A fabric that includes a loop of a yarn including a voltage generating filament. The fabric has a value of X of 1,000 or more, where X=(A+B)×C×D×E, and wherein: A is a loop angle of the loop of the yarn when the fabric is stretched by 10%, B is a connection angle of the loop of the yarn when the fabric is stretched by 10%, C is a number of the loops of the yarn per 1 cm.sup.2 of the fabric, D is a force (N) applied per basis weight (g/m.sup.2) of the fabric, and E is a surface potential (V) of the yarn.

A load-bearing fabric architecture including a soft surface material, a support system provided in contact with the soft surface material. The support system comprises a frame and structural surface material connected to the frame. The soft surface material is at least partially disposed above the support system, and the support system is configured to support an applied load.

A load-bearing fabric architecture including a soft surface material, a support system provided in contact with the soft surface material. The support system comprises a frame and structural surface material connected to the frame. The soft surface material is at least partially disposed above the support system, and the support system is configured to support an applied load.

Methods for fabrication of articles, in particular knitted articles, using computer-controlled machines. A 3D model of the article is characterized by a 3D polygonal mesh defining a surface of the 3D model. A streamline is drawn on the 3D model, and used to define a set of isolines over the surface described by the 3D polygonal mesh. The isolines are quantized into equidistant points along their respective lengths and a cut line traversing each of the isolines is defined. Courses are defined by connecting quantization points of the isolines based on knitting rules to produce a 2D knitting map containing apexes. Apex attraction may be performed on a first portion of the 2D knitting map by decreasing a spatial distance between respective ones of the apexes. The 2D knitting map is subsequently converted to knitting instructions for a computer-controlled knitting machine.

Methods for fabrication of articles, in particular knitted articles, using computer-controlled machines. A 3D model of the article is characterized by a 3D polygonal mesh defining a surface of the 3D model. A streamline is drawn on the 3D model, and used to define a set of isolines over the surface described by the 3D polygonal mesh. The isolines are quantized into equidistant points along their respective lengths and a cut line traversing each of the isolines is defined. Courses are defined by connecting quantization points of the isolines based on knitting rules to produce a 2D knitting map containing apexes. Apex attraction may be performed on a first portion of the 2D knitting map by decreasing a spatial distance between respective ones of the apexes. The 2D knitting map is subsequently converted to knitting instructions for a computer-controlled knitting machine.

A method of manually forming a knitted product by using the knitting yarn; and the knitted product obtained thereof are provided. The knitting yarn for manually forming the knitted product without tools includes a thread having a length dimension extending along an axis; a plurality of loops affixed to or formed with the thread by extending outwardly of the thread; and each of the plurality of loops defining an interior space adapted to receive another loop of the plurality of loops. The plurality of loops includes a first loop set mainly extending outwardly along +y axis and a second loop set extending along −y axis; and the first loop set is symmetric to the second loop set around a symmetry axis.

A three-dimensional printing loop and method for manufacturing an object out of a set of three-dimensional printing loops is provided herein. The printing loop has a loop head, loop legs, and loop feet for connecting to adjacent loops within a wale. The printing loops in a first wale may be interconnected with printing loops in a second wale. The resulting object can be printed using a three-dimensional printer and have elastic properties based on the physical characteristics of the printed loops interlocked as provided herein.

A flexible hose reinforced with at least two superimposed textile layers includes an inner load-bearing tubular layer defining a longitudinal axis and made of a first polymeric or elastomeric material, an outer cover layer made of a second polymeric or elastomeric material, and a first and a second reinforced textile layer mutually superimposed and interposed between the inner and outer layers. The first and the second textile layers are both knitted textile layers with tricot chain stitches having courses of stitches and rows of stitches, the courses of stitches being substantially parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis, the rows of stitches having opposite inclinations with respect to the longitudinal axis. A production line and a method of manufacturing such hose.

A flexible hose reinforced with at least two superimposed textile layers includes an inner load-bearing tubular layer defining a longitudinal axis and made of a first polymeric or elastomeric material, an outer cover layer made of a second polymeric or elastomeric material, and a first and a second reinforced textile layer mutually superimposed and interposed between the inner and outer layers. The first and the second textile layers are both knitted textile layers with tricot chain stitches having courses of stitches and rows of stitches, the courses of stitches being substantially parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis, the rows of stitches having opposite inclinations with respect to the longitudinal axis. A production line and a method of manufacturing such hose.

A knitting yarn for manually forming a knitted product without tools includes a thread having a length dimension extending along an axis (A); a plurality of loops affixed to or formed with the thread by extending outwardly of the thread; and each of the plurality of loops defining an interior space adapted to receive another loop of the plurality of loops. The plurality of loops includes a first loop set mainly extending outwardly along +y axis and a second loop set extending along −y axis; and, the first loop set is essentially symmetrical to the second loop set around the symmetry axis (A). A method of manually forming a knitted product by using the knitting yarn; and the knitted product obtained thereof.