Convertible top fabric

• US 7,351,672 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glen Raven Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Glen Raven Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Albert E., Coates, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole; Elizabeth M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chriss; Jennifer A
• Application Number:
  US10/051,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,265 Days
• Field of Search: 442/187, 442/188, 442/189, 442/199, 442/200, 442/208, 442/239, 442/243, 442286-294, 442/255, 442/261, 296/225, 296/136.01, 296/136.1, 296/136.11, 296210-21609, 296/136.13, 296/107.01, 428/378
• US Class Current: 442/261
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 11/00 Double or multi-ply fabrics not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/267 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/283 synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/47 multicomponent, e.g. blended yarns or threads multicomponent fibres or filaments D03D15/292
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/49 textured chenille D03D27/18; curled; crimped
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/06 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/12 Carbon; Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2201/02 Cotton
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/02 polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/041 polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/10 polymers of unsaturated nitriles, e.g. polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene cyanide
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/021 aromatic polyamides, e.g. aramides
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/04 polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET]
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/061 polyetherketones, polyetheretherketones, e.g. PEEK
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/301 polyarylene sulfides, e.g. polyphenylenesulfide
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/041 thermoplastic; thermosetting
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/14 Dyeability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/29 Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2938 : Coating on discrete and individual rods, strands or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2738 : Coating or impregnation intended to function as an adhesive to solid surfaces subsequently associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/30 : Woven fabric [i.e., woven strand or strip material]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3049 : Including strand precoated with other than free metal or alloy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3472 : Woven fabric including an additional woven fabric layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3504 : Woven fabric layers comprise chemically different strand material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3602 : Three or more distinct layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/365 : At least one layer is a preformed synthetic polymeric film or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3854 : Woven fabric with a preformed polymeric film or sheet

Abstract

A convertible roofing material which includes an outer fabric layer formed at least partially of polymeric coated, core yarns such as a polyester core coated with polyvinyl chloride.

Claims

1. A roofing material for automobiles, comprising:

(a) an outer woven fabric layer having an inner surface and an outer surface and formed of at least 50% by weight of discrete polymeric coated specialty yarns and other discrete non-coated effect yarns, the outer fabric layer having an outer surface and an inner-surface, wherein;

(i) the specialty yarns are formed of a core yarn having a denier between 70-1200 and are covered by a polymeric coating, and the denier of the specialty yarns ranges from 500-3500;

(ii) the discrete specialty yarns and effect yarns are maintained intact in the woven fabric in the final roofing material;

(b) an inner fabric layer formed of non-coated yarns, the inner fabric layer having an inner surface adjacent to the inner surface of the outer fabric layer; and

(c) an adhesive waterproofing layer, the waterproofing layer extending across the entire inner surface area of the outer layer and bonding the inner surface of the outer layer to the inner surface area of the inner layer and thereby making the roofing material waterproof.

2. The roofing material according to claim 1 wherein said core yarn is selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, acrylic, fiberglass, aramids, olefins, and carbon fibers.

3. The roofing material according to claim 2 wherein said polymeric coating is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, nylon, olefins, thermoplastic olefin elastomers, urethane, EVA, polyester, ionomer, polyphenylene sulfide, polyethersulfone, fluoropolymer, polyethertone, and liquid crystal polymers.

4. The roofing material according to claim 3 wherein said coating is polyvinyl chloride and the core yarn is polyester.

5. The roofing material according to claim 1 wherein effect yarns are selected from the group consisting of acrylics, modacrylics, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyester.

6. The roofing material according to claim 1 wherein said coated yarn is introduced in the warp alone.

7. The roofing material according to claim 1 wherein said coated yarn is introduced in the fill alone.

8. The roofing material according to claim 1 wherein said coated yarn is introduced in both the warp and the fill in a pattern alternating with effect yarns.