GB2435049A

GB2435049A - Plied fabric tape with loops

Info

Publication number: GB2435049A
Application number: GB0602939A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel R Yates; Andrew Watson; Adrian J G Senn
Original assignee: SELECTUS Ltd
Current assignee: SELECTUS Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-14
Filing date: 2006-02-14
Publication date: 2007-08-15
Also published as: GB0602939D0

Abstract

A fabric tape has two textile layers 5,6 which are interlaced at spaced intervals along the length of the tape to form loops 10 of flexible textile material. The tape comprises a first layer 5 with warp threads 22,24 and weft threads, and a second layer 6 with warp threads 33,35 and weft threads. The threads are interlaced at spaced intervals to form binding regions 4 and loops 10. The warp threads 22,24; 33,35 of at least one layer are passed around the weft threads of the other layer. Preferably the warp threads 22,24 of the first layer 5 are passed around the weft threads of both layers 5,6. The binding regions 4 between the two layers are preferably formed across 2 to 10 weft threads. The warp threads of the first layer may be of a different colour to the warp threads of the second layer. The tape may be used as a suspension device for multiple garment hangers 46.

Description

2435 049

TAPE

Description

The present invention relates to a tape formed of textile material, and particularly to such a tape made by weaving techniques, although knitting and braiding manufacturing techniques could also be used.

Textile tapes are well-known can be formed using various structures and compositions and can serve many purposes, such as decorative to adorn clothes, or more functional purposes where the individual fabric structure is designed to fulfill a particular criteria or intended purpose such as fastening or securing items.

Such textile tapes may be fastened together by stitching or rivetting or by adhesives and may be made out of a variety of fibre types depending upon the strength required and other factors, for example whether the tape needs to be waterproof.

The fibres of the textile may be coloured to provide decorative or informative patterns or colour combinations.

One utilitarian use for such tape is in suspending articles. For example a length of tape can be tied or otherwise fastened around an item and around a suspension point so as to hold an item in place, for example off the ground, or away from dirt or danger, or to keep it in a more convenient position. For example, as is known in US 5,050,833, lengths of string may be tied at regular intervals so as to form a series of loops. Ties, belts or garment hangers may be slotted into these loops and the whole arrangement suspended from a hook on a rail. This also has the advantage of maximising storage space by using more of the vertical space available than would otherwise be possible.

A disadvantage of known ways of using tape for these sort of applications resides in the manner in which they are formed into loops. When knots are tied in string or tape it becomes bulky and awkward and no longer hangs easily in a flat configuration, and knots can also have a tendency to drop out or be unravelled. If the tape is stitched into loops then the structure of the tape can be weakened by the stitching process.

Rivetting can also weaken the structure of the tape and also provides an undesirable metallic element which may rust or splinter, or be susceptible to extremes of temperature, and may undesirably snag on items to be stored thus damaging these items.

Adhesives tend not to have sufficient strength except for holding particularly light items.

There is a need in the field for an improved form of textile tape which can be used for suspension and storage applications.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tape comprising: a first layer of flexible textile material comprising a first set of threads; and a second layer of flexible material comprising a second set of threads, wherein the first and second set of threads are mutually interleaved at spaced intervals along the lengths of the layers to provide a series of interleaved binding regions separated by loops of flexible textile material.

According to a preferred embodiment each of the first and second set of threads comprise a plurality of weft threads and a plurality of warp threads. Each binding region may be formed either between two adjacent weft threads, for example by passing at least one warp thread from the first layer around weft threads of the second layer. Alternatively each binding region may be formed by passing at least one warp thread of the first layer around weft threads of both the first and the second layer, so that it is formed across a plurality of adjacent weft threads, e.g. preferably between 2 and 10 or more preferably between 3 and 8 adjacent weft threads.

The plurality may be an even number or an odd number.

The warp threads of the first layer may comprise a first colour and those of the second layer a different, second colour so that the positions of the loops and/or binding regions, are clearly identifiable. By using different colours in the warp and weft, and combining different repeat lengths it is possible to create various structures, and colour effects in the tape.

Of course more than two layers could be used with an appropriate weaving method.

