This invention provides a knitted wire carrier for use in constructing a (e.g.) automotive weather seal that incorporates a locking stitch formed from a relatively incompressible and expansion-resisting material that passes through at least one of the warp threads adjacent to the wire weft. In an embodiment, the locking stitch constructed from a steel (or another metal) wire that is solid or braided. In other embodiments, the locking stitch can be constructed from fiberglass, monofilament polymer or another similarly performing material. In an embodiment, the lockstitch wire is constructed from approximately 0.5-millimeter diameter steel and the wire carrier is constructed from approximately 0.5-0.91-millimeter diameter steel. The wire lockstitch can be woven through a center warp yarn that is surrounded by other knitted warp yarns along the overall weft of the wire carrier. The wire carrier is coated with an adhesive, e.g., latex to maintain the knit in place.

A fiber-based device having a reconfigurable geometry comprises an array of hair-like fibers spaced apart on a substrate, where each hair-like fiber comprises a free end extending away from the substrate and a secured end attached to the substrate. The array has a first bundled configuration where the free ends of the hair-like fibers are drawn together into a bundle having a first cross-sectional shape, and a second bundled configuration where the free ends of the hair-like fibers are drawn together into a bundle having a second cross-sectional shape. The array is reconfigurable from the first bundled configuration to the second bundled configuration by exposure to a liquid and then removal of the liquid at a predetermined rate.

Various implementations include a wearable foot garment that includes a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and an ankle portion. The midfoot portion includes two high compression zones and a reduced compression zone between the high compression zones. The first high compression zone is configured for providing compression in a radially inward direction toward the wearer's foot adjacent a proximal end of the wearer's plantar aponeurosis. The second high compression zone is configured for providing compression in a radially inward direction toward the wearer's foot adjacent distal ends of metatarsals of the wearer. The compressive strength in the high compression zones is greater than the compressive strength in the reduced compression zone. In some implementations, the ankle portion and midfoot portion define a heel opening, and the forefoot portion includes a plantar surface area on which an adhesive film is disposed for increasing the friction contact of the forefoot portion.

A fibre-based sensor for yarn senses strain or pressure and includes: (a) a fibre extending along a centerline with a first longitudinal portion thereof forming a first fibre member that is elastic and has a first stiffness, first hysteresis, and first electrical conductivity; and (b) a second fibre member selected as a second fibre or a second longitudinal portion of the fibre, the second fibre member being elastic, having a second stiffness, second hysteresis, and second conductivity, wherein the first and second fibre members are non-slidable relative to each other along the centerline, the first stiffness being greater than the second stiffness so sensor stiffness is dominated by the first stiffness, the first hysteresis being less than the second hysteresis so sensor hysteresis is dominated by the first hysteresis, the first conductivity being less than the second conductivity so sensor conductivity is dominated by the second electrical conductivity.

The invention provides a core yarn of a tough yarn for knitting and weaving a glove and the other knitted and woven fabric which are suitable for a worker using a cutting tool to wear, are excellent in a flexibility and an economic efficiency, prevent a folded end of a hard fiber from being exposed to apply a sense of discomfort to a wearer, and have a cutting resistance, and a tough yarn which uses the core yarn. A core yarn of a tough yarn is formed by compounding a hard fiber and a molten fiber, and fusion bonding the molten fiber to the hard fiber. Further, the tough yarn is formed by winding a winding yarn to the core yarn. A lower layer fiber may be further included between the hard fiber and the molten fiber.

A method of preparing a textile-reinforced medical dilation balloon is provided, including a woven tubular textile sleeve with substantially longitudinal thermoplastic warp threads and at least one weft thread woven substantially perpendicular relative to the warp threads, where the sleeve defines a sleeve lumen. A medical dilation balloon is disposed within the sleeve lumen, and a coating substantially covers the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeve, attaching it to the balloon.

A sheet set packaged together as a set includes at least one flat sheet, at least one fitted sheet, and at least one pillow case. The at least one flat sheet is made of a first material. The at least one fitted sheet is made of a second material that is different from the first material. The at least one pillow case is made of a third material that is one of the same as or different from the first material and that is one of the same as or different from the second material.

The present invention relates to meltblown non-woven fabric, multi-layered spunbonded non-woven fabric comprising same, and a method for manufacturing same, and to: meltblown non-woven fabric which uses recycled polyester flakes, thus being environmentally friendly, and is a material used in a sound absorbing material for automobiles due to the excellent rigidity, sound absorption capability and compressive modulus thereof, and thus can be used in automobile interior materials that require rigidity, sound absorption capability, and compressive modulus, such as wheel guards and trunk trims of automobiles; multi-layered spunbonded non-woven fabric comprising same; and a method for manufacturing same.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a gel spun UHMWPE fiber comprising the steps of providing an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composition having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 8 dl/g, a co-monomer content (CBR) of a least 0.05 SCB/1000TC, a mass averaged distribution of the co-monomer (CMAD) of at least 0.05, wherein the co-monomer has at least 4 carbon atoms, dissolving the composition in a solvent to form a polymer solution having a UHMWPE concentration of between 2 and 40 wt %, spinning the polymer solution through a multi orifice die plate to form a solution fibers, cooling the solution fiber to below 80? C. to form a gel fiber, drawing the fiber in at least one step to form a drawn fiber, removing at least a portion of the solvent before, during or after the drawing, wherein the ratio CMAD to CBR is greater than 1.0. The invention further relates to a gel-spun UHMWPE fiber obtainable by the process and products comprising said gel-spun UHMWPE fiber.

A fabric made of yarns interlooping with each other or passing through an inner layer at looping intervals. The fabric is embossed with a micro-pattern extending into the yarns or into a layer underneath the fabric. The micro-pattern contains a pre-defined pattern of a plurality of binding points attaching the yarns to the inner layer or to the added underlayer. This micro-pattern has an inter-point spacing between adjacent binding points that is less than the interlooping intervals. The fabric can also be embossed with a macro-pattern separate from and coarser than the micro-pattern. The macro-pattern establishes a desired aesthetic in the fabric, and the micro-pattern does not interfere with the desired aesthetic.