EP2570045A1 - Method of manufacturing a strap ring for climbing activities from tubular tissue which is produced axially. - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves forming a tubular fabric (11) by a woven material, where warp threads (3) of the fabric extend parallel to an extension axis (A) of the fabric. A strap ring is made from an axial section (16) of the fabric that is axially cut up by cutting the warp threads, where a weft thread (4) is extended between the warp threads. Side edges of the axial section are hemmed by folding down with the fabric toward an interior of the axial section along an orientation of extension of the warp threads and by circumferentially sewing the hems to a peripheral wall of the axial section.

Description

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of equipment for climbing activities, such as climbing sports or similar activities. The present invention relates more specifically to webbing rings which are formed from a closed loop fabric on itself, and which are used as an attachment member between two elements to be joined to each other.

State of the art

In the field of equipment for climbing activities or the like, there are known webbing rings which are used to join two elements to one another. The strap rings are for example used to form a quickdraw, connecting them remotely fastening members such as metal rings, carabiners or similar fasteners. The strap rings are for example still used to connect together components of a harness or the like, such as a harness and leg loops. The strap rings are still for example used to form a fastening member equipping such a harness, for anchoring various climbing accessories. For example, see the documents FR2632195 (PETZL) or FR2857879 (SNAP), which describe various applications of such webbing rings.

The strap rings are commonly derived from a material woven from synthetic yarns, based on polyamide or polyethylene, or polyester in particular, and must provide a mechanical strength adapted to their safe use for climbing activities. The strap rings are traditionally obtained from a strip of woven material which is closed in a loop on itself, and whose ends are fixed to one another by sewing, by knotting or by means of a connecting member for example. For example, we can refer to the documents FR2881035 (Zedel) FR2870686 (TECHNI STRAPS) which describe such rings of straps.

The bands from which the webbing rings are formed are traditionally derived from a blank formed by warp and weft weaving. The chain comprises a set of warp threads which are arranged parallel to one another, and which provide a support for at least one weft thread which circulates between the warp threads. To obtain a web, the blank is cut so that the warp threads are oriented in the direction of the web length. The band being closed in a loop on itself by fixing its longitudinal ends together, the warp son providing the resistance of the strap ring against the traction to which it is intended to be subjected.

Such methods of manufacturing a strap ring deserve to be improved, to enable it to be obtained at lower cost by offering an optimized resistance to fatigue and rupture.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a webbing ring made from a woven material, which provides a obtaining of the strap ring at lower costs while giving it a resistance to fatigue and the break which is optimized, for a given structure of the warp son and weft son or son.

The present invention also aims to provide a strap ring obtained from the implementation of the method of the present invention, which provides a resistance to fatigue and fracture which is optimized for a given structure of the son forming the fabric. from which he came.

The present invention also proposes to take advantage of the characteristics of fatigue and wear resistance of such a strap ring, to form various climbing accessories, harness and quickdraw in particular.

The method of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a climbing accessory consisting of a strap ring. The strap ring is made from a warp-knit material and at least one weft yarn which extends between the warp yarns.

According to the present invention, the method of manufacturing the strap ring is mainly recognizable in that the woven material is a tubular fabric whose warp yarns extend parallel to the axis of extension of the tubular fabric. The strap ring is derived from an axial section of the tubular fabric, which is axially cut by slicing the warp threads. The axial section delivered from the tubular fabric is shaped in a loop without attaching means specifically dedicated to its maintenance in loop conformation, and lateral hems are preferably formed by flap end faces of the section.

• *) Tisser un tissu tubulaire à fils de chaîne et au moins un fil de trame, les fils de chaîne s'étendant parallèlement à l'axe d'extension du tissu tubulaire et le fil de trame au moins s'étendant en spirale entre les fils de chaîne,
• *) Débiter des tronçons axiaux du tissu tubulaire par tranchage des fils de chaîne, chaque tronçon formant une boucle à partir de laquelle est formé un anneau de sangle respectif.

More specifically, the manufacturing process comprises the following operations:

• *) Weave a tubular warp fabric and at least one weft yarn, the warp yarns extending parallel to the extension axis of the tubular fabric and the weft yarn at least spirally extending between the yarns chain son,
• *) Debiting axial sections of the tubular fabric by slicing the warp son, each section forming a loop from which is formed a respective strap ring.

