CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.

62/975,124, filed February 11, 2020, and U.S. Utility Patent Application No. 17/173,134, filed February 10, 2021, the entire disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to textile sleeves for protecting elongate members, and more particularly to impact resistant, corrugated, wrappable multilayered woven tubular sleeves.

2. Related Art

[0003] It is known to contain elongate members, such as wires, wire harnesses, cables and conduits of various types in woven sleeves to provide protection to the elongate members against impact and abrasion, fluid and thermal affects. In applications where high impact resistance is needed to prevent damage to the sleeve and the contents therein, wrappable woven sleeves having multiple layers are known. Each of the layers of the multilayered wall are typically formed having the same, non-varying, uniform weave pattern over their entirety, and thus, upon wrapping the wall of the sleeve to bring opposite edges into overlapping relation with one another, thereby encircling the elongate being protected therein, the multiple layers typically result in the sleeve being stiff and inflexible, thereby making it difficult to route the sleeve along a meandering path, particularly without causing the sleeve to buckle and/or open along overlapping edges.

[0004] Accordingly, what is needed is a wrappable, multilayered woven sleeve that provides enhanced protection to an elongate member contained therein, particularly against impact, abrasion and contamination, while being able to be freely routed about meandering paths while maintaining its wrapped configuration without buckling and/or opening along the overlapping edges, while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance, being economical in manufacture and assembly, and exhibiting a long and useful life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] One aspect of the disclosure provides a wrappable, corrugated, multilayered woven sleeve for routing and protecting elongate members. The sleeve includes an elongate multilayered wall having opposite edges extending lengthwise between opposite ends. The opposite edges are wrappable about a central axis into overlapping relation with one another to bound a central cavity. The wall has a plurality of layers extending in overlying relation with one another between the opposite ends. Each of the layers include warp yams extending generally parallel to the central axis woven with fill yams extending generally transversely to the warp yams. Each of the layers include a plurality of first annular bands, referred to hereafter as annular bands A, and a plurality of second annular bands, referred to hereafter as annular bands B, wherein the annular bands A, B alternate with one another along each layer and along the length of the wall. The annular bands A of each layer include monofilament weft yam and multifilament weft yam and the annular bands B of each layer include only one of monofilament weft yam or multifilament weft yam. The annular bands A of each layer are radially aligned in overlapping relation with one another and the annular bands B of each layer are radially aligned in overlapping relation with one another. The annular bands A of each layer form peaks, while the annular bands B of each layer form valleys, such that the wall has a corrugated contour, thereby enhancing the flexibility of the wall to allow it to be routed over meandering paths without kinking. [0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the multilayered wall includes a radially outermost layer, a radially innermost layer, and at least one intermediate layer sandwiched between the radially outermost layer and the radially innermost layer.

[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, at least one of the radially outermost layer, the radially innermost layer, and the intermediate layer (s) can have a different weave pattern from at least one of the other layers.

[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the radially outermost layer, the radially innermost layer, and the intermediate layer (s) can be woven from any one of a plain weave pattern, a twill weave pattern, a basket weave pattern, and a satin weave pattern, wherein at least some or all of the layers may be woven with the same weave pattern, or at least some or all of the layers may be woven with a different weave pattern.

[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of constructing a wrappable, corrugated, multilayered woven sleeve is provided. The method includes weaving an elongate wall having opposite edges extending lengthwise between opposite ends, with the elongate wall being configured to be wrapped about a central axis to bring the opposite edges into overlapping relation with one another to bound a central cavity. Further, weaving the wall to include a plurality of layers extending in overlying relation with one another between the opposite edges and the opposite ends, with each of the layers including warp yams extending generally parallel to the central axis woven with fill yams extending generally transversely to the warp yams. Further yet, weaving each of the layers including a plurality of annular bands A and a plurality of annular bands B, with the annular bands A and the annular bands B alternating with one another along the length of the wall. Further yet, weaving the annular bands A of each layer including monofilament weft yam and multifilament weft yam and weaving the annular bands B of each layer including only one of monofilament weft yam or multifilament weft yam. Further, radially aligning the annular bands A of each layer in overlapping relation with one another and radially aligning the annular bands B of each layer in overlapping relation with one another, wherein the annular bands A of each layer form peaks and the annular bands B of each layer form valleys, such that the wall has a corrugated contour, thereby enhancing the flexibility of the wall to allow it to be routed over meandering paths without kinking.

