FREEFORM WEAVING LOOM

Abstract

A loom for freeform weaving and method of using thereof. The loom includes a plurality of rollers each selectively and individually promoting a respective one of a plurality of warp threads along a longitudinal axis, a first and second grippers selectively holding and carrying a weft thread perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, and at least pair of combs interchangeably holding odd and even numbered warp threads at opposite vertical offsets, and by at least one comb promoting along the longitudinal axis weft thread segments deposited by the grippers, wherein the grippers deposit in a plurality of sequential iterations a plurality of segments of the weft thread at a plurality of locations corresponding to a plurality of different subsets of the plurality of rollers, and respective rollers of one of the different subsets promote a respective subset of the plurality of warp threads in each iteration.

Claims

1. A loom for freeform weaving, comprising: a controller; a plurality of rollers each adapted to selectively and individually promote a respective one of a plurality of warp threads along a longitudinal axis; a first and second grippers adapted to selectively hold and carry a weft thread perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis; and at least pair of combs controlled by the controller to interchangeably hold odd and even numbered warp threads at opposite vertical offsets, and to promote along the longitudinal axis by at least one comb of the at least pair of combs segments of a weft thread deposited perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis; wherein the controller is adapted to control the first and second grippers in a plurality of sequential iterations to deposit perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis a plurality of segments of the weft thread at a plurality of locations corresponding to a plurality of different subsets of the plurality of rollers, and in each iteration to control respective rollers of one of the different subsets to promote a respective subset of the plurality of warp threads.

2. The loom of claim 1, wherein a roller of the plurality of rollers is coupled to a solenoid having at least one rotatable wheel operated by a motor, the solenoid is controlled by the controller and adapted to selectively engage and disengage the at least one wheel with the roller in response to respective control signals from the controller.

3. The loom of claim 2, wherein the roller is engaged by the at least one rotatable wheel when the solenoid is in a long pin position and disengaged when the solenoid is in a short pin position.

4. The loom of claim 1, further comprising a gripper-like holder adapted to selectively hold the weft thread interchangeably with each of the first and second grippers.

5. The loom of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second grippers comprises a motorized reel controlled by the controller and adapted to selectively pull and wrap around thereon the weft thread, wherein the gripper-like holder is further adapted to move perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis towards a respective one of the at least one of the first and second grippers to receive therefrom a wrapped portion of the weft thread.

6. The loom of claim 5, wherein the gripper-like holder is adapted to move vertically to a provide therefor a path clear of the plurality of warp threads.

7. The loom of claim 5, wherein at least one of the pair of combs is adapted to move respective ones of odd and even numbered warp threads to provide the gripper-like holder a path clear of the plurality of warp threads.

8. The loom of claim 1, further comprising a cutter movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and adapted to cut the weft thread to obtain a segment of a predetermined length.

9. The loom of claim 8, wherein the cutter is mounted on one of the first and second grippers.

10. The loom of claim 1, wherein the first and second grippers are movable along the longitudinal axis and controlled by the controller to deposit two or more of the plurality of segments at different offsets along the longitudinal axis in a single iteration of the plurality of iterations.

11. The loom of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor deployed at a respective end of one of the first and second grippers to detect presence of a thread at a predetermined location relative thereto.

12. The loom of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of reels adapted each to store and dispense a respective yarn type to be applied as the weft thread.

13. A method for freeform weaving, comprising: introducing a plurality of warp threads to a plurality of rollers each adapted to selectively and individually promote a respective one of the plurality of warp threads along a longitudinal axis; by at least pair of combs interchangeably holding odd and even numbered warp threads at opposite vertical offsets, and by at least one comb of the at least pair of combs promoting along the longitudinal axis segments of a weft thread deposited perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis; in a plurality of sequential iterations depositing perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis by a first and second grippers a plurality of segments of the weft thread at a plurality of locations corresponding to a plurality of different subsets of the plurality of rollers, and in each iteration by respective rollers of one of the different subsets promoting a respective subset of the plurality of warp threads.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising selectively holding the weft thread interchangeably with each of the first and second grippers by a gripper-like holder.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising selectively pulling and wrapping around the weft thread on a motorized reel provided on at least one of the first and second grippers, and moving the gripper-like holder perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis towards a respective one of the at least one of the first and second grippers to receive therefrom a wrapped portion of the weft thread.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising moving the gripper-like holder vertically to a provide therefor a path clear of the plurality of warp threads.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising moving by at least one of the pair of combs respective ones of odd and even numbered warp threads to provide the gripper-like holder a path clear of the plurality of warp threads.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising cutting the weft thread to obtain a segment of a predetermined length.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the first and second grippers along the longitudinal axis and depositing two or more of the plurality of segments at different offsets along the longitudinal axis in a single iteration of the plurality of iterations.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0035] Some embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments may be practiced.

