Barrier material, apparatus, and method

• US 6,367,781 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Plaspack USA, Inc. (Volm Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plaspack USA, Inc. (Volm Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Ezer, Zoltan, Flynn, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COTTINGHAM, JOHN R
• Application Number:
  US09/501,440
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 256/45, 256/46
• US Class Current: 256/45
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/10 Open-work fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/061 Piped openings (pockets)
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2507/02 Nets
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/022 Pedestrian barriers; Barriers for channelling or controlling crowds E01F13/024, E01F13/028 take precedence; corrals E04H17/18
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/028 Flexible barrier members, e.g. cords; Means for rendering same conspicuous; Adapted supports, e.g. with storage reel
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 7/025 Devices specially adapted for protecting against wind, e.g. screens, deflectors or attenuators at tunnel or lock entrances for protecting plants A01G13/00; portable windscreens, e.g. for beach use E04H15/003; noise absorption; airfield deflectors for jet gases B64F1/26

Abstract

The a barrier material, a barrier apparatus and a method for making the barrier material. In one respect, a double knit barrier material including pockets in which barrier supports may be inserted to create a barrier apparatus. The barrier material provides for a barrier which can be easily constructed in a short period of time by providing for a quick, easy, and uncomplicated way to secure the barrier material to the barrier supports by simply inserting barrier supports into pockets in the barrier material.

Claims

1. A barrier material comprising:

(a) a first ply of single-knit fabric;

(b) a second ply of single-knit fabric;

(i) said first ply of single-knit fabric and said second ply of single-knit fabric being joined together to form a double-knit fabric extension;

(A) said double-knit fabric extension having;

(1) a first edge along a length of the double-knit extension and an opposite second edge along the length of the double-knit extension.

(2) at least a first and a second bounded area along the double-knit extension;

(3) a first integral pocket formed between said first and said second bounded areas, the first integral pocket having a first pocket side and an opposing second pocket side extending between said first edge and said second edge;

(a) said first pocket side comprising said first ply of single-knit fabric;

(b) said second pocket side comprising said second ply of single-knit fabric; and

(4) said first pocket side being selectively separable from said second pocket side to define a first interior area of the first integral pocket therein.

2. A barrier material according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said first and second pocket sides of said first integral pocket extend completely between said first edge and said second edge.

3. A barrier material according to claim 1 further including:

(a) at least a third bounded area;

(b) at least a second integral pocket located between the third bounded area and another bounded area, the second integral pocket having a first and second opposing pocket sides extending between said first edge and said second edge;

(i) said first pocket side of said second integral pocket comprising said first ply of single-knit fabric;

(ii) said second pocket side of said second integral pocket comprising said second ply of single-knit fabric; and

(iii) said first pocket side of said second integral pocket being selectively separable from said second pocket side of said second integral pocket to define a second interior area of the second integral pocket therein.

4. A barrier material according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) said double-knit fabric extension includes;

(i) a plurality of warps oriented in a first direction, and

(ii) a plurality of weft filaments interconnecting the warps and being oriented in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

5. A barrier material according to claim 4 wherein:

(a) at least one of said first and second integral pockets extends perpendicular to the warps.

6. A barrier material according to claim 4 wherein:

(a) at least one of said first and second integral pockets extends parallel to the warps.

7. A barrier material according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said first integral pocket includes a first end defining an opening through the first edge of the double-knit fabric extension, and a second end defining an opening through the second edge of the double-knit fabric extension.

8. A barrier material according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said first integral pocket includes a first end defining an opening through the first edge of the double-knit fabric extension and a second closed end.

9. A barrier material according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) at least a portion of the double-knit fabric extension includes a metallic light reflective material knitted therein.

