Abstract: The floor covering includes multiple layers including a non-woven base layer, a VAE precoat applied to the non-woven woven base layer and overlaid by a first PVC layer. A fiberglass mat is applied over the first PVC layer and a second PVC layer is applied over the mat. A woven PVC layer is laminated by heat and pressure to the underlying second PVC layer. The woven PVC layer comprises monofilament or multifilament cores, preferably but not limited to, polyester filaments overlaid by a PVC coating.

Abstract: A fabric is provided having discrete surface portions of a primary backing and tufted yarns exposed on the technical face of the fabric. To form the fabric, the yarn feed controlled by servomotors is adjusted in increments to rob back yarn sufficient to pull out the previously tufted loops in selected portions of the fabric, leaving the primary backing portion of the pulled-out loops exposed on the technical face. By the selection process, random or patterned tufted portions and exposed primary backing surface portions are provided on the technical face of the fabric.

Abstract: The covering includes, in order from exposed surface to underside, a tufted primary, a VAE precoat, a first layer of PVC, a fiberglass woven material, preferably a leno weave fiberglass material, embedded in the first layer of PVC and a final layer of PVC forming the underside of the covering. Dimensional stability is achieved with the woven or the leno weave fiberglass material utilizing minimal quantities of PVC, while providing adequate curl and drape properties to the covering.

Abstract: Described are methods of making a carpet by (a) providing a primary backing material having a front side and a back side, (b) tufting a yarn into the primary backing material to produce a carpet pile on the front side of the primary backing material and loops of the yarn on the back side of the primary backing material, (c) applying by slot coating a layer of a first melted coating composition onto the back side of the tufted primary backing material, (d) applying by slot coating a layer of a second melted coating composition onto the coating applied in step (c) thereby fixing the loops of the yarn to the primary backing material, and (e) applying and pressing a secondary backing onto the slot coated tackifying resin layers and pressing it to join the first and second tackifying resins and the primary backing and secondary backing and yarn loops together to form a carpet.

Abstract: By utilizing specially processed waste carpeting as a filler in the production of carpet backcoating, roofing materials, or other similar products, the amount of waste carpeting that is landfilled or otherwise disposed of is significantly reduced as is the need for mining the mineral fillers. Waste carpeting (post-consumer and/or waste from new carpet manufacture) containing calcium carbonate and a thermoplastic resin is collected and size-reduced to a size corresponding to the size of calcium carbonate typically used as a filler. The size-reduced waste carpeting is added as filler to at least one other material, such as polymers in standard latex, EVA, or PVC carpet backcoatings, to provide a composite used in the manufacture of a useful product (like carpet backcoating), and then the composite material is used to make the useful product (such as carpet backcoating, which is used as a primary or secondary backcoating in the manufacture of new carpeting).

Abstract: A fabric is formed of yarns having soiling-hiding and soiling-prone characteristics which are visually distinct one from the other in the surface of the fabric once the fabric has been soiled. The soiling-prone yarns comprise yarns formed of multi-lobal fibers or filaments where the soiling particles collect in the cavities of the lobed surfaces. Preferably, the soiling-hiding yarns are formed of hollowfil synthetic fibers or filaments. By embedding one or more yarns of the soiling-prone type in the fabric, e.g., carpet, the yarns become differentially visually distinctive relative to one another upon soiling of the fabric.

Abstract: The textile includes a plurality of raised ribs laterally spaced one from the other and straddling textile yarns between the raised ribs. A yarn strand of a color different than the color of the raised ribs and straddled fibers extends directly along one side of the raised ribs and a yarn strand of a different color extends along an opposite side of the raised ribs. Depending upon the perspective of the viewer of the textile surface, the color of one of the yarn strands is hidden from view, while the color of the other yarn strand is observable, rendering different optical effects (textile colors) to the viewer as a function of the viewer's perspective.

Abstract: A fabric is provided having discrete surface portions of a primary backing and tufted yarns exposed on the technical face of the fabric. To form the fabric, the yarn feed controlled by servomotors is adjusted in increments to rob back yarn sufficient to pull out the previously tufted loops in selected portions of the fabric, leaving the primary backing portion of the pulled-out loops exposed on the technical face. By the selection process, random or patterned tufted portions and exposed primary backing surface portions are provided on the technical face of the fabric.

Abstract: A covering for a floor, wall or ceiling surface includes tiles each having first and second discrete tile sections. The first section includes a primary backing exposed on one side of the tile forming a first discrete exposed surface portion and a plurality of yarns tufted into the primary backing with cut or loop yarns on the back side of the primary backing leaving backstitches forming a second discrete exposed surface portion of the first section. The primary backing and backstitches form the first and second surface portions, respectively, of the first section with aesthetic characteristics different from one another. The second section of the tile is formed of one of a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric and a tufted pile and which second section forms the remaining portion of the exposed surface of the tile.

Abstract: A floor covering includes a primary backing having yarns tufted through the primary backing forming wear surface portions comprised of the back stitches of the tufted yarns in conjunction with non-tufted areas of the primary backing, also forming exposed wear surfaces. Both exposed wear surfaces portions form an aesthetic design pattern whereby a low, dense broadloom or modular carpet is provided at reduced materials and costs. Preferably, the primary backing is comprised of a woven polypropylene and a secondary backing is provided with the cut or loop yarns on the back side of the primary backing being fixed in place by a resin. A secondary backing formed of a composition of EVA, calcium carbonate and resin, overlaid by a woven scrim, