TEXTILE FABRIC WITH A LAYER OF REINFORCING YARNS AND AWNING MADE WITH THIS TEXTILE FABRIC

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a textile intended to be stretched and rolled up on itself. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of textiles intended to be deployed on demand, to protect an area from the sun's rays for example. For mechanical and aesthetic reasons, such textiles are preferably stretched. More specifically, the present invention is of particular interest in textiles made for awnings. PRIOR ART

[0002] The devices generally referred to as "awnings" are devices intended to be attached to a facade or a wall and allowing a shaded area to be created by means of a stretched textile. These devices form a shelter allowing, in particular, individuals to protect themselves from direct sunlight.

[0003] More specifically, an awning has a fabric that can be deployed on demand and can be rolled up on itself to protect the fabric if climatic conditions such as, in particular, wind, rain, snow or hail, require it. To do this, the fabric is rolled around a rotating axis secured to the facade on which the awning is attached and a load profile is arranged to be mobile relative to the facade to allow the fabric to be deployed or retracted if necessary.

[0004] Generally speaking, it is known to deploy and tension a textile by means of a load profile that can move in translation while remaining parallel to the facade. Such profiles are also supported by arms that can be articulated or telescopic in particular, and which allow the load profile to be maintained at a predetermined height.

[0005] The two free ends of the textile are then respectively secured to the rotating axis, on the one hand, and to the load profile, on the other hand.

[0006] However, existing awnings are equipped with a fabric that tends to sag in its central part. This sagging results in a visible sag in the fabric. This phenomenon is all the more significant the wider and longer the fabric.

[0007] This is detrimental because the textile is not perfectly taut, which hinders the rolling-up operation and generates unsightly creases when the textile is unrolled again. These unsightly creases cause, among other things, excess thickness when the textile is rolled up, which can lead to friction phenomena that wear out the textile. This phenomenon can lead, in particular, to a loss of waterproofness of the textile, making it unfit for use.

[0008] There is therefore a need to obtain a textile that can be rolled up without generating creases around an awning winding axis.

[0009] In order to meet this need, the Applicant has developed a textile comprising a support and at least two layers of reinforcing threads.

[0010] Textiles comprising layers of reinforcing yarns are known. For example, US patent US 4,518,640 discloses a multiaxial reinforcement composed of the superposition of layers of reinforcing yarns held together by a knitting stitch or a chain stitch. This multiaxial reinforcement is rigid so as to reinforce coated mechanical parts, for example.

[0011] Also, PCT application WO 02 / 090644 discloses a coated textile. This textile comprises a multiaxial textile core comprising plies of reinforcing metal threads, in particular steel, to prevent laceration of the textile after coating with a bladed weapon such as a knife. This textile core is coated with a thermoplastic such as PVC. This core does not have dimensional stability as such; this is obtained after coating. In other words, before coating, the textile core does not have resistance to elongation in various directions without the threads making up the ply(ies) separating. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Thus, the invention relates to a textile, comprising two parallel selvedges, which can be wound on itself in at least one winding direction parallel or perpendicular to said parallel selvedges, intended to be stretched, comprising a support layer, said support layer having a front face and a back face, the textile comprising at least two superimposed plies, namely a first ply and a second ply, made of reinforcing threads, said plies being positioned on said back face and secured to said support layer, said reinforcing threads forming angles of between 5° and 85° with said winding direction, said angles being symmetrical with respect to said winding direction, said textile being such that the support layer is a fabric, and such that the textile is coated on said front face and / or on said back face.

[0013] The invention also relates to an awning comprising a textile as described above.

[0014] An advantage of the invention is that the textile can roll up on itself without generating creases.

[0015] An advantage of the invention, when the textile is stretched, is the significant reduction in the sag of the textile compared to a textile not containing reinforcing threads.

[0016] Another advantage of the invention is that, when used in an awning, the stresses due to the rolling up of the textile are distributed over the entire textile, which facilitates its rolling up and unrolling.

[0017] An additional advantage of the invention is the regularity of the winding, so there is less wear, which leads to better preservation of the aesthetic quality of the textile.

[0018] The textile according to the invention comprises a support layer. In practice, according to the invention, this support layer is a fabric. The support according to the invention has dimensional stability. In particular, the support as such can be wound on itself even in the absence of layers of reinforcing threads. Indeed, the layers of reinforcing threads are integrated so as to increase the resistance to elongation of the support in preferred directions. In other words, in the present invention, the layers of reinforcing threads serve to limit the phenomenon of deflection of the support and to distribute the forces exerted on it during its winding, the support therefore having intrinsic dimensional stability.

