US2036805A - Machine-made braid and process of making same - Google Patents

Description

Aprfl 1936. R, W. HALE IIIIII MACHINE MADE BRAID AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME Filed Oct. 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 666666656 I/ 1 I jig/ I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l I l I I I I I I I' l I I I I I I 1 I W Aprfl 7, 1%. R, W A E 2,036,805

MACHINE MADE BRAID AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME Filed Oct. 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 77/220 715 0 2.- Bqge? WHaZe, [2% WM A") may ger ale,

Application @ctober b,

II lllaims.

This application is a true division in part of and is also a continuation as to common subject matter of my copending application Ser. No. 740,072, filed August 16, 1934 now Patent No. 2,020,683, November 12, 1935. 1

This invention relates to a machine-made braid, and to the process of making the same.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed in the accompanying drawings one type only of the said braid and have indicated the steps of manufacturing the same so that the process of the invention may be clearly understood.

In the drawings,-

Fig. l is a diagrammatic representation, with the middle portion broken away, of a leather hide or other material from which parallel-sided pieces are cut, to be thereafter cut into strands;

Fig. 2 is a view of one of said pieces with the indication of the cutting of the same into parallel-sided strands of the proper width;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with ends broken away, of a single unit strand and indicating how the beveled ends of two original strands are secured together so as to make a single unit strand of indefinite length;

Figs. 4 and 5 are somewhat diagrammatic views of four strands being braided together, and indicating at two different instants of time the lifting or drawing outwardly of two over-strands to allow the two under-strands to be properly laid;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a short piece of a braid composed of four strands;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but representing a somewhat longer length of the braid upon a larger scale; i

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 7 but indicating the use of more than four strands; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation indicating the braid as of indefinite length and of unitary character, the same being shown as wound upon a spool.

In my parent application Ser. No. 740,072, now Patent No. 2,020,683, I have disclosed means for mechanically making a braid of indefinite or indeterminate length and with the same face of each strand always outermost. The braid herein claimed as an article of manufacture is necessarily a machine-made braid, inasmuch as it must be not only of indefinite length, but is of accurate uniformity in diameter throughout with all the strands under the same uniform tension throughout the making of the braid.

The braid of my invention is an ornamental object of manufacture. As a final product the braided surface is visible and fully exposed throughout its entire extent. Thus, it is entirely contrasted with braids of relatively large diameter formed as hollow articles serving as conduits and the braided surface whereof is covered over 1935, Serial No. lldl d (lll. 9d-25) with some outer wrapping. My braid is essen- Even if in the braiding operation an am'al element be employed in making the braid, such element is of very small diameter and does not enlarge, or substantially enlarge, the minimum diameter of the braid.

It is essential that each strand be maintained I with thesame face thereof always outergiost, whether the strand be one of leather, thus hav-. ing a flesh side and a hair side, or whether the strand, after being out, be folded along a length:

wise line upon itself, thus having inturned edges which meet or substantially meet in a so-called seam. In any event, it is essential to my invention that the several strands be very tightly braided together and that they be kept at all times with the same face always outermost. For simplicity of description, I shall refer to one of the faces as the superior face and the other as the inferior or opposite face.

While the braid may bemade upon many different types of braiding machine, it is necessary to provide means close to the braiding point to rectify .or correct the position of the several strands predeterminedly, so as thereby to prevent the leading edge of one of the strands from being displaced from its true position ,by another strand of the series. I have therefore indicated generally at l, 2, in Figs. 4 and 5, one form of means for so predeterminedly rectifying or correcting the position of the braidclose to the braiding point. Any other suitable means for accomplishing the same purpose may be employed. It is unnecessary to describe the operation of the mechanism in detail or to refer in detail to the braiding machine shown in my said patent.

Referring specifically to the figures or the drawings, I have in Fig. 1 indicated at 4 a piece of leather with the middle portion broken away. This represents the hide, but with the two lateral edges cut away, as they are the part of the hide least suited to the making of braided material of the best class. In said Fig. l, I have indicated in dotted lines at 5 the places where the hide will be out into strips or pieces 6, which are accurate- 1y parallel sided. Desirably said strips or pieces -6 are about two inches in width. In Fig. 2, I have represented a single one of said strips or pieces 6 and have indicated by parallel lines I that the same are to be cut into strands B of accurately uniform width. While, of course, the width of the strands may varyjI preferably so cut the pieces 6 that each strand is from vonesixteenth to one-eighth of an inch in width, the thickness being usually .01 to .03 of an inch.

