U.S. patent application number 12/500812 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-05 for protective sleeve fabricated with hybrid yarn, hybrid yarn, and methods of construction thereof.
Invention is credited to Ming-Ming Chen.
Application Number | 20090272570 12/500812 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38581735 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090272570 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Ming-Ming |
November 5, 2009 |
PROTECTIVE SLEEVE FABRICATED WITH HYBRID YARN, HYBRID YARN, AND
METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION THEREOF
Abstract
A hybrid yarn filament used in construction of a sleeve for
protecting elongate members against at least one of EMI, RFI or
ESD, and methods of construction of the hybrid yarn filament. The
hybrid yarn filament has a non-conductive filament and at least one
conductive wire filament overlying an outer surface of the
non-conductive filament. The hybrid yarn filament is arranged in
electrical communication with itself or other hybrid yarn filaments
to provide uniform shielding against EMI, RFI, and/or ESD.
Inventors: |
Chen; Ming-Ming; (West
Chester, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT L. STEARNS;Dickinson Wright PLLC
Ste. 2000, 38525 Woodward Avenue
Bloomfield Hills
MI
48304-2970
US
|
Family ID: |
38581735 |
Appl. No.: |
12/500812 |
Filed: |
July 10, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11684984 |
Mar 12, 2007 |
7576286 |
|
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12500812 |
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60786847 |
Mar 29, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
174/350 ;
57/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D02G 3/441 20130101;
Y10T 428/1362 20150115; H01C 1/028 20130101; D03D 1/0058 20130101;
H01C 1/02 20130101; D03D 1/0035 20130101; H02G 3/0406 20130101;
H01C 1/06 20130101; H02G 3/0481 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
174/350 ;
57/3 |
International
Class: |
H05K 9/00 20060101
H05K009/00; D02G 3/36 20060101 D02G003/36 |
Claims
1. A conductive hybrid yarn filament for constructing a fabric
sleeve for protecting elongate members against at least one of EMI,
RFI or ESD, said hybrid yarn filament comprising: an elongate
non-conductive filament; and an elongate continuous conductive wire
filament overlying an outer surface of said non-conductive
filament.
2. The conductive hybrid yarn filament of claim 1 wherein said wire
filament is twisted with said non-conductive filament.
3. The conductive hybrid yarn filament of claim 1 wherein said wire
filament is served about said non-conductive filament.
4. The conductive hybrid yarn filament of claim 1 further
comprising at least two of said continuous conductive wire
filaments overlying an outer surface of said non-conductive
filament.
5. The conductive hybrid yarn filament of claim 4 wherein said at
least two of said wire filaments are arranged in opposite helical
direction to one another.
6. The conductive hybrid yarn filament of claim 1 further
comprising at least three elongate continuous conductive wire
filaments overlying an outer surface of said non-conductive
filament.
7. The conductive hybrid yarn filament of claim 6 wherein at least
one of said three wire filaments is arranged in an opposite helical
direction to the remaining wire filaments.
8. The conductive hybrid yarn filament of claim 6 wherein at least
one of said three wire filaments is arranged having a different
helical angle than the remaining wire filaments.
9. The conductive hybrid yarn filament of claim 1 wherein said
non-conductive filament is formed as a multifilament.
10. The conductive hybrid yarn filament of claim 1 wherein said
non-conductive filament is formed from a heat-settable polymeric
material.
11. The conductive hybrid yarn filament of claim 1 wherein said
non-conductive filament includes a separate monofilament and a
multifilament.
12. A method of constructing a flexible conductive hybrid yarn
filament for a fabric sleeve, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a non-conductive elongate filament; providing an elongate
conductive wire filament; and overlying an outer surface of said
non-conductive filament with said conductive wire filament.
13. The method of claim 12 further including twisting said
conductive filament with said non-conductive filament so that said
conductive filament and said non-conductive filament extend in
helical paths.
14. The method of claim 12 further including serving said
conductive filament about said non-conductive filament so that said
conductive filament extends in a helical path and said
non-conductive filament extends in a generally straight path.
15. The method of claim 12 further including providing at least two
of said wire filaments and overlying the outer surface of said
non-conductive filament with said at least two wire filaments.
