U.S. patent application number 10/004665 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-18 for flat fabric.
Invention is credited to Butenkemper, Stefan, Lutke-Foller, Agnes, Lutke-Foller, Heinz.
Application Number | 20020094739 10/004665 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7950146 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020094739 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lutke-Foller, Heinz ; et
al. |
July 18, 2002 |
Flat fabric
Abstract
A flat fabric, includes a body portion having opposite fringe
portions and including first threads extending in one direction and
second threads extending transversely to the first threads. One of
the first and second threads is made of an electrically conductive
material whereas the other one of the first and second threads may
be made of an electrically conductive core material which is
surrounded by an insulating envelope, or may be made entirely of
electrically insulating material. Arranged adjacent the opposite
fringe portions of the fabric, the body portion has two strips
which are made by a different weave pattern and arranged
respectively on either side of a central portion. The central
portion is made of a weave pattern which is different from the
weave pattern of the strips, so that at least a predetermined
number of electrically conductive threads can be bonded together in
the fringe portions.
Inventors: |
Lutke-Foller, Heinz; (Oelde,
DE) ; Lutke-Foller, Agnes; (US) ; Butenkemper,
Stefan; (Ennigerloh, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HENRY M FEIEREISEN
350 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 3220
NEW YORK
NY
10118
US
|
Family ID: |
7950146 |
Appl. No.: |
10/004665 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
442/181 ;
442/327 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 442/60 20150401;
Y10T 442/30 20150401; H05K 9/009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
442/181 ;
442/327 |
International
Class: |
D03D 025/00; D03D
015/00; D04H 001/00; D04H 003/00; D04H 005/00; D04H 013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 16, 2000 |
DE |
200 21 305.9 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A flat fabric, comprising a body portion having opposite fringe
portions and including first threads extending in one direction and
second threads running transversely to the first threads, wherein
one of the first and second threads is made of an electrically
conductive material and the other one of the first and second
threads is made of a material selected from the group consisting of
an electrically conductive material surrounded by an insulating
envelope, and an entirely electrically insulating material, wherein
the opposite fringe portions are realized exclusively by the one of
the first and second threads of electrically conductive
material.
2. The fabric in the form of a wire fabric.
3. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the body portion has a first
strip adjacent one of the fringe portions and made of the first and
second threads, a second strip adjacent the other one of the fringe
portions and made of the first and second threads, and a central
portion disposed between the first and second strips and made of
the first and second threads, said central portion being formed by
a weave pattern that is different than a weave pattern of the first
and second strips so that at least a predetermined number of
electrically conductive threads can be bound together in the fringe
portions.
4. The fabric of claim 3, wherein the body portion has an overall
size, said fringe portions covering about 40% of the overall size,
said strips covering about 20% of the overall size, and said
central portion covering about 40% of the overall size.
5. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the first threads are weft
threads and the second threads are warp threads.
6. The fabric of claim 3, wherein the first and second strips are
formed by a twill weave, and the central portion is formed by a
linen weave.
7. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fringe portions are formed of
single threads.
8. The fabric of claim 6, wherein the number of first threads to be
bonded together is dependent on the type or twill weave of the
first and second strips.
9. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the number of first threads to be
bonded together varies, as viewed in the direction of the second
threads.
10. The fabric of claim 5, wherein segments of the warp threads
passing over and under the weft threads are positioned in offset
relationship to the first and second strips formed in twill
weave.
11. The fabric of claim 10, wherein the segments of the warp
threads are positioned in offset relationship to the first and
second strips by one waft thread.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent
Application Serial No. 200 21 305.9, filed Dec. 16, 2000, the
subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a flat fabric, e.g., a wire
fabric, and more particularly to a fabric of a type having warp
threads and weft threads running transversely to the warp
threads.
[0003] Fabrics are generally known and used in a wide variety of
applications. They include two thread systems which normally
intersect one another at a right angle. One group of threads runs
in longitudinal direction of the fabric and is called warp threads.
Thus, the warp threads are of a same length as the fabric. The
other transverse thread group runs in the direction that is
determinative for the width of the fabric. These threads are called
weft threads. The warp and weft threads can intersect in many ways
by passing the weft threads over and under the warp threads to
realize a desired weave pattern. Widely used weave patterns include
the so-called linen weave or the twill weave. From these types of
patterns, various derived weaves can be formed.
[0004] The linen weave involves a continuously repeating pattern of
a weft thread passing over and under the warp thread, whereby the
next weft thread, as viewed in the direction of the warp threads,
is positioned on the other side of the warp threads. The twill
weave is characterized by warp threads which pass over at least two
weft threads, whereby the next following weft thread is positioned
above the warp thread. The parts of the warp threads that are
positioned above the weft threads are further positioned in offset
relationship.