[0019] Furthermore, the textile according to the invention has a front face and a back face. In the remainder of the description, the front face corresponds to the face of the support which is not covered by the layers of reinforcing threads and the back face corresponds to the face of the support which is covered by the layers of reinforcing threads. In the particular case where the textile is incorporated into an awning, the front face is intended to be positioned towards the sky and the back face towards the ground. Thus, people sheltered under the awning have the reinforcing threads visible on the back face.

[0020] Generally speaking, the textile according to the invention comprises two parallel selvedges and can be rolled up on itself in at least one winding direction parallel or perpendicular to said parallel selvedges. In the particular case where the textile is incorporated into an awning, the winding direction of the textile is directed towards the facade or the wall.

[0021] In other words, in the particular case where the textile is incorporated into an awning, the winding direction corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the winding axis. Of course, in the case where the textile is rectangular in shape, this winding axis is both perpendicular to two parallel selvedges and parallel to the other two parallel selvedges. Generally speaking, at the end of production, the manufactured textile is rectangular in shape and wound on itself in a direction parallel to the two selvedges representing the lengths of the rectangle and perpendicular to the two selvedges representing the widths of the rectangle.

[0022] According to the invention, the textile comprises at least two superimposed layers, namely a first layer and a second layer, made up of reinforcing threads, said layers being positioned on said reverse side.

[0023] In order to secure the reinforcing threads and the support layer, the layers made of reinforcing threads are advantageously sewn or glued to the support layer. Said layers can be secured individually or as a whole.

[0024] In other words, when making the textile, sewing or gluing can be done in two ways. In one case, the joining of the sheets with the support layer is done after the deposition of each of the sheets, that is to say that said second sheet is positioned after said first sheet has been joined to said support layer. In the second case, the two sheets are positioned on said support layer before the joint sewing or gluing step.

[0025] Reinforcing wires can be joined or not joined. Joined is when a reinforcing wire has at least one physical point of contact with at least one other reinforcing wire.

[0026] In the case where all the reinforcing threads in the same sheet are joined, the quantity of reinforcing threads is greater than when the reinforcing threads are not all joined. As a result, when the textile is wound, the stresses are distributed over the entire textile, which reduces the force exerted on each of the reinforcing threads. On the other hand, in this case, the weight of the textile is greater than in the case where the reinforcing threads are not all joined.

[0027] The weight of the textile according to the invention can be optimized depending on the positioning and the count of the reinforcing threads. Indeed, the higher the count of the reinforcing threads, the fewer threads are needed to ensure the technical effect. Thus, the higher the count of the reinforcing threads, the greater the distance between two reinforcing threads can be increased for the same reduction in sag and the same distribution of the forces exerted during winding.

[0028] Generally, the reinforcing threads have a count between 50 dtex and 1200 dtex, advantageously between 150 dtex and 900 dtex and even more advantageously between 250 dtex and 550 dtex. Those skilled in the art will be able to combine the spacing and the count of the reinforcing threads to achieve the desired properties.

[0029] Advantageously, a single sheet is made up of distant or spaced-apart groups of contiguous reinforcing threads. In other words, the sheets can be made up of distinct groups of reinforcing threads, each group comprising, for example, two or three reinforcing threads and are separated from each other. This is advantageous because when the textile is wound, the forces exerted locally are distributed over the threads of the same group and the weight of the textile is reduced compared to the case where all the reinforcing threads are contiguous. Furthermore, this characteristic makes it possible to limit the number of operations for removing the reinforcing threads.

[0030] Indeed, the overall weight of the textile increases with the number of reinforcing threads. Thus, the use of plies in which the reinforcing threads are not all joined together makes it possible to reduce the overall weight of the textile.

[0031] Thus, advantageously, the reinforcing threads of a sheet are not all joined.

[0032] In the case where groups of reinforcing wires are used, it is possible to further reduce the weight. Indeed, for the same reinforcing efficiency, wires of lower mass can be used when positioned in groups and said groups can be further spaced from each other.

[0033] Thus, advantageously, the reinforcement threads have a count between 280dtex and 550dtex.

[0034] In order to maximize the impermeability to fluids, in particular rainwater and condensation, but also in order to generate a perfectly shaded area, that is to say to prevent the sun's rays from passing through the textile, the textile according to the invention is coated on said front side and / or on said back side.

