A method of manufacturing a dog toy, the dog toy including a rope, at least a segment of which is non-linear and a thermoplastic rubber coating surrounding some but not all of the rope. The dog toy is characterized as having exposed rope and rope covered by the thermoplastic rubber along its length such that a dog using the dog toy has access to the rope for chewing but the rope is resistant to degradation due to the thermoplastic rubber coating. The method includes bending the rope for a sufficient period of time such that the rope maintains its non-linear configuration, thereupon the rope is applied together with a pre-molded thermoplastic round core to a mold and the thermoplastic rubber is bonded to the rope to create the shape of the toy and to surround some, but not all of the rope with the thermoplastic rubber coating.

A high strength racquet string includes a monofilament core and a plurality of strands braided around the monofilament core in opposite directions. The same number of strands are braided clockwise as braided counterclockwise. The plurality of strands are not bonded to the monofilament core along a length thereof, but are bonded to each other at opposing ends to prevent unraveling of the plurality of strands. A coating is not applied to the high strength racquet string. A cross-sectional shape of the monofilament core and the plurality of strands is preferably round or substantially round. The monofilament core is preferably fabricated from nylon, polyester, polyethylene or any other suitable material. The plurality of strands are preferably fabricated from Spectra, Vectran or any other suitable material. An outside diameter of the high strength racquet string preferably ranges from 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm.

Disclosed is a camouflage fabric which simplifies a preparation process of warps and wefts so as to assure convenience in warp and weft preparation and acquires combinations of various patterns and colors using a three-ply fabric structure so as to satisfy aesthetics, i.e., one of functions of clothing, and to have an excellent camouflaging effect. Dyed yarns of a dark color and dyed yarns of a light color are alternately arranged as the warps, dyed yarns of three colors differing from the colors of the warps are used as the wefts, the warps and the wefts are woven into the camouflage fabric of a three-ply jacquard texture using a jacquard loom and, thus, the camouflage fabric may have combinations of various patterns and colors.

A chinstrap sock to be worn by athletes comprising a tubular body having a skin facing surface for contacting a portion of a wearer's body, and an outer surface opposed to the skin facing surface; an opening in the tubular body for extension therethrough; and a first welt and a second welt affixed to opposite ends of the tubular body in surrounding relation to the opening, the first welt and the second welt each comprising a circularly-knitted fabric integral with the tubular body and extending therefrom to; the tubular body portion being a knitted construction comprising: a skin-facing surface comprising a metal-, metal oxide-, and/or metal salt-containing yarn portion.

A method of fabricating a rope that can serve as both a resistance band, jump or rolling rope includes the steps of: (a) braiding a plurality of elastic tubes into a braided rope which has two ends, (b) forming a loop at each of these ends, (c) securing each of these loops to this braided rope with a knot or a zip tie, (d) attaching a handle to this braided rope proximate each of these ends, (e) wherein these elastic tubes are: (i) fabricated from materials in the group including a latex rubber and a non-latex, synthetic rubber, (ii) selected from the group including those having differing diameters, wall thicknesses, and weights per linear foot, and (iii) selected to makeup a specific, braided rope having a specified elasticity and weight per linear foot.

A method and apparatus for producing boron nitride nanotubes and continuous boron nitride nanotube yarn or tapes is provided. The apparatus includes rotating reaction tubes that allow for continuous chemical vapor deposition of boron nitride nanotubes. The rotation of the reaction tubes allows the boron nitride nanotubes to be spun into yarns or made into tapes, without post process or external rotation or spinning of the gathered nanotubes. Boron nitride nanotube yarns or tapes of great length can be produced as a result, thereby providing industry with a readily useable format for this type of material. Dopants such as carbon can be added to engineer the band gap of the nanotubes. Catalysts may be formed outside or inside the reactor.

A process for texturing a multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section is provided. The process comprises: (A) providing a multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer; and a plurality of domains comprising one or more water non-dispersible polymers, wherein said domains are substantially isolated from each other by said water dispersible polymer intervening between said domains; and (B) passing the multicomponent fiber through a first zone comprising a first heating device and a twisting unit, wherein the first heating device has a heating temperature that is at least 10% less than the temperature used for a fiber without the water dispersible component having the same water non-dispersible polymer, same number of total filaments in the fiber, and the same total denier for a given type of equipment and process conditions.

An article is provided comprising a multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section, wherein the multicomponent fiber comprises: (A) at least one water dispersible polymer; and (B) a plurality of domains comprising one or more water non-dispersible polymers, wherein said domains are substantially isolated from each other by said water dispersible polymer intervening between said domains; and wherein said water dispersible polymer is present at the perimeter of the outside cross-section of said multicomponent fiber in a proportion of not greater than 55% water dispersible polymer.

A multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section is provided in this invention. The multicomponent fiber comprises: (A) at least one water dispersible polymer; and (B) a plurality of domains comprising one or more water non-dispersible polymers, wherein said domains are substantially isolated from each other by said water dispersible polymer intervening between said domains; and
wherein said water dispersible polymer is present at the perimeter of the outside cross-section of said multicomponent fiber in a proportion of not greater than 55% water dispersible polymer. Articles produced from the multicomponent fiber are also provided.

A multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section is provided in this invention. The multicomponent fiber comprises: (A) at least one water dispersible polymer; and (B) a plurality of domains comprising one or more water non-dispersible polymers, wherein said domains are substantially isolated from each other by said water dispersible polymer intervening between said domains; and
wherein said water dispersible polymer is present at the perimeter of the outside cross-section of said multicomponent fiber in a proportion of not greater than 55% water dispersible polymer. Articles produced from the multicomponent fiber are also provided.