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US 2013/0220195 A1Published application
High strength thermoplastic polymer films for strength and durability and related methods
OwnerRob Sjostedtinventor
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OwnerRob Sjostedtinventor
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A high strength filament reinforced thermoplastic polymer film is provided for use in various applications with properties that are stronger than rip-stop nylon or polyester woven fabric. As disclosed, a sailboat spinnaker is provided made from high strength filament reinforced thermoplastic polymer film. The sailboat spinnaker may he bonded or thermo welded together along seams to form a finished spinnaker. The seams, being welded or bonded, can have enhanced performance over conventional rip-stop nylon or polyester fabric spinnakers that are sewn together. The spinnaker clews (attach) points can also be reinforced with one or more thermoplastic polymer film layers and/or adhesive backed woven fabric reinforcements with loops in lieu of conventional metal rings and webbing sewn in place.
A sailboat spinnaker comprising at least one spinnaker clew made of one or more layers of a non-porous high strength thermoplastic polymer film.
A method of manufacturing a sailboat spinnaker comprising bonding or thermo-fusing two sheets made from a thermoplastic polymer-based film together along at least one seam in one or more assembly operations on a tool configured to bond or thermo-weld the two or more sheets together.
A sailboat spinnaker made of various panels of reinforced thermoplastic film with various spacing of the filament reinforcement and orientations of the filament reinforcement in the panels to optimize the strength and shape holding characteristics of the spinnaker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.