Method and Apparatus for a Composite Cable Safety Net

Abstract

A net is formed by joining cables which are over-knitted with cord. A cable may be made of wire or stainless-steel cable. A composite cable is a cable that is over-knitted with cord to form a composite cable. The cord may be made of fibrous material and in some embodiments is made of aramid fibers. Adjacent composite cables are joined at regular intervals to form a net. In some embodiments, composite cables are composed of cable with an over-knitted cord, inter-knitted at junctions that are spaced at regular intervals to form a net. The individual cables are over-knitted with cord and the junctions are formed as the over-knitted cords are inter-knitted.

1 . A composite cable comprising:
 at least a first wire; and   said first wire over-knitted with at least a first cord; wherein   said composite cable provides a strength of both the cord and wire and requires cutting both the cord and wire to sever the composite cable.   
     
     
         2 . The composite cable of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least a second wire over-knitted with at least a second cord; and 
 said second cord inter-knitted with said first cord at regular intervals; wherein a net is formed. 
 
     
     
         3 . A composite cable comprising:
 at least a first wire combined with at least a second wire to form a cable; and   said cable over-knitted with at least one cord; wherein   said composite cable provides a strength of the first wire, the second wire and the cord and requires cutting both the cord and the first wire and the second wire to sever the composite cable.   
     
     
         4 . The composite cable of  claim 3  wherein:
 said at least one cord is knitted over said cable in a seamless tubular warp-knitted fabric. 
 
     
     
         5 . The composite cable of  claim 3  wherein:
 said first wire and said second wire are comprised of metal; and 
 said at least one cord is comprised of a fibrous material. 
 
     
     
         6 . The composite cable of  claim 3  wherein:
 said first wire and said second wire are comprised of stainless steel; and 
 said at least one cord is comprised of aramid fibers. 
 
     
     
         7 . A net comprising:
 a plurality of adjacent composite cables, each having a core; and   a knitted cord surrounding each said core; and   said knitted cord inter-knitted at a first set of regular intervals with a knitted cord of at least one adjacent composite cable, forming a net.   
     
     
         8 . The net of clam  7  wherein:
 alternate adjacent cables inter-knitted at a second set of regular intervals that are offset from said first set of regular intervals; wherein 
 a net is formed having voids with hexagonal perimeters bounded by said plurality of adjacent composite cables. 
 
     
     
         9 . The net of  claim 7  wherein:
 said core is comprised of twisted metal cable: and 
 said knitted cord is comprised of fibrous material. 
 
     
     
         10 . The net of  claim 7  wherein:
 said core is comprised of twisted stainless steel cable; and 
 said knitted cord is comprised of aramid fibers. 
 
     
     
         11 . The net of  claim 7  further comprising:
 said core is comprised of braided stainless steel cable; and 
 said knitted cord is comprised of spun aramid fibers. 
 
     
     
         12 . The net of  claim 7  further comprising
 a first sheath, surrounding said core sheathed in knitted cord; wherein 
 said sheath expands to cover both composite cables where they join at regular intervals. 
 
     
     
         13 . The net of  claim 12  further comprising
 a second sheath surrounding said first sheath; wherein 
 said first sheaths are knitted together with said second sheaths at said first set of regular intervals. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing the net of  claim 7 , the method comprising:
 knitting a first cord over a first cable; and   knitting a second cord over a second cable; and   inter-knitting said first cord with said second cord at regular intervals along said first cord and said second cord; and   repeating the aforementioned steps with a plurality of cords and cores; wherein a net is manufactured.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 knitting said first cord over said first cable; and 
 forming a seamless tubular warp-knitted fabric that surrounds said first cable; and 
 knitting said second cord over said second cable; and 
 forming a seamless tubular warp-knitted fabric that surrounds said second cable.