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:
May. 05, 2009
Filed:
Nov. 28, 2001
William L. King, Denver, CO (US);
Gregory W. O'connor, Littleton, CO (US);
Berkley B. Thornton, Jr., Littleton, CO (US);
William L. King, Denver, CO (US);
Gregory W. O'Connor, Littleton, CO (US);
Berkley B. Thornton, Jr., Littleton, CO (US);
Samsonite Corporation, Mansfield, MA (US);
Abstract
Non-textile fabric panels (FIG.) are either formed, formed and joined, or joined by using plates or elementshaving edges with connection structures of complementary shaped and spaced knucklesthat interfit with one another. The knuckles include surfaces, that interfit and engage similar structures on adjacent elements or plates. Aligned, interfitting connection structures or knuckles can hinge along major bending axes, giving the non-textile fabric made thereby the ability to flex and bend like textile fabric or leather. Buttressing surfacesbetween connected knuckles help prevent early disengagement of intermitting surfaces when the non-textile fabric is subjected to strong tensile forces. Elementshaving the overall shape of a right isoscoles triangle in the plane of the non-textile fabric formed therefrom thus provide four major bending axes for superior flexible strength. Knuckleson the free edges of non-textile fabric panels made according the invention can be interleaved in a post manufacturing operation to make strong and almost invisible seams between panels.