Load bearing textile clamp

Abstract

An invention where a removable load bearing textile clamp comprised of an outer compressive sleeve configured to accept an internally positioned removable rod such that a textile can be led around the rod and positioned inside the compressive sleeve and said sleeve once fastened can form a clamp assembly between the sleeve, rod, and textile to create a load bearing textile clamp that can be attached to a secondary structure such that the fiber strength of the textile is retained and the textile panel can perform work.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to methods of reinforcing and attaching the edges of a textile panel such that they are able to convey loads into a secondary structure such that the load is resisted, energy is transferred, and the panel does work. Primarily, load bearing articles made of textiles are designed to work in tension, where the strength and orientation of fibers is a determining factor in how the article is used and the methods used to transition loads into a secondary structure is a determining factor in the load bearing capacity of the device. Articles such as lifting devices, tension structures and protective barriers such as blast screens and hurricane shutters are examples of products where the tensile strength and lightweight properties of modern textiles have been used to create new products. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] For millennia, man has used woven textile goods for a variety of domestic and industrial applications. To enable woven ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The invention enables textiles to bear greater loads by increasing the efficiency of load transfer from fibers to a secondary structure. It is removably attached and can be configured and reconfigured to a number of applications having the qualities of lightness, strength, flexibility and durability.

Problems solved by technology

Two principle factors limited the ability of a sail to transfer the potential wind energy into a force to drive a vessel: the first being the strength of the cloth; the second being the method used to reinforce the edge and affix the sailcloth to the support structure.

The range of applications for industrial textiles up to the development of modern synthetic materials was self limiting.

Textiles of natural fibers quickly became impractical for many high load applications which naturally limited the development of additional uses and methods of attachment.

While these current methods of sewn or welded hems to reinforce edges using straps or grommets to transfer loads are generally successful in moderate load applications, they do not perform as well as possible under high loads.

This places a greater strain on the fibers directly in line with the grommet or strap making these fibers vulnerable to failure.

Additionally, distortion occurs along the border edges as the few fibers aligned with the anchor points bear the greatest percentage of the load.

Compounding failures occur across the reinforced edge as the highly tensioned fibers break, causing shock loads to the remaining fibers which cause them to break as well.

Another family of current art uses better load distribution along the edge of the load bearing textile, but still falls short of maximizing the textile strength because the reinforcement method still relies on stitching.

While these products have less likelihood of failure at the attachment point and less likelihood of distortion because the loads are better distributed across the panel, the sewn hem is still a potential point of failure.

When structural elements are comprised of stitched materials, the panel is subject to stress failure due to shear loading of the stitch.

Further still, the process of stitching fabric inherently weakens the textile.

Damage to the thread itself, whether by abrasive action or ultraviolet degradation is a concern to manufacturers and consumers of load bearing textile devices.

The difficulty is in identifying the progressive degradation and establishing a time period and protocol by which the effective service life of the device can be determined.

Additionally, current art disclosures that rely on traditional methods of manufacture are not able to take advantage of labor saving manufactured components and are therefore required to have skilled labor, large facilities and complex machinery to produce a reliable and consistent product.

Ultimately these disadvantages increase consumer costs and make the products less desirable.

Additionally still, no part of a sewn seam or grommet assembly can be reused nor is it easily repaired in the field.

Each clamp would require an anchor into a secondary structure, the quantity necessary would preclude practical use for high load bearing applications.

Limited to methods described in prior art for securing a textile panel to a secondary structure, industry is not able to take full advantage of the strength of modern fibers in high load applications.

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