16. The method of claim 15 further including arranging said at
least two wire filaments in opposite helical directions to one
another.
17. The method of claim 12 further including providing at least
three wire filaments and overlying the outer surface of said
non-conductive filament with said at least three wire
filaments.
18. The method of claim 17 further including arranging at least one
of said at least three wire filaments in an opposite helical
direction to the remaining wire filaments.
19. The method of claim 17 further including arranging at least one
of said at least three wire filaments having a different helical
angle than the remaining wire filaments.
20. The method of claim 12 further including providing said
non-conductive filament as a multifilament.
21. The method of claim 12 further including providing said
non-conductive filament as a heat-settable polymeric material.
22. The method of claim 12 further including providing said
non-conductive filament as a monofilament and a multifilament.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/684,984, filed Mar. 12, 2007, which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/786,847, filed
Mar. 29, 2006, both of which are incorporated herein by reference
their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] This invention relates generally to sleeves for protecting
elongate members and more particularly to EMI/RFI/ESD shielding
yarns and sleeves constructed therefrom.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] It is known that electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio
frequency interference (RFI), and electrostatic discharge (ESD) can
pose a potential problem to the proper functioning of electronic
components caused by interference due to inductive coupling between
nearby electrical conductors and propagating electromagnetic waves.
Electronic systems generate electromagnetic energy due to the flow
of current within a circuit. This electromagnetic energy can
adversely affect the performance of surrounding electronic
components, whether they are in direct communication within the
circuit, or located nearby. For example, electrical currents in
conductors associated with an electrical power system in an
automobile may induce spurious signals in various electronic
components, such as an electronic module. Such interference could
downgrade the performance of the electronic module or other
components in the vehicle, thereby causing the vehicle to act other
than as desired. Similarly, inductive coupling between electrical
wiring in relatively close relation to lines carrying data in a
computer network or other communication system may have a
corrupting effect on the data being transmitted over the
network.
[0006] The adverse effects of EMI, RFI and ESD can be effectively
eliminated by proper shielding and grounding of EMI, RFI and ESD
sensitive components. For example, wires carrying control signals
which may be subjected to unwanted interference from internally or
externally generated EMI, RFI and ESD may be shielded by using a
protective sleeve. Protective sleeves can be generally flat or
cylindrical, wherein the sleeves are formed from electrically
conductive and non-conductive constituents, with the conductive
constituents typically being grounded via a drain wire interlaced
with the yarns during manufacture of the sleeve. Known conductive
constituents take the form of non-conductive fibers or filaments,
such as nylon, coated with a conductive metal, such as silver.
Other known conductive constituents are fabricated by impregnating
a non-conductive resin with micro fibers of metal, such as
stainless steel, copper or silver, or with micron size conductive
powders of carbon, graphite, nickel, copper or silver, such that
the micro fibers and/or powders are bonded in conductive
communication.
[0007] While such RFI, EMI, and ESD sleeving made with coated
conductive yarns is generally effective at eliminating electrical
interference, the sleeving can be relatively expensive in
manufacture, particularly when expensive coatings, such as silver,
are used. In addition, conductive coatings can be worn off, leading
to inefficiencies in conductive connections between the conductive
constituents, thereby impacting the ability of the sleeving to
provide optimal RFI, EMI, and/or ESD protection. Accordingly, RFI,
EMI, ESD shielding which is more economical in manufacture, and
more efficient in use, and more reliable against wear and having an
increased useful life, is desired.
[0008] A sleeve manufactured from fabric according to the present
invention overcomes or greatly minimizes at least those limitations
of the prior art described above, thereby allowing components
having potential adversarial effects on one another to function
properly, even when near one another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] One aspect of the invention includes a conductive hybrid
yarn for constructing a fabric sleeve for protecting elongate
members against at least one of EMI, RFI and/or ESD. The hybrid
yarn has a non-conductive elongate filament, and at least one
elongate continuous conductive wire filament overlying and
extending outwardly from an outer surface of the non-conductive
filament. Accordingly, the wire filament or filaments are able to
establish electrical contact with one another. As such, with the
wire filaments being continuous wire filaments arranged in
electrical communication with one another, the sleeve is provided
with optimal conductivity. Thus, effective and uniform EMI, RFI
and/or ESD protection is provided to the elongate members housed
within the sleeve.
