Synthetic yarn having a multi-yarn effect

Abstract

Synthetic yarns are formed from polymer materials which preferably are self-twisted to give a multi-yarn effect. The yarns are used to form woven panels for use in furniture. The single strand yarns have the appearance of multiple strands, while saving on the heating and twisting involved with handling multiple strands.

1 . An elongated synthetic yarn having the appearance of multiple strands, comprising:
 a single strand of polymer material having multiple sub-strands, wherein each sub-strand has the appearance of one or more strands, and   wherein, the sub-strands are integrally connected to each other.   
   
   
       2 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple sub-strands are integrally connected to each other over their entire length. 
   
   
       3 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple sub-strands are connected to each other by one or more bridges of polymer material. 
   
   
       4 . The yarn of  claim 3 , wherein the bridges are formed of different polymer materials from the sub-strands. 
   
   
       5 . The yarn of  claim 3 , wherein the bridges connect the multiple sub-strands to each other in a parallel configuration. 
   
   
       6 . The yarn of  claim 3 , wherein the bridges connect the multiple sub-strands to each other in a series configuration. 
   
   
       7 . The yarn of  claim 3 , wherein the bridges connect the multiple sub-strands to each other in a combination of parallel and series configurations. 
   
   
       8 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the strand is twisted about its axis so as to appear to be comprised of multiple strands of polymer material. 
   
   
       9 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer material comprises one or more of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene. 
   
   
       10 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sub-strand has a different surface color from the other sub-strands. 
   
   
       11 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sub-strand is formed from a different polymer material from the other sub-strands. 
   
   
       12 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer material is a foamed polymer material. 
   
   
       13 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the yarn includes one or more of grooves, stripes, or raised lobes. 
   
   
       14 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sub-strand of the yarn comprises a core and an outer layer, the core being formed from the same or a different polymer material from the outer layer. 
   
   
       14 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the yarn includes a plurality of raised lobes, and at least one lobe has a different surface color from the others. 
   
   
       16 . A woven panel comprising a plurality of polymer yarns woven together, the yarns comprising a single strand of polymer material having multiple sub-strands, wherein each sub-strand has the appearance of one or more strands, and wherein the sub-strands are integrally connected to each other. 
   
   
       17 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein the multiple sub-strands are integrally connected to each other over their entire length. 
   
   
       18 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein the multiple sub-strands are connected to each other by one or more bridges of polymer material. 
   
   
       19 . The panel of  claim 18 , wherein the bridges are formed of different polymer materials from the sub-strands. 
   
   
       20 . The panel of  claim 18 , wherein the bridges connect the multiple sub-strands to each other in a parallel configuration. 
   
   
       21 . The panel of  claim 18 , wherein the bridges connect the multiple sub-strands to each other in a series configuration. 
   
   
       22 . The panel of  claim 18 , wherein the bridges connect the multiple sub-strands to each other in a combination of parallel and series configurations. 
   
   
       23 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein the strand is twisted about its axis so as to appear to be comprised of multiple strands of polymer material twisted together. 
   
   
       24 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein the polymer material comprises one or more of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene. 
   
   
       25 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein at least one sub-strand has a different surface color. 
   
   
       26 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein at least one sub-strand is formed from a different polymer material. 
   
   
       27 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein the polymer material is a foamed polymer material. 
   
   
       28 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein the surface of the yarn includes one or more of grooves, stripes, or raised lobes. 
   
   
       29 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein at least one sub-strand of the yarn comprises a core and an outer layer, the core being formed from the same or a different polymer material from the outer layer. 
   
   
       30 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein the surface of the yarn includes a plurality of raised lobes, and at least one lobe has a different surface color from the others. 
   
   
       31 . An article of furniture comprising a frame having the shape of an article of furniture, and a woven panel attached to the frame, the woven panel comprising a plurality of polymer yarns woven together, the yarns comprising a single strand of polymer material having multiple sub-strands, wherein each sub-strand has the appearance of one or more strands, and wherein the sub-strands are integrally connected to each other. 
   
   
       32 . The article of  claim 31 , wherein the multiple sub-strands are integrally connected to each other over their entire length. 
   
   
       33 . The article of  claim 31 , wherein the multiple sub-strands are connected to each other by one or more bridges of polymer material. 
   
   
       34 . The article of  claim 33 , wherein the bridges are formed of different polymer materials from the sub-strands. 
   
   
       35 . The article of  claim 33 , wherein the bridges connect the multiple sub-strands to each other in a parallel configuration. 
   
   
       36 . The article of  claim 33 , wherein the bridges connect the multiple sub-strands to each other in a series configuration. 
   
   
       37 . The article of  claim 33 , wherein the bridges connect the multiple sub-strands to each other in a combination of parallel and series configurations. 
   
   
       38 . The article of  claim 31 , wherein the strand is twisted about its axis so as to appear to be comprised of multiple strands of polymer material twisted together. 
   
   
       39 . The article of  claim 31 , wherein the polymer material comprises one or more of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene. 
   
   
       40 . The article of  claim 31 , wherein at least one sub-strand has a different surface color. 
   
   
       41 . The article of  claim 31 , wherein at least one sub-strand is formed from a different polymer material. 
   
   
       42 . The article of  claim 31 , wherein the polymer material is a foamed polymer material. 
   
   
       43 . The article of  claim 31 , wherein the surface of the yarn includes one or more of grooves, stripes, or raised lobes. 
   
   
       44 . The article of  claim 31 , wherein at least one sub-strand of the yarn comprises a core and an outer layer, the core being formed from the same or a different polymer material from the outer layer. 
   
   
       45 . The article of  claim 31 , wherein the surface of the yarn includes a plurality of raised lobes, and at least one lobe has a different surface color from the others. 
   
   
       46 . A method of making an article of furniture which comprises providing a frame having the shape of an article of furniture, attaching a woven panel to the frame, the woven panel comprising a plurality of polymer yarns woven together, the yarns comprising a single strand of polymer material having multiple sub-strands, wherein each sub-strand has the appearance of one or more strands, and wherein the sub-strands are integrally connected to each other over their entire length. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the strand is twisted about its axis so as to appear to be comprised of multiple strands of polymer material. 
   
   
       48 . A method of making an article of furniture which comprises providing a frame having the shape of an article of furniture and weaving a plurality of polymer yarns together onto the frame to form a woven panel, the yarns comprising a single strand of polymer material having multiple sub-strands, wherein each sub-strand has the appearance of one or more strands, and wherein the sub-strands are integrally connected to each other over their entire length. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the strand is twisted about its axis so as to appear to be comprised of multiple strands of polymer material.