[0036] In the drawings:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0038] FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of an exemplary arrangement of multiple rollers for selective promotion of warp threads in a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0039] FIGS. 2B and 2C are schematic illustrations of solenoid positions for controlling selective rotation of a roller in a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0040] FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of exemplary two grippers, holder, and cutter in a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0041] FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic illustrations of an initial state at a beginning of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0042] FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic illustrations of a second stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0043] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are schematic illustrations of a third stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0044] FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are schematic illustrations of a fourth stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0045] FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D are schematic illustrations of a fifth stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0046] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a sixth stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0047] FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic illustrations of a seventh stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0048] FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of an eighth stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0049] FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a final stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0050] FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of placing multiple weft threads in a single row during a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0051] FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary freeform fabric product of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments;

[0052] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an exemplary control system for automated and autonomous operation of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments; and

[0053] FIG. 16 is a computer-generated imagery of an exemplary get-up of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0054] Some embodiments described in the present disclosure relate to fabric manufacturing and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to a freeform weaving loom and use thereof.

[0055] Garment manufacturing involves several stages, with fabric cutting being a critical step. The process starts with sourcing raw materials, primarily fabric of one or several types. Fabrics can be sourced from textile mills or wholesalers based on the specific requirements of the garment. Designers create sketches of garments, which are then turned into patterns. These patterns are essentially templates that determine the shape and size of each fabric piece that will be cut. After patterns are made, they may need to be graded. Grading involves scaling the patterns up or down to create different sizes for the garment.

[0056] Once the patterns are finalized, the fabric is laid out on cutting tables or spreading machines. The fabric is usually spread in multiple layers to increase efficiency. Markers are laid on top of the fabric layers. Markers are patterns made from paper, cardboard, or special marking software that indicate where each piece should be cut. They also include important information like grain lines, notches, and pattern identification.

[0057] Fabric is cut according to the markers. This can be done manually with fabric scissors or using automated cutting machines such as straight knife cutters, band knife cutters, or laser cutters. The choice of cutting method depends on factors like the type of fabric, production volume, and precision required.

[0058] After cutting, quality control checks are performed to ensure that the fabric pieces meet the specifications outlined in the markers. This includes checking for accurate cutting, proper grain alignment, and any defects in the fabric. Once the fabric pieces are cut, they are bundled together based on the garment style, size, and color. Bundles typically include all the pieces needed to assemble one complete garment. Bundles are then transported to the production line where they will be sewn together to create the finished garments.

[0059] Fabric shape and cutting are crucial in garment manufacturing as they determine the fit, appearance, and quality of the final product. Accurate cutting ensures that each piece fits together properly during assembly, resulting in well-constructed garments that meet customer expectations.

[0060] Most fabrics are created through weaving, a process where two sets of yarns, known as the warp and the weft, are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric. In weaving, the warp yarns run lengthwise, while the weft yarns run widthwise. The weaving process can be done on different types of looms, such as shuttle looms, rapier looms, or air jet looms, depending on the type of fabric being produced.

[0061] After the fabric is formed, it may undergo various finishing processes to enhance its properties or appearance. This could include treatments such as dyeing, printing, bleaching, or applying finishes to make the fabric waterproof, flame retardant, or wrinkle resistant. Once the fabric is finished, it is typically cut into sheets or rolls of specific sizes for commercial sale. Fabric sheets can vary in size depending on the intended use and may be sold in standard sizes or custom cut to order. Rolls of fabric are commonly available in standard widths, such as 45 inches or 60 inches, and varying lengths.

[0062] Fabric as produced by pre-existing tools and/or techniques consists of a rectangular continuous sheet having uniform dimensions, i.e., all warp and weft yarns and/or threads are of same respective lengths along the longitudinal and transverse axes. As a result, garment manufacturing requires investing resources in the cutting of fabric sheets into desired patterns, e.g., in human labour, specialized equipment, workspace size, etc., and involves other adverse effects such as waste of raw materials and pollution increase due to remaining fabric scraps that cannot be repurposed and need to be disposed of.

[0063] According to some embodiments, there is provided a loom for freeform weaving, the loom having a plurality of rollers each of which is capable of receiving a single warp thread, and further capable of selectively and individually promoting that warp thread along a longitudinal axis in a direction of a fabric being weaved, independently of any other warp threads and whether they are also being promoted at the same time or not. The loom also includes two grippers, capable of carrying and depositing perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and at a desired location corresponding to a subset of the plurality of rollers, a weft thread having a desired length, where rollers of the subset are then used to promote respective warp threads where the weft thread is deposited.

[0064] In some embodiments, the two grippers may optionally deposit a plurality of weft threads in one or more iterations, where during a single iteration, two or more weft threads, having each a respective desired length, may be deposited one after another at respective locations corresponding to different subsets of the plurality of rollers. Then after deposition of the two or more weft threads is completed, the respective different subsets of the plurality of rollers may be used to promote respective warp threads where the two or more weft threads are deposited.

[0065] In some embodiments, the loom further includes at least one comb, capable of moving back and forth along the longitudinal axis, and following deposition of one or more weft threads by the two grippers, moving forward for pushing and tightening the deposited one or more weft threads to the fabric being weaved. Then after the weft threads are tightly adjoined to the fabric, odd and even numbered warp threads are exchanged in their vertical offsets from upwards to downwards and vice versa. The exchange may optionally be carried out by a pair of combs each capable of alternately and interchangeably directing one of two subsets of the plurality of warp threads containing the odd and even numbered warp threads respectively to a respective one of vertical offsets opposite of one another.