Preferably, the method comprises an additional operation of forming lateral hems with at least one back, by side flap and circumferential sewing of the hems to the peripheral wall of the section.

The resistance of the webbing ring against radially exerted tensile stresses is provided by the weft yarn extending between the continuous spiral warp yarns from one side edge to the other side of the web. loop. For a weft yarn of given structure, the strap ring is robust, the tensile forces being supported by all the successive turns of the weft yarn. The structural characteristics of the weft yarn are to be considered in particular with regard to its section, the number of strands that compose it and / or the material from which it is derived.

Obtaining the closed loop conformation on itself of the strap ring is made from the operation of axial cutting of the tubular fabric, being free of assembly operations, such as sewing or the like . The operation of axial cutting of the tubular fabric is likely to be easily carried out at high rates and at lower cost, regardless of the output of a weaving station of the tubular fabric or a specialized workshop which is specifically dedicated to the operation of axial cutting. The axial extension of each of the sections determines the width of the loop obtained, which is itself a determining end of the width of the strap ring. Axial cutting of the tubular fabric can be easily performed according to various axial extensions of each of the sections as needed, avoiding tedious adjustment operations of the cutting machine used to extract the webbing ring from the tubular fabric.

The lateral edges of the section are preferably hemmed, to preserve the free ends of the flush or laterally emerging warp threads, and to increase the overall thickness of the strap ring obtained. The hems are in particular formed at the lateral edges of the section, by flap at least one return of the fabric to the inside of the section according to the extension direction of the warp son. The hems are fixed by circumferential sewing of the hems to the peripheral wall of the section. Other similar fastening means of the hems to the peripheral wall of the section are likely to be exploited.

According to one embodiment, the diameter of the zones of the tubular tissue, and the section from which it is derived, corresponding to the returns formed by said flaps, is smaller than the peripheral diameter of the tubular fabric corresponding to the outer face of the peripheral wall of the section. . Such arrangements make it possible to avoid an imbalance between the tensions to which the weft is subjected in the different zones respectively corresponding to the return formed by the flap and to the outer face of the peripheral wall of the strap ring obtained. The differences in diameter of the tubular fabric, for each of the zones corresponding to the returns, corresponds in particular to a reduction of the order of twice the thickness of the weft yarn.

The flaps are for example each two returns, including a return cover of an end return. The zones of the section, and the tubular fabric from which it is derived, corresponding to the cover returns, are of a diameter less than the diameter of the zones of the section, and the tubular fabric from which it is derived, corresponding to the end returns, which are themselves of a diameter smaller than the peripheral diameter of the tubular tissue.

According to a particular embodiment in which the strap ring is used to form a quickdraw, the section is flattened and stitched transversely, forming a middle flattened strap ring bordered by end eyelets. The concept of transverse stitching is to be considered extending between the two lateral edges of the strap ring, such as substantially following the extension direction of the warp threads, or even following a significant inclination of the seams relative to this orientation. .

The strap ring which is obtained from the implementation of the method of the invention as described, is arranged in a loop closed on itself. The loop forming the peripheral wall of the strap ring is free assembly means specifically dedicated to maintaining in conformation of the loop closed on itself, including reported assembly means such as seams, for example.

The loop being derived from a woven material warp son and at least one weft yarn, we recognize in particular a strap ring of the present invention in that the warp son are oriented along the axial extension of the loop, and in that the weft yarn extends in a continuous spiral between the warp yarns, from one side edge to the other of the peripheral wall of the strap ring.

The peripheral wall of the webbing ring is preferably doubled by at least one inner hems, which are respectively formed by flap of the lateral edges of the peripheral wall of the webbing ring. According to a preferred embodiment, the hems each comprise two supposed returns and assembled, in particular by sewing, to the peripheral wall of the strap ring.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least the weft yarn, if not also the warp yarns, are derived from a synthetic material based on polyethylene or other similar material deemed to offer a high resistance to fatigue and tensile failure. . The material used from which the weft yarn originates is preferably a robust synthetic material, in particular based on polyethylene. The warp son forming only a support for the weft yarn, the warp son may be derived from a less robust synthetic material, such as a polyamide material.

