US 9,702,069 B2Granted

Three dimensional braid

AssigneeA&P Technology, Inc.

InventorsAndrew A. Head, Victor M. Ivers, Samuel P. Ivers

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A three dimensional braid includes a plurality of first plaits adjacent one another oriented in a first direction and a plurality of second plaits adjacent one another oriented in a transverse second direction intertwined forming a braid with each first plait intersecting each of the plurality of second plaits in succession. Each first plait includes a first group of tows and a second group of tows, each of the tows in the first group of tows corresponding to one of the tows in the second group of tows in pairs of first plait tows. Each second plait includes a plurality of tows. For each first plait, one of the first plait pairs crosses over a subset of second plait tows at each intersection of the first plait and successive second plaits forming a series of braid points along the first plait.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A braided material comprising:

a plurality of first plaits adjacent one another oriented in a first direction having a positive angle from a reference braid direction;
a plurality of second plaits adjacent one another oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction having a negative angle from the reference braid direction, the plurality of first plaits intertwined with the plurality of second plaits forming a braid;
each of the plurality of first plaits comprising a plurality of first plait tows, the first plait tows comprising:
a first group of tows having a first number of tows;
a second group of tows having the first number of tows;
and
a plurality of pairs of first plait tows, wherein each of the tows in the first group of tows corresponds to one of the tows in the second group of tows;
each of the plurality of second plaits comprising a plurality of second plait tows, the second plait tows comprising:
a third group of tows having a second number of tows;
a fourth group of tows having the second number of tows;
and
a plurality of pairs of second plait tows, wherein each of the tows in the third group of tows corresponds to one of the tows in the fourth group of tows;
each first plait intersecting each of the plurality of second plaits in succession;
and
for each first plait, one of the plurality of pairs of first plait tows configured to cross over at least one of the second number of tows at each intersection of the first plait and one of the plurality of second plaits in succession, thereby forming a series of a plurality of braid points along the first plait.

12 more elements

A braided sleeve comprising:

a central axis along a length of the braided sleeve;
a plurality of first plaits and a plurality of second plaits positioned around the central axis in a radial direction with respect to the central axis, each plait of the plurality of first plaits and the plurality of second plaits including an outer subset of tows and an inner subset of tows extending along a respective length of the plait, each plait including the outer subset and the inner subset being substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other with respect to the radial direction, and each plait including at least one tow pair comprising a first tow and a second tow that are intertwined with each other in between the inner subset and the outer subset;
and
wherein the inner subset and the outer subset of at least some of the plurality of second plaits are oriented at a transverse angle with respect to the inner subset and the outer subset of at least some of the plurality of first plaits, and the outer subset of the at least some of the plurality of second plaits is positioned in between the inner subset and the outer subset of a first plait of the plurality of first plaits, and wherein the first tow and the second tow of a first tow pair of the first plait are intertwined adjacent to the outer subset of a corresponding one of the plurality of second plaits.

1 more element

A braided fabric having a reference braid direction and a cross thickness direction substantially perpendicular to the reference braid direction, the braided fabric comprising:

a first plait and a second plait each having a length, each of the first plait and the second plait including an outer subset of tows spaced apart from an inner subset of tows along the cross thickness direction, wherein the first plait, along a length of the first plait, is oriented at an angle with respect to the second plait along its length, and each plait further including at least one tow pair comprising a first tow and a second tow, wherein:
the first tow being located in the outer subset and the second tow being located in the inner subset along a first portion of a length of the respective plait;
the first tow and the second tow being intertwined with each other in between the inner subset and the outer subset along a second portion of the length of the respective plait;
and
the first tow being located in the inner subset and the second tow being located in the outer subset along a third portion of the length of the respective plait;
and
the outer subset of the second plait configured to be located in between the inner subset of the first plait and the outer subset of the first plait, and wherein the second portion of the first plait is located substantially next to an intersection of the outer subset of the second plait with the first plait.

4 more elements

A braided fabric having a length along a reference braid direction and a cross thickness direction substantially perpendicular to the reference braid direction, the braided fabric comprising:

a plurality of plaits including at least one set of plaits, each of the plurality of plaits including at least a plurality of tows configured to cross with each other in the cross thickness direction, and wherein a first plait of the at least one set of plaits configured to be oriented along its length at an angle with respect to a second plait of the at least one set of plaits along its length;
and
the first plait configured to be at least partially layered over the second plait at a first location along the cross thickness direction, wherein at least first tow of the plurality of tows of the first plait crosses with a second tow of the plurality of tows adjacent to the first location.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/210,874Filed 14 Mar 2014 · us provisional application
Priority: 15 Mar 2013
Published: US 2014/0283671 A125 Sep 2014
Granted: 11 Jul 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

D04C 1/06
Braid or lace, e.g. pillow-lace; Processes for the manufacture thereof: braid or lace serving particular purposes
D03D 11/00
Double or multi-ply fabrics not otherwise provided for
D04C 1/04
Made from particular materials: carbonised or like lace
D04C 3/38
With spool carriers guided by track plates or by bobbin heads exclusively: driving-gear; Starting or stopping mechanisms