Seam for an industrial fabric and seaming element therefor

A seaming element for seaming a first seamable edge of an industrial textile to a second seamable edge of the industrial textile, the industrial textile comprising at least one layer, each layer having first and second substantially planar surfaces, the seaming element being constructed and arranged to be affixed in a seaming position by being bonded to two of the substantially planar surfaces at and proximate the first seamable edge and comprising

• (i) at least one elongate body having first and second ends, a first lateral edge region and a second lateral edge region;
• and
• (ii) at least one channelled protrusion along the first lateral edge region;
• wherein the at least one channelled protrusion is engageable with the corresponding at least one channelled protrusion of a complementary seaming element affixed by bonding at the second seamable edge, such that the protrusions are securably aligned together.

A seaming element for seaming a first seamable edge of a woven industrial textile to a second seamable edge, the industrial textile comprising sets of interwoven yarns, the seaming element being constructed and arranged to be affixed to at least one layer of the yarns by being bonded to surfaces of the yarns at and proximate the first seamable edge and comprising

• (i) at least one elongate body having first and second ends, a first lateral edge region and a second lateral edge region;
• and
• (ii) at least one channelled protrusion along the first lateral edge region;
• wherein the at least one channelled protrusion is engageable with the corresponding at least one channelled protrusion of a complementary seaming element affixed by bonding at the second seamable edge, such that the protrusions are securably aligned together.

A method of making a seam for an industrial textile having a first seamable edge and a second seamable edge, and comprising at least one layer, each layer having first and second substantially planar surfaces, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a first and second seaming element each comprising an elongate body having first and second ends, a first lateral edge region and a second lateral edge region, and at least one extension member constructed and arranged to define a longitudinal channel between the first end and the second end, and to extend from the first seamable edge when the seaming element is in a seaming position;
• (b) bonding at least part of the body of the first seaming element to two of the substantially planar surfaces at least proximate the first seamable edge such that the at least one extension member extends outwardly from the first seamable edge;
• (c) bonding at least part of the body of the second seaming element to two of the substantially planar surfaces at least proximate the second seamable edge such that the at least one extension member extends outwardly from the second seamable edge;
• and
• (d) bringing the at least one extension member of the first seaming element into engaged alignment with the at least one extension member of the second seaming element and securing the two seaming elements together.

A method of making a seam for an industrial textile having a first seamable edge and a second seamable edge, and comprising at least one layer, each layer having first and second substantially planar surfaces and a finished caliper C, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a first and second seaming element each comprising an elongate body having first and second ends in an X direction, a first lateral edge region and a second lateral edge region in a Y direction, and a thickness T in a Z direction which is selected from substantially equal to C and less than C, and at least one extension member constructed and arranged to define a longitudinal channel between the first end and the second end and to extend from the first seamable edge when the seaming element is in a seaming position;
• (b) bonding at least part of the body of the first seaming element to two of the substantially planar surfaces at least proximate the first seamable edge such that the at least one extension member extends outwardly from the first seamable edge;
• (c) bonding at least part of the body of the second seaming element to two of the substantially planar surfaces at least proximate the second seamable edge such that the at least one extension member extends outwardly from the second seamable edge;
• and
• (d) bringing the at least one extension member of the first seaming element into engaged alignment with the at least one extension member of the second seaming element and securing the two seaming elements together.

A method of making a seam for a woven industrial textile having a first seamable edge and a second seamable edge, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a first and second seaming element each comprising an elongate body having first and second ends, a first lateral edge region and a second lateral edge region, and at least one channelled protrusion;
• (b) bonding at least part of the body of the first seaming element to surfaces of yarns at and proximate the first seamable edge such that the at least one channelled protrusion extends outwardly from the first seamable edge;
• (c) bonding at least part of the body of the second seaming element to surfaces of yarns at and proximate the second seamable edge such that the at least one channelled protrusion extends outwardly from the first seamable edge;
• and
• (d) bringing the at least one channelled protrusion of the first seaming element into engaged alignment with the at least one channelled protrusion of the second seaming element and securing the two seaming elements together.

A method of making a seam for a woven industrial textile having a first seamable edge and a second seamable edge and a finished caliper C, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a first and second seaming element each comprising an elongate body having first and second ends in an X direction, a first lateral edge region and a second lateral edge region in a Y direction, and a thickness T in a Z direction which is selected from substantially equal to C and less than C, and at least one channelled protrusion;
• (b) bonding at least part of the body of the first seaming element to surfaces of yarns at and proximate the first seamable edge such that the at least one channelled protrusion extends outwardly from the first seamable edge;
• (c) bonding at least part of the body of the second seaming element to surfaces of yarns at and proximate the second seamable edge such that the at least one channelled protrusion extends outwardly from the first seamable edge;
• and
• (d) bringing the at least one channelled protrusion of the first seaming element into engaged alignment with the at least one channelled protrusion of the second seaming element and securing the two seaming elements together.