Extensible composite fabric and method and apparatus for making it

Claim 3

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 1 including introducing a bonding agent to maintain the curved paths.

Claim 4

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 1 in which said bonding agent is a binder.

Claim 5

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 1 in which said bonding agent is an adhesive sheet.

Claim 6

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 1 in which said bonding agent is introduced after the fibers are distorted.

Claim 7

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 1 in which said curved path is periodic.

Claim 8

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 6 in which said curved path is generally sinusoidal.

Claim 11

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 8 including introducing a bonding agent to maintain the curved paths.

Claim 12

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 9 in which said bonding agent is a binder.

Claim 13

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 9 in which said bonding agent is an adhesive sheet.

Claim 14

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 9 in which said bonding agent is introduced after the fibers are distorted.

Claim 15

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 8 in which said curved path is periodic.

Claim 16

The method of making an extensible composite fabric of claim 13 in which said curved path is generally sinusoidal.

Claim 17

A mechanism for making an extensible fabric from a fabric comprising a multiplicity of continuous fibers extending in generally parallel paths in one direction, said fabric initially having been essentially non-extensible in that direction, comprising: a plurality of actuator members spaced apart in the direction of the continuous fibers extending across the fabric transverse to the continuous fibers thereof when the mechanism engages the fabric; and operator means for moving alternate ones of said actuator members in opposite directions transverse to the continuous fibers for bending the fibers into aligned, locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in the direction of the paths.

Claim 18

A mechanism for making an extensible fabric from a fabric comprising a multiplicity of continuous fibers extending in generally parallel paths in one direction, said fabric initially having been essentially non-extensible in that direction, comprising: a plurality of actuator members spaced apart in the direction of the continuous fibers extending across the fabric transverse to the continuous fibers thereof when the mechanism engages the fabric; and operator means for moving alternate ones of said actuator members in opposite directions transverse to the continuous fibers for bending the fibers into aligned, locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in the direction of the paths.

Claim 19

The mechanism for making an extensible composite fabric of claim 15 in which said curved path is periodic.

Claim 20

The mechanism for making an extensible composite fabric of claim 16 in which said curved path is generally sinusoidal.

Claim 21

A mechanism for making an extensible fabric from a fabric comprising at least two layers of fibers extending in generally parallel paths, the paths in one layer extending in a first direction and in a second layer in a second direction, said fabric initially having been essentially non-extensible in the respective path directions, comprising: a plurality of actuator members arranged in rows and columns generally aligned with the first and second directions, respectively when the mechanism engages the fabric; an engaging means on each of said actuator members for gripping at least a pair of spaced points on the fabric; and operator means for rotating alternative rows of actuator members in opposite directions for bending the paths of the fibers in each layer into aligned locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in each respective path direction.

Claim 22

A mechanism for making an extensible fabric from a fabric comprising at least two layers of fibers extending in generally parallel paths, the paths in one layer extending in a first direction and in a second layer in a second direction, said fabric initially having been essentially non-extensible in the respective path directions, comprising: a plurality of actuator members arranged in rows and columns generally aligned with the first and second directions, respectively when the mechanism engages the fabric; an engaging means on each of said actuator members for gripping at least a pair of spaced points on the fabric; and operator means for rotating alternative rows of actuator members in opposite directions for bending the paths of the fibers in each layer into aligned locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in each respective path direction.

Claim 23

The mechanism for making an extensible composite fabric of claim 18 in which said engaging means includes an areal gripping element for gripping said two spaced points and the area between them.

Claim 24

The mechanism for making an extensible composite fabric of claim 18 in which said engaging means includes an areal gripping element for gripping said two spaced points.

Claim 25

The mechanism for making an extensible composite fabric of claim 18 in which said operator means includes interconnection links interconnecting actuator members in adjacent rows and columns.

Claim 26

The mechanism for making an extensible composite fabric of claim 18 in which said interconnection links include engaging means.

Claim 27

The mechanism for making an extensible composite fabric of claim 18 in which said curved path is periodic.

Claim 28

The mechanism for making an extensible composite fabric of claim 23 in which said curved path is generally sinusoidal.

Claim 29

A mechanism for making an extensible fabric from a fabric comprising a multiplicity of continuous fibers extending in generally parallel paths in one direction, said fabric initially having been essentially non-extensible in the direction of said paths, comprising: conveyor means for continuously moving a fabric; first roller means spaced from said conveyor means for contacting said fabric; and oscillating means for shifting said first roller back and forth across said fabric to distort the initially generally parallel paths of continuous fibers comprising the fabric into aligned, locally parallel curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in the direction of said paths.

Claim 30

A mechanism for making an extensible fabric from a fabric comprising a multiplicity of continuous fibers extending in generally parallel paths in one direction, said fabric initially having been essentially non-extensible in the direction of said paths, comprising: conveyor means for continuously moving a fabric; first roller means spaced from said conveyor means for contacting said fabric; and oscillating means for shifting said first roller back and forth across said fabric to distort the initially generally parallel paths of continuous fibers comprising the fabric into aligned, locally parallel curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in the direction of said paths.

Claim 31

The mechanism for making an extensible composite fabric of claim 25 including a second roller for pinching said web after said web passes from said first roller.

Claim 32

The mechanism for making an extensible composite fabric of claim 26 including drive means for driving said second roller at the speed of the conveyor means.

Claim 33

An extensible composite fabric comprising: a multiplicity of continuous fibers extending in one direction and distorted into aligned, locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in that direction.

Claim 34

An extensible composite fabric comprising: a multiplicity of continuous fibers extending in one direction and distorted into aligned, locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in that direction.

Claim 35

The extensible composite fabric of claim 1 in which said curved path is periodic.

Claim 36

The extensible composite fabric of claim 2 in which said curved path is generally sinusoidal.

Claim 37

An extensible composite fabric comprising: a plurality of layers of continuous fibers, the continuous fibers of each layer extending in a different direction and within each layer the continuous fibers being distorted into aligned, locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in the direction of the paths of continuous fibers in that layer.

Claim 38

An extensible composite fabric comprising: a plurality of layers of continuous fibers, the continuous fibers of each layer extending in a different direction and within each layer the continuous fibers being distorted into aligned, locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in the direction of the paths of continuous fibers in that layer.

Claim 39

The extensible composite fabric of claim 31 in which said layers are interwoven.

Claim 40

The extensible composite fabric of claim 31 in which said layers are stitched together.

Claim 41

The extensible composite fabric of claim 31 in which said curved path is periodic.

Claim 42

The extensible composite fabric of claim 31 in which said curved path is generally sinusoidal.