[0005] In particular, when wire fabrics are used, a wide variety of
greatly different components can be fabricated. Recently, wire
fabrics found even application in the electronic field. It becomes
then necessary to configure the fabric in compliance with the
requirements at hand.
[0006] It would be desirable and advantageous to provide an
improved flat fabric which has threads that, depending on the
application, can be captured either individually or bundled in a
different sequence again and again, for subsequent bonding or
insulation or attachment to other components, and which can easily
be further processed by means of known handling devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a flat
fabric includes a body portion having opposite fringe portions and
first threads running in one direction and second threads running
transversely to the first threads, wherein one of the first and
second threads is made of an electrically conductive material and
the other one of the first and second threads is made of an
electrically conductive material surrounded by an insulating
envelope, or made entirely of an electrically insulating material,
wherein the opposite fringe portions are realized exclusively by
the threads of electrically conductive material.
[0008] Since the threads running in one direction are now mutually
insulated from one another, electric energy can flow through the
other threads. This opens up many possibilities to use the fabric
according to the present invention. As both opposite fringe
portions include only warp threads or only weft threads, the fabric
can be suited to the use at hand. The wires may be utilized
individually; It is, however, also possible to bond two or more
wires or threads together, whereby the number of wires or threads
being bonded together can be suited to the intended pattern being
selected. Optionally, they can be insulated or attached to other
components.
[0009] For sake of simplicity, the following description will refer
primarily to "thread" only, but it will be understood by persons
skilled in the art, that the principles described in the following
description with respect to "threads" are generally applicable to
"wires". To ensure clarity, it is necessary to establish the
definition of some terms and expressions that will be used
throughout this disclosure. The terms "single" or "singling" in
conjunction with threads are used here to indicate that parts of
threads have been unraveled to be present in single formation.
[0010] Singling of the threads and also bonding together of single
threads in accordance with a predetermined pattern can be
facilitated, when the body portion of the fabric has strips, which
adjoin the fringe portions that are made exclusively of threads of
one direction, and which are formed by a weaving pattern that
differs from the weaving pattern of the central portion located
between the strips, so that at least a predetermined number of
electrically conductive threads can be bonded together in the outer
fringe portions. The central portion of the fabric may then be
formed with a weave pattern which is best suited to the application
at hand of the fabric, whereas the adjacent strips can be formed
with a weave pattern which is best suited to implement a fringing
or singling of the threads or to implement a bonding of the threads
together. It is not necessarily required to form the central
portion only in one weave pattern, because also this portion can be
formed of several weave patterns that deviate from one another.
[0011] According to another feature of the present invention, the
body portion has an overall size, with the fringe portions covering
about 40% of the overall size, the strips covering about 20% of the
overall size, and the central portion covering about 40% of the
overall size. It is to be understood by persons skilled in the art
that the term "overall size" is used here in a generic sense and
refers to the width or length of the fabric depending as to whether
the fringe portions are free of weft threads or warp threads. Of
course, these numeric data are given by way of example only, as the
true lengths of the fringe portions and the adjacent strips may
stay the same, when enlarging or reducing the fabric in size, i.e.
in length or width, so that the central portion is dependent on the
size of the fabric.
[0012] According to another feature of the present invention, the
first threads are weft threads of electrically conductive material,
and the second threads are warp threads made of electrically
conductive material surrounded by an envelope of electrically
insulating material, or made entirely of electrically insulating
material. This configuration is currently a preferred embodiment,
as it is advantageous for fabrication of a flat fabric according to
the invention.
[0013] According to another feature of the present invention, the
strips are formed by a twill weave, whereas the central portion is
formed by a linen weave or by several types of weave patterns. By
forming the strips in accordance with a twill weave, singling or
bonding together of the threads is facilitated. The number of
electrically conductive wires to be bonded together can be varied
because of the twill weave of the strips adjacent the outer fringe
portions. For example, a so-called 5+1 weave allows bonding
together of five threads whereas the next following thread can be
utilized as single thread. It is also conceivable to vary the
number of threads being bonded together in the direction of the
insulated threads, when using a different weave pattern.
[0014] According to another feature of the present invention, the
segments of the warp threads passing over and under the weft
threads can be positioned in offset relationship, preferably by one
waft thread, to the strips formed in twill weave. The twill weave
of the strips should then be so designed that two threads of
electrically conductive material can be bonded together in each
outer fringe portion, while the offset relationship by one waft
thread results on the other side in an endless weft thread which
can then be used in an insulating fabric as resistance wire.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of
currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of a flat fabric according to
the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 1a is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of
a warp thread used in the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of a flat fabric according to
the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 3 is a third embodiment of a flat fabric according to
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements
are generally indicated by same reference numerals.
