The disclosed device relates to woven or knitted textile fabric for employment in martial arts clothing, such as fabric used for manufacture of gis and kimonos for karate and of Brazilian jiu jitsu. The textile fabric is formed of two different types of yarn. The first yarn is comprised of a strong material such as KEVLAR and the second is comprised of cotton.

The disclosed device relates to woven or knitted textile fabric for employment in martial arts clothing, such as fabric used for manufacture of gis and kimonos for karate and of Brazilian jiu jitsu. The textile fabric is formed of two different types of yarn. The first yarn is comprised of a strong material such as KEVLAR and the second is comprised of cotton.

In an aspect, a braiding machine is provided, and has a set of spool shuttles that each dispense a strand of flexible material under tension. A strand retractor releasably retracts the strands from the spool shuttles. A plurality of shuttle stations at which the spool shuttles can be positioned are arranged in a circuit. At least one shuttle carriage, when driven, repeatedly selects an immediately previously unselected spool shuttle and moves the immediately previously unselected spool shuttle from an associated shuttle station to another shuttle station along the circuit spaced from the associated shuttle station by at least one shuttle station that is intermediate the associated shuttle station and the other shuttle station. At least one spool shuttle is parkable at the at least one shuttle station. A drive arrangement is coupled to the shuttle carriage to drive the shuttle carriage.

In an aspect, a braiding machine is provided, and has a set of spool shuttles that each dispense a strand of flexible material under tension. A strand retractor releasably retracts the strands from the spool shuttles. A plurality of shuttle stations at which the spool shuttles can be positioned are arranged in a circuit. At least one shuttle carriage, when driven, repeatedly selects an immediately previously unselected spool shuttle and moves the immediately previously unselected spool shuttle from an associated shuttle station to another shuttle station along the circuit spaced from the associated shuttle station by at least one shuttle station that is intermediate the associated shuttle station and the other shuttle station. At least one spool shuttle is parkable at the at least one shuttle station. A drive arrangement is coupled to the shuttle carriage to drive the shuttle carriage.

A braided support structure that folds upon release from a delivery device wherein said fold is at least partially effected by varying the pic angle of the braids at locations where the folding is desired.

A shock absorbing cap provides shock abortion in the space between the interior of a traditional safety helmet and the head of the wearer. The cap has a first region next to the scalp which is made of 100% knitted cotton for comfort and the absorption of sweat. A second region is made of 100% wool fleece braided fiber bundles that extend alternately in longitudinal and lateral directions sufficiently to nearly fill the space. The outermost region is made of one or more layers of braided 100% carbon fiber bundles, which run the opposite direction of the last wool lock. In an alternative, the first region is used but the second region completely fills the space with woven aramid and carbon fiber squares laid on top of each other and sewn together. The uppermost portion is laser cut for a tight but comfortable fit under the helmet.

A shock absorbing cap provides shock abortion in the space between the interior of a traditional safety helmet and the head of the wearer. The cap has a first region next to the scalp which is made of 100% knitted cotton for comfort and the absorption of sweat. A second region is made of 100% wool fleece braided fiber bundles that extend alternately in longitudinal and lateral directions sufficiently to nearly fill the space. The outermost region is made of one or more layers of braided 100% carbon fiber bundles, which run the opposite direction of the last wool lock. In an alternative, the first region is used but the second region completely fills the space with woven aramid and carbon fiber squares laid on top of each other and sewn together. The uppermost portion is laser cut for a tight but comfortable fit under the helmet.

Aspects herein are directed to braided articles and methods for their manufacture. The braided articles may include articles of footwear having braided uppers. The article of footwear may comprise a sole and a braided upper comprising a toe portion having a toe seam, a heel portion comprising a seamless braided structure, and a throat portion. The toe portion may comprise a base yarn. The throat portion may comprise a stretch yarn. Additionally, the heel portion may comprise both the stretch yarn and the base yarn.

A variety of textile materials comprising tapes oriented in two oblique orientations relative to the textile's length and width directions, called OFT for Oblique Fibre Textiles, are disclosed. Such OFTs are provided with secondary structural integrity/stability, in addition to primary structural integrity/stability, for improved resistance to formation of openings/gaps. OFTs comprising tapes, particularly Spread Fibre and Highly Drawn Polymeric types, are needed in a number of applications such as ballistic mitigation, composite materials, safety products etc. because they provide improved performance, material properties/functions and aesthetics. Such OFTs can be used either independently or in combination with other textile materials. Different types of OFTs are producible by a novel OFT forming process which is technically unlike weaving and braiding processes.

A variety of textile materials comprising tapes oriented in two oblique orientations relative to the textile's length and width directions, called OFT for Oblique Fibre Textiles, are disclosed. Such OFTs are provided with secondary structural integrity/stability, in addition to primary structural integrity/stability, for improved resistance to formation of openings/gaps. OFTs comprising tapes, particularly Spread Fibre and Highly Drawn Polymeric types, are needed in a number of applications such as ballistic mitigation, composite materials, safety products etc. because they provide improved performance, material properties/functions and aesthetics. Such OFTs can be used either independently or in combination with other textile materials. Different types of OFTs are producible by a novel OFT forming process which is technically unlike weaving and braiding processes.