[0035] Preferably, the material used to coat the textile is a polyurethane, an acrylic or a PVC, in the form of plastisol for example.

[0036] The coating layer is advantageously applied to the textile after the reinforcement threads have been positioned. This is advantageous because, if the reinforcement threads are sewn, holes are created in the support layer, and the coating layer can plug these holes. A coating on the reverse side also helps to lock the reinforcement threads onto the support and improve the tensioning of the support when the reinforcement threads are stretched.

[0037] In a particular embodiment, the textile is coated on the reverse side after positioning the layers of reinforcing yarns, then coated a second time on at least one of the reverse and front sides as described above. The first coating ensures good coating of the layers of reinforcing yarns. In this particular embodiment, the first coating is advantageously carried out with polyurethane.

[0038] According to the invention, said reinforcing threads form angles of between 5° and 85° with said winding direction, said angles being symmetrical with respect to said winding direction.

[0039] These reinforcing threads allow the textile's stresses to be distributed throughout the fabric. Generally speaking, when a fabric is stretched, the stresses exerted on the fabric cause a deflection towards the center of gravity of the stretched fabric. Thus, in the particular case of a rectangular fabric, the stresses are mainly exerted on the diagonals of the rectangle and the center of the rectangle tends to sag. The angle of the reinforcing threads with the optimal winding direction depends on the shape and dimensions of the fabric. The fact that the angles of the two layers are symmetrical with respect to the winding direction allows the stresses to be distributed evenly throughout the fabric and thus significantly reduces the fabric's deflection.

[0040] The shape of the support, and therefore of the textile, can be varied. Generally, the support is rectangular or trapezoidal in shape.

[0041] In a particular embodiment, the textile is rectangular in shape.

[0042] In the case where the textile is rectangular in shape, the textile is wound in a winding direction parallel to the widths of the rectangle, and therefore perpendicular to the lengths of said rectangle. In this particular embodiment, the Applicant has noted that it is advantageous to position the reinforcing threads so that a reinforcing thread or a group of reinforcing threads is positioned along the two diagonals of said rectangle.

[0043] In a particular embodiment, the textile further comprises two plies of additional reinforcing threads, namely a third ply and a fourth ply, said reinforcing threads forming angles (α 3 α 4 ) of between 5° and 85° with said winding direction, said angles being symmetrical with respect to said winding direction. This particular embodiment is advantageous because it makes it possible to distribute the stresses exerted on the reinforcing threads during the winding of the textile according to the invention according to the progress of the winding process. Indeed, in the case where the textile is rectangular in shape, the lengths have the same dimension during the winding process, while the widths decrease. Thus, the diagonal of the rectangle of textile remaining to be wound has an angle which evolves linearly with the winding of the textile. The theoretical optimal positioning angle of the reinforcing threads also evolves.

[0044] In another particular embodiment, the textile is trapezoidal in shape. In this case, the winding direction is perpendicular to said parallel selvedges, which form the small and large base of the trapezoid, and, for practical reasons, the winding axis is located on the side of the largest selvedge between said two parallel selvedges, in other words on the side of the large base of the trapezoid. In this particular embodiment, the Applicant has noted that it is advantageous to position the reinforcing threads so that one part is parallel to one of the sides of the trapezoid connecting the bases and another part is parallel to the other side of the trapezoid connecting the bases. Indeed, in the case where the trapezoidal-shaped textile is incorporated into an awning, the sides of the trapezoid connecting the bases tend to sag because they are not perfectly taut, thus, the reinforcing threads make it possible to reduce the sag at the edge of the textile.

[0045] Advantageously, the layers of reinforcing threads have a different density of reinforcing threads from one layer to another. This is advantageous because, in the case where the textile is incorporated into an awning, the effort required to roll the textile on itself depends on the progress of the rolling process. Thus, the density of reinforcing threads on each layer can be adapted according to the stresses exerted on the textile.

[0046] Thus, advantageously, said plies comprise, independently, between 2 and 8 reinforcing threads per cm.

[0047] The invention also relates to an awning according to claim 9 comprising at least one textile as described above.

