Shielding fabric

• US 4,684,762 A
• Filed: 05/17/1985
• Issued: 08/04/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Federal-Mogul Systems Protection Group, Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Raychem Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Gladfelter, Harry F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NIMMO, MORRIS
• Application Number:
  US06/735,883
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 174/36, 174/35 MS, 174/117 M, 174/DIG. 11, 87/1, 87/8, 87/9, 66/169 R, 66/170, 66/202, 66/232, 139/425 R, 428/229, 428/408, 428/922, 156/52, 156/53
• US Class Current: 174/36
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/00 Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/283 synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/14 Fabrics characterised by the incorporation by knitting, in one or more thread, fleece, or fabric layers, of reinforcing, binding, or decorative threads; Fabrics incorporating small auxiliary elements, e.g. for decorative purposes pile fabrics D04B21/02; non-woven fabrics in general D04H
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/12 Carbon; Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/02 polyamides D10B2331/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/04 polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET]
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0311 Small thickness fabric, e.g. ribbons, tapes or straps
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/12 Vehicles D10B2505/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1033 composed of a wire-braided conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0098 for shielding electrical cables
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/11 Zipper tubes

Abstract

This invention provides a fabric for RFI/EMI shielding wherein the fabric is woven, braided or warp knitted from yarns which comprise conductive fibers and non-conductive fibers wherein the conductive fibers comprise from about 10% to about 80% by weight of the fabric.

Claims

1. A fabric for electrical shielding which comprises a fabric which is woven, braided or warp knitted from a yarn which comprises conductive fibers and non-conductive fibers wherein the conductve fibers comprise fibers of carbon, graphite or conductive polymer or comprise non-conductive fibers which are plated, coated or impregnated with a conductive material and wherein the conductive fibers comprise between 10% and about 80% by weight of the fabric.

2. A fabric according to claim 1 wherein the conductive fibers comprises non-conductive fibers plated or coated with metal.

3. A fabric according to claim 2 wherein the conductive fibers comprise between about 15% and about 70% by weight of the fabric.

4. A fabric according to claim 3 wherein the conductive fibers comprise between about 20% and about 60% by weight of the fabric.

5. A fabric according to claim 2 wherein the fabric comprises:

warp yarns in which the conductive fibers comprise between about 20% and about 80% by weight of the yarn; and

filling yarns in which the conductive fibers comprise between about 1% and about 20% by weight of the yarn.

6. A fabric according to claim 5 wherein the yarns comprise one selected from the group of nylon or polyester.

7. A fabric according to claim 6 wherein the conductive yarns comprise nylon plated with silver.

8. A fabric according to claim 6 wherein the warp yarns comprise between about 30% and about 70% conductive fibers by weight.

9. A fabric according to claim 7 wherein the warp yarns comprise between about 30% and about 70% conductive fibers by weight.

10. An article for electrical shielding wherein the article is formed at least in part from a fabric which comprises woven, braided or warp knitted yarn which comprises conductive fibers and non-conductive fibers wherein the conductive fibers comprise fibers of carbon, graphite or conductive polymer or comprise non-conductive fibers which are plated, coated or impregnated with a conductive material and wherein the conductive fibers comprise between about 10% and about 80% by weight of the fabric.

11. An article according to claim 10 wherein the fabric comprises:

warp yarns in which the conductive fibers comprise between about 20% and about 80% by weight of the yarn; and

filling yarns in which the conductive fibers comprise between about 1% and about 20% by weight of the yarn.

12. An article according to claim 11 which is a tubular article.

13. An article according to claim 12 wherein the tubular article is a wraparound article.

14. An article according to claim 13 wherein the wraparound closure means comprises a non-conductive zipper which is plated or coated with a metal.

15. An article according to claim 13 wherein the yarns comprise one selected from the group of nylon or polyester.

16. An article according to claim 15 wherein the conductive yarns comprise nylon plated with silver.

17. An article according to claim 12 wherein the yarns comprise one selected from the group of nylon or polyester.

18. An article according to claim 17 wherein the conductive yarns are nylon plated with silver.

19. An article according to claim 14 wherein the yarns comprise nylon or polyester and the conductive yarns comprise nylon plated with silver.

20. An assembly comprising a substrate and a fabric in shielding relationship therewith wherein the fabric is woven, braided or warp knitted from yarns which comprise conductive and non-conductive fibers and non-conductive fibers wherein the conductive fibers comprise fibers of carbon, graphite or conductive polymer or comprise non-conductive fibers which are plated, coated or impregnated with a conductive material and wherein the conductive fibers comprises between about 10% and about 80% by weight of the fabric.

21. An assembly according to claim 20 wherein the conductive fibers comprise non-conductive fibers plated or coated with metal.

22. An assembly according to claim 21 wherein the conductive fibers comprise between about 15% and about 70% by weight of the fabric.

23. An assembly according to claim 22 wherein the conductive fibers comprise between about 20% and about 60% by weight of the farbic.

24. An assembly according to claim 21 wherein the conductive yarns comprise nylon plated with silver.

25. A method of making fabric for electrical shielding which comprises weaving, braiding or warp knitting yarns which comprise conductive fibers and non-conductive fibers wherein the conductive fibers comprise fibers of carbon, graphite or conductive polymer or comprise non-conductive fibers which are plated, coated or impregnated with a conductive material and wherein the conductive fibers comprise between about 10% and about 80% by weight of the fabric.

26. A method according to claim 25 comprising weaving, braiding or warp knitting conductive fibers which comprises non-conductive fibers plated or coated with metal.

27. A method according to claim 26 comprising weaving, braiding or warp knitting a fabric wherein the conductive fibers comprise between about 15% and about 70% by weight of the fabric.

28. A method according to claim 27 comprising weaving, braiding or warp knitting a fabric wherein the conductive fibers comprise between about 20% and about 60% by weight of the fabric.

29. A method according to claim 27 comprising weaving, braiding or warp knitting conductive fibers which comprise nylon plated with silver.

30. A method of electrically shielding a substrate which comprises placing in shielding relationship with the substrate a fabric which is woven, braided or warp knitted from yarns which comprise conductive fibers and non-conductive fibers wherein the conductive fibers comprise fibers of carbon, graphite or conductive polymer or comprise non-conductive fibers which are plated, coated or impregnated with a conductive material and wherein the conductive fibers comprise between about 10% and about 80% by weight of the fabric.