My invention is not limited to the making of the braid of any particular material as a large number of different materials may be used by me. I have, however, indicated the making of a braid of leather. In Fig. 3 is represented, with the ends broken away, a part of what I term a single unit strand 9. In order that the said strand, particularly when of leather, may be of indefinite length, and inasmuch as leather pieces are necessarily of a relatively short length I oppositely bevel two strands of leather, as indicated at II] in Fig. 3, and adhesively secure them together by some suitable glue or other adhesive, and in such way that the flesh face of all the joined elements of the strand is at the same side. If, however, the material used is originally manufactured in great lengths, it is unnecessary-to splice strands together to make a single strand of the proper length. The leather strands of indefinite or continuous length thus made by me are braided in a flat condition as strands of greater width than thickness, and in the completed braid said strands are flat.

Within the scope of my invention, I may make the braid of any desired number of strands, and I am not limited to the use of any particular number of strands. However, in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have indicated the braid as of four strands, which in Figs. 4 and 5 I have respectively indicated by the characters A, B, C, D. I have, in Figs. 4 and 5, indicated also an axial member I I, but my invention is in no wise limited to the use of an axial member.

It will be understood that each strand is substantially flat and is accurately parallel sided, thus being of uniform thickness and uniform diameter throughout. It will also be understood that in forming the braid, the same face of each strand is always positioned outermost so that the completed braid is devoid of any displacement or twisting of any of the strands at any part thereof. It will also be understood that each strand is laid smoothly and that the strands are all held constantly at the same uniform tension, and that the resulting braid, as shown at I2 in Figs. 6 and '7 as well as in Figs. 4 and 5, is of accurately uniform diameter throughout.

1 I herein term the braid of my invention a machine-made braid. I believe it to be impossible to make by hand a braid of uniform diameter throughout that is tightly braided and all the strands whereof are preserved at all times under the same constant tension and wherein all the strands are predeterminedly laid with the same face always outermost.

When making the braid shown in Fig. 4, I have indicated the use of four carriers which move in two pairs or sets along contrasting paths, as fully shown in the said parent application. Each of the strands A, B,'C, D proceeds from its own braiding carrier to the braiding point. At any instant of time during the braiding operation, two of the strands function as under-strands, and the other two as over-strands, the said two under-strands almost immediately thereafter functioning as over-strands, and said overstrands then functioning as under-strands. In

other words, each strand functions at one time as an under-strand and then as an over-strand, again as an under-strand, and so on throughout the entire braiding operation, which may be continued indefinitely.

Heretofore, when it has been attempted to braid fiat strands of material, the strands, when functioning as over-strands would so engage one or more of the under-strands at the braiding point as to turn the leading edge of an understrand upon itself, with the result that said under-strand has gradually turned more or less, being first slightly and then increasingly deflected from its true path, and thus was laid with the inferior face outermost for a longer or shorter period of time, instead of with the superior face always outermost.

In making my braid, I provide any suitable means, as, for example, four disks, two of which are indicated at I and 2 in Fig. 4, to prevent the trailing edge of an over-strand from contacting with the leading end of an under-strand in such way at such time as to tend to cause the leading end of the under-strand to be diverted from its proper direction or position.

This is preferably accomplished by drawing outwardly or lifting the two over-strands so as to allow the two under-strands not only to be laid with the superior face always outermost, but in such a way as to allow the two under-strands to crowd up tight into the vertex of the angle that is made by one of the over-strands and the axial member II.

Whatever means is employed, it is desirably positioned in close proximity to the braiding point with the result that the proper position of all the strands of the braid is constantly maintained at the braiding point and a very tight braid is made. The said braid I2 made as described is of accurately uniform diameter throughout, all the strands being at all times maintained under the same tension. What 1 term the diamonds of the braid are indicated at I3, and itis to be understood that at any two equal length portions of the braid, there are the same number of diamonds, the angles of all the diamonds being respectively the same, as clearly indicated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

In said Figs. 6 and 7, the four strands are indicated by their reference characters A, B, C, D. In making braid, the strands A and D move in one direction and the strands B and C in the opposite direction. Owing to the employment of exact and uniform tension on all the strands of the machine-made braid, the so-called diamonds are symmetrically disposed. If it were attempted to make a similar hand-made braid, an exact equality of tension could not be maintained upon all the strands, and the result would be that the diamonds would not be symmetrically positioned, but would be more or less askew or spiraled. This would detract from the appearance of the braid.

It is to be understood that the braid may be round or flat in cross section. In making a round or tubular braid, if an increase in the number of carriers is desired, the increase is preferably in even numbers of pairs, and for flat work the iscrease is preferably by odd numbers.

