HEADING TAPE

Abstract: A curtain heading tape having a woven body (10) formed with two wefts, one being a monofilament yarn and the other being a multifilament yarn. The body is constructed as a 2 and 1 twill.

Description: This invention relates to curtain heading tapes. In order to create deep pleats in curtains a relatively wide curtain heading tape, for example about 3 inches width, is frequently used. In order to give these tapes sufficient lateral stiffness it is now common practice to incorporate a monofilament weft made, for example, of polypropylene, into the tape. However, this in turn leads to a further problem. The slippery nature of the monofilament weft gives lateral instability to the actual weave. When tension is applied to the tape, for example the weight of the curtain which is suspended from the tape, the warp yarn can readily slide on the monofilament wefts and be parted to expose an unsightly gap in the tape across which a series of wefts extends. One solution to this problem is contained in our U.K. Patent Specification No.1110104. This provides for a second weft to be included with the monofilament weft in order to give stability to the woven structure. However, even this provision cannot always prevent parting of the warp yarns when considerable tension is applied across the heading tape, for example when the weight of curtain material suspended from the tape is high. The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem. According to the invention there is provided a curtain heading tape comprising a woven body tape including a monofilament weft and a second weft characterised in that said body tape is constructed as a 2 and 1 twill. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tape includes one or more rows of pockets, the or each row formed by a second tape that is woven at the same time as the body tape and secured to the body tape at intervals by interchanging of the appropriate warp ends between the body tape and the pocket tape. Draw cords for producing pleating extend along the tape in the warpwise direction and they also are preferably included in the construction while it is manufactured. At least two draw cords are preferably provided. The cord leaps of the cords can be symmetrically arranged so as to produce regular pleating or can be arranged in other ways so as to produce different pleating effects. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig.1 shows one side of a curtain heading tape; Fig.2 shows the tape of Fig.1 in perspective, from the other side but with the draw cords tightened to produce some pleats; and Fig.3 is a weaving plan for producing a tape. Referring to the drawings the tape comprises a woven body tape 10 and two woven pocket tapes 12, 14 which are produced on a loom at the same time as the body tape and linked to the body tape by interchanging of warp ends between the body tape and pocket tape. Draw cords 16 and 18 extend in the warpwise direction, each draw cord being disposed around the centre of a pocket tape. The cord leaps 20 in the embodiment shown are regularly arranged, the leaps in each cord being in register with the other cord. It is to be understood that other arrangements of draw cords are possible. The elements of the tape so far described are well known and do not require any further detailed description. The body tape is woven from multifilament warp yarn and two wefts, one being a monofilament, for example of polypropylene, to give lateral strength and the other weft being a multifilament yarn. As can be seen in Fig.3 the body tape is woven as a 2 and 1 twill. This arrangement forms a dense weave and there is very much less opportunity for the warp yarns to part by sliding on the monofilament weft even when the tape is subject to considerable lateral tension. In addition because the structure holds the monofilament weft firmly it is possible to reduce the selvedge warp ends on each side of the tape. In the prior art constructions at least eight warp ends were required in order to ensure that the monofilament weft was properly secured to the tape. In the present embodiment the selvedge warp ends can be reduced to four. In the embodiment shown in the drawings additional coloured marker warp ends 22, 24 are included in the body tape adjacent the edges thereof. These marker warps are intended to indicate where the tape should be stitched to the curtain. They may also be used to indicate a preferred orientation of the tape. Marker yarns can be provided in other parts of the tape, for example to indicate the origin of the tape or its style.

Claims: A curtain heading tape comprising a woven body tape (10) including a monofilament weft and a second weft characterised in that said body tape (10) is constructed as a 2 and 1 twill. A tape as claimed in Claim 1 wherein one or more rows of pockets are provided, the or each row being formed by a second tape (12, 14), woven at the same time as the body tape (10) and secured to the body tape at intervals by interchanging of warp ends between the body tape (10) and the pocket tape (12, 14). A tape as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 and comprising draw cords (16, 18) for pleating. A tape as claimed in Claim 3, wherein at least two draw cords (16, 18) are provided. A tape as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the draw cords (16, 18) are symmetrically arranged so as to produce regular pleating. A tape as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body tape (10) is formed from both monofilament and multifilament wefts. A tape as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the warp ends forming the selvedge do not exceed four.

Inventors: LISTER, ALBERT EDWARD
Applicants: THOMAS FRENCH & SONS PLC
Application year: 1990
Main classification: D03D1
IPC codes: D03D1, A47H13