According to a general structure of the son forming the strap ring, any of the warp son and the weft yarn is indifferently a single-strand or a multi-strand wire. The weft yarn is likely to be a single-strand wire, or advantageously be a multi-strand wire to increase its strength for a given section. The warp son forming only a support for the weft yarn, their single-strand wire structure is exploitable. Potentially, warp yarns are also likely to be stranded yarns.

A strap ring of the present invention as described is likely to be applied for many climbing gear and accessories. For example, a harness according to the present invention is capable of integrating one or more rings of straps as described. A strap ring of the present invention is capable of joining together constituent parts of the harness, such as a harness with thigh turns, and / or constituting an anchoring member of a climbing accessory to the harness. .

For example still, a quickdraw according to the present invention is likely to integrate one or more webbing rings as described. A strap ring of the present invention having a said middle flattened area bordered by end eyelets, is capable of forming a connecting link between at least two fastening members, such as metal rings and / or carabiners by example.

Description of the figures.

• Les fig.1 et fig.2 sont des illustrations d'un anneau de sangle selon un exemple de réalisation de la présente invention, représenté respectivement en perspective et en coupe.
• La fig.3 est une illustration en perspective d'un tissu tubulaire, à partir duquel est débité un tronçon de tissu exploité pour former un anneau de sangle tel que représenté sur les fig. 1 et fig.2.
• La fig.4 est une illustration en perspective d'un tronçon de tissu tubulaire à partir duquel est formé un anneau de sangle tel que représenté sur les fig.1 et fig.2, selon une forme préférée de réalisation.
• La fig.5 est une illustration en perspective d'un lien pour dégaine formé à partir d'un anneau de sangle représenté sur les fig.1 et fig.2.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in connection with the figures of the attached plate, in which:

• The fig.1 and fig.2 are illustrations of a strap ring according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, respectively shown in perspective and in section.
• The fig.3 is a perspective illustration of a tubular fabric, from which is fed a section of fabric used to form a strap ring as shown in Fig. 1 and fig.2 .
• The fig.4 is a perspective illustration of a section of tubular fabric from which is formed a strap ring as shown in FIGS. fig.1 and fig.2 according to a preferred embodiment.
• The fig.5 is a perspective illustration of a quickdraw link formed from a strap ring depicted on the fig.1 and fig.2 .

On the fig.1 and fig.2 , a climbing accessory consists of a loop ring 1 shaped loop closed on itself. The strap ring 1 is derived from a warp yarn 3 and at least one weft yarn 4. The warp yarns 3 extend in an orientation corresponding to the axial orientation A of the strap ring 1. The weft yarn 4 extends spirally from one side edge to the other of the strap ring 1.

The strap ring 1 has lateral hems 5,6, which are formed by lateral flap of the two-return fabric 7,8 towards the inside of the strap ring, according to the extension of the warp threads 3 of the 1. One of the returns is an end return 8 and another return is a back cover 7 of the end return 8. The side seams 5.6 are each attached to the peripheral wall 2 of the strap ring 1, by circumferential seams 9,10.

On the fig.3 , the strap ring shown on the fig.1 and fig.2 is derived from a tubular fabric 11, which is axially cut into a plurality of sections 16 from which webbing rings are respectively formed. The tubular fabric 11 comprises warp threads 3 which are oriented parallel to the axial extension A of the tubular fabric 11, and a weft thread 4 which is wound in a spiral around the periphery of the tubular fabric 11, extending between the threads of the tubular fabric 11 chain 3. The section 16 from which the webbing ring is formed is cut from the tubular fabric 11 by slicing the warp threads 3 along an axial extension corresponding to the width of the webbing ring to be obtained, increased by width of fabric necessary for the formation of lateral hems.

The tubular fabric 11 shown on the fig.3 is at constant diameter. It is, however, preferred to impart to the tubular fabric 11 variations in diameter, as shown in FIG. fig.4 .