[0066] In some embodiments, the two grippers may operate in synchronization with a holder that may be capable of selectively gripping and releasing grip from a weft thread, so as to allow manipulation of the weft thread by either one and/or both of the two grippers. For example, at a beginning of a new iteration, the holder may hold a weft thread at about an end thereof or adjacently thereto, while a portion of the weft thread subsequent to the end may be accessible by at least a first of the two grippers, so that the first gripper may move to the location of that portion and grip the weft thread, after which the holder may release its grip from the weft thread to allow pulling the weft thread up to a desired length by the first gripper.

[0067] In some embodiments, there may be provided a cutter for cutting a weft thread to a desired length. The cutter may optionally be mounted on one of the two grippers. Optionally, in some further embodiments where there is also provided a holder as disclosed herein, after the weft thread is pulled to the desired length by the first of the two grippers, the holder may resume gripping of the weft thread at a position subsequent to the pulled weft thread portion, and a second one of the two grippers on which the cutter is mounted may move towards a location between the holder and the pulled weft thread portion, and cut the weft thread according to the desired length to render loose both ends of the weft thread.

[0068] In some embodiments, there may be mounted on at least one of the grippers a motorized reel adapted to receive and accommodate a continuous weft thread at a sufficient length required for a weaving task at hand. Instead of depositing segments of weft thread cut into desired lengths, using the cutter for example, the grippers and holder may be operated in collaboration with one another and using the motorized reel mounted on a respective one of the grippers, the weft thread initially held by the holder may be pulled by and wrapped around the motorized reel up to a length in accordance with the weaving task's requirements, leaving at its end an unwrapped portion of weft thread at a desired length to be deposited for weaving in a current iteration. Then the holder may release its grip from the weft thread while the other gripper holds the weft thread at the end of the unwrapped portion, and the two grippers may then carry together and deposit the unwrapped portion at a desired location along the plurality of rollers, similarly as performed with individual segments of weft thread where cutting is employed. The holder may then move towards the gripper on which the motorized reel wrapped with the weft thread is mounted, and receive the entirety of wrapped weft thread from the gripper. The holder may then return to its initial position laterally to the plurality of warp threads at one side of the loom, carrying with it the wrapped weft thread received from the gripper. In order to avoid contact with the plurality of warp threads when returning to place, the holder may be adapted to move vertically, so that it may be lowered downwards and move below the warp threads and resume altitude once reaching the side of the loom. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more combs may be adapted to raise the plurality of warp threads above altitude of where the holder is located and operating.

[0069] In some embodiments, the plurality of rollers may be realized as pairs of cylindrical elements disposed one of top another and rotatable at opposing directions around their central axes, where each pair may be coupled to a solenoid with one or more chain wheels and a pin adapted to be interchangeably in either one of a long position and short position. The pin may be changed from the long position to the short position and vice versa via an actuator provided. The solenoid may be adapted to engage with a respective pair of cylindrical elements when the pin is at the long position and disengage from that pair when the pin is at the short position. All of the solenoids coupled with the plurality of rollers may be connected to and controlled by a motor, via the one or more chain wheels for example, such that respective pairs for which the coupled solenoids are engaging the corresponding cylindrical elements are rotated and promoting warp threads provided there into, whereas other pairs for which the solenoids are disengaged from their associated cylindrical elements are at pause and warp threads accommodated therein remain in place.

[0070] In some embodiments, the loom may be adapted to store and selectively use during a same or different iterations a plurality of different weft thread types. The holder may be adapted to select and receive from a storage of multiple types of weft thread in the loom a weft thread of a desired type and to grip and hold the selected weft thread at the initial position for feeding the weft thread into the loom for weaving.

[0071] In this manner, composite fabrics with various desired properties may be manufactured in a custom-made manner, for example, there may be incorporated in the weaved fabric a plurality of thread segments made from a conductive material to allow integration of sensors in the targe outfit, interconnection with wearable computing devices, and/or similar applications.

[0072] As another example, there may be used several thread types with different elasticity properties such that different regions of the garment may exhibit variable flexibility, for example, there may be produced a blouse with rigid threads in the bottom portion and flexible threads on the top portion so that optimal balance between comfort and look may be achieved.

[0073] It will be appreciated that the loom in accordance with the disclosed subject matter may be adapted for use in other and additional industries and with further raw materials, such as for example, in the aircraft industry for precise manufacturing of aircraft components as wings weaving from carbon threads and/or likewise fitted materials, in the medicine industry for manufacturing of custom bandages and/or composing different thread types, e.g., threads made from biological materials and/or the like.

[0074] In some embodiments, the loom may have a control system that operates its various functionalities automatically and autonomously. The control system may receive a desired target pattern or shape of fabric to be weaved, and activate the two grippers, plurality of rollers, holder, cutter, and/or one or more combs as described herein to perform the weaving task in an automated an autonomous manner.

