Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

Thomas Wallace

Thomas P Kelmartin

William Greene

Suellen Lappe

Robert Willmann

An article useful as an architectural fabric consisting of (a) a layer of fabric having a first surface and a second surface made of polytetrafluoroethylene fibers; and (b) a fluoropolymer coating disposed on at least the first surface of the fabric.

Architectural fabric

An article having (a) a layer of fabric having a first surface and a second surface made of polytetrafluoroethylene fibers; and (b) a first composite comprising (i) a porous PTFE film having interconnected passages and pathways and (ii) a fluoropolymer adhesive, wherein said fluoropolymer adhesive is at least partially contained in said passages and pathways of said PTFE film, said first composite disposed adjacent to said first surface of said fabric, wherein the article passes a Newark Flex test after 10,000 cycles. In another embodiment, the invention includes a second composite comprising (i) a porous PTFE film having interconnected passages and pathways and (ii) a fluoropolymer adhesive, wherein said fluoropolymer adhesive is at least partially contained in said passages and pathways of said PTFE film, said second composite disposed adjacent to said second surface of said fabric. The article of the present invention is preferably waterproof, fire retardant, and flexible. It is also preferably an architectural fabric for retractable, temporary, or permanent structures and is adapted to be joined to itself by heat welding.

Method of making architectural fabric

An article having (a) a layer of fabric having a first surface and a second surface made of polytetrafluoroethylene fibers; and (b) a first composite comprising (i) a porous PTFE film having interconnected passages and pathways and (ii) a fluoropolymer adhesive, wherein said fluoropolymer adhesive is at least partially contained in said passages and pathways of said PTFE film, said first composite disposed adjacent to said first surface of said fabric,wherein the article passes a Newark Flex test after 10,000 cycles. In another embodiment, the invention includes a second composite comprising (i) a porous PTFE film having interconnected passages and pathways and (ii) a fluoropolymer adhesive, wherein said fluoropolymer adhesive is at least partially contained in said passages and pathways of said PTFE film, said second composite disposed adjacent to said second surface of said fabric. The article of the present invention is preferably waterproof, fire retardant, and flexible. It is also preferably an architectural fabric for retractable, temporary, or permanent structures and is adapted to be joined to itself by heat welding.

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Rising Sun, MD, United States of America

Thomas Wallace