Barrier material, apparatus, and method
First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A barrier material comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
(a) said first and second pocket sides of said first integral pocket extend completely between said first edge and said second edge.
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3. A barrier material according to claim 1 further including:
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(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.
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4. A barrier material according to claim 3 wherein:
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(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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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10. A barrier apparatus comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
(a) said first and said second integral pockets are oriented parallel to one another.
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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.
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13. A barrier apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
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(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.
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14. A barrier apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:
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(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.
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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.
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16. A barrier apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:
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(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.
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17. A method of making a barrier material having at least one integral pocket therein, the method comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
(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.
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19. The method of making a barrier material of claim 17, wherein:
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(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.
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20. The method of making a barrier material of claim 17, wherein the method includes the step of;
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(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.
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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.
Specification