[0075] The freeform weaving loom and usage thereof according to the disclosed subject matter has many advantages and overcomes many of the shortcomings of pre-existing technologies.

[0076] One technical effect of the disclosed subject matter is to provide for production of fabric at any arbitrary shape and/or contour, and thus to significantly reduce or even eliminate completely a need of cutting fabrics into desired patterns and shapes during manufacturing of clothing and other garments. As result, production costs, labor, and duration, for example, may be dramatically decreased and conserved.

[0077] Another technical effect of the disclosed subject matter is to provide for a manufacturing process of a fabric with a desired form and composition, which makes use only of threads and yarn necessarily required for and forming part of the final product or target pattern, and thereby contributes to optimal utilization of source materials and to reduction of waste and likewise undesired by-products, as the generation of fabric scraps and sheared portions from cutting standard form sheets is avoided.

[0078] Yet another technical effect of the disclosed subject matter is to provide a device for manufacturing bespoke fabric shapes and patterns that are ready for use, e.g., in further stages of garment and clothing production, where the device can be operated in an automated and autonomous manner, thereby allowing end consumers to produce fabrics of their choice and likings at the comfort of their own homes or studios.

[0079] Further technical problems, solutions, and effects improved upon over pre-existing tools and/or techniques by the disclosed subject matter will become readily apparent from the disclosure herein.

[0080] Before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that embodiments are not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. Implementations described herein are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

[0081] Embodiments may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the embodiments.

[0082] The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

[0083] Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.

[0084] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of embodiments may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the C programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of embodiments.

[0085] Aspects of embodiments are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

[0086] These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

[0087] The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

[0088] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0089] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which is a schematic illustration of an exemplary loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 1, a loom for freeform weaving may be adapted to receive a plurality of warp threads along a longitudinal axis of the loom. The loom may include at an anterior portion thereof a plurality of rollers, each adapted to receive and accommodate a respective one of the warp threads, and to selectively and individually promote that warp thread at a forward direction from a posterior of the loom to its anterior and onwards.

[0091] The loom may further include two grippers, one at each lateral side of the loom, adapted to move along a transverse axis of the loom and to carry and deposit weft threads at different locations perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis along different subsets of the plurality of rollers. The two grippers may optionally be able to be moved back and forth along a limited section parallelly to the longitudinal axis. Optionally the loom may include a holder constructed similarly as each of the two grippers and adapted to cooperate with the two grippers for providing a portion of the weft thread at a desired length for deposition. Additionally or alternatively, the loom may include a cutter for cutting the weft thread to the desired length.

[0092] The loom may yet further include two combs for holding odd and even numbered warp threads at opposite vertical offsets and interchanging therebetween at an end of each iteration, such that a respective subset of warp threads formerly held upwards are subsequently brought downwards and a complementary subset of warp threads formerly held downwards are subsequently brought upwards, and so on in an alternating manner after each row of one or more weft threads is weaved. At least one or both of the two combs may be adapted to move back and forth along the longitudinal axis, and to push any one or more segments of weft thread deposited by the two grippers in the forward direction towards a previously made portion of a fabric being weaved such that the row of weft thread is tightened against and adjoined with former rows of the weaved fabric.

[0093] The plurality of rollers at the anterior of the loom and the two grippers at each of the lateral sides may be mounted on a frame elevated above ground and supported by legs. Optionally the plurality of warp threads divided into two respective subsets of odd and even numbered ones may be supported by and spread via a panel having a plurality of elongated slits located between a posterior end of the loom and the pair of combs at the opposing vertical offsets.

[0094] Reference is now made to FIG. 2A which is a schematic illustration of an exemplary arrangement of multiple rollers for selective promotion of warp threads in a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0095] Reference is also made to FIGS. 2B and 2C which are schematic illustrations of solenoid positions for controlling selective rotation of a roller in a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 2A, the arrangement of rollers may comprise a plurality of pairs of cylindrical elements disposed one on top of another and adapted to rotate at opposite directions around their central axes. The cylindrical elements may correspond in their dimensions, i.e., in width, to desired parameters such as density, thickness, and/or the like of the plurality of warp threads, so as to allow for each of the plurality of warp threads to be received into and accommodated by a respective single pair of cylindrical elements vertically disposed.

[0097] Each pair of cylindrical elements may be coupled to a respective one of a plurality of mechanical rotation elements, such as for example a plurality of sets of one or more chain wheels in each. In each of the plurality of sets, the one or more chain wheels may be connected to and powered by a motor or engine, adapted to rotate at least one of the chain wheels in the respective set. At least one of the remaining chain wheels of the set may be adapted to selectively engage the pair of cylindrical elements to which it is coupled and rotate them for promoting a respective warp thread accommodated therein. The one or more chain wheels may be mounted on a solenoid which may be adapted to interchangeably move away from and back towards the respective pair of cylindrical elements so that the one or more chain wheels may get disengaged from and resume position of engagement with the pair of cylindrical elements accordingly.

