Three-dimensional woven fabric structural material

• Main Author: YOSHIDA; SHIGERU
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.07.1998
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: ACOUSTICS; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; BUILDING; CEILINGS; DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES,FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS,BLINDS, GATES; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FLOORS; GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS; LADDERS; LAUNDERING; LOOMS; METHODS OF WEAVING; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING,NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; PHYSICS; ROOFS; SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TEXTILES; TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS,FABRICS, FEATHERS, OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; WEAVING; WOVEN FABRICS

A three-dimensional woven fabric structure is integrally woven by a multi-ply weave having three or more plies, and includes a form defining a plurality of bag portions extending parallel with one another, and arranged in a plurality of rows. The bag portions in each row are defined by two woven fabric plies, the intersection of which along a crossing locus creates a bound portion between adjacent bag portions. Cylindrical bag portions in adjacent rows have a woven fabric ply in common and are interconnected at staggered positions. The fabric structure is creased at midpoints between bound portions whereby the bag portions are set to retain a hollow three-dimensional form, but may be folded flat into a juxtaposed state by application of pressure. A method is described for manufacturing the fabric structure wherein, during a weaving operation, the bag portions are interconnected in rows, and auxiliary yarns are inserted at opposite ends in a woven width direction and/or at required intervals therealong, without being woven into the fabric plies. The bag portions May ,then be set into juxtaposed position by a tightening of the auxiliary yarns, wherein a creasing treatment or heat setting is performed.