[0048] In the case where the awning comprises at least two textiles as described above, said textiles are advantageously assembled at the rebates by welding then calendering. This is advantageous because no excess thickness is generated at the textile assembly area; it is indeed known that excess thicknesses generate tensions on the textile at the edge of the assembly areas, which causes folds and can lead to the aforementioned problems. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0049] The manner of carrying out the invention, as well as the advantages which result therefrom, will emerge clearly from the description of the embodiments which follow, supported by the appended figures in which: there figure 1 is a perspective view of a textile according to one aspect of the invention; the figures 2 to 4 are top views of textiles according to three particular cases of the invention; the Figures 5a and 5bare cross sections of the assembly area of ​​two textiles according to the invention having a rebate, shown respectively before and after assembly.

[0050] Of course, the dimensions and proportions of the elements illustrated in the Figures 1 to 5b may have been exaggerated in relation to reality, and have been given only for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the invention. On the figures 1 to 4 , the arrow indicates the direction of winding of the textile according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] As illustrated in the figure 1 , the textile according to one aspect of the invention comprises a support 5, a sheet made up of the reinforcing threads 1 and a second sheet made up of the reinforcing threads 2.

[0052] The sheet consisting of the reinforcing threads 1 is positioned on the support layer 5 and the sheet consisting of the reinforcing threads 2 is positioned on the sheet containing the reinforcing threads 1. The reinforcing threads are positioned in a flat manner. In other words, the reinforcing threads 1 define the plane of the first sheet and the reinforcing threads 2 define the plane of the second sheet. As a result, the textile shown in figure 1 , comprises three distinct and parallel planes, a first plane represented by the support layer, a second plane represented by the first layer made up of the reinforcing threads 1 and a third plane represented by the second layer made up of the reinforcing threads 2.

[0053] Thus, the reinforcement wires 1 and 2 do not have any bending. This means that as soon as a stress is exerted on them, the reinforcement wires are already straight and immediately transmit their tension.

[0054] There figure 2is a top view of the textile according to the figure 1 on which 6 stitching threads have been shown.

[0055] The reinforcing threads 1 form an angle α 1 with the winding direction of the textile; this angle α 1 is between 5° and 85°. The reinforcing threads 2 form an angle α 2 which is symmetrical to the angle α 1 with respect to the winding direction. The fact that the angles α 1 and α 2 are symmetrical makes it possible to distribute the stresses evenly on the textile when it is stretched or in the winding phase.

[0056] The stitching threads 6 are used to secure the layers made of reinforcing threads to the support layer. As shown in the figure 2 , the stitching threads were sewn after positioning the second layer made up of the reinforcing threads 2.

[0057] As already mentioned, the layers made of reinforcing threads can be glued and not sewn, or sewn one by one.

[0058] The particular embodiment shown in the figure 3 has four plies of reinforcing yarns. In the same way as before, the reinforcing yarns 1 and the reinforcing yarns 2 form an angle α 1 and an angle α 2 respectively with the winding direction of the textile. A third and a fourth ply consisting respectively of the reinforcing yarns 3 and the reinforcing yarns 4 are positioned above the second ply of reinforcing yarns. The reinforcing yarns 3 form an angle α 3 with the winding direction and the reinforcing yarns 4 form an angle α 4 with the winding direction, the angles α 3 and α 4 being symmetrical with respect to the winding direction.

[0059] In the same manner as in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the different layers are in distinct and parallel planes.

[0060] The advantage of the reinforcing wires 3 and 4 is to be able to optimize the distribution of the forces exerted on the reinforcing wires. To do this, the reinforcing wires 3 form an angle α 3 which is greater than the angle α 1 . Similarly, and due to the fact that the angles α 1 and α 2 on the one hand and the angles α 3 and α 4 on the other hand are symmetrical to each other, the angle α 4 is greater than the angle α 2 .

[0061] During the textile winding phase, the fraction located between the load bar and the winding axis, which is tensioned, decreases. As a result, the forces exerted on the textile change direction as the textile is wound. Thus, the stresses exerted change during the winding of the textile and the effectiveness of the reinforcement threads 1 and 2 decreases. The reinforcement threads 3 and 4 are then more stressed and the stress exerted on the reinforcement threads 1 and 2 is reduced, which makes it possible to distribute the force throughout the winding process.

[0062] The particular embodiment shown in the figure 4 illustrates the case where the textile is trapezoidal in shape. In this case, the winding direction is perpendicular to the two parallel selvedges of the textile which form the small base and the large base of the trapezoid.

[0063] The other characteristics of the textile, namely the symmetry of the angles of the reinforcing threads, and the arrangement on separate planes of the layers of reinforcing threads and the support layer, are similar.

