CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/323,975, filed March 25, 2022, and priority to U.S. Application Serial No. 18/126,154 filed March 24, 2023, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to textile sleeves for protecting elongate members, and more particularly to flexible, dielectric, impact resistant textile sleeves.

2. Related Art

[0003] It is known to contain and protect elongate members, such as wires and wire harnesses, for example, in circumferentially continuous and wrappable textile sleeves to provide protection to cables, wires, and hoses contained therein. Improvements of known circumferentially continuous and wrappable textile sleeves are desired to provide enhanced protection, including dielectric resistance protection and impact resistance protection, while also being flexible for routing cables, wires or hoses through winding areas, while also having a low, non-bulky radially extending profile for applications having tight passages and weight restrictions, such as aircraft and aerospace applications, for example, while being economical in manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] One aspect of the invention provides a textile sleeve for routing and protecting an elongate member. The textile sleeve has a wall including a textile layer with an inner surface and an opposite outer surface extending lengthwise along a central longitudinal axis between opposite ends. The inner surface is configured to bound a cavity sized for receipt of the elongate member therein. The textile layer is formed of yams interlaced with one another, wherein a least some of the yams include multifilaments resistant to heat and/or monofilaments resistant to heat, thus, rendering the sleeve heat-resistant. A silicone-based coating is adhered to the outer surface to provide enhanced heat-resistance, dielectric protection and impact resistance.

[0005] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, at least some of the yams are formed of polyester.

[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the polyester is provided as a high tenacity polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, at least some of the PET yams are provided as monofilaments and/or multifilaments.

[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, at least some of the yams are provided being resistant to heat.

[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, at least some of the yams can be provided being cut resistant.

[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the yams include warp yams extending generally parallel to said central longitudinal axis and weft yams extending generally transversely to said central longitudinal axis, said warp yams being woven with said weft yams.

[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the wall can be constructed to extend widthwise between opposite edges, with the opposite edges being configured to be wrapped about the central longitudinal axis to bound the elongate member within the cavity.

[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, at least some of the weft yams can be heat-set to bias the wall to take-on a tubular configuration with the opposite edges being biased in overlapping relation with one another. [0013] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the yams can be braided with one another.

[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the wall can be constructed being circumferentially continuous.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of constructing a textile sleeve for routing and protecting an elongate member is provided. The method includes interlacing yam to form a textile layer having an inner surface and an outer surface extending along a central longitudinal axis between opposite ends. The inner surface is configured to bound a cavity sized for receipt of the elongate member. The method further includes bonding a silicone-based coating on the outer surface.

[0016] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include interlacing the yams with one another in a weaving process.

[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include weaving the yams including warp yams extending generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis and weft yams extending generally transversely to the warp yams, and providing at least some of the warp yams and/or weft yams as monofilaments and/or multifilaments of cut-resistant material and/or high tenacity PET.

[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include weaving the wall being circumferentially continuous.

[0019] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include weaving the wall having opposite edges configured to be wrapped about the central longitudinal axis to bound the elongate member within the cavity.

[0020] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include heat-setting at least some of the weft yams to bias the opposite edges in overlapping relation with one another. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] These and other aspects, features and advantages will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1A is schematic perspective view of a wrappable sleeve constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention, with the wrappable sleeve shown wrapped about an elongate member to be protected therein;

[0023] Figure IB is schematic perspective view of a circumferentially continuous sleeve constructed in accordance with another aspect of the invention, with the circumferentially continuous sleeve shown disposed about an elongate member to be protected therein;

[0024] Figure 2A schematically illustrates a weaved section of a portion of an interlaced layer of the sleeves of Figures 1A and IB; and