[0098] As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the solenoid may comprise at its end a pin and a shaft, where the pin may be moved vertically further into the shaft and back out therefrom, so that the solenoid and chain wheels mounted thereon are pulled away from the respective pair of cylindrical elements to which they are coupled when the pin is shortened, whereas when the pin is in its elongated position, the solenoid is placed in proximity to and the chain wheels brought into tangential contact with that pair of cylindrical elements.

[0099] In this manner, one may select and control which of the warp threads are promoted longitudinally by their respective rollers and which remain in place, by maintaining only the solenoids corresponding to those rollers at engagement position of the chain wheels with their associated pairs of cylindrical elements. Thus, for any selected subset of the plurality of rollers, by controlling the solenoids to disengage the chain wheels from respective pairs of cylindrical elements of a complementary subset of rollers to the one selected, then only the selected subset of rollers are made to rotate by power of the motor running, and thereby promote a corresponding subset of the plurality of warp threads.

[0100] Reference is now made to FIGS. 3A and 3B which are schematic illustrations of exemplary two grippers, holder, and cutter in a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0101] FIG. 3A shows a first gripper as may be provided on one of the lateral sides of the loom, for example, on its right side, such as illustrated in the perspective view depicted in FIG. 1 herein. The first gripper may comprise downward facing clamps or jaws adapted to tightly hold a thread or yarn when closed and carry it along a transverse axis of the loom to a desired location relative to the plurality of rollers, where it may be released by opening the clamps. The clamps may be mounted on an elongated rod housed in a hollow shaft, where the rod may be adapted to move inside the shaft back and forth towards an interior portion of the loom where the plurality of warp threads may be accommodated and outwardly to an exterior portion outside of the loom, so as to move the clamps to a desired location perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and back to resume an initial position thereof. Optionally there may be mounted on the first gripper a sensor adapted to detect presence of a thread at a vicinity of the clamps, such as illustrated on FIG. 3A.

[0102] FIG. 3B shows a second gripper as may be provided on another one of the lateral sides of the loom, for example, on its left side, such as illustrated in the perspective view depicted in FIG. 1 herein. The second gripper similarly as the first gripper may comprise downward facing clamps for tightly holding and carrying a thread to a desired location perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. The second gripper also similarly as the first gripper may comprise an elongated rod on which the clamps may be mounted and housed at a hollow shaft in which it may be moved back and forth transversely. Optionally there may be mounted on the second gripper a sensor for thread detection similarly to the sensor of the first gripper.

[0103] In some embodiments, there may also be provided on one of the lateral sides of the loom a holder such as further shown on FIG. 3B. The holder may be located for example on the left side of the loom and vertically below the second gripper, such as illustrated in the perspective view depicted in FIG. 1 herein. The holder may be constructed similarly as the first and second grippers such that it may comprise a rod with clamps mounted on its end and adapted to tightly hold a thread when closed and release the thread when opened, but a difference that the clamps are faced upwardly instead of downwardly. Optionally the rod on which the upwardly facing clamps of the holder are mounted may be transversely movable similarly as the rod of the second gripper so that the upwardly facing clamps may be brought to any desired location perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, so as to allow manipulation of a weft thread held and carried by the first and/or second grippers.

[0104] In some embodiments, there may be provided a cutter for cutting a weft thread into a segment of a desired length, such as further shown on FIG. 3B. The cutter may be mounted on the second gripper subsequently to the downward facing clamps. The cutter may be formed as a pair of cutting blades or knives disposed in a scissor-like configuration and facing each other, such that when the blades are closing in from both lateral directions on a thread disposed at a midpoint therebetween the thread is thus cut into two separate sections that may be further manipulated by the two grippers and holder as discussed at greater detail herein.

[0105] Reference is now made to FIGS. 4A and 4B which are schematic illustrations of an initial state at a beginning of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0106] Reference is also made back to FIG. 1 which also shows the loom at the initial state.

[0107] FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a portion of the loom illustrated in FIG. 1 at its left lateral side around an area where one of the two grippers and the holder are located, during an initial state at the commencement of a current weaving iteration.

[0108] FIG. 4B shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 4A where the holder and the gripper vertically above it at the left lateral side of the loom are depicted.

[0109] As shown on FIG. 1 and at greater detail on FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the initial state, a weft thread is held at its loose end by the holder, and the grippers are located each at either one of the lateral sides of the loom, with their rods pulled outside of the loom to a maximum extent possible, and their downward facing clamps positioned each adjacent to a corresponding one of their respective shafts and/or to a respective lateral side of the supporting frame.

[0110] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A and 5B which are schematic illustrations of a second stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments. FIG. 5A similarly as FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of the left side area around the holder, and FIG. 5B shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 5A depicting the holder and two grippers in interaction with one another as discussed further herein.

[0111] As shown on FIGS. 5A and 5B, at the second stage of the weaving iteration, the gripper initially located at the right lateral side of the loom may move across the width of the loom along the transverse axis until it reaches the other gripper at the opposite side, and grasp the thread held by the holder at an adjacent location, for example, subsequently to where the holder is holding the thread.