Referring again to Figs. 4 and 5, the same represent the position of the four strands A, B, C, D at two different instants of time. In Fig. 4, at the instant indicated, the two strands A and D are acting as over-strands and are then moving in a clockwise direction, and the strands B and C are at the same instant of time acting as understrands and are moving in a contraclockwise direction. Strand A is in contact with the periphery of its small disk I on the rising side thereof, and strand D is similarly in contact with its disk 2 at the rising side thereof. The result islll aoaaeot that the two over-strands are at the same instant lifted or moved outwardly or spread apart in the manner clearly indicated in Fig. 4. This permits the other two strands (namely the strands B and C) which are then functioning as understrands to be crowded each up tight into the vertex of the angle that is at such instant formed by one over-strand and the axial member ll.

Not only are the two over-strands (which at one instant of time would be the two strands A and D and immediately thereafter would be the strands B and C) lifted by their respective small disks, but they are held up or out sufficiently long to allow the strands functioning as understrands at that instant to position themselves properly before the over-strands drop down upon the under-strands and impair their proper positioning. Thus, the position of the strands is rectified.

Bearing in mind the fact that it is highly important in makingthe braid of my invention that each strand be laid with the same face thereof always outermost, it is to be understood that the leading edge of an under-strand is the edge which would (but for my invention) be displaced or turned if it were allowed to come in contact with an-over-strand. Each under-strand may be regarded asalways having a certain other strand related thereto as the over-strand from which the danger of displacement may come. If there be four strands, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, it

- may be assumed that at a given instant of time till till

strands A and D are over-strands, and strands B and C are under-strands. would be in danger of being displaced by over strand A, and under-strand C would be in danger of being displaced by over-strand D. By providing-m'eans preferably of the character shown in Figs. d and 5, in close proximity to the braiding point, the two strands which at any given instant of time are acting as over-strands are prevented from causing displacement of the strands which are under-strands at that instant.

if I do not employ an axial element, such as ll, in making the braid, it may apply to the strand during braiding some material to cause the strands to adhere tightly throughout their length in their correct braiding position, as, for example, some lacquer solution.

ll/fy invention is not limited to the use of any particular number of strands; preferably I employ at least four and such number is indicated in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7. In Fig. 8, however, a larger number of strands is indicated. It is to be understood that if in the braiding operation any one of the strands should break or run out from its spool or source of supply, the operative immediately applies a new end or strand in substitution therefor, which at once becomes wrapped in and then quickly braided in properly with the other strands so that to all intents and purposes the braid is of uniform diameter throughout its entire length.

In order to indicate that the'braid is of unlimited or indeterminate length, I have in Fig. 9 indicated at lt a spool upon which the braid is accumulated as it is delivered by the braiding mechanism. The said braid is taken up from the braiding mechanism under proper tension, and the proper tension upon the strands and upon the braid are maintained uniform throughout the entire operation. I do not herein specifically claim an essentially tubular braid formed from a multiplicity of strands, such, for example, as shown is Fig. 8.

Under-strand B I Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the article of my invention and indicated the steps for carrying out the process, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation,'the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A machine-made braid that is unitarily made of great and unlimited length, composed of a series of parallel sided strands, at least three in number, each strand being of greater width than thickness and each strand throughout the entire braid having the same face always outermost, the said braid being of accurately uniform diameter throughout and having each strand equally tensioned throughout, the tension of all the strands being uniform and said strands being tightly braided throughout, each strand throughout having its edges in und splaced condition, there being in each unit of length throughout the braid an equal number of exposed diamond areas of each strand, and in each such area the corresponding angles of the diamonds being uniform throughout the braid, and each strand consisting of a multiplicity of like members or portions united into a single unit strand by mating beveled ends said braid being essentially solid and of a diameter substantially the minimum obtainable from the act of tightly braiding said plurality of strands into a substantially solid mass, the completed braid as to its entire surface being wholly visible and fully exposed in its ultimate form as an ornamental article of manufacture.

2. A machine-made braid that is unitarily made of great and unlimited length, composed of a series of parallel-sided strands, at least three in number, each strand being of greater width than thickness and each strand throughout the entire braid having the same face always outermost, said strands being tightly braided throughout and each strand throughout having its edges in undisplaced condition, there being in each unit of length throughout the braid an equal number of exposed diamond areas of each strand, and in each such area the corresponding angles of the diamonds being uniform throughout the braid, and each strand consisting of a multiplicity of like members or portions united into a single unit strand by mating beveled ends, said braid being essentially solid and of a diameter substantially the minimum obtainable from the act of tightly braiding said plurality of strands into a substantially solid mass, the completed braid as to its entire surface being wholly visible and fully exposed in itsultimate form as an ornamental article of manufacture.

3. A machine-made braid that is unitarily made of great and unlimited length, composed of a series of parallel-sided strands, at least three in number, each strand being of greater width than thickness and each strand throughout the entire braid having the same face always outermost, said strands being tightly braided throughout and each strand throughout having its edges in undisplaced condition, and each strand con- 'sisting of a multiplicity of like members or portions united into a single unit strand by mating beveled ends said braid being essentially solid and of a diameter substantially the minimum obtainable from the act of tightly braiding said plurality of strands into a substantially solid mass, the completed braid as to its entire surface being wholly visible and fully exposed in its ultimate form as an ornamental article of manufacture.

