Cut Resistant Webbing System

Abstract

In general, the present invention has to do with a webbing system used in a fall restraint retractor and other industrial applications where the webbing has an elongated main body comprising synthetic fiber warp yarns, lateral weft yarns, and wire and multi-component stuffer yarns. Cut resistant warp yarns are arranged across the face and back of the main body, the yarns being formed of multi-filament high tenacity yarns. Specifically, the high tenacity yarns are selected from a group consisting of an extended chain, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Cut resistant stuffer yarns are arranged across the inner body, the yarn being formed of multi-filament high tenacity yarns and anti-corrosive wire, such as, for example, stainless steel twisted wires.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cut resistant webbing component comprising:
 at least one wire strand core; and   at least one first webbing yarn strand wrapped in a Z direction about the at least one wire strand core.   
     
     
         2 . A cut resistant webbing component as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one second webbing yarn strand wrapped in an S direction about the at least one wire strand core. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cut resistant webbing component as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one wire strand core comprises at least one stainless steel wire strand. 
     
     
         4 . The cut resistant webbing component as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one first Z-direction webbing yarn strand comprises a plurality of first Z-direction webbing yarn strand filaments, wherein at least one of the first Z-direction webbing yarn strand filaments comprises:
 a first strand filament core, wherein the first strand filament core comprises a set first filament core melting point; and 
 a first strand filament sheathing, wherein the first strand filament sheathing comprises a melting point different than the first filament core melting point. 
 
     
     
         5 . The cut resistant webbing component as in  claim 4  wherein the first strand filament sheathing comprises a melting point lower than the first filament core melting point. 
     
     
         6 . The cut resistant webbing component as in  claim 2  wherein the second at least one S-direction webbing yarn strand comprises a plurality of second S-direction webbing yarn strand filaments, wherein at least one of the second S-direction webbing yarn strand filaments comprises:
 a second strand filament core, wherein the second strand filament core comprises a set second filament core melting point; and 
 a second strand filament sheathing, wherein the second strand filament sheathing comprises a melting point different than the second filament core melting point. 
 
     
     
         7 . The cut resistant webbing component as in  claim 5  wherein the second strand filament sheathing comprises a melting point lower than the second filament core melting point. 
     
     
         8 . A cut resistant webbing comprising:
 at least one upper ply;   at least one lower ply;   at least one binder coupling the at least one upper ply and the at least one lower ply;   a plurality of stuffer yarns disposed between the at least one upper ply and the at least one lower ply, wherein the plurality of stuffer yarns comprise:
 at least one cut-resistant stuffer yarn; and 
 at least one stuffer wire. 
   
     
     
         9 . The cut resistant webbing as in  claim 8  wherein the at least one stuffer wire comprises at least one stainless steel stuffer wire. 
     
     
         10 . The cut resistant webbing as in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one stuffer wire comprises:
 at least one cut resistant webbing component, wherein the at least one cut resistant webbing component comprises:
 at least one wire strand core; 
 at least one first webbing yarn strand wrapped in a Z direction about the at least one wire strand core, wherein the at least one first Z-direction webbing yarn strand comprises:
 a plurality of first Z-direction webbing yarn strand filaments, wherein at least one of the first Z-direction webbing yarn strand filaments comprises:
 a first strand filament core, wherein the first strand filament core comprises a set first filament core melting point; and 
 a first strand filament sheathing, wherein the first strand filament sheathing comprises a melting point lower than the first filament core melting point. 
 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The cut resistant webbing component as in  claim 10  further comprising at least one second webbing yarn strand wrapped in an S direction about the at least one wire strand core. 
     
     
         12 . The cut resistant webbing component as in  claim 11  wherein the second at least one S-direction webbing yarn strand comprises a plurality of second S -direction webbing yarn strand filaments, wherein at least one of the second S -direction webbing yarn strand filaments comprises:
 a second strand filament core, wherein the second strand filament core comprises a set second filament core melting point; and 
 a second strand filament sheathing, wherein the second strand filament sheathing comprises a melting point lower than the second filament core melting point. 
 
     
     
         13 . The cut resistant webbing as in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one stuffer wire comprises:
 at least one first webbing yarn strand core; and   at least one first wire strand weaved with the at least one first webbing yarn strand core.   
     
     
         14 . The cut resistant webbing as in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one first yarn strand core comprises:
 a plurality of a plurality of first webbing yarn strand filaments, wherein at least one of the first webbing yarn strand filaments comprises:
 a first strand filament core, wherein the first strand filament core comprises a set first filament core melting point; and 
 a first strand filament sheathing, wherein the first strand filament sheathing comprises a melting point lower than the first filament core melting point. 
   
     
     
         15 . The cut resistant webbing as in  claim 13  further comprising: a sheathing surrounding the at least one first webbing yarn strand core and the at least one first wire strand weaved with the at least one first webbing yarn strand core. 
     
     
         16 . The sheathing as in  claim 15  comprising at least one webbing yarn strand comprising:
 a second strand filament core, wherein the second strand filament core comprises a set second filament core melting point; and 
 a second strand filament sheathing, wherein the second strand filament sheathing comprises a melting point lower than the second filament core melting point. 
 
     
     
         17 . A webbing formed from warp and weft yarns woven together, the webbing comprising:
 face and back surfaces, at least one of the warp yarns made to exhibit resistance to abrasion and cutting, the at least one warp yarn comprising:
 a plurality of individual filaments, wherein each individual filament comprises:
 a core and an outer sheath, the melting point of the outer sheath being lower than that of its core, 
 
 the at least one warp yarn being located intermediate the longitudinal edges of the webbing; and 
 at least one stuffer wire, the at least one stuffer wire being located intermediate the longitudinal edges of the webbing. 
   
     
     
         18 . The webbing as in  claim 17  wherein the filaments each have a polyester core which melts at around 489 degrees F. 
     
     
         19 . The webbing as in  claim 18  wherein the at least one stuffer wire comprises at least one stainless steel stuffer wire. 
     
     
         20 . The webbing as in  claim 18 , wherein the webbing having been subjected to a heat treatment sufficient to melt the sheaths, but not the cores, comprises the at least one warp yarns having at least as great a modulus of elasticity as the other weft and warp yarns.