[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include weaving the multilayered wall including a radially outermost layer, a radially innermost layer, and at least one intermediate layer sandwiched between the radially outermost layer and the radially innermost layer.

[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include weaving at least one of the radially outermost layer, the radially innermost layer, and the intermediate layer(s) having a different weave pattern from at least one of the other layers.

[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include weaving the radially outermost layer, the radially innermost layer, and the intermediate layer(s) having any one of a plain weave pattern, a twill weave pattern, a basket weave pattern, and a satin weave pattern, wherein at least some or all of the layers may be woven with the same weave pattern, or at least some or all of the layers may be woven with a different weave pattern.

[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can further include weaving the wall including at least one of heat-settable yams and heat-shrinkable yams, wherein the heat-shrinkable yams are provided as high length shrinkage yams having a shrinkage in length between 4-20% or greater upon being exposed to a heat-treatment process, thereby causing the wall to take on an increased density, thus, increasing the cut resistance, impact resistance, and overall protective attributes of the wall. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] 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:

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a wrappable, multilayered, woven sleeve constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention shown wrapped about an elongate member to be protected;

[0016] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of Figure

1 with the elongate member removed; and

[0017] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a layer of a wall of the sleeve of Figure 1 shown in a flattened state prior to being wrapped;

[0018] Figure 3A is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the wall of Figure 3 illustrating bands of weft yams thereof with warp yams omitted for clarity purposes only;

[0019] Figure 3B is a view similar to FIG. 3A illustrating a wall constmcted in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure; and

[0020] Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a plurality of layers of the wall of Figure

3 illustrating different weave patterns and weave densities between the plurality of layers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0021] Referring in more detail to the drawings, Figure 1 schematically illustrates a flexible, wrappable, multilayered, woven sleeve, referred to hereafter as sleeve 10, constmcted in accordance with one aspect of the invention having a corrugated wall 12 wrapped about an elongate member 11 to be protected, such as a wire harness, conduit, or the like. The wall 12 includes has opposite edges 14, 16 extending lengthwise between opposite ends 18, 20. The opposite edges 14, 16 are wrappable about a central axis 22 into overlapping relation with one another to bound a central cavity 24, through which the elongate member 11 extends and in which the elongate member 11 is protected against impact forces, such as may be experienced in a vehicle crash, abrasion, and ingress of contamination, by way of example and without limitation. The wall 12 has a plurality of layers, including at least a pair of layers and shown in Figure 2 as four layers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, by way of example and without limitation, extending in overlying, abutting relation with one another between the opposite ends 18, 20. Each of the layers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, as best shown for one of the layers in Figure 3, with it to be understood that each layer can be constructed having the same or substantially the same construction (substantially is intended to mean slight differences could exist between the layers, such as weave pattern, for example, though it is to be further understood that the underlying premise of the disclosure is maintained within each layer to form a corrugated wall, as discussed further below) include warp yams 28 extending generally parallel to the central axis 22 woven with weft yams, also referred to as fill yams 30, extending generally transversely to the warp yams 28. Upon wrapping the opposite edges 14, 16 into overlapping relation with one another, one of the plurality of layers forms a radially outermost layer 26a and one of the plurality of layers forms a radially innermost layer 26d. Each of the layers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d include a plurality of annular first bands A and a plurality of annular second bands B alternating with one another along the length of the wall 12, as shown in Figures 3 and 3 A. The annular first bands A of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d include monofilament weft yam 30' and multifilament weft yam 30" and the annular second bands B of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d include only one of monofilament weft yam 30' or multifilament weft yam 30", shown in Figure 3A as monofilament weft yam 30' and shown in Figure 3B as multifilament weft yam 30". The annular first bands A of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d are radially aligned in overlapping relation with one another and the annular second bands B of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d are radially aligned in overlapping relation with one another. The annular first bands A of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d form peaks P having a generally convex outer surface contour, while the annular second bands B of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d form valleys V having a generally concave outer surface contour, such that the wall 12 has a corrugated contour, including peaks P and valleys V alternating with one another along its length, thereby enhancing the bending flexibility of the wall 12 to allow it to be routed over winding, meandering paths in zig-zag fashion, including around sharp bends and comers, without kinking.

