Patent ID: 6447903
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: D01D,Y10T

Abstract:
A thermoplastic filament having a central axis therethrough, the filament comprising:a core portion having N lobes joined thereto, each lobe having a tip thereon, each lobe being joined to the core portion along an inscribing circle, the core portion having N stiffening ribs formed therein, the ribs extending radially inwardly toward the axis of the filament, the ribs cooperating to define at least N hollow regions in the core portion, each hollow region aligns radially with a respective lobe, each lobe having at least one opening therein, the opening in each lobe being disposed between the tip of the lobe and the inscribing circle, the opening in each lobe and the hollow region of the core portion corresponding to that lobe cooperating to define a transverse stiffening web extending across the lobe.