Energy absorbing webbings

Abstract

A tear-away energy absorbing webbing is a one-piece webbing. The tear-away energy absorbing webbing has a top layer load-bearing web and a bottom layer load-bearing web. An energy absorbing portion of the webbing has binder yarns interlaced with the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs. A sufficiently high load force applied to the webbing breaks the binder yarns and tears apart the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs. The energy absorbing portion absorbs energy as it tears apart. The top and bottom layer load-bearing webs support the load force when the shock absorbing portion is torn apart.

1 . A webbing, comprising: 
 a first load-bearing web;    a second load-bearing web; and    binder members integrally formed with the first and second load-bearing webs as a one-piece webbing, the binder members connecting the first and second load-bearing webs together at an energy absorbing portion, the first and second load-bearing webs being separated from each other at the energy absorbing portion by fracture of the binder members when a sufficient load is applied to the webbing.    
   
   
       2 . The webbing of  claim 1 , wherein the binder members are binder yarns interlaced with the first and second load-bearing webs.  
   
   
       3 . The webbing of  claim 1 , wherein when the first and second load-bearing webs are separated from each other after fracture of the binder members, the first and second load-bearing webs both support the load applied to the webbing.  
   
   
       4 . The webbing of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first load-bearing web has a left web end and a right web end;    the second load-bearing web has a left web end and a right web end;    the left web end of the first load-bearing web is connected to the right web end of the second load-bearing web; and    the right web end of the first load-bearing web is connected to the left web end of the second load-bearing web.    
   
   
       5 . The webbing of  claim 1 , the energy absorbing portion extends toward opposite ends of the webbing from a center of the webbing.  
   
   
       6 . The webbing of  claim 1 , wherein fracture of the binder members starts at opposite ends of the energy absorbing portion and continues from both opposite ends toward a center of the energy absorbing portion.  
   
   
       7 . The webbing of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second load-bearing webs exchange with each other such that the first load-bearing web changes from a top side of the webbing to a bottom side of the webbing, and the second load-bearing web changes from the bottom side of the webbing to the top side of the webbing.  
   
   
       8 . The webbing of  claim 7 , wherein the top and bottom load-bearing webs exchange within the energy absorbing portion.  
   
   
       9 . The webbing of  claim 7 , wherein the top and bottom load-bearing webs exchange outside of the energy absorbing portion.  
   
   
       10 . The webbing of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the top side of the webbing has a left web end and a right web end;    the bottom side of the webbing has a left web end and a right web end;    the left and right web ends of the top side being connected together; and    the left and right web ends of the bottom side being connected together.    
   
   
       11 . The webbing of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second load-bearing webs have ground yarns, and the ground yarns of the first load-bearing web exchange with the ground yarns of the second load-bearing web.  
   
   
       12 . The webbing of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 a top side of the webbing has a left web end and a right web end;    a bottom side of the webbing has a left web end and a right web end;    the left and right web ends of the top side being connected together; and    the left and right web ends of the bottom side being connected together.    
   
   
       13 . The webbing of  claim 1 , wherein an amount of binder members connected to the first and second load-bearing webs varies along the energy absorbing portion.  
   
   
       14 . The webbing of  claim 13 , wherein the energy absorbing portion has a beginning fracture location and an ending fracture location, and wherein there are fewer binder members connected to the first and second load-bearing webs juxtaposed the beginning fracture location than binder members connected to the first and second load-bearing webs juxtaposed the ending fracture location.  
   
   
       15 . The webbing of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second load-bearing webs are selected from the group consisting of woven materials, knitted materials and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       16 . A webbing, comprising: 
 a top layer load-bearing web having yarns;    a bottom layer load-bearing web having yarns; and    binder yarns connecting the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs together at an energy absorbing portion of the webbing, the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs being separable from each other at the energy absorbing portion by release of the binder yarns;    the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs and the binder yarns formed together as a one-piece webbing.    
   
   
       17 . The webbing of  claim 16 , wherein the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs are selected from the group consisting of woven materials, knitted materials and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The webbing of  claim 16 , wherein the binder yarns are integrally interlocked with the yarns of the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs.  
   
   
       19 . The webbing of  claim 16 , wherein the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs are separated from each other at the energy absorbing portion by fracture of the binder yarns members when a sufficient load is applied to the webbing, the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs both support the load applied to the webbing.  
   
   
       20 . The webbing of  claim 16 , wherein the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs exchange with each other such that yarns of the top layer load-bearing web change from a top side of the webbing to a bottom side of the webbing, and yarns of the bottom layer load-bearing web change from the bottom side of the webbing to the top side of the webbing.  
   
   
       21 . The webbing of  claim 20 , wherein the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs exchange within the energy absorbing portion.  
   
   
       22 . A tear-away webbing, comprising: 
 a first load-bearing web having a left web end and a right web end;    a second load-bearing web having a left web end and a right web end; and    binder members releasably connecting the first and second load-bearing webs together at an energy absorbing portion of the tear-away webbing;    the left web end of the first load-bearing web connected to the right web end of the second load-bearing web; and    the right web end of the first load-bearing web connected to the left web end of the second load-bearing web.    
   
   
       23 . The tear-away webbing of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second load-bearing webs and the binder members are formed integrally as a one-piece webbing.  
   
   
       23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . The tear-away webbing of  claim 22 , wherein the binder members are binder yarns interlocked with yarns of the first and second load-bearing webs.  
   
   
       25 . A tear-away webbing, comprising: 
 a top side load-bearing web having a left web end and a right web end;    a bottom side load-bearing web having a left web end and a right web end;    an exchange portion where a portion of the top side load-bearing web exchanges with a portion of the bottom side load-bearing web; and    binder members releasably connecting the top and bottom side load-bearing webs together at an energy absorbing portion of the tear-away webbing;    the left web end of the top side load-bearing web connected to the right web end of the top side load-bearing web; and    the left web end of the bottom side load-bearing web connected to the right web end of the bottom side load-bearing web.    
   
   
       26 . The tear-away webbing of  claim 25 , wherein the exchange portion is within the energy absorbing portion.  
   
   
       27 . The tear-away webbing of  claim 25 , wherein the portions of top and bottom side load-bearing webs that exchange are yarns of the top and bottom side load-bearing webs.  
   
   
       28 . The tear-away webbing of  claim 25 , wherein the top and bottom side load-bearing webs and the binder members are formed integrally as a one-piece webbing.  
   
   
       29 . The tear-away webbing of  claim 25 , wherein the binder members are fracturable binder yarns.  
   
   
       30 . The tear-away webbing of  claim 25 , wherein the binder members are binder yarns interlocked with yarns of the top and bottom side load-bearing webs.  
   
   
       31 . The tear-away webbing of  claim 22 , wherein the binder members are fracturable binder yarns.