[0112] Reference is now made to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C which are schematic illustrations of a third stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0113] FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of the loom depicting a portion of the left side area as well as an adjacent area in the interior portion of the loom where the warp threads are disposed. FIGS. 6B and 6C both show enlarged details of FIG. 6A depicting the gripper with the holder at the left side area and the other gripper at the interior area respectively.

[0114] As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, at the third stage of the weaving iteration, the holder releases its grasp from the weft thread, and the right-side gripper moves back across the width of the loom along the transverse axis and pulls the weft thread up to a desired length.

[0115] Reference is now made to FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C which are schematic illustrations of a fourth stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0116] FIG. 7A similarly as FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of the left side and adjacent interior portions of the loom, while FIGS. 7B and 7C both show enlarged details of FIG. 7A depicting the left and right grippers respectively, with FIG. 7B depicting further the left gripper and holder interacting.

[0117] As shown on FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, at the fourth stage of the weaving iteration, the holder grasps the weft thread pulled by the right-side gripper in the third stage, and the left-side gripper moves ahead and grasps the weft thread at a position in front of the holder and further into the interior portion of the loom, while the cutter mounted on the left-side gripper cuts the weft thread at a location between the holder and the left-side gripper to obtain a segment of the weft thread at the desired length for weaving it into the fabric being manufactured.

[0118] Reference is now made to FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D which are schematic illustrations of a fifth stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0119] FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of the interior portion of the loom and its lateral sides, while FIGS. 8B, 8C and 8D all show enlarged details of FIG. 8A depicting the holder and the right- and left-side grippers respectively.

[0120] As shown on FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D, at the fifth stage of the weaving iteration, the two grippers are moving while holding and carrying along the segment of weft thread to a desired location along the transverse axis of the loom where the thread is to be deposited for weaving, and once reaching the target location, the two grippers then release their grip of the weft thread.

[0121] Reference is now made to FIG. 9 which is a schematic illustration of a sixth stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0122] As shown on FIG. 9, at the sixth stage of the weaving iteration, after depositing the segment of weft thread at the desired location, the two grippers move back along the transverse axis to steer clear of the weaving area and return each to its respective side of the loom and original position as in the initial state as shown on FIGS. 1, 4A and 4B herein.

[0123] Reference is now made to FIGS. 10A and 10B which are schematic illustrations of a seventh stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0124] FIGS. 10A and 10B are lateral views of the loom immediately before and during the seventh stage of the weaving iteration. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, at the seventh stage of the weaving iteration, the comb at the front moves forward in the longitudinal direction, and pushes and tightens the weft thread to the fabric being weaved.

[0125] Reference is now made to FIG. 11 which is a schematic illustration of an eighth stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 11, at the eighth stage of the weaving iteration, the vertical positions of the plurality of warp threads are interchanged, such that all warp threads previously held upwards are brought downwards and all warp threads previously held downwards are brought upwards. For example, the pair of combs each holding one of respective subsets of odd and even numbered warp threads at one of opposite vertical offsets may be interchanged each to the other one of the offsets.

[0127] Reference is now made to FIG. 12 which is a schematic illustration of a final stage of a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0128] As shown in FIG. 12, at the final stage of the weaving iteration, a respective subset of the rollers corresponding to the location where the weft thread had been deposited promote only the warp threads associated with rollers of the subset conforming to the desired location.

[0129] Reference is now made to FIG. 13 which is a schematic illustration of placing multiple weft threads in a single row during a weaving iteration of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 13, there may be deposited two or more segments of weft threads along the transverse axis during a single weaving iteration, by moving the two grippers along the longitudinal axis at a slight offset after deposition of a previous segment, and depositing a subsequent segment via repeating on the stages from the first through the sixth. Then, after all segments had been deposited, the process may continue to the seventh stage and onwards as before, where in the seventh stage the comb pushes all segments forward and tightens them together into a same single row of the weaved fabric.

[0131] Reference is now made to FIG. 14 which is a schematic illustration of an exemplary freeform fabric product of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0132] FIG. 14 shows an exemplary end product of a fabric with a freeform shape that may be manufactured using the loom and weaving process of the present disclosure, by iteratively depositing one or more weft thread segments of required lengths at target locations and promoting only the relevant warp threads at those locations, one row after another until the desired fabric shape is produced.

[0133] It will be appreciated that instead of cutting weft threads into segments, in some embodiments there may be enhancements to the loom in support of closed form weaving, in addition to open form weaving such as described and illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1-14 herein. Such enhancements may comprise, for example, providing a motorized reel on the right-hand gripper adapted to pull and wrap around thereon the weft thread up to a required length for a weaving task at hand, providing the holder with capability of moving back and forth along the transverse axis of the loom similarly as the two grippers, providing the holder and/or the combs with a capability to allow for the holder a clear passage without contacting the plurality of warp threads, and/or the like.

[0134] In case that closed form weaving is employed, the third and fourth stages of the weaving iterations may be modified accordingly, such that instead of the weft thread being pulled and cut to a desired length, the motorized reel mounted on the right-side gripper pulls the weft thread and wraps it around the reel until the required length needed for the weaving task in entirety is wrapped on the reel, while a portion at a length needed for deposition at the current row is left unwrapped.