4. A machine-made braid that is unitarily made of great and unlimited length, composed of a series of parallel-sided strands, at least three in number, each strand being of greater width than thickness and each strand throughout the entire braid having the same face always outermost, said strands being tightly braided throughout and each strand throughout having its edges in undisplaced condition said braid being essentially solid and of a diameter substantially the minimum obtainable from the act of tightly braiding said plurality of strands into a substantially solid mass, the completed braid as to its entire surface being wholly visible and fully exposed in its ultimate form as an ornamental article of manufacture.

5. A machine-made braid that is unitarily made'of great and unlimited length, composed of a series of parallel-sided strands, at least four in number, each strand being of greater width than thickness and each strand throughout the entire braid having the same face always outermost, said strands being tightly braided throughout and each strand throughout having its edges in undisplaced condition said braid being essentially solid and of a diameter substantially the minimum obtainable from the act of tightly braiding said plurality of strands into a substantially solid mass, the completed braid as to its entire surface being wholly visible and fully exposed in its ultimate form as an ornamental article of manufacture;

6. A machine-made braid that is unitarily made of great and unlimited length, composed of a series of parallel-sided strands, said series being composed of an even number of strands, each strand being of greater width than thickness and each strand throughout the entire braid having the same face always outermost, said strands being tightly braided throughout and each strand throughout having its edges in undisplaced condition said braid being essentially solid and of a diameter substantially the minimum obtainable from the act of tightly braiding said plurality of strands into a substantially solid mass, the completed braid as to its entire surface being wholly visible and fully exposed in its ultimate form as an ornamental article of manufacture.

7. A machine-made braid that is unitarily made of great and unlimited length, composed of a series of parallel-sided, leather strands, at least three in number, each strand being of greater width than thickness and each strand throughout the entire braid having the same face always outermost, said strands being tightly braided throughout and each strand throughout having its edges in undisplaced condition, each of said strands lying in the braid as a flat member of greater width than thickness, said braid being essentially solid and of a diameter substantially the minimum obtainable from the act of tightly braiding said plurality of strands into a substantially solid mass, the completed braid as to its entire surface being wholly visible and fully exposed in its ultimate form as an ornamental article of manufacture.

8. A machine-made braid that is unitarily made of great and unlimited length, composed of a series of parallel sided strands, at least three in number, each strand being of greater width than thickness and each strand throughout the tainable from the act of tightly braiding said plurality of strands into a substantially solid mass, the completed braid as to its entire surface being wholly visible and fully exposed in its ultimate form as an ornamental article of manufacture.

9. That method of making a machine-made braid essentially solid and of substantially the minimum diameter obtainable from the act of tightly braiding strands together and that is unitarily made of great and unlimited length, which comprises the following steps: preparing a series of accurately parallel-sided strands of leather, and in so doing rendering each strand a single unit strand of indefinite length by splicing together the ends of like strands; braiding said strands tightly together in a fiat condition and in doing so maintaining each strand with the same face always outermost and maintaining the same uniform tension on all the strands with all said strands tightly compacted into an essentially solid braid of the minimum diameter resulting from said compacting; and rendering the braid of accurately uniform diameter throughout in and by the said making thereof.

10. That method of making machine-made braid essentially solid and of substantially the minimum diameter obtainable from the act of tightly braiding strands together and that is unitarily made of great and unlimited length, which comprises the following steps: preparing a series of accurately parallel sided strands, and in so doing rendering each strand a single unit strand of indefinite length by splicing together the ends of like strands; braiding said strands tightly together in a fiat condition and in doing so maintaming each strand with the same face always outermost and maintaining the same uniform tension on all the strands with all said strands tightly compacted into an essentially solid braid of the minimum diameter resulting from said compacting; and rendering the braid of accurately uniform diameter throughout in and by the said making thereof.

11. A machine-made braid that is unitarily made of great and unlimited length, composed of an even number of strands, each strand being of greater width than thickness and each strand throughout the entire braid having the same face always outermost, the said strands being tightly braided throughout and under the same uniform tension, each strand throughout having its edges in undisplaced condition and the several diamonds of the braid being, in consequence of the uniform tension upon the several strands, symmetricaly positioned throughout said braid being essentially solid and of a diameter substantially the minimum obtainable from the act of tightly braiding said plurality of strands into a substantially solid mass, the completed braid as to its entire surface being wholly visible and fully exposed in its ultimate form as an ornamental article of manufacture.

ROGER W. HALE.

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