METHOD OF PRODUCING REINFORCED, FORMED FABRICS
First Claim
1. A fabric comprising:
- a plurality of strips, each of the strips being formed from a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing elements, each of the substantially parallel reinforcing elements comprising substantially parallel filaments; and
an activated resin encasing the filaments to form a fabric;
wherein at least some of the plurality of strips partially overlap adjacent strips.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of producing reinforced, formed fabrics, consisting in producing a continuous fabric alternated with a membrane (34) containing embedded reinforcing elements, which is prepared in overlapping portions on a conveyor belt (29) which passes over a preparation table (25). The membrane (34) and the reinforcing elements are then positioned under a press consisting of an upper air-filled chamber (1), the lower part thereof comprising a flexible element (4), and a lower water-filled chamber (14), the upper part thereof comprising a flexible element (17). According to the invention, a forming bar (10) is adjustably mounted in the upper chamber (1). When the aforementioned forming bar (10) is adjusted to adopt a particular shape, the different flexible elements can deform at the forming bar and the membrane and the reinforcing elements are hot pressed with a portion corresponding to the forming bar having a three dimensional shape, thereby defining the form of the fabric produced.
61 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A fabric comprising:
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a plurality of strips, each of the strips being formed from a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing elements, each of the substantially parallel reinforcing elements comprising substantially parallel filaments; and an activated resin encasing the filaments to form a fabric; wherein at least some of the plurality of strips partially overlap adjacent strips. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fabric for making a sail, comprising:
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a plurality of strips, each of the strips being formed from a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing elements, each of the substantially parallel reinforcing elements comprising substantially parallel filaments; and an activated resin encasing the filaments to form a fabric; wherein at least some of the plurality of strips partially overlap adjacent strips and wherein the strips are arranged to accommodate the expected forces in the sail. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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14. A shaped fabric comprising:
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a plurality of strips, each of the strips being formed from a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing elements, each of the substantially parallel reinforcing elements comprising substantially parallel filaments; and an activated resin encasing the filaments to form a fabric; wherein at least some of the plurality of strips partially overlap adjacent strips, and wherein the filaments are oriented in a predetermined, three-dimensional fashion to form a shaped fabric. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A shaped fabric for making a sail, comprising:
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a plurality of strips, each of the strips being formed from a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing elements, each of the substantially parallel reinforcing elements comprising substantially parallel filaments; and an activated resin encasing the filaments to form a fabric; wherein at least some of the plurality of strips partially overlap adjacent strips and wherein the strips are arranged in a predetermined, three-dimensional fashion to accommodate the expected forces in the sail.
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22. A sail, comprising:
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a plurality of strips, each of the strips being formed from a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing elements, each of the substantially parallel reinforcing elements comprising substantially parallel filaments; and an activated resin encasing the filaments to form a fabric; wherein at least some of the plurality of strips partially overlap adjacent strips and wherein the strips are arranged to accommodate the expected forces in the sail. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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23. A sail, comprising:
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a plurality of strips, each of the strips being formed from a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing elements, each of the substantially parallel reinforcing elements comprising substantially parallel filaments; and an activated resin encasing the filaments to form a fabric; wherein at least some of the plurality of strips partially overlap adjacent strips and wherein the strips are arranged in a predetermined, three-dimensional fashion to accommodate the expected forces in the sail.
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Specification