Lace Braiding Research & Patents

Programmable Circular Lace Braiding

Programmable braiding machines, although relatively unknown, have a crucial role in textile manufacturing beyond their traditional association with lace bands.

Over the years of invention and practice with programmable circular lace braiding machines Brad Jamison of TEF Braids has transformed a technology that historically produced ornamental textiles into an efficient, virtually zero waste process for production of high performance fabrics and textile structures that provide the benefits of a braid and fluidity of a knit. His pioneering digital graphic interface translates visual representation of his pattern designs to the machine’s operation, in the tradition of Joseph-Marie Jacquard’s punch-card system for automating textile production in 1800.

Research

In 2010 David Branscombe Ph.D of Auburn University, was one of the first to explore lace braiding technology in an academic setting in his manuscript New Directions in Braiding which provided a history and evolution of braiding, braiding machinery, and related engineering developments is provided with emphasis on the design, manufacture.

In 2018 David Branscombe Ph.D wrote another paper Lace Braiding Machines for Composite Preform Manufacture which evaluated the value of a modern lace Lace Braiding technology intricate three-dimensional textile structures suitable for lightweight composite materials that offer advantages such as near-net-shape production and tailored reinforcement in all three spatial directions, making them valuable for composite engineering.

Brad’s significant machine improvements and manufacturing advances are inextricably linked with his patterning process. He holds two patents for patterns that are the foundation of his development and continues to create new and efficient manufacturing processes for Tensengral Brand manufactured by TEF Braids.

Patents

In 2015 Brad Jamison of TEF Braids received a patent at the USPTO Patterned Plexus of Filaments, Method of Producing and Articles Containing Patterned Filaments US 20140377488 A1 relating to filament networks or a patterned plexus of filaments, such as, woven fabrics, and the articles that can be fabricated with filament networks,
such as, footwear, apparel, accessories, sporting goods, and equipment; more particularly, the present invention relates to multi-axial filament networks comprising linked and interwoven strands, which provide enhanced flexibility and endurance to the plexus of strands, and the articles that can be fabricated with the multi-axial filament networks, such as, footwear, apparel, accessories, sporting goods, and equipment, having enhanced performance, flexibility, structural
qualities, and endurance.

In 2017 Brad Jamison of TEF Braids received a second patent at the USPTO Plexus of Filaments with Linked Members which describes a plexus of filaments which is composed of paired filaments which travel extensively around one another to form a double helix structure exhibiting greater conformal and constrictive qualities in comparison to the prior art. Also disclosed is a method of producing filament structures for a variety of uses including composite structures, with enhanced structural properties, including tension displacement properties, for use in applications requiring conformal load distribution with minimal weight.

Tensengral Brand

TEF Braids produces original bodywear for the Tensengral Brand. Tensengral's bodywear serves as an intimate, testable example of manufacturing capabilities and product design that merges science and technology in creation of products that function in a “less is more” efficient way by distributing load and balancing the tensions of movement with only patterned filaments.

Innovation

We embody full circle innovation with our new designs, materials and zero waste, efficient manufacturing process, that address performance and sustainability issues using only unified filament networks.

Design Innovation

We’ve created new ways of designing products from linked and interlaced filament networks that demonstrate the value of unified, unbound, integrated structures for function, longevity and comfort while also using fewer resources to achieve performance objectives.

Material Innovation

We’ve patented ways to link and interlace filaments in creation of zonally patterned fabrics that possess conformal, supportive behaviors due to their filament arrangements.

Manufacturing Innovation

We’ve developed zero waste, efficient manufacturing methods using repurposed heritage machinery with a new patterning technology, in creation of 3D, functional textiles.