Patent ID: 7069835

Claim:
A method for braiding a striped braided element, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting and setting specific braiding process and operating parameters, said parameters comprising a nominal tension value for members of the striped braided element and a braid pattern; (b) operating a braiding device using said braiding process and operating parameters, for converging, in a braiding manner, a plurality of members to produce said striped braided element, said members comprising a first set of members having a common direction of winding and a sequential order, the center axis of each member of said first set of members being axially displaced relative to each other in relation to a common braiding axis, and a second set of members having an opposite common direction of winding and a sequential order, the center axis of each member of said second set of members being axially displaced relative to each other in relation to said common braiding axis, said process and parameters resulting in a braid exhibiting a uniform uninterrupted braid pattern and an average uniform distance between the center axis of members having a common direction of winding at a particular circumferential section along said common braiding axis; (c) controllably decreasing the tension of a first member of said first set; and (d) controllably increasing the tension a second member of said first set, said second member sequentially following said first member; whereby said differences in tensions form at least one stripe comprising two adjacent members of the same set exhibiting a significantly reduced distance between the center axis of said two adjacent members in said particular circumferential section.