A structure includes an oriented piezoelectric polymer arranged in a circular tubular or circular columnar shape, wherein the orientation angle of the piezoelectric polymer with respect to the central axis of the structure is 15° to 75°, the piezoelectric polymer includes a crystalline polymer having an absolute value of 0.1 to 1000 pC/N for the piezoelectric constant d14 when the orientation axis is the third axis, and the piezoelectric polymer includes a P-body containing a crystalline polymer with a positive piezoelectric constant d14 value and an N-body containing a crystalline polymer with a negative value, wherein for the portion of the central axis of the structure having a length of 1 cm, the value of T1/T2 is 0 to 0.8, T1 being the smaller and T2 being the larger of (ZP+SN) and (SP+ZN), where ZP, SP, ZN, and SN are particularly defined masses.

belts and methods of manufacturing the same are described herein. The belt generally includes a base layer having a plurality of surface features (e.g., ribs or teeth) formed on a front surface of the base layer, and a stretched surface layer disposed on and conforming to the surface features. The stretched surface layer may comprise a knit fabric material that is from about 3 to about 10 wt. % elastomeric fiber or yarn and from about 90 to about 97 wt. % non-elastomeric yarn or fiber. The stretched surface layer is stretched over the front surface of the base layer such that the surface density of the stretched surface layer on the front surface is from about 100 to about 150 g/m.sup.2. Manufacturing methods for producing the belt with stretched surface layer generally includes disposing the surface layer on a planar front surface of the base layer and pressing a mold into the front surface of the base layer to thereby form a plurality of surface features in the front surface of the base layer. The molding step is carried out such that surface density of the surface layer on the front surface is in the range of from about 100 to about 150 g/m.sup.2 and such that the surface layer is stretched in at least two directions.

belts and methods of manufacturing the same are described herein. The belt generally includes a base layer having a plurality of surface features (e.g., ribs or teeth) formed on a front surface of the base layer, and a stretched surface layer disposed on and conforming to the surface features. The stretched surface layer may comprise a knit fabric material that is from about 3 to about 10 wt. % elastomeric fiber or yarn and from about 90 to about 97 wt. % non-elastomeric yarn or fiber. The stretched surface layer is stretched over the front surface of the base layer such that the surface density of the stretched surface layer on the front surface is from about 100 to about 150 g/m.sup.2. Manufacturing methods for producing the belt with stretched surface layer generally includes disposing the surface layer on a planar front surface of the base layer and pressing a mold into the front surface of the base layer to thereby form a plurality of surface features in the front surface of the base layer. The molding step is carried out such that surface density of the surface layer on the front surface is in the range of from about 100 to about 150 g/m.sup.2 and such that the surface layer is stretched in at least two directions.

An apparatus and method of manufacturing same is provided. The apparatus comprises a base layer integrated with an article; an electrode mounted adjacent to a conductive layer, both the electrode and conductive layer mounted on the base layer; an active electrode board in electrical communication with the conductive layer and the electrode, the active electrode board configured receive and/or send electrical signals from the electrode. The electrode comprises filaments or filament yarn knitted into a textile. The filaments or filament yarn comprise thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) blended with one or multiple conductive filler/s for improving impedance at the skin-electrode interface.

An apparatus and method of manufacturing same is provided. The apparatus comprises a base layer integrated with an article; an electrode mounted adjacent to a conductive layer, both the electrode and conductive layer mounted on the base layer; an active electrode board in electrical communication with the conductive layer and the electrode, the active electrode board configured receive and/or send electrical signals from the electrode. The electrode comprises filaments or filament yarn knitted into a textile. The filaments or filament yarn comprise thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) blended with one or multiple conductive filler/s for improving impedance at the skin-electrode interface.

The invention relates to a method for producing large stainless steel meshes on flatbed knitting machines, comprising the steps of providing stainless steel wire and knitting a stainless steel mesh, characterized in that one stainless steel mesh each is knitted on the front and the rear needle bed of the flatbed knitting machine at the same time, and these two stainless steel meshes are linked to each other on one side by connecting stitches.

The present invention relates to a shoe upper including a knitted component having a plurality of integrally knitted lines of loops including a set of consecutive lines, wherein each line in the set of consecutive lines includes a plurality of consecutive loops which are interlooped with adjacent loops of the respective line and not interlooped with loops of a line which is not contained in the set, and wherein the set of consecutive lines forms at least a portion of an eyelet which is configured to receive a lace.

Custom-fit versions of knitted articles are produced according to digital representations of objects for which the articles are to be manufactured. The digital representations, optionally augmented by surface fitting algorithms, allow for accurate scaling of pattern-specified stitch counts for pattern elements representing the article taking into account wales and courses densities for the material(s) from which the article is to be made. Displayed dimensionally-accurate representations of the custom-fit articles allow for user-specified style and fit preferences to be made and a final digital pattern of the article to be produced. Machine instructions representing pattern pieces to be knitted are automatically produced from the final digital pattern of the article for a target computerized knitting machine and the custom-fit article then manufactured according to the machine instructions.

Footwear with integrally knit uppers having features for increasing containment around a wearer's foot, improving strength and durability, and incorporating touch feedback through increased coefficient of friction while removing weight due to traditional additional components. The knitted component may be radially knitted so that courses converge towards a common area, like the throat region of the upper. Additionally, a fusible yarn may be knit on at least the exterior-facing surface of a containment area of the knitted component to create additional lock-down along lines of containment. Further, tensile elements may be incorporated within the containment area to provide strength and lock-down along desired lines of containment. Additionally, the fusible yarn may be a grip yarn that creates areas with greater coefficients of friction.

Footwear with integrally knit uppers having features for increasing containment around a wearer's foot, improving strength and durability, and incorporating touch feedback through increased coefficient of friction while removing weight due to traditional additional components. The knitted component may be radially knitted so that courses converge towards a common area, like the throat region of the upper. Additionally, a fusible yarn may be knit on at least the exterior-facing surface of a containment area of the knitted component to create additional lock-down along lines of containment. Further, tensile elements may be incorporated within the containment area to provide strength and lock-down along desired lines of containment. Additionally, the fusible yarn may be a grip yarn that creates areas with greater coefficients of friction.