[0010] Yet another aspect of the invention includes a method of
constructing a conductive hybrid yarn used for forming a sleeve,
wherein the sleeve provides protection to elongate members against
at least one of EMI, RFI and/or ESD. The method includes providing
a non-conductive elongate yarn filament and a continuous conductive
wire filament, and then, overlying an outer surface of the
non-conductive filament with the continuous conductive wire
filament.
[0011] Accordingly, sleeves produced at least in part with hybrid
yarn in accordance with the invention are useful for shielding
elongate members from EMI, RFI and/or ESD, wherein the sleeves can
be constructed having any desired shape, whether flat, cylindrical,
box shaped, or otherwise. In addition, the sleeves can be made to
accommodate virtually any package size by adjusting the fabricated
width, height, and length in manufacture, and can be equipped with
a variety of closure mechanisms. Further, the sleeves are at least
somewhat flexible in 3-D without affecting their protective
strength, conductivity, and thus shielding ability, thereby
allowing the sleeves to bend, as needed, to best route the elongate
members without affecting the EMI, RFI and/or ESD protection
provided by the sleeves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other features and advantages will become readily
apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following
detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and
best mode, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-wrapping sleeve
constructed with yarn according to one presently preferred
embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic fragmentary partially broken away
perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view of a
sleeve constructed according to another presently preferred
embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view of a
sleeve constructed according to yet another presently preferred
embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of a yarn constructed
according to one presently preferred embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of a yarn constructed
according to another presently preferred embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic view of a yarn constructed
according to another presently preferred embodiment; and
[0020] FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic view of a yarn constructed
according to yet another presently preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring in more detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a
sleeve 10 constructed from yarn, including at least in part hybrid
yarns or filaments, referred to hereafter as hybrid yarn members
12, constructed according to one presently preferred embodiment of
the invention. The term filaments herein is meant to include
monofilaments and/or multifilaments, with specific reference being
given to the type of filament, as necessary. The hybrid yarn
members 12 (FIGS. 5-8) are formed with non-conductive monofilament
and/or non-conductive multifilament members, referred to hereafter
simply as non-conductive members 14, twisted or served with strands
of micron-sized continuous conductive wire filaments, referred to
hereafter simply as wire filaments 16. The individual wire
filaments 16 are about 20-100 .mu.m in diameter, for example, and
provide the sleeve 10 with at least one of electromagnetic
interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI), and/or
electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for an elongate member or
members 13 bundled within the sleeve 10. Once enclosed, the bundle
of generally enclosed wires 13 receives optimal protection from any
unwanted interference, such as inductive coupling interference or
self-induced internal reflective interference, thereby providing
any electrical components connected to the bundle of wires 13 with
the desired operating efficiency. Accordingly, the sleeve 10
prevents the bundled wires 13 from having a self-induced adverse
affect on electrical components to which they are connected, while
also preventing interference of the bundled wires 13 with any
nearby electrical components not in direct electrical communication
therewith.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sleeve 10 is represented, by
way of example and without limitations, as being self-wrapping
about a longitudinal axis 15, wherein the self-wrapping bias can be
imparted via heat-setting, via weft-wise filaments being placed
under tension, or via warp-wise filaments exerting a bias about the
axis 15, for example, to define an elongate, enclosed channel 18
for receiving the bundled wires 13. At least one or more hybrid
yarn members 12 are preferably interlaced with one another in the
fill direction and can be constructed at least in part of a
thermoplastic, such as, by way of example and without limitation,
polyester, thereby allowing the sleeve 10 to be heat-set or
otherwise biased into a tubular form. It should be recognized that
sleeves 10 constructed with the yarn members 12 can be constructed
in any desired protective sleeve form, such as generally flat (FIG.
