The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 09, 1992
Filed:
Apr. 09, 1990
Richard A Lewis, El Segundo, CA (US);
TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
A lightweight, compliant, high strength fabric providing controlled stretch, and a process for its manufacture. The fabric is consolidated into a unitary structure from a single stacked-film matrix of one or more thin elastomeric films, each having at least one reinforcing fiber embedded in the film in a sandwich construction. The reinforcing fibers are buckled along their length when the film is in a relaxed state, and if more than one fiber, arranged in a generally parallel relationship with each other within each elastomeric film. The stacked elastomeric films are cross-plied such that the courses of fibers in the separate films are aligned in selected multiple directions, with each course of fibers lying in its own plane. Stretching of the fabric in any of the selected multiple directions is uninhibited by the buckled fibers but is limited when the fibers reach a straightened condition. As the fabric stretches, the fibers straighten, eventually limiting the stretch of the fabric as the fibers become taut. When the stretch of the fabric is released, the fabric returns to its former relaxed state, with the fibers returning to their buckled state.