US Patent 7799997 Innerduct structure having increased flexibility

Provided herein are flexible, low friction innerduct structures configured to contain at least one cable within a conduit. The innerduct structures, or conduit inserts, include one or more strip-shaped panels of flexible material that are joined to define at least one channel through which a cable can extend. The innerduct structures preferably are formed from a woven textile fabric having warp yarns that are monofilaments and fill yarns that are an alternating pattern of monofilament yarns and multifilament yarns. Such construction increases the flexibility of the fabric, as compared to previous innerduct fabrics, resulting in a reduction of the pulling force required to draw the cable through the innerduct and into position.