The weaving operation to make such a tape can be performed using a conventional narrow fabric loom where two wefts run simultaneously together one above the other, with both wefts carrying Out the same picking motion.

Such a tape could be made using a twin weft needle loom, a shuttle loom or a knitting or braiding machine.

Preferably the loom includes four heald frames, although the tape could be woven on looms which have more than four heald frames.

To produce each tape of fabric! two weft needles, a catchthread attachment for two catchthreads, and two weft threads are employed, along with the subsequent number of warp ends.

Preferred yarns within the tape would be of 100% synthetic composition (Polyester, Polypropylene, Nylon etc.) and would have relatively high tenacity value. Such yarns are preferred because they have a higher decitex (dtex) or thickness, producing a thicker, stronger tape.

A tape according to the invention, being made of non-rigid materials has advantages in the ease of packaging and transportation of such goods, and the material can also be supplied as a continuous length to be assembled on site rather than having pre-cut lengths.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, particular embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la is a plan view of a length of tape according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure lb is a cross-sectional view of the tape of figure la; Figure ic is an enlarged section of the tape of figures la and ib; Figure 2a is a plan view of a length of tape according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 2b is a cross-sectional view of the tape of figure 2a; Figure 2c is an enlarged section of the tape of figures 2a and 2b; Figure 3a is a plan view of a length of tape according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view of the tape of figure 3a; Figure 3c is an enlarged section of the tape of figures 3a and 3b; Figure 4a is a plan view of a length of tape according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 4b is a cross-sectional view of the tape of figure 4a; Figure 4c is an enlarged section of the tape of figures 4a and 4b; Figure 5a is a plan view of a length of tape according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; Figure 5b is a cross-sectional view of the tape of figure 5a; Figure 5c is an enlarged section of the tape of figures 5a and 5b; Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate possible uses of the tape according to the invention.

Figure la is a top plan view of a length of tape 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. The tape 1 is shown in cross-section in figure lb and in figure ic in enlarged cross-section so as to show the arrangement of individual wet t and warp fibres.

The tape 1 comprises two layers 2 and 3 arranged parallel to each other and overlapping across the width of the tape.

The tape is formed so that the two layers 2 and 3 effectively cross over each other at binding regions 4 separated by loops 10. This is shown more clearly in figure ic which shows two parallel sets of weft threads 5 and 6 in cross-section, with a first set of dark coloured warp threads 22 and a second set of dark coloured warp threads 24 forming layer 2, and a first set of light coloured warp threads 33 and a second set of light coloured warp threads 35 forming layer 3. It can be seen for example that the dark warp threads 22 and 24 are woven around the upper layer 5 of weft threads in the first (most left hand) region 2 and then are crossed over from the upper layer 5 to the lower layer 6 at binding region 4 and woven around the bottom layer 6 of wet t threads in the second region 2. The light coloured warp threads 33 and 35 are woven first around the lower layer 6 of weft threads and after the binding region 4 cross over to be woven around the upper layer 5 of wet t threads.

In this example, the two sets of warp threads 22, 24 and 33,35 are of different colours and thus, as can be seen in figure la, the tape appears as a series of alternately coloured rectangles in plan view, on each side. Of course, all of the warp threads 22, 24 and 33, 35 could be the same colour in which case the tape would appear of uniform colour. The advantage of the alternate colours shown in figure la is that the loops 10 formed between the parallel layers 2 and 3 are clearly identifiable. These loops can be slotted over hooks or rails, in order to hang the tape, and items can be pushed into them to be suspended with the tape, e.g. scarves, belts, garment hangers or other items.

Figures 2a to 2c show a second embodiment of the inventive tape in which the binding regions 4 are formed by weaving warp threads around both the upper 5 and lower 6 layers of weft threads. Thus, as can be seen most clearly in figure 2c, the dark coloured warp threads 22 and 24 are woven around sets of weft threads from both the upper layer 5 and the lower layer 6 in the binding regions 4, but are woven only around the upper layer 5 of weft threads in the first ioop region and around the lower layer 6 weft threads in the second loop region. The light coloured warp threads 33 and 35 are woven in a complementary fashion, i.e. also around both layers 5 and 6 of the weft threads in binding regions 4 but around the lower layer 6 weft threads in the region of the first loop 10 and around the upper layer 5 weft threads in the region of the second loop 10.

