Light weight heddle frame assembly slat

In a heddle frame assembly for a loom, having upper and lower frame slats, vertically spaced from each other by side members to form a generally rectangular frame, wherein each of said slats comprises:

• (a) a hollow elongated upper portion having a plurality of cavities therein extending longitudinally of said slat, at least one of which has stiffening means disposed therein extending from one end of said slat to the other end thereof;
• (b) a heddle bar support portion, integral with, and extending from said hollow elongated portion;
• (c) a heddle bar support channel defined by spaced upper and lower ledges, each of which are integral with, and extend from said heddle bar support portion in a generally horizontal plane, each of said ledges having locking ridges disposed on their adjacent surfaces for gripping and holding a heddle bar rib;
• and
• (d) a heddle bar having surfaces for supporting heddles and a supporting rig having a thickness for engaging the adjacent surfaces of said upper and lower ledges in an interference fit with said locking ridges to releasably retain and support said heddle bar while permitting the replacement of said heddle bar.

In a heddle frame assembly for a loom, having upper and lower frame slats, vertically spaced from each other by side frame members to form a generally rectangular frame, wherein each of said slats comprises:

• (a) a back portion extending in a generally vertical plane;
• (b) a cap portion, integral with, and extending from said back portion in a generally horizontal plane;
• (c) a bottom portion, integral with, and extending from said back portion in a generally horizontal plane which is substantially parallel to said cap portion;
• (d) a front portion extending in a generally vertical plane which is parallel to the plane of said back portion;
• (e) upper and lower spacers, integral with, and extending from said front portion towards said back portion in a generally horizontal plane for a distance substantially equal to the length of said cap and bottom portions of said back portion, said spacers being spaced from said cap and said bottom portions and from each other, to form top and bottom elongated cavities and an intermediate elongated cavity;
• (f) a heddle bar support portion, integral with said back portion and extending therefrom in a generally vertical plane;
• (g) a heddle bar support channel extending along the entire length of said heddle frame assembly, defined by spaced upper and lower ledges, each of which extend from said heddle bar support portion in a generally horizontal plane, each of said ledges having locking ridges disposed on their adjacent surfaces for gripping and holding a heddle bar supporting rib;
• and
• (h) a heddle bar extending along the entire length of said frame assembly, having surfaces for supporting heddles and a supporting rib which has a thickness for engaging the adjacent surfaces of said upper and lower ledges in an interference fit with said locking ridges to releasably retain and to support said heddle bar.

In a heddle frame assembly for a loom, having upper and lower frame slats, vertically spaced from each other by side frame members to form a generally rectangular frame, wherein each of said slats comprises:

• (a) a back portion extending in a generally vertical plane;
• (b) a cap portion, integral with, and extending from said back portion in a generally horizontal plane;
• (c) a bottom portion, integral with, and extending from said back portion in a generally horizontal plane which is substantially parallel to said cap portion;
• (d) a front portion extending in a generally vertical plane which is parallel to the plane of said back portion;
• (e) upper and lower spacers, integral with, and extending from said front portion towards said back portion in a generally horizontal plane for a distance substantially equal to the length of said cap and bottom portions of said back portion, said spacers being spaced from said cap and said bottom portions and from each other, to form top and bottom elongated cavities and an intermediate elongated cavity, at least one of which cavities has longitudinally extending stiffening means extending from one end of said slat to the other;
• (f) a heddle bar support portion, integral with said back portion and extending therefrom in a generally vertical plane;
• (g) a heddle bar support channel, defined by spaced upper and lower ledges, each of which extend from said heddle bar support portion in a generally horizontal plane, each of said ledges having locking ridges disposed on their adjacent surfaces for gripping and holding a heddle bar supporting rib;
• and
• (h) a heddle bar, having surfaces for supporting heddles and a supporting rib which has a thickness for engaging the adjacent surfaces of said upper and lower ledges in an interference fit with said locking ridges, to releasably retain and to support said heddle bar.