Methods for fabricating a 3D woven material and exemplary 3D woven material for sporting implements are disclosed. The exemplary weaves can be incorporated into any sporting implements, such as, baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, rackets, helmets, and other protective equipment. The example sporting implement can be constructed, partially or entirely, with a woven or braided three dimensional structure. The 3D woven material can be a multi-directional layup having tows oriented in three directions (X, Y and Z) and also at any angle created by the combination of two or three directions. A single woven preform can be formed that can have a near net shape of the formed product, with the fibers oriented in a way that will be optimal for the particular application.

A method of fabricating a woven fiber preform that is impregnated with a matrix-precursor resin, the resin, in the raw state, presenting a glass transition temperature Tg.sup.0, includes: impregnating yarns or strands with the resin; feeding a loom with the impregnated yarns or strands maintained at a temperature in the range Tg.sup.0 to Tg.sup.0+10 C.; and weaving the yarns or strands in the loom in order to obtain the resin-impregnated woven fiber preform.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional woven preforms that can be curved and have continuous fibers in the direction of curvature. Also disclosed are woven preforms formed thereby.

A fiber structure includes a plurality of weft layers and of warp layers interlinked by multilayer three-dimensional weaving, the fiber structure having at least first and second portions that are adjacent in the warp direction, the first portion presenting, in a direction perpendicular to the warp and weft directions, a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the second portion, wherein the first portion has at its core at least one fiber fabric obtained by three-dimensional weaving of warp yarns and weft yarns in the form of a Mock Leno weave grid, the at least one fabric being present between two skins present at the surface of the first portion and being linked to the skins by warp yarns belonging to the skins that are locally deflected into the fabric.

Disclosed is a cruciform-shaped reinforcing structure with at least two arms of intersecting C-Beams having continuous warp fiber reinforcement across the length of each arm.

A multi-layer ballistic woven fabric, including an upper woven layer having upper warp yarns and upper weft yarns that are interwoven together to form the upper woven layer. The multi-layer ballistic woven fabric also includes a lower woven layer having lower warp yarns and lower weft yarns that are interwoven together, and a plurality of securing yarns, each securing yarn interwoven with at least some of the upper yarns and some of the lower yarns so as to secure the upper and lower woven layers together. At least one of the securing yarns is woven underneath a first lower weft yarn, then above a second upper weft yarn adjacent the first lower weft yarn, then underneath a third lower weft yarn adjacent the second upper weft yarn and then above a fourth upper weft yarn adjacent the third lower weft yarn. The multi-layer ballistic woven fabric is formed by interweaving the securing yarns with the warp yarns and weft yarns as the upper woven layer and lower woven layer are made.

A docking device for a bioprosthesis is disclosed that can change shape and recover after a deforming stress is removed, that adjusts to surrounding conditions to accommodate different complex anatomic geometries, and that mitigates leakage around the bioprosthesis. The docking device can include a 3D woven fabric forming an internal surface, an outer surface, and a thickness therebetween. A filler can be coupled to the outer surface. A method for making a docking device is also provided. The method includes weaving a 3D woven fabric by interlacing a shape memory material, a low-melt thermoplastic polymer or resin having a melting point, and a high-tenacity biocompatible material; and pressing and heating the 3D woven fabric over a shape-setting mold at temperatures greater than the melting point of the low-melt thermoplastic polymer or resin.

A woven fiber structure presenting over at least one of its outside faces a satin weave formed by interlinking a first set of yarns with a second set of yarns; wherein the first set of yarns is in the majority over the outside face, the first set of yarns being formed by a mixture of yarns having an S-twist and of yarns having a Z-twist.

A conductive textile according to the invention includes a fabric, a wire conductor and a metal sheet. The wire conductor is integrated with the fabric, and has a connection end. The metal sheet has a main body and a bent portion. The bent portion extends from the main body and is bent downward. The leading edge of the bent portion is flat or jagged. The metal sheet is pressed against an upper surface of the fabric and placed on the connection end. The main body is welded together with the connection end of the wire conductor by a welding process. The main body serves as a bonding pad.

A conductive textile according to the invention includes a fabric, a wire conductor and a metal sheet. The wire conductor is integrated with the fabric, and has a connection end. The metal sheet has a main body and a bent portion. The bent portion extends from the main body and is bent downward. The leading edge of the bent portion is flat or jagged. The metal sheet is pressed against an upper surface of the fabric and placed on the connection end. The main body is welded together with the connection end of the wire conductor by a welding process. The main body serves as a bonding pad.