# US 2009/0145533 A1 · Electrically conductive elastic composite yarn, methods for making the same, and articles incorporating the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0145533 A1 - Document ID: US20090145533A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/365,999 - Filed: 2009-02-05 - Published: 2009-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2003-04-25 - Assignees: Textronics, Inc. - Inventors: Eleni Karayianni; Omero Consoli; George W. Coulston; Klaus J. Regenstein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090145533A1 ## CPC - D02G 3/441: {Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties (electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042)} - D02G 3/328: {containing elastane} - D04B 1/18: elastic threads - D10B 2401/16: antistatic; conductive - Y10T 428/2922: Nonlinear [e.g., crimped, coiled, etc.] - Y10T 428/2924: Composite - Y10T 428/2925: Helical or coiled - Y10T 428/2936: Wound or wrapped core or coating [i.e., spiral or helical] - Y10T 428/294: including metal or compound thereof [excluding glass, ceramic and asbestos] - Y10T 442/3008: Woven fabric has an elastic quality - Y10T 442/3065: Including strand which is of specific structural definition - Y10T 442/313: Strand material formed of individual filaments having different chemical compositions - Y10T 442/3146: Strand material is composed of two or more polymeric materials in physically distinct relationship [e.g., sheath-core, side-by-side, islands-in-sea, fibrils-in-matrix, etc.] or composed of physical blend of chemically different polymeric materials or a physical blend of a polymeric material and a filler material - Y10T 442/3976: Including strand which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous composition, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.] - Y10T 442/601: Nonwoven fabric has an elastic quality - Y10T 442/602: Nonwoven fabric comprises an elastic strand or fiber material - Y10T 442/608: Including strand or fiber material which is of specific structural definition - Y10T 442/655: Metal or metal-coated strand or fiber material - Y10T 442/696: Including strand or fiber material which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous compositions, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.] - D02G: CRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS - D04B: KNITTING - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An electrically conductive elastic composite yarn comprises an elastic member that is surrounded by at least one conductive covering filament(s). The elastic member has a predetermined relaxed unit length L and a predetermined drafted length of (N×L), where N is a number preferably in the range from about 1.0 to about 8.0. The conductive covering filament has a length that is greater than the drafted length of the elastic member such that substantially all of an elongating stress imposed on the composite yarn is carried by the elastic member. The elastic composite yarn may further include an optional stress-bearing member surrounding the elastic member and the conductive covering filament. The length of the stress-bearing member is less than the length of the conductive covering filament and greater than, or equal to, the drafted length (N×L) of the elastic member, such that a portion of the elongating stress imposed on the composite yarn is carried by the stress-bearing member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for forming an electrically conductive elastic composite yarn comprising: an elastic member having a relaxed length (L); and at least one conductive covering filament surrounding the elastic member, the method comprising the steps of: drafting the elastic member to a drafted length N×L where N is from about 1.2 to about 8.0; placing a conductive covering filament substantially parallel to and in contact with the drafted length of the elastic member; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax thereby to entangle the elastic member and the conductive covering filament. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive elastic composite yarn further comprises a second conductive covering filament surrounding the elastic member, the method further comprising the steps of: placing a second conductive covering filament substantially parallel to and in contact with the drafted length of the elastic member; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax thereby to entangle the second conductive covering filament with the elastic member and the first conductive covering filament. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the electrically conductive elastic composite yarn further comprises a stress bearing member of an inelastic synthetic polymer yarn surrounding the elastic member, the method further comprising the steps of: placing the stress bearing member substantially parallel to and in contact with the drafted length of the elastic member; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax thereby to entangle the stress bearing member with the elastic member and the first conductive covering filament. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the electrically conductive elastic composite yarn further comprises a second inelastic synthetic polymer yarn surrounding the elastic member, the method further comprising the steps of: placing a second inelastic synthetic polymer yarn substantially parallel to and in contact with the drafted length of the elastic member; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax thereby to entangle the second inelastic synthetic polymer yarn with the elastic member, the conductive covering filament and the stress bearing member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the elastic member comprises a synthetic bicomponent multifilament textile yarn. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the stress-bearing member is a bicomponent yarn or a multifilament yarn blend. ### Claim 7 A method for forming an electrically conductive elastic composite yarn comprising: an elastic member having a relaxed length (L); and at least one conductive covering filament surrounding the elastic member, the method comprising the steps of: drafting the elastic member to a drafted length N×L where N is from about 1.2 to about 8.0; twisting the conductive covering filament with the drafted elastic member; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the electrically conductive elastic composite yarn further comprises a second conductive covering filament surrounding the elastic member, the method further comprising the steps of: twisting the second conductive covering filament with the drafted elastic member and the first conductive covering filament; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax. ### Claim 8 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the electrically conductive elastic composite yarn further comprises an inelastic synthetic polymer yarn surrounding the elastic member, the method further comprising the steps of: twisting the inelastic synthetic polymer yarn with the elastic member and the conductive covering filament; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the electrically conductive elastic composite yarn further comprises a second inelastic synthetic polymer yarn surrounding the elastic member, the method further comprising the steps of: twisting the second inelastic synthetic polymer yarn with the elastic member, the conductive covering filament and the first inelastic synthetic polymer yarn; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the elastic member comprises a synthetic bicomponent multifilament textile yarn. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the stress-bearing member is a bicomponent yarn or a multifilament yarn blend. ### Claim 13 A method for forming an electrically conductive elastic composite yarn comprising, an elastic member having a relaxed length (L); and at least one conductive covering filament surrounding the elastic member, the method comprising the steps of: forwarding the elastic member through an air jet with the elastic member stretched to a length N×L where N is from about 1.2 to about 8.0; within the air jet, covering the elastic member with the conductive covering filament; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the electrically conductive elastic composite yarn comprises a second conductive covering filament surrounding the elastic member, the method further comprising the steps of: within the air jet, covering the elastic member and the first conductive covering filament with a second conductive covering filament; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the electrically conductive elastic composite yarn further comprises an inelastic synthetic polymer yarn surrounding the elastic member, the method further comprising the steps of: within the air jet, covering the elastic member and the conductive covering filament with an inelastic synthetic polymer yarn; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the electrically conducive elastic composite yarn further comprises a second inelastic synthetic polymer yarn surrounding the elastic member, the method further comprising the steps of: within the air jet, covering the elastic member, the conductive covering filament and the first inelastic synthetic polymer yarn with a second inelastic synthetic polymer yarn; and thereafter allowing the elastic member to relax. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the elastic member comprises a synthetic bicomponent multifilament textile yarn. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the stress-bearing member is a bicomponent yarn or a multifilament yarn blend.