[0021] Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1,
there is shown a first embodiment of a flat fabric according to the
present invention having a body portion, generally designated by
reference numeral 10. The body portion 10 is made of a plurality of
warp threads 11 in parallel, spaced-apart relationship and weft
threads 12 running transversely at a right angle to the warp
threads 11 in parallel, spaced-apart relationship. The warp threads
11 and the weft threads 12 are made of metal so as to be
electrically conductive. As shown in FIG. 1a, the warp threads 11
are made of a core metal fiber 16 which is surrounded by an
envelope 17 of electrically insulating, and thus non-conductive
material. A suitable material would be, for example, plastic. Of
course, it is also conceivable to make the warp threads entirely of
electrically insulating material.
[0022] The weft threads 12 terminate on opposite ends in fringe
portions 12a which extend beyond both outer warp threads 11 and
include single weft threads 12. The free fringe portions 12a of all
weft threads 12 are bonded together in accordance with a
predetermined pattern, whereby some weft threads 12 remain separate
and run individually, as indicated by reference numeral 12b.
Depending on the application at hand, the free fringe portions 12a
of the weft threads 12 of the flat fabric may also be electrically
connected to other components, or may also be insulated or provided
with connectors.
[0023] The body portion 10 of the fabric has a central portion 13
which is formed by a linen weave. Thus, the warp threads 11 and the
weft threads 12 intersect in a continuously repeating pattern by
passing one of the threads 11 or 12 over and under the other one of
the threads 12 or 11. Adjacent one side of the central portion 13
is a strip 14, and adjacent the other side of the central portion
13 is a strip 15, whereby both strips 14, 15 are made by a twill
weave. In the non-limiting example of FIG. 1, the twill weave is
configured as 5/1 weave, i.e., the warp threads 11 pass over five
weft threads 12, whereas the next following weft thread 12 is
positioned above. These weft threads 12 are guided individually
past the weft threads 11 to form the fringe portions 12a, with the
five weft threads 12 bonded together, and the next following weft
thread 12 remaining single. In the non-limiting example of FIG. 1,
the strips 14, 15 are formed by seven warp treads 11.
[0024] By way of example, the fringe portions 12a may cover about
40% of the overall size of the body portion 10, while the strips
14, 15 cover about 20% of the overall size, and the central portion
13 covers about 40% of the overall size.
[0025] FIG. 1 shows that singling and bonding together of the
fringe portions 12a of the weft threads 12 is facilitated by the
twill weave of the strips 14, 15. Through the outer warp threads
11, the strips 14, 15 are formed by such a weave that singling or
bonding together of the fringe portions 12a of the weft threads 12
is given by the weave pattern.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a second embodiment
of a flat fabric according to the present invention. Parts
corresponding with those in FIG. 1 are denoted by identical
reference numerals and not explained again. In this embodiment,
provision is made for a configuration of the strips 14, 15 in twill
weave of nine warp threads by a so-called 3/2 weave, i.e., the warp
threads 11 pass over three weft threads 12 while the next two weft
threads 12 are placed over the warp threads 11. The central portion
13 is identical to the embodiment of FIG. 1 and is formed through a
linen weave. The fringe portions 12a of the weft threads 12 are
bonded together by alternately bonding together three and two weft
threads 12.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a fabric according to the
present invention, in which the strips 14, 15 are formed by a twill
weave in a so-called 2/2 weave, i.e. the warp threads 11 are
alternately passed over and under two weft threads 12. As a
consequence, two weft threads 12 are respectively bonded together
at the fringe portions 12a. FIG. 3 further shows that the warp
threads 11 between both strips 14, 15 are shifted by a weft thread
12 so as to attain an endless configuration of the weft threads 12.
In this way, the weft threads 12 may be utilized in an insulating
fabric as resistance wire. As stated above, the warp threads 11 and
the weft threads 12 are made of metallic wires, in the event the
fabric is constructed for use as wire fabric.
[0028] A flat fabric according to the present invention is useful
for the production of electronic items.
[0029] The warp threads 11 and the weft threads 12 are made of
wires of relatively small diameter so that the fabric may also be
referred to a fine fabric.
[0030] While the invention has been illustrated and described as
embodied in a flat fabric, it is not intended to be limited to the
details shown since various modifications and structural changes
may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the
present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in
order to best explain the principles of the invention and practical
application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention and various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Of
course, other configurations which generally follow the concepts
outlined here are considered to be covered by this disclosure.
[0031] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by
Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and their
equivalents:
* * * * *