[0025] Figure 2B schematically illustrates a braided section of a portion of an interlaced layer of the sleeves of Figures 1A and IB.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0026] Referring in more detail to the drawings, Figures 1A and IB show a schematic representation of a wrappable 10a and circumferentially continuous 10b textile sleeve, respectively, constructed in accordance with different aspects of the invention, wherein textile sleeves 10a, 10b are discussed hereafter generically as sleeve 10, with common reference numerals being used to identify like features of the sleeves 10a, 10b, unless otherwise specified. The sleeve 10 has a flexible, elongate wall 12 for routing and protecting one or more elongate member(s) 14, such as a cable, wires, and pipe, for example, to provide a variety of type of protection, including dielectric protection, protection against abrasion, protection against thermal conditions including high heat and fire, fluid absorption and ingress, e.g. water, oil, fuel, and the like, and other environmental conditions, such as contamination. The wall 12 can be constructed having any suitable size, including length and diameter. The wall 12 has an inner surface 15 and an opposite outer surface 17 extending lengthwise about a longitudinal central axis 20 between opposite ends 19, 21, with inner surface 15 bounding a cavity 22 sized for receipt of elongate member 14 therein. The wrappable sleeve 10a has opposite edges 16, 18 that extend parallel or generally parallel (intended to mean that to the naked eye, a person possessing ordinary skill in the art (POSA) would view the relationship to be parallel, though it may not be truly parallel) to the longitudinal central axis 20, wherein the opposite edges 16, 18 are wrappable into overlapping relation with one another in "cigarette wrapped" fashion to fully enclose the elongate member 14 within the central cavity 22. The wall 12 has an inner, interlaced textile layer 23 formed of yams 24 interlaced with one another in one of a woven (a portion of the entire woven textile layer 23 is shown in Figure 2A, with the remaining woven portion not shown being the same) or braided (a portion of the entire braided textile layer 23 is shown in Figure 2B, with the remaining braided portion not shown being the same) fashion, wherein a least some of the yams 24 include multifilaments 24a (a multifilament is a term well known to a POSA, known to be a single yam including multiple filaments intertwined with one another) resistant to heat and/or monofilaments 24b (a monofilament is a term well known to a POSA, known to be a single, solid filament of material) resistant to heat. A silicone-based coating 26 is adhered to the outer surface 17 of the interlaced textile layer 23, shown as being adhered to the entirety of the outer surface 17, wherein the sihcone-based coating 26 provides the dielectric protection, while enhancing the heat-resistance and abrasion protection to the elongate member 14, and protection against fluid absorption/ingress.

[0027] The silicone-based coating 26 is a continuous, fluid impervious coating, thereby being impervious to water, fuel (e.g. kerosene), oil, and the like, to render the wall 12 fluid impervious as well as fluid repellant. As such, fluid is prevented from being absorbed by the textile layer 23, thus, preventing water, fuel and the like from compromising the ability of the sleeve 10 to provide the desired levels of protection discussed above. The silicone- based coating 26 can include at least one or both of a flame retardant and a heat stabilizer, and can be provided having a thickness between about 0.1-3.0mm, by way of example and without limitation, thereby contributing to the wall 12 having a radially narrow, low profile, thereby enhancing the flexibility and ability to be routed in relatively small, tight spaces.

[0028] The interlaced yams 24 can be woven, including warp yams 36 extending generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis 20 and weft yams 38 extending generally transversely to the central longitudinal axis 20. The warp yams 36 can be woven with the weft yams 38 in any desired weave pattern, including a plain weave, twill weave, satin weave or basket weave, for example, with the plain weave pattern being preferred to provide a smooth, stable and uniform protection pattern, with the smoothness facilitating bonding of the silicone-base coating 26 to the outer surface 17. The warp yams 36 can be provided entirely from the multifilaments 24a, with the multifilaments 24a being resistant to heat (high temperature resistant); entirely from the monofilaments 24b, with the monofilaments 24b being resistant to heat (high temperature resistant), or a mixture thereof. In similar fashion, the weft yams 38 can be provided entirely from the multifilaments 24a, with the multifilaments 24a being resistant to heat; entirely from the monofilaments 24b, with the monofilaments 24b being resistant to heat, or a mixture thereof. The warp yams 36 and/or the weft yams 38 can be formed of polyester, and in particular of high tenacity polyethylene terephthalate (PET), wherein the warp yams 36 and the weft yams 38 can be provided as the same t pe of yam in their entirety, or different, as desired for the intended application. [0029] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, with reference to Figures 2A and 2B, the sleeve 10a, 10b, respectively, can be woven (Figure 2A) or braided (Figure 2B) with the aforementioned multifilaments 24a and/or monofilaments 24b.

[0030] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of constructing a textile sleeve 10a, 10b is provided. The method includes interlacing yam 24 to form a textile layer 23 having an inner surface 15 and an outer surface 17 extending along a central longitudinal axis 20 between opposite ends 19, 21. Further, configuring the inner surface 15 to bound a cavity 22 sized for receipt of the elongate member 14. Further yet, bonding a silicone-based coating 26 on the outer surface 17.

[0031] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include interlacing the yams 24 with one another in a weaving process.

[0032] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include weaving the yams 24 including warp yams 36 extending generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis 20 and weft yams 38 extending generally transversely to the warp yams 36, and providing at least some of the warp yams 36 and/or weft yams 38 as monofilaments 24b and/or multifilaments 24a of cut-resistant material and/or high tenacity PET.

[0033] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include weaving the wall 12 being circumferentially continuous (Figure 2B).

[0034] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include weaving the wall 12 having opposite edges 16, 18 (Figure 2A) configured to be wrapped about the central longitudinal axis 20 to bound the elongate member 14 within the cavity 22. [0035] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include heat-setting at least some of the weft yams 38 to bias the opposite edges 16, 18 in overlapping relation with one another.

[0036] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include interlacing the yams 24a, 24b with one another in a braiding process.

[0037] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include braiding the wall 12 being circumferentially continuous.

[0038] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is contemplated that all features of all claims and of all embodiments can be combined with each other, so long as such combinations would not contradict one another. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.