[0135] Then, the holder is moved below the plurality of warp threads, and placed at a location where the unwrapped portion of the weft thread needed for the current iteration is at. The holder then grasps the entirety of the weft thread wrapped on the reel. The holder then moves back below the warp threads and returns the weft thread to its original position by releasing it from the reel. The moving and returning back the weft thread below the warp threads may be realized, for example, by lifting up all warp threads after the holder takes back the weft thread from the right-side gripper, lowering the holder slightly by a vertical offset downwards below the warp threads sufficient to allow it clear passage, and/or the like.

[0136] Reference is now made to FIG. 15 which is a block diagram of an exemplary control system for automated and autonomous operation of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments. An exemplary loom control system 1500 may be used for performing one or more of the acts for freeform weaving such as described herein.

[0137] The loom control system 1500 may comprise and/or be implemented as, for example, a computer, a server, a computing node, a cluster of computing nodes and/or the like, which may include an Input/Output (I/O) interface 1510 for connecting to one or more external devices, systems, services and/or the like, one or more processor(s) 1512 for executing a process such as any one or more of operations for freeform weaving such as described and illustrated herein with reference to FIGS. 1-14, a storage 1514 for storing data and/or code (program store), and/or the like.

[0138] The loom control system 1500 may be deployed in and/or be in communication with a freeform weaving loom 1501 which may be constructed and operable similarly as described and illustrated herein with reference to FIGS. 1-14. The loom control system 1500 may be adapted to operate, control, and/or communicate with one or more sensors 1503 located in the freeform weaving loom 1501 and adapted to acquire sensory data related to the freeform weaving loom 1501, any of its components, and/or the threads received and accommodated therein. For example, the sensors 1503 may comprise a sensor mounted on either one or both of the grippers for thread detection. Additionally or alternatively, the freeform weaving loom 1501 may be adapted to operate, control, and/or communicate with one or more actuators 1505 of the freeform weaving loom 1501 which may be adapted to carry out any one of the operations and/acts such as described and illustrated herein with reference to FIGS. 1-14 for fulfilling any weaving task at hand, in an automated and/or autonomous manner. For example, the actuators may control movement and/or operation of each of the two grippers, holder, cutter, combs, plurality of solenoids coupled to the rollers, motor rotating the rollers, motorized reel mounted on the right-side gripper, and/or the like.

[0139] The I/O interface 1510 may include one or more wired and/or wireless network interfaces for connecting to a network 1502 comprising one or more wired and/or wireless networks, for example, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a cellular network, the internet and/or the like. Using the network interface(s) the loom control system 1500 may communicate, optionally via the network 1502, with one or more (optionally remote, e.g., networked) resources 1506, which may optionally comprise and/or be implemented as, for example, a server, a computing node, a storage server, a networked database, a cloud service and/or the like. Through the network 1502 and/or otherwise, the loom control system 1500 may optionally further communicate with one or more client terminals (not shown), for example, a computer, a server, a laptop, a mobile device and/or the like used by one or more users, for example, an operator, a seamster, a tailor, a sartor, a designer, and/or the like. Optionally one or more of the client terminals (not shown) and/or resources 1506 may reside at and/or be coupled to the loom control system 1500 locally.

[0140] The I/O interface 1510 may further include one or more wired and/or wireless I/O interfaces, ports, interconnections and/or the like for connecting to one or more external devices, for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a serial interface, a Radio Frequency (RF) interface, a Bluetooth interface and/or the like. Through the I/O interface 1510, the loom control system 1500 may communicate with one or more external devices (not shown) attached to the I/O interface(s), for example, an attachable mass storage device, an external media device and/or the like.

[0141] The processor(s) 1512, homogenous or heterogeneous, may include one or more processing nodes arranged for parallel processing, as clusters and/or as one or more multi core processor(s). The processor(s) 1512 may execute one or more software modules such as, for example, a process, a script, an application, an agent, a utility, a tool, an Operating System (OS) and/or the like each comprising a plurality of program instructions stored in a non-transitory medium (program store) such as the storage 1514 and executed by one or more processors such as the processor(s) 1512. The processor(s) 1512 may further include, utilize and/or otherwise facilitate one or more hardware modules (elements), for example, a circuit, a component, an integrated circuit (IC), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Digital Signals Processor (DSP), a Graphic Processing Units (GPU), an Artificial Intelligence (AI) accelerator and/or the like.

[0142] The processor(s) 1512 may therefore execute one or more functional modules utilized by one or more software modules, one or more of the hardware modules and/or a combination thereof. For example, the processor(s) 1512 may execute a loom control logic functional module 1520 for operating, controlling, and/or communicating with the sensor(s) 1503 and/or actuator(s) 1505 to carry out any one of the acts and operations of the loom 1501 such as described and illustrated herein with reference to FGIS. 1-14 for performing its freeform weaving functions, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0143] The storage 1514 may include one or more tangible, non-transitory persistent storage devices, for example, a hard drive, a Flash array and/or the like. The storage 1514 may also include one or more volatile devices, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM) component, a cache and/or the like. The storage 1514 may further comprise one or more local and/or remote network storage resources, for example, a storage server, a Network Attached Storage (NAS), a network drive, a cloud storage service and/or the like accessible via the I/O interface 1510.

