Kuraray Co., Ltd.

Patrick Coffey

Forrest Sloan

Disclosed herein are filamentary braids containing a plurality of filamentary elements braided together, where the filamentary elements include one or more main filamentary elements and one or more looped filamentary elements. The looped filamentary elements are arranged in one or more looped structures extending outward from the longitudinal axis formed by the main filamentary elements. The looped filamentary elements are made of a fiber having a tensile modulus of 2.3 GPa or more. Upon application of selective tension to the looped filamentary elements, the looped filamentary elements (i) are collapsible against the main filamentary elements in the filamentary braid and/or (ii) are removable from the filamentary braid.

High surface area braids

Disclosed herein are methods for producing core-sheath structures by shaping at least one filament bundle containing a plurality of filaments to form at least one shaped strand of filaments, and braiding a plurality of strands, including the at least one shaped strand of filaments, over a core to form the core-sheath structure containing a braided sheath of the strands surrounding the core, wherein the shaped strand of filaments is an untwisted strand having a twist level of less than 1 turn per meter, a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the shaped strand of filaments is at least 3:1, as measured in the braided sheath, a thickness of at least a portion of the braided sheath ranges from about 10 to about 200 μm, and the braided sheath comprises a synthetic fiber having a tensile strength of greater than 12 cN/dtex. Also disclosed herein are core-sheath structures formed by such methods.

Braided jackets with low thickness

A cord comprises a braided sheath of strands having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a central hollow portion defined by the inner surface and having a volume and a core within the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath, such that when the cord is in a relaxed state the tubular braided sheath has a cylindrical shape and a relaxed volume of the central hollow portion wherein the core does not fill the relaxed volume of the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath; when the cord is in a longitudinal tensioned state, the tubular braided sheath elongates under the longitudinal tension such that a tensioned volume of at least a part of the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath is less than the relaxed volume; and the inner surface of the tubular braided sheath of tensioned volume contacts and cinches a surface of the core.

Small diameter fiber braid with central core member

This application describes a braided cord containing a braided sheath and optionally a core surrounded by the braided sheath. The braided cord has changing cross-sectional area ranging from 0.0004 mmto 30 mmand contains one or more sections having a tapering angle ranging from 1&#xb0; to 60&#xb0; when observed in one direction along the cord axis. The change in the cross-sectional area of the cord can be achieved by changing the thickness of the braided sheath and/or changing the cross-sectional area of the core when the core is present. The thickness of the braided sheath can be adjusted by changing the size and/or twist level of one or more sheath strands, changing the pick count of the braided sheath, and/or using one or more shaped sheath strands. This application also describes a process of producing the braided cord with changing cross-sectional area.

Braided cord with changing cross-sectional area

Disclosed herein are methods for producing core-sheath structures by shaping at least one filament bundle containing a plurality of filaments to form at least one shaped strand of filaments, and braiding a plurality of strands, including the at least one shaped strand of filaments, over a core to form the core-sheath structure containing a braided sheath of the strands surrounding the core, wherein the shaped strand of filaments is an untwisted strand having a twist level of less than 1 turn per meter, a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the shaped strand of filaments is at least 3:1, as measured in the braided sheath, a thickness of at least a portion of the braided sheath ranges from about 10 to about 200 &#x3bc;m, and the braided sheath comprises a synthetic fiber having a tensile strength of greater than 12 cN/dtex. Also disclosed herein are core-sheath structures formed by such methods.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Patrick Coffey