On the fig.4 , a section 16 'is derived from a warp-type tubular fabric and at least one weft thread as shown in FIG. fig.3 . The section 16 'has zones 8', 7 ', 2' of different diameters DE, DC, D making it possible to hem the edges side of the webbing ring avoiding tension differences in the weft yarn at the end of the formation of the hems. Such voltage differences are likely to be induced due to the formation by successive flaps of the different returns that comprise the hems. End regions 8 'of the section 16' correspond to a respective end return, and have a diameter DE greater than the diameter DC of intermediate zones 7 'of the section 16', and less than the diameter D of a zone median 2 'of the section 16'. Intermediate zones 7 'correspond to zones of section 16' forming cover returns. The median zone 2 'corresponds to a zone of the section 16' forming the outer face of the peripheral wall of the strap ring.

The axial extension of the median zone 2 'corresponds to the axial extension of each of the groups of zones 7', 8 'comprising an end zone 8' increased by the intermediate zone 7 'which is interposed between this zone of 8 'end and the middle zone 2. After hems formation (5.6 Fig. 1 and fig.2 ), the thickness of the strap ring obtained corresponds to three times the thickness of the section 16 'from which the strap ring is formed, as particularly visible on the fig.2 .

On the fig.5 , the strap ring1 shown on the fig.1 and fig.2 is flattened in the median area to form a middle solid 12 by superposition of two opposite parts of the strap ring. The median flat surface 12 is bordered by two end eyelets 13, 14 which are intended to receive attachment members, such as rings or carabiners, to form a quickdraw. The median flat surface 12 is held in conformation by transverse seams 15, which extend between the lateral edges of the strap ring, parallel to the warp threads 3.

Claims (11)

A method of manufacturing a climbing accessory consisting of a webbing ring (1) made from warp woven material (3) and at least one weft yarn (4) extending between the yarns chain (3),
characterized in that the woven material is a tubular fabric (11) whose warp threads (3) extend parallel to the axis of extension of the tubular fabric (11), and the strap ring (1) is derived from an axial section (16, 16 ') of the tubular fabric (11), which is axially sliced by the warp threads (3). Process according to claim 1,
characterized in that the lateral edges of the section (16, 16 ') are hemmed by flap with at least one return (7, 8) of the tissue towards the inside of the section (16, 16') in the extension orientation chain yarns (3), and circumferential seam (9,10) of the hems (5,6) to the peripheral wall (2) of the section (16,16 '). Process according to claim 2,
characterized in that the diameter (DE, DC) of the zones (7 ', 8') of the tubular tissue (11) corresponding to the returns (7,8) formed by said flaps is smaller than the peripheral diameter (D) of the fabric tubular (11) corresponding to the outer face of the peripheral wall (2) of the section (16 '). Process according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that the section (16,16 ') is flattened and stitched transversely forming a middle flattened area (12) of the strap ring (1) bordered by end eyelets (13,14). A strap ring obtained from a manufacturing method according to any one of the preceding claims, the strap ring (1) being arranged in a loop closed on itself from a woven material with warp threads (3) and at least one weft thread (4),
characterized in that the warp threads (3) are oriented along the axial extension of the loop, the weft thread (4) extending in a continuous spiral between the warp threads (3) from a side edge to the other of the peripheral wall (2) of the strap ring (1). Webbing ring according to claim 5,
characterized in that the peripheral wall (2) of the strap ring (1) is doubled by hems (5,6) internal to at least one return (7,8), which are respectively formed by flap of the lateral edges the peripheral wall (2) of the strap ring (1). Webbing ring according to one of Claims 5 and 6,
characterized in that at least the weft yarn (4), if not also the warp yarns (3), are derived from a synthetic material based on polyethylene. Webbing ring according to one of Claims 5 to 7,
characterized in that any one of the warp yarns (3) and the weft yarn (4) is indifferently a monofilament yarn or a multi-strand yarn. Climbing harness comprising at least one strap ring (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8,
characterized in that the strap ring (1) joins together constituent parts of the harness. Climbing harness equipped with at least one strap ring (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8,
characterized in that the strap ring (1) constitutes an anchoring member of a climbing accessory to the harness. A strut comprising at least one strap ring according to any one of claims 5 to 8.

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