Using different coloured warp threads for the two layers 2 and 3 in this embodiment, again creates a tape with alternating colours so that the regions of the loops 10 can be readily identified. This is shown in figure 2a. Due to the weaving process used the binding regions 4 are seen as a band of blended threads, combining the colours of the two layers 2 and 3. In this embodiment each binding region 4 is of a length corresponding to an even number of weft threads and in this example that number is six.

In figures 3a to 3c a third embodiment is shown in which the binding regions 4 are of a length corresponding to an odd number (in this example five) of weft threads. This means that the warp threads only "cross over" through the binding regions 4. So, for example, the dark coloured warp threads 22 and 24 are woven around both layers 5 and 6 of weft threads in the binding region 4 and in the region of each of the loops 10 they are woven around only the weft fibres of the upper layer 5.

Similarly the light coloured fibres 33 and 35 are woven around both layers 5 and 6 of weft fibres but only around the lower layer 6 in the regions of the loops 10.

This produces a tape 1 with loop regions 10 of one colour and binding regions 4 of mixed colours, as shown in figure 3a.

Figures 4a to 4c show a fourth embodiment of the inventive tape in which the binding regions 4 are formed by weaving the first set of dark coloured warp threads 22 around the lower layer 6, and then weaving the second set of dark coloured warp threads 24 around the lower layer 6, starting on the adjacent weft thread. The light coloured warp threads 33, 35 are woven in a complementary fashion, i.e. by weaving the first set of light coloured warp threads 33 around the upper layer 5, and then weaving the second set of light coloured warp threads 35 around the upper layer 5, starting on the adjacent weft thread.

This produces a tape 1 with loop regions 10 that appear as a series of alternately coloured rectangles in plan view on each side, as shown in plan view in figure 4a.

In figures 5a to 5c a fifth embodiment is shown in which the binding regions 4 are formed using a similar method to the fourth embodiment of the inventive tape, except that the dark coloured warp threads 22, 24 are woven back round the upper layer 5 and then woven round the lower layer 6 one again. The light coloured warp threads 33, 35 are woven in a complimentary fashion, which can clearly be seen in figure 5c Due to the weaving process used, the binding regions 4 in the fifth embodiment appear half one colour 41 and half the other colour 42. In this embodiment each binding region is six weft threads long.

The increased number of binding points within each binding region 4 between the lower layer 6 and the upper layer 5 create a stronger bind at a cost of reducing the ratio between the length of the binding regions 4 and the length of the loops 10.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate uses of the tape of the invention.

In figure 6 a length of the tape 1 is suspended from a hook 44 fixed to a horizontal surface 45, such as a ceiling or tent roof or the top of a wardrobe. The top full loop 10 of the length of tape 1 fits over the hook 44. The hook part of a garment hanger 46 can then be slotted into other loops 10.

In this way the tape can be used to suspend more than one garment hanger from the same part of the ceiling, thus taking advantage of the vertical space, and increasing packing density.

In figure 7 the tape 1 is suspended from a rail 55 by pushing the rail through the top full loop 10 of the tape 1.

A belt 56 is then pushed through the second loop 10 and a scarf 57 through the next loop 10 as shown. Similarly garment hangers such as those shown at 46 in figure 6 could be slotted into the loops 10. This could be used for display or storage purposes.

In facilities where a multiplicity of garments are handled, such as manufacturing facilities or commercial retail outlets, the invention can be used to allow the practical pre-sorting and assembly of similar multi-unit items and can help reduce the incidents of picking error through hand selection and sorting. For lightweight items such as flimsy blouses or tops, hanging multiple garments on an individual hanger hook increases the unit weight at each rail point and allows the use of gravity feed automatic sorting equipment which was hitherto not possible with such lightweight items.

In figure 8 two hooks 64 and 66 are fixed to a horizontal surface 65 at spaced intervals. One length of tape 1 is suspended from the first hook 64 and a second length of tape 1 is suspended from the second hook 66. A rail 67 is then suspended between the two lengths of tape 1 by sliding it through loops 10 so that the rail 67 is at a desired height.