[0064] Preferably, and as illustrated in the figure 4 , the reinforcing wires are angled to be parallel to the sides of the trapezoid connecting the bases. This helps maintain tension in the side areas of the trapezoid when tension is exerted by the load bar, which is shorter than the large base of the trapezoid.

[0065] When the textile is not wide enough to be used alone, it is possible to join several textiles together. To do this, advantageously, the textiles are joined by rebates, as illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b so as not to generate excess thickness in the assembly area.

[0066] The advantage of not creating excess thickness in the assembly area is to avoid the formation of folds. Indeed, as mentioned previously, it is known that excess thickness creates tension on the textile at the edge of the assembly areas, which causes folds and can lead to the problems mentioned above.

[0067] In the embodiment as illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b , two textiles 7 and 8 are assembled. The textiles 7 and 8 have at least one of their edges a projecting part 71, 81 over part of its thickness, on the reverse side or on the right side ( Figure 5 a) . In practice, the superposition of the protruding parts 71 and 81 makes it possible to provide continuity between the textiles 7 and 8 ( Figure 5b ). In other words, the protruding part 71 is complementary to the protruding part 81 in the thickness of the textiles 7 and 8.

[0068] Advantageously, the projecting portion 71 of the textile 7 comprises the textile core 72 of the textile 7 and the projecting portion 81 of the textile 8 does not comprise the textile core 82 of the textile 8. Thus, advantageously, the projecting portion 71 has a thickness equal to approximately 2 / 3 of the thickness of the textile 7 and the projecting portion 81 has a thickness equal to approximately 1 / 3 of the thickness of the textile 8.

[0069] The two textiles 7 and 8 are assembled by superimposing their projecting parts 71, 81 so as to make the reverse faces and the right faces of the textiles 7 and 8 coincide ( Figure 5 b) In practice, once the protruding parts 71, 81 are superimposed, the two textiles 7 and 8 are welded together.

[0070] In practice, the protruding parts 71, 81 of the textiles 7 and 8 can be obtained in different ways.

[0071] In a particular embodiment, the projecting parts 71, 81 are obtained by not depositing a layer present on the rest of the surface of the sheet. In other words, during the coating phase of the textile core, several elementary layers are deposited successively. One or more of these elementary layers may be absent in the areas of the characteristic bands. To do this, masks may be added to the coating machine so as to prevent the liquid PVC of some of these elementary layers from being deposited in this area, thus producing a band whose coating layer is of lesser thickness compared to the rest of the surface.

[0072] In another particular embodiment, the protruding parts 71, 81 are obtained by trimming a portion of a coating layer present on the surface of the sheet. This operation makes it possible to mechanically remove a portion of the coating layer on one or more strips.

[0073] In practice, in the two preceding embodiments, the portion of the fabric of the textile 8 which is not coated on one of these faces is removed by cutting.

Claims

1. A fabric which comprises two parallel selvages, which can be wound onto itself in at least one winding direction running parallel or perpendicular to said parallel selvages, to be kept taut and comprising a support layer (5), said support layer (5) has a front face and a rear face, the fabric including at least two sheets, i.e. a first sheet and a second sheet, one of which is arranged on top of the other and which consist of reinforcement threads (1, 2), said sheets being arranged on the rear face, the reinforcement threads (1, 2) extending at angles (α1, a2) of 5° to 85° relative to the winding direction, said angles (α1, α2) being symmetrical in relation to the winding direction, said fabric being coated on front and / or on rear side characterized in that the support layer (5) is a woven fabric.

2. The fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that said sheets comprising reinforcement threads (1, 2) are sewn or glued to said support layer (5).

3. The fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcement threads (1, 2) of a sheet are not all contiguous.

4. The fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcement threads (1, 2) have a count between 50 dtex and 1200 dtex.

5. The fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises two additional sheets of reinforcement threads (3, 4), i.e. a third sheet and a fourth sheet, with said reinforcement threads (3, 4) extending at 16 angles (α3 α4) between 5° and 85° with said winding direction, said angles (α3 α4) being symmetrical in relation to the winding direction.

6. The fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcement thread sheets (1, 2, 3, 4) present a different reinforcement thread density between sheets.

7. The fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sheets comprise, independently, between 2 and 8 reinforcement threads (1, 2, 3, 4) per cm.

8. The fabric according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support layer (5) is rectangular or trapezoidal in form.

9. An awning comprising at least one fabric according to one of the preceding claims.

10. The awning according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises at least two fabrics according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said fabrics are assembled by soldering then by calandering or by rabbet.