3, shown before being generally flattened), whether self-closing or
assisted, such as via hook and loop fasteners 17, for example, or
as a seamless cylindrical form (FIG. 4), for example. Accordingly,
the invention is not limited to the profile of the sleeve, and
thus, contemplates the manufacture and construction of any profile
sleeve that provides a secure, durable, flexible covering for
organizing and protecting elongate members 13, such as a wire
harness, from EMI, RFI and/or ESD.
[0023] To facilitate elimination of any unwanted interference, the
sleeve 10 is preferably constructed with at least one, and
preferably a pair of drain wires 20, 21 (FIG. 2) interlaced at
least partially with the yarn members 12, wherein the drain wires
20, 21 are arranged for suitable connection to a ground (not
shown). The drain wires 20, 21 are preferably arranged in
electrical communication with one another and in electrical
communication with the conductive wire filaments 16. The drain
wires 20, 21 can be provided having any suitable diameter, and are
generally provided between about 18-24 gauge, and of any suitable
metal, such as single strand or twisted multiple strands of tin or
nickel plated copper, or stainless steel, for example. The drain
wires 20, 21 are oriented to extend lengthwise along the
longitudinal axis 15 of the sleeve 10, with at least one of the
drain wires 20 preferably being extendable away from the sleeve 10
for operable electrical communication with the ground. The drain
wire 20 is shown interlaced at a plurality of axially spaced
locations to provide float sections 23, with float section 23
having the ability to be laterally extended from the sleeve 10, as
desired. The other drain wire 21 is represented here, for example,
as also being interlaced at a plurality of axially spaced locations
to provide float sections 25 along the length of the sleeve 10. As
represented in FIG. 2, the drain wires 20, 21 can be positioned
along a portion of the sleeve 10 so that they can be overlapped and
protectively covered by a selvage, referred to hereafter as a free
edge 27 of the sleeve 10. It should be recognized that the drain
wire 20 or wires 20, 21 are arranged in electrical communication
with the conductive wire filaments 16 by virtue of the conductive
wire filaments 16 being twisted or served such that they extend
outwardly from the non-conductive members 14.
[0024] The non-conductive members 14 are preferably provided as
multi-filamentary yarns, which provides the sleeve 10 with softer
texture, enhanced drape, and enhanced noise dampening
characteristics. Though, as mentioned, monofilaments could be used,
if desired for the intended application. Depending on the
application, the non-conductive members 14 can be formed from, by
way of example and without limitation, polyester, nylon,
polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylic, cotton, rayon, and fire
retardant (FR) versions of all the aforementioned materials when
extremely high temperature ratings are not required. If higher
temperature ratings are desired along with FR capabilities, then
the non-conductive members 14 could be constructed from, by way of
example and without limitation, materials including m-Aramid (sold
under names Nomex, Conex, Kermel, for example), p-Aramid (sold
under names Kevlar, Twaron, Technora, for example), PEI (sold under
name Ultem, for example), PPS, LCP, TPFE, and PEEK. When even
higher temperature ratings are desired along with FR capabilities,
the non-conductive members can include mineral yarns such as
fiberglass, basalt, silica and ceramic, for example.
[0025] As mentioned, the continuous conductive wire filaments 16
can be either served with the non-conductive member 14 (FIG. 5),
such that the non-conductive member 14 extends along a generally
straight path, while the conductive wire filament 16 extends along
a helical path about the non-conductive member 14, or twisted with
the non-conductive members 14 (FIG. 6), such that they form axially
offset helical paths relative to one another. Regardless of how
constructed, it is preferred that at least a portion of the
conductive wire filaments 16 remain or extend radially outward of
an outer surface 24 (FIGS. 5-8) of the non-conductive members 14.