[0144] Optionally, the loom control system 1500, specifically the loom control logic 1520 may communicate with, employ, and/or be utilized by one or more cloud computing services, platforms and/or infrastructures such as, for example, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) and/or the like provided by one or more vendors, for example, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Service (AWS) and Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and/or the like.

[0145] One or more of the client terminals (not shown) may execute one or more applications, services and/or tools for communicating with the loom control system 1500 and more specifically with the loom control logic 1520 to enable one or more of the users to interact with the loom control logic 1520. For example, one or more client terminals (not shown) may execute a web browser for communicating with the loom control logic 1520 and presenting a User Interface (UI), specifically a Graphical UI (GUI) which may be used by the respective users to interact with the loom control logic 1520. In another example, one or more client terminals (not shown) may execute a local agent which communicates with the loom control logic 1520 and presents a GUI which may be used by the respective users to interact with the loom control logic 1520.

[0146] The loom control system 1500, communicating with one or more of the external devices, client terminals (not shown), and/or resources 1506, may therefore receive, fetch, collect and/or otherwise obtain data and information required for operating the freeform weaving loom 1501 automatically and/or autonomously. Such data and information may include, for example, freeform weaving instructions for producing a desired fabric shape, parameters for weaving tasks at hand, details of composition of materials and/or thread types to be used, and/or the like. Optionally the loom control system 1500 may communicate with one or more of the external devices and/or client terminals to output data and information to a user pertaining to the freeform weaving loom 1501, such as for example, weaving operations log, loom and/or mission status reports, error alerts, maintenance notifications such as regarding threads depletion that need to be replenished etc., and/or the like.

[0147] The loom control logic 1520 may be adapted to receive as input and/or otherwise obtain from default storage, such as for example the storage 1514, resources 1506 and/or the like, instructions for operating and/or using the freeform weaving loom 1501, e.g., to perform a weaving task at hand of producing a fabric of a target shape and/or consistency. The loom control logic 1520 may be adapted to perform freeform weaving operations on the freeform weaving loom 1501 in accordance with received input and/or data otherwise obtained, using sensor(s) 1503 and/or actuator(s) 1505 for performing the acts and/or operations such as disclosed herein with reference to FIGS. 1-14.

[0148] In some embodiments, the loom control logic 1520 may be adapted to provide alerts to users on design errors in a design of a fabric to be weaved provided as input. Additionally or alternatively, the loom control logic 1520 may provide users with recommendations for improvements in the design, e.g., based on data and feedback information gathered in relation to similar products and/or the like. Optionally, the loom control logic 1520 may provide recommendations for merging together several patterns to conserve in seams for putting them together, for example, two patterns for the anterior and posterior portions of a chair may be merged together to render a single pattern fitted for mounting onto the chair directly and thus eliminating a need for sewing them together first.

[0149] Reference is now made to FIG. 16 which is a computer-generated imagery of an exemplary get-up of a loom for freeform weaving, according to some embodiments.

[0150] As shown in FIG. 16, the freeform weaving loom in accordance with the disclosed subject matter may be housed in case resembling in appearance to commercially available printers and/or the like. The loom may be provided with fixtures on one or more of its lateral sides adapted to receive and store each a respective one of a plurality of wrapped rolls of weft threads, optionally of different types, properties, and/or the like. The plurality of warp threads may be stored on a pedestal or frame with similar fixtures adapted to be placed nearby at the loom's posterior end and to receive and store a wrapped roll of a respective one of the warp threads. The produced fabric may emerge outside of an opening at the anterior of the loom and be deposited into a receptacle or working table for further processing.

[0151] The descriptions of the various embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0152] As used herein the term about refers to 10%.

[0153] The terms comprises, comprising, includes, including, having and their conjugates mean including but not limited to. This term encompasses the terms consisting of and consisting essentially of.

[0154] The phrase consisting essentially of means that the composition or method may include additional ingredients and/or steps, but only if the additional ingredients and/or steps do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition or method.

[0155] As used herein, the singular form a, an and the include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term a compound or at least one compound may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.

[0156] The word exemplary is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance or illustration. Any embodiment described as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments.

[0157] The word optionally is used herein to mean is provided in some embodiments and not provided in other embodiments. Any particular embodiment may include a plurality of optional features unless such features conflict.

[0158] Throughout this application, various embodiments may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of embodiments. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

[0159] Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases ranging/ranges between a first indicate number and a second indicate number and ranging/ranges from a first indicate number to a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.

[0160] It is appreciated that certain features of embodiments, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of embodiments, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

[0161] Although embodiments have been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

[0162] It is the intent of the applicant(s) that all publications, patents and patent applications referred to in this specification are to be incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually noted when referenced that it is to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting. In addition, any priority document(s) of this application is/are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its/their entirety.