The rail 67 can be used for supporting garment hangers such as hanger 46 or for other purposes such as hanging curtains or displaying sale items in retail environment.

The strength and structural integrity of a tape according to the invention is maximised because the whole of the woven -10-structure contributes directly to the strength of the product.

The one-piece woven construction also reduces fabrication costs.

The tape could be used for other applications, for example to construct a hanging shelf by, for example, suspending lengths of the tape from a ceiling or other load bearing point, pushing rods or bars through spaced loops, and fastening boards or shelves to the rods or bars.

The invention can also be used to increase the available surface area of each individual hang, thus increasing the available surface area for a fixing computer readable labelling systems.

The invention is preferably woven on a twin weft needle loom with each woven piece set-up with twin weft needles, catchthreads and weft locking systems. A typical weaving loom for manufacture of this product would be that made by Jakob Mueller AG of Frick, Switzerland and typically their model type NF fitted with a twin needle attachment to run two weft yarns together with one working above the other and operating the same motion to weave parts of the two fabrics together.

However, similar weaving looms capable of producing tape according to this invention are manufactured by other loom manufacturers and in any case other fabric formation systems could be modified to produce two adjacent tapes patterned to produce a tape according to the invention. For example shuttle loom weaving, knitting or braiding would all be suitable processes. For example, double needle bar warp knitting machines could also be used to produce tape according to this invention.

Tape according to the invention can be made in any size, length, width, thickness and with the binding regions made wide for full strength or made narrow to save space, and spaced widely apart or close together depending upon the size of the loop required. The tape can be produced in a continuous manner and sold to retail outlets where it could be bought by the metre and cut to requirements.

Textile yarns which will be particularly suitable for this tape include, but are not restricted to, high tenacity polyesters, polyamides, aramids, olef ins, or polypropylenes.

Lighter weight versions of the tape for domestic applications could also be produced using a variety of conventional textile yarns.

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Claims

CLAIMS

1. A tape comprising: a first layer of flexible textile material comprising a first set of threads; and a second layer of flexible material comprising a second set of threads, wherein the first and second set of threads are mutually interleaved at spaced intervals along the lengths of the layers to provide a series of interleaved binding regions, separated by loops of flexible textile material.

2. A tape according to claim 1 wherein each of the first and second set of threads comprise a plurality of weft threads and a plurality of warp threads.

3. A tape according to claim 2 wherein each interleaved binding region is formed between two adjacent weft threads in each layer.

4. A tape according to claim 3 wherein each binding region is formed by passing at least one warp thread from the first layer around weft threads of the second layer.

5. A tape according to claim 2 wherein each interleaved binding region is formed across a plurality of adjacent weft threads.

6. A tape according to claim 5 wherein said plurality is between 2 and 10 adjacent weft threads.

-13 - 7. A tape according to claim 6 wherein said plurality is between 3 and 8 adjacent weft threads.

8. A tape according to claim 7 wherein said plurality is between 4 and 6 adjacent weft threads.

9. A, tape according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein each binding region is formed by passing at least one warp thread of the first layer around weft threads of both the first and the second layer.

10. A tape according to any one of claims 5 to 9 wherein said plurality is an even number of adjacent weft threads.

11. A tape according to any one of claims 5 to 9 wherein said plurality is an odd number of adjacent weft threads.

12. A tape according to any one of claims 2 to 11 wherein the warp threads of the first layer comprise a first colour and the warp threads of the second layer comprise a second colour.

13. A tape according to any one of the preceding claims formed by weaving on a twin weft needle loom.

14. A tape according to claim 13 formed by weaving on a loom comprising at least four heald frames.

15. A tape according to any one of claims 1 to 12 formed by weaving on a shuttle loom.

16. A tape according to claim 1 formed by knitting. -14-

17. A tape according to claim 1 formed by braiding.

18. A tape substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures la to lc, or figures 2a to 2c, or figures 3a to 3c, or figures 4a to 4c, or figures 5a to 5c, in combination with figures 6, 7 or 8.

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