[0022] To facilitate maintaining the wall 12 in its wrapped state about the elongate member 11, at least some of the fill yams 30 within the layers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d can be provided as heat-settable fill yams, and can be provided as monofilament weft yam 30' and/or as multifilament weft yam 30". As such, any suitable heat treat process causes the wall 12 to take on a heat-set tubular shape to remain biased in its wrapped tubular state absent an externally applied force to the opposite edges 14, 16, wherein an externally applied force can be applied to separate the opposite edges 14, 16 away from one another to insert the elongate member 11 into the cavity 24 during assembly and to remove the elongate member 11 from the cavity during service, whereupon removal of the externally applied force allows the opposite edges 14, 16 to automatically move back into overlapping relation with one another. [0023] To enhance the protective attributes of the wall 12, including its impact resistance, cut-through resistance, and resistance to ingress of contamination, at least some of the warp 28 and/or fill yams 30 within the layers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d can be provided as high shrinkage yam, with high shrinkage meaning shrinking in length between 4-20% or more. As such, any suitable heat treat process causes the wall 12 to become increased in density via the shrinking of the high shrinkage yam(s).

[0024] In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, as shown in Figure 4, the radially outermost layer 26a can be woven having a first weave pattern WPa having a first weave tightness (density) WDa and the radially innermost layer 26d can be woven having a second weave pattern WPd having a second weave tightness (density) WDd, with the first weave tightness (density) WDa being greater than the second weave tightness (density) WDd. As such, upon heat-setting the layers 26a, 26d, the innermost layer 26d is caused to take on a heat-set with without having wrinkles formed therein. It is to be recognized that the intermediate layers 26b, 26c sandwiched between the radially outermost layer 26a and the radially inner most layer 26d can be woven having respective weave patterns WPb, WPc decreasing in weave tightness (density) relative to one another such that the weave tightnesses (densities) WDa, WDb, WDc, WDd decrease relative to one another progressively from the radially outermost layer 26a to the radially innermost layer 26d. Accordingly, WDa>WDb>WDc>WDd. As a result, upon heat-setting the wall 12, each of the layers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d remains smooth and free from wrinkles.

[0025] In addition, within the aspects discussed above, the warp yams 28 and/or fill yams 30 can be provided as high tenacity yams, such as from high tenacity polyethylene terephthalate (PET), para-aramid, liquid-crystal polymer, and the like. The high tenacity, defined herein by grams/denier, is provided being between 4-10 grams/denier, which provides increased resistance to cut-through and absorbs an increased amount of impact energy without breaking, thereby provided optimal crash resistance and protection to the elongate member 11. To further yet increase the density and impact resistance of the wall 12, at least some of the warp yams 28 and/or fill yams 30 can be provided having a high shrinkage, wherein high shrinkage is defined herein as shrinking lengthwise between 4-20% or more of a pre-treated, pre-shrunken length, whereupon shrinking the yams, the yams 28, 30 are drawn together to increase the density of the wall 12.

[0026] In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a method of constructing a wrappable, multilayered (two layers or more) woven sleeve 10 is provided. The method includes weaving an elongate wall 12 having opposite edges 14, 16 extending lengthwise between opposite ends 18, 20, with the elongate wall 12 being configured to be wrapped about a central axis 22 to bring the opposite edges 14, 16 into overlapping relation with one another to bound a central cavity 24. Further, the method includes weaving the wall 12 to include a plurality of layers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d extending in overlying relation with one another between the opposite ends 18, 20 and between the opposite edges 14, 16. The method further includes weaving each of the layers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d including warp yams 28 extending generally parallel to the central axis 22 being woven with fill yams 30 extending generally transversely to the warp yams 28, with one of the plurality of layers 26a being woven to form a radially outermost layer and one of the plurality of layers 26d being woven to form a radially innermost layer. Further yet, weaving each of the layers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d including a plurality of first annular bands A and a plurality of second annular bands B, with the annular bands A and the annular bands B alternating with one another along each of the layers 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d and along the length of the wall 12. Further yet, weaving the annular bands A of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d including both monofilament weft yam 30' and multifilament weft yam 30" and weaving the annular bands B of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d including only one of monofilament weft yam 30' or multifilament weft yam 30". Further, radially aligning the annular bands A of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d in overlapping relation with one another and radially aligning the annular bands B of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d in overlapping relation with one another, wherein the annular bands A of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d form peaks P and the annular bands B of each layer 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d form valleys V, such that the wall 12 has a corrugated contour along its length, thereby enhancing the flexibility of the wall 12 to allow it to be routed over meandering paths without kinking. [0027] 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.