10. A barrier apparatus comprising:

(a) a first ply of single-knit fabric;

(b) a second ply of single-knit fabric;

(i) said first ply of single-knit fabric and said second ply of single-knit fabric being joined together to form a double-knit fabric extension;

(A) said double-knit fabric extension having;

(1) a first edge along a length of the double-knit fabric extension and an opposite second edge along the length of the double-knit fabric extension;

(2) a first integral pocket;

said first integral pocket including a first side and a second side;

said first side being adjacent a first bounded region of said first ply of single-knit fabric and said second ply of single-knit fabric;

said second side being adjacent a second bounded region of said first ply of single-ply fabric and said second ply of single-knit fabric.

a. said first integral pocket being defined by separation of said first ply of single-knit fabric from said second ply of single-knit fabric between said first side and said second side of the first integral pocket;

b. the first integral pocket extending from the first edge to the second edge of the double-knit fabric extension;

(3) a second integral pocket;

said second integral pocket including a first side and a second side;

said first side being adjacent the second bounded region of said first ply of single-knit fabric and said second ply of single-knit fabric;

said second side being adjacent a third bounded region of said first ply of single-ply fabric and said second ply of single-knit fabric;

a. said second integral pocket being defined by separation of said first ply of single-knit fabric from said second ply of single-knit fabric between said first side and said second side of the second integral pocket;

b. the second integral pocket extending from the first edge to the second edge of the double-knit fabric extension;

(c) a plurality of barrier supports, including at least a first support and a second support;

(i) said first support being positioned within said first integral pocket; and

(ii) said second support being positioned within said second integral pocket.

11. A barrier apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

(a) said first and said second integral pockets are oriented parallel to one another.

12. A barrier apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

(a) said first and second integral pockets include a first end defining an opening through the first edge of the double-knit fabric extension, and a second end defining an opening through the second edge of the double-knit fabric extension.

13. A barrier apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:

(a) said first barrier support extends through said first end of said first integral pocket toward said second end of said first integral pocket;

(b) said second barrier support extends through said first end of said second integral pocket toward said second end of said second integral pocket.

14. A barrier apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:

(a) the apparatus further comprises a plurality of support caps, including at least a first support cap and a second support cap each support cap including;

(i) an inner portion;

(ii) an outer portion; and

(iii) channels formed in said outer portion;

(b) the first and second support caps respectively positioned over said first and second barrier supports so that the first and second plies of single-knit fabric are positioned between said inner portion and said outer portion of said support caps, the extension of double-knit fabric extending outward from the caps through said channels.

15. A barrier apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

(a) said first and second integral pockets include a first end defining an opening through the first edge of the double-knit fabric extension, and a second end defining a closed end.

16. A barrier apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

(a) said first barrier support extends through the first end of said first integral pocket toward the closed end of said first integral pocket;

(b) said second barrier support extends through the first end of said second integral pocket toward the closed end of said second integral pocket.

17. A method of making a barrier material having at least one integral pocket therein, the method comprising:

(a) producing a first ply of a single-knit fabric;

(b) producing a second ply of a single-knit fabric;

(c) binding the first ply aid the second ply of single-knit fabric to produce a first bounded region of double-knit fabric having a first selvage edge and a second selvage edge;

(d) binding the first ply and the second ply of single-knit fabric to produce a second bounded region of double-knit fabric having a first selvage edge and a second selvage edge;

(e) providing a non-bounded area between the first bounded region and the second bounded region;

(f) separating the double-knit fabric between the first bounded region and the second bounded region into two plies of single-knit fabric to form the integral pocket at the non-bounded area of the double-knit fabric, wherein the integral pocket extends from the first selvage edge toward the second selvage edge of the fabric.

18. The method of making a barrier material of claim 17, wherein:

(a) the first and second bounded regions define a length of double-knit fabric; and

(b) the step of separating the double-knit fabric to form the integral pocket includes forming the integral pocket to extend generally perpendicular to the length of the double-knit fabric.

19. The method of making a barrier material of claim 17, wherein:

(a) the first and second bounded regions define a length of double-knit fabric; and

(b) the step of separating the double-knit fabric to form the integral pocket includes forming the integral pocket to extend generally parallel to the length of the double-knit fabric.

20. The method of making a barrier material of claim 17, wherein the method includes the step of;

(a) binding a plurality of bounded regions; and

(b) providing a plurality of non-bounded areas, the non-bounded areas defining a plurality of pockets wherein each pocket of the plurality is generally parallel to one another and spaced a distance from one another.

21. The method of making a barrier material of claim 17, wherein the method further includes:

(a) knitting a reflective material into at least a portion of the double-knit fabric to increase the visibility of the barrier material.