Patent Application
20070243356
These and other objects, features and advantages will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring in more detail to the drawings,
The lower, upper and intermediate walls 12, 14, 16 are woven with a plurality of yarn filaments extending along a warp direction corresponding to a length of the sleeve 10 and a plurality of yarn filaments extending along a fill direction generally perpendicular to the warp direction. The upper and intermediate walls 14, 16 are woven with at least some of the same yarn filaments as the lower wall 12, wherein the yarns common to the walls 12, 14, 16 traverse the living hinge regions 17, 18. The yarn filaments are preferably provided as multi-filamentary yarns, though monofilaments could be used, particularly in the warp direction, if desired. Depending on the performance requirements of the application, the yarn can be formed from, by way of example and without limitations, polyester, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylic, cotton, glass, rayon, and fire retardant (FR) versions of all the aforementioned materials. If even higher temperature ratings are desired along with FR capabilities, then some presently preferred non-conductive filamentary members include m-Aramid (Nomex, Conex, Kermel), p-Aramid (Kevlar, Twaron, Technora), PEI (Ultem), PPS, and PEEK, for example.
The living hinge regions 17, 18 are constructed in a manner to bias the respective walls 12, 14, 16 into an overlapping, generally flat relation with one another. The hinge regions 17, 18 are constructed at least in part from yarn filaments which are common to the interconnected walls. The bias imparted by the hinge regions 17, 18 is created by altering the weave pattern within the hinge regions 17, 18, such that a tensile force is established across pivot locations 22, 23 of the respective hinge regions 17, 18 to bias the interconnected walls 12, 14, 16 into their overlapping relation. As such, the bias is imparted by the nature of the weaving within the hinge regions 17, 18, and not by performing secondary operations on the sleeve 10, such as heat-setting, for example.
As best demonstrated in a weave pattern diagram,
The intermediate wall 16 extends from an edge 24 to the hinge region 17 that interconnects the intermediate wall 16 to the lower wall 12. The intermediate wall 16 is formed using a balance weave pattern, such as a basket weave, also referred to as a plain weave, or from a twill weave, as schematically illustrated. With the yarns of the intermediate wall 16 being woven in a balanced weave pattern, wherein the number of fill and warp directed yarns exposed to opposite surfaces is the same, the intermediate wall takes on a generally flat shape, as no bias in imparted over its surface.
The hinge region 18 extends across the pivot location 23 from the intermediate wall 16 to the lower wall 12, wherein the hinge region 18 has at least one, and illustrated here as a pair of different imbalanced weave patterns, such as a satin weave or a herringbone weave, as illustrated. The herringbone weave patterns of the hinge region 18 are woven both as a warp-faced herringbone weave pattern adjacent the intermediate wall 16 on one side of the pivot location 23, and as a fill or weft-faced herringbone weave pattern on the opposite side of the pivot location 23. As such, the imbalanced warp and weft-faced weaves on opposite sides of the pivot location 23 act to bias the intermediate wall 16 and the lower wall 12 into a folded position overlying one another. To facilitate the self-folding action, the pivot location 23 within the hinge region 18 is formed of a less dense weave pattern comprising only a two ends of yarn, for example, woven in a balance weave pattern, such as a plain weave or twill weave, as illustrated. It should be recognized that the weave pattern of the hinge region 18 may extend along a portion of the intermediate wall 16.
The lower wall 12 extends from the hinge region 18 to the opposite hinge region 17, and is represented here, by way of example and without limitation, as being woven in the same weft-faced weave pattern as used in the hinge region 18. Accordingly, the lower wall 12 and the adjacent portions of the hinge regions 17, 18 are able to be woven using the same weave pattern and yarns, and thus, portions of the hinge regions 17, 18 are formed as an extension of the lower wall 12.
The hinge region 17, as mentioned, is formed in part as an extension of the lower wall 12, and extends across the pivot location 22 to a remaining portion of the hinge region 17 that is attached upper wall 14. The pivot location 22 is constructed to facilitate folding of the hinge region 17, and thus, is woven generally the same as discussed above for the pivot location 23. Accordingly, the pivot location 22 is comprised of a less dense and balanced weave pattern than the adjacent portions of the hinge region 17. The portion of the hinge region between the pivot location 22 and the upper wall 14 is woven in an imbalanced weave pattern, and is illustrated here as being woven utilizing the same weft-faced herringbone weave pattern as used to form the hinge region 17 on the opposite side of the pivot location 22. Accordingly, unlike the hinge region 18 that has different imbalanced weave patterns on opposite side of its associated pivot location 23, the hinge region 17 utilizes the same imbalanced weave pattern on opposite sides of its associated pivot location 22.
