Protective yarn

Abstract

A protective yarn having a single fiberglass core fiber and one or more cover members is disclosed. At least one of the cover members are fibers selected from the group consisting of aramid fiber, ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefin fiber, polyester, nylon and polyacrylic fibers. To prevent glass fragment breakout, the cover members are wrapped, wound or twisted around the core in a manner which permits successive layers to be wrapped, wound or twisted around the core in an opposite direction from the cover member immediately below. In a preferred embodiment, one of the cover members is a substantially non-slippery fiber. The non-slippery fiber is selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon and cotton. The construction and composition of the invented protective yarn provides a low cost component for making protective gloves and other protective garments capable of providing a user substantial cut protection while affording the user significant freedom of movement. The invented protective yarn also resists shrinkage during the cleaning process which is typical of existing protective gloves and garments.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A composite yarn comprising: 
 a) a core consisting of a fiberglass strand;    b) a non-metallic sheath strand wrapped around the core; and    c) at least one cover strand wrapped around the sheath strand, whereby the sheath strand permits the fiberglass strand to be knitted using conventional knitting equipment.    
     
     
         2 . The composite yarn of  claim 1 , wherein said sheath strand is formed of fibers or filaments selected from the group consisting of extended chain polyethylene, aramid, nylon, and polyester.  
     
     
         3 . The composite yarn of  claim 1 , further comprising a second non-metallic cover strand wrapped on said yarn, said second cover strand being wrapped about said at least one cover strand in a direction opposite that of the at least one cover strand.  
     
     
         4 . The composite yarn of  claim 3 , wherein said second cover strand is wrapped at a rate of about 8.2 turns per inch.  
     
     
         5 . The composite yarn of  claim 3 , wherein said second cover strand has a denier of 650.  
     
     
         6 . The composite yarn of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one cover strand is formed of fibers or filaments selected from the group consisting of extended chain polyethylene, aramid, nylon, and polyester.  
     
     
         7 . The composite yarn of  claim 1 , further comprising a second non-metallic cover strand wrapped on said yarn, said second cover strand being wrapped about said at least one cover strand in a direction opposite that of the at least one cover strand, wherein the yarn has a composite denier of 3190 or 3780.  
     
     
         8 . The composite yarn of  claim 7 , wherein said second cover strand is wrapped at a rate of about 8.2 turns per inch.  
     
     
         9 . The composite yarn of  claim 7 , wherein said second cover strand has a denier of 650.  
     
     
         10 . The composite yarn of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one cover strand is formed of fibers or filaments selected from the group consisting of extended chain polyethylene, aramid, nylon, and polyester.  
     
     
         11 . A composite yarn comprising: 
 a) a core consisting of a fiberglass strand;    b) a non-metallic inner cover, the inner cover being wrapped around the core; and    c) a middle cover wrapped around the inner cover, whereby the inner cover permits the fiberglass strand to be knitted using conventional knitting equipment.    
     
     
         12 . The composite yarn of  claim 11 , further comprising an outer cover wrapped on said yarn, said outer cover being wrapped about said middle cover in a direction opposite that of the middle cover, wherein the yarn has a composite denier of 3190 or 3780.  
     
     
         13 . The composite yarn of  claim 12 , wherein said outer cover is wrapped at a rate of about 8.2 turns per inch.  
     
     
         14 . The composite yarn of  claim 12 , wherein said outer cover has a denier of 650.  
     
     
         15 . The composite yarn of  claim 12 , wherein said middle cover is formed of fibers or filaments selected from the group consisting of extended chain polyethylene, aramid, nylon, and polyester.  
     
     
         16 . A flexible, composite, cut and abrasion resistant yarn comprising: 
 a) a non-metallic composite core consisting of a single fiberglass strand;    b) an inner cover, the inner cover being wrapped around the core whereby the inner cover permits the core to be knitted using conventional knitting equipment; and    c) a non-metallic covering wrapped on said core and said inner cover, said covering including: 
 i) a middle cover wrapped about the inner cover in a first direction;  
 ii) an outer cover wrapped about said middle cover in a second direction opposite to the first direction.  
   
     
     
         17 . The composite yarn of  claim 16 , wherein said inner cover is formed of fibers or filaments selected from the group consisting of extended chain polyethylene, aramid, nylon, and polyester.  
     
     
         18 . The composite yarn of  claim 16 , wherein said middle cover is formed of fibers or filaments selected from the group consisting of extended chain polyethylene, aramid, nylon, and polyester.  
     
     
         19 . The composite yarn of  claim 16 , wherein said outer cover is formed of fibers or filaments selected from the group consisting of extended chain polyethylene, aramid, nylon, and polyester.  
     
     
         20 . The composite yarn of  claim 1 , wherein said middle cover is wrapped about said inner cover at a rate of about 9.1 turns per inch.  
     
     
         21 . The composite yarn of  claim 16 , wherein said outer cover is wrapped about said middle cover at a rate of about 8.2 turns per inch.  
     
     
         22 . The composite yarn of  claim 16 , wherein said middle cover has a denier of about 650.