in said fiber group, at least a portion of each of said mats heat bonded to a plurality of said fibers to at least partially maintain said fibers in position relative to one another.
A method for forming a reinforced fabric comprising:
- a) providing a first fiber group, said first fiber group including a plurality of fibers positioned substantially parallel to one another;
- b) providing a mat, said mat formed of a plurality of threads, a plurality of said threads intersecting one another, said mat having an outer surface that is formed of a material having a melting point that is less than the melting point of said fibers in said first fiber group;
- c) laying said mat one said first fiber group;
- and,
- d) heating said mat at a temperature and for a period of time to at least partially fuse or melt together said mat to a plurality of said fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.