This facilitates maintaining effective EMI, RFI and/or ESD
shielding properties of the sleeve 10 constructed at least in part
from the hybrid yarn members 12. The conductive wire filaments 16
are preferably provided as continuous strands of stainless steel,
such as a low carbon stainless steel, for example, SS316L, which
has high corrosion resistance properties, however, other conductive
continuous strands of metal wire could be used, such as, copper,
tin or nickel plated copper, aluminum, and other conductive alloys,
for example.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the continuous conductive wire
filaments 16 can overlie the non-conductive members 14 by being
twisted or served about the non-conductive members 14 to form the
hybrid yarn members 12 having a single strand conductive wire
filament 16 (FIGS. 5 and 6), two strands of conductive wire
filaments 16 (FIG. 7), three strands of conductive wire filaments
16 (FIG. 8), or more, as desired, extending substantially along the
length of the hybrid yarn members 12. It should be recognized that
any desired number of conductive wire filaments 16 can be used,
depending on the conductivity and shielding sought, with the idea
that an increased number of conductive wires along the length of
the hybrid yarn members 12 generally increases the conductive
properties of the hybrid yarn members 12. When two or more
conductive wire filaments 16 are used, they can be arranged to
overlap one another, such as, by way of example and without
limitation, by having different helical angles and/or by twisting
or serving the wire filaments 16 in opposite helical directions, as
shown here. Regardless of how many conductive wire filaments 16 are
used, it is preferable that they remain at least partially exposed
outwardly from the outer surface 24 of the non-conductive members
14 to maximize the EMI, RFI and/or ESD shielding properties of the
hybrid yarn members 12.
[0027] The arrangement of the wire filaments 16, and their specific
construction, whether having single, double, triple, or more
conductive wires 16, used in constructing the hybrid yarn members
12, is selected to best maximize the shielding potential desired.
In a woven fabric construction, it is generally preferred that the
hybrid yarn members 12 traversing the warp direction of the sleeve
10 have at least two or more conductive wire filaments 16, as best
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Conversely, it is generally preferred that
the hybrid yarn members 12 traversing the weft or fill direction of
the sleeve 10 have a single conductive wire 16, as best shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6. This construction provides the resulting sleeve 10
with optimal EMI, RFI, and ESD shielding capabilities, while also
providing the sleeve 10 with maximum drape about the longitudinal
axis 15, which can facilitate forming the sleeve 10 into the
desired shape, whether flat or generally cylindrical. It should be
recognized that the conductive wire filament or filaments 16 are
preferably maintained in electrical communication with themselves
or other ones of the filaments 16. As such, for example, wire
filaments 16 traversing the warp direction are maintained in
electrical contact with the conductive wire filaments 16 traversing
the fill direction, thereby establishing a complete grid or network
of EMI, RFI and/or ESD shielding about the outer surface of the
sleeve 10. This is particularly made possible by the conductive
wire filaments 16 extending radially outward from the
non-conductive filaments 14, as discussed.
[0028] An additional consideration given in the construction of the
hybrid yarn members 12 is to best provide the hybrid yarns 12 in
both the fill and warp directions with a generally similar denier.
As such, given that each of the fill hybrid yarn members 12
preferably have a single conductive wire filament 16, the
associated underlying nonconductive filaments 14 preferably have a
larger denier in comparison to the nonconductive filaments 14 used
in the warp hybrid yarn members 12, which, as mentioned, preferably
have two or more conductive wire filaments 16. By providing the
fill and warp hybrid yarns 12 with approximately the same denier,
the resulting sleeve fabric has a smoother appearance and feel,
thereby enhancing the abrasion resistance of the resulting sleeve
10.
[0029] For example, a fill hybrid yarn member 12 could have a
single continuous strand of stainless steel wire filament 16,
between about 20-100 .mu.m in diameter, and in one example, about
50 .mu.m in diameter (this diameter of wire in our examples equates
to about 140 denier), twisted or served about non-conductive PET
multifilament 14 of about 1100 denier, thereby resulting in the
hybrid yarn member 12 being about 1240 denier, and a warp hybrid
yarn member 12 could have two continuous strands of stainless steel
wire filament 16, between about 20-100 .mu.m in diameter, and in
this example, about 50 .mu.m in diameter, twisted or served about
non-conductive PET multifilament 14 of about 970 denier, thereby
resulting in the hybrid yarn member 12 being about 1250 denier.
Thus, the resulting deniers of the warp and fill hybrid yarns 12
being approximately equal to one another.