The upper wall 14 extends from the hinge region 17 to an edge 26. The upper wall 14 is formed generally the same as the intermediate wall 16, and thus, has a balance weave pattern, such as a basket weave or a twill weave, as schematically illustrated. As with the intermediate wall 16, the upper wall 14 takes on a generally flat shape, as no bias in imparted over its surface.
In
In addition, the sleeve 110 preferably has at least one drain wire 30 oriented lengthwise parallel to the longitudinal axis 20 of the sleeve 10. The drain wire 30 is preferably interlaced at a plurality of axially spaced locations along an inner surface of one of the walls 112, 114, 116, shown here, for example, as the lower wall 112. The drain wire 30 is interlaced along an inner surface 32 so that it is not exposed on an outer surface 34 of the wall 112, and thus, the drain wire 30 does not cause interference, electrical or otherwise, with surrounding components. In addition, as a result of not be exposed to the outer surface 34, a coating, represented generally at 36, such as a dielectric coating, thin film or other substrate, such as silicone rubber, acrylic, ceramic, PET, PVC, or some other suitable coating, could be applied uniformly to the outer surface 34 of the walls 112, 114, 116 without affecting the mobility of the drain wire 30. The coating 36 can further protect the elongate members 11 against fluid, EMI, ESD, RFI, arcing, shorting, abrasion, and heat from the surrounding components and environment. The drain wire 30 can be provided having any suitable diameter, and is generally about 18-24 gage, and of any suitable metal, such as twisted strands of tin coated copper, or stainless steel, for example.
The sleeve 110, though constructed utilizing the same weave patterns discussed above, thereby causing the walls 112, 114, 116 to automatically self-fold in overlying relation to one another, can be provided with a fastener 38 to secure the walls 112, 114, 116 in their overlapping relation with one another. The fastener 38 is represented here, by way of example and without limitation, as securing the upper and intermediate walls 114, 116 to one another. The fastener 38 can be provided as an adhesive, such as an adhesive strip, as shown here (with release paper still covering an adhesive layer), or snaps, hooks and loops, a zipper, tape, heat melt adhesive monofilaments, or an electrically conductive adhesive incorporating conductive particulate (silver, copper, aluminum, nickel, or carbon, for example), which further enhances the EMI, RFI, ESD shielding effectiveness of the sleeve. It should be recognized that other suitable fasteners could be used, and that the fasteners 38 could be directly attached to the lower and upper walls 112, 114, rather than between the upper and intermediate walls 114, 116, as shown.
Another aspect of the invention includes a method of constructing the sleeves 10, 110. The method comprising the steps of: weaving a plurality of yarn filaments extending along a warp direction corresponding to a length of the sleeve 10, 110 with a plurality of yarn filaments extending along a fill direction generally perpendicular to the warp direction, and forming living hinge regions 17, 18, 117, 118 with at least some of the yarn filaments during the weaving step. The forming of the living hinge regions 17, 18, 117, 118 is performed to connect the lower, upper and intermediate walls 12, 14, 16, 112, 114, 116 for biased, self folding movement over one another. In addition, the method optionally further includes using conductive material as a constituent of at least some of the plurality of yarn filaments, as described above. Further, the method optionally further includes interlacing the drain wire 30 in at least one of the lower, upper, or intermediate walls so that the drain wire 30 is exposed on an inner surface of the sleeve 10, 110 but preferably not externally of the sleeve 10, 110. In addition, the method optionally further includes applying the coating 36 to the outer surface of the sleeve 10, 110. It should be recognized that additional steps in accordance with the invention can also be performed, and are considered to be within the scope of the invention. For example, the sleeves 10, 110 described above can be constructed in line with the elongate members 11 so that the elongate members can be disposed within the sleeve 10, 110 as it is woven. Accordingly, a sleeve and elongate member assembly can be constructed in a single process.
It is to be understood that other embodiments which accomplish the same function are incorporated herein within the scope of any ultimately allowed patent claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/792,523, filed Apr. 17, 2006, which is incorporated herein by way of reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60792523 | Apr 2006 | US |
