US RE40,066 E1
	Multi-layer forming fabric with stitching yarn pairs integrated into papermaking surface
Kevin John Ward, Coldbrook (Canada)
Assigned to Weavexx Corporation, Wake Forest, N.C. (US)
Filed on Aug. 21, 2002, as Appl. No. 9/982,917.
Application 09/982917 is a reissue of application No. 08/905130, filed on Aug. 01, 1997, now 5,967,195, filed on Oct. 19, 1999.
Int. Cl. D03D 11/00 (2006.01); D03D 13/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 139—383A  [139/383 AA; 139/383 R]

39 Claims

[ 16. A papermaker's fabric, comprising top machine direction yarns, top cross machine direction yarns, bottom machine direction yarns, bottom cross machine direction yarns, and sets of first and second stitching yarns, said fabric being formed in a plurality of repeating units, each of said repeating units comprising: a set of top machine direction yarns; a set of top cross machine direction yarns interwoven with said set of top machine direction yarns; a set of bottom machine direction yarns; a set of bottom cross machine direction yarns interwoven with said set of bottom machine direction yarns; and wherein a pair of first and second stitching yarns is positioned between each adjacent pair of top cross machine direction yarns, said first and second stitching yarns of each pair being interwoven with said top and bottom machine direction yarns such that, as a fiber support portion of said first stitching yarn is interweaving with said top machine direction yarns, a binding portion of said second stitching yarn is positioned below said top machine direction yarns, and such that as a fiber support portion of said second stitching yarn is interweaving with said top machine direction yarns, a binding portion of said first stitching yarn is positioned below said top machine direction yarns, and such that said first and second stitching yarns cross each other as they pass below a transitional top machine direction yarn, and such that each of said binding portions of said first and second stitching yarns passes below at least one of said bottom machine direction yarns to form a bottom side stitching yarn knuckle; and wherein each of said bottom machine direction yarns form bottom side machine direction knuckles as they interweave with said bottom cross machine direction yarns, and said bottom side stitching yarn knuckles are positioned below one of said bottom side machine direction yarns to be substantially centered between adjacent bottom side machine direction knuckles on that bottom machine direction yarn.]