[0030] In another example, a hybrid fill yarn member 12 could have
a single continuous strand of stainless steel wire filament 16,
between about 20-100 .mu.m in diameter, and in this example, about
50 .mu.m in diameter, twisted or served about non-conductive PET
multifilament 14 of about 1100 denier, thereby resulting in the
hybrid yarn member 12 being about 1240 denier, and a hybrid warp
yarn member 12 could have three continuous strands of stainless
steel wire filament 16, between about 20-100 .mu.m in diameter, and
in this example, about 50 .mu.m in diameter, twisted or served
about PET non-conductive multifilament 14 of about 830 denier,
thereby resulting in the hybrid yarn member 12 being about 1250
denier. So, again, the resulting fill and warp direction hybrid
yarns 12 are approximately the same denier.
[0031] In yet another example, a hybrid fill yarn member 12 could
have a single continuous strand of stainless steel wire filament
16, between about 20-100 .mu.m in diameter, and in this example,
about 35 .mu.m in diameter (this diameter of wire in our examples
equates to about 70 denier), twisted or served about non-conductive
m-Aramid multifilament 14 of about 530 denier, thereby resulting in
the hybrid yarn member 12 being about 600 denier, and a hybrid warp
yarn member 12 could have two continuous ends, between about 20-100
.mu.m in diameter, and in this example, about 35 .mu.m in diameter,
of stainless steel wire filament 16 twisted or served about
m-Aramid non-conductive multifilament 14 of about 460 denier,
thereby resulting in the hybrid yarn member 12 being about 600
denier. Therefore, the resulting fill and warp hybrid yarns 12 are
again approximately the same denier.
[0032] In yet a further example, a hybrid fill yarn member 12 could
have a single continuous strand of stainless steel wire filament
16, between about 20-100 .mu.m in diameter, and in this example,
about 35 .mu.m in diameter, twisted or served about non-conductive
m-Aramid multifilament 14 of about 530 denier, thereby resulting in
the hybrid yarn member 12 being about 600 denier, and a hybrid warp
yarn member 12 could have three continuous strands of stainless
steel wire filament 16, between about 20-100 .mu.m in diameter, and
in this example, about 35 .mu.m in diameter, twisted or served
about m-Aramid non-conductive multifilament 14 of about 390 denier,
thereby resulting in the hybrid yarn member 12 being about 600
denier. Again, the resulting deniers of the hybrid fill and warp
yarns 12 are approximately the same.
[0033] Accordingly, as the examples above demonstrate, without
limitation, numerous constructions and arrangements of fill and
warp hybrid yarns 12 are possible. Further, as mentioned, more warp
conductive wire filaments 16 could be used to effectively increase
the conductivity of the conductive hybrid yarn members 12, thereby
enhancing the EMI, RFI and/or ESD shielding effectiveness, with the
resulting deniers of the warp and fill hybrid yarn members 12
preferably remaining approximately equal to one another.
[0034] Another aspect of the invention includes a method of
constructing the fabric sleeves 10 described above for protecting
elongate members against at least one of EMI, RFI and/or ESD. The
method includes providing at least one or more hybrid yarn members
12 each having a non-conductive elongate filament 14 and at least
one elongate continuous conductive wire filament 16 overlying an
outer surface of the non-conductive filament 14. Next, interlacing
the hybrid yarn members 12 with one another, such as in warp and
fill directions, for example to form a fabric, wherein the wire
filaments 16 extending along the warp direction are brought into
direct conductive electrical communication with the wire filaments
16 extending along the fill direction. It should be understood that
the fabric sleeve can be constructed via weaving, knitting, crochet
knitting, or braiding techniques. As such, it should be recognized
that the method includes additional steps, as necessary, to arrive
at the specific sleeve constructions described above, and desired.
It should be further understood that if the resulting sleeve is
braided, crocheted, or knitted using other than warp or weft
knitting forms of knitting, that the use of warp and weft
directions above may not apply to the sleeves constructed from
these methods of construction. Regardless, it is to be understood
that the hybrid yarn members 12 can be interlaced using virtually
any textile construction method to form a protective sleeve In
addition, the sleeves 10 constructed from the hybrid yarn members
12 can be constructed to conform to a multitude of widths, heights
and lengths and configurations for use in a variety of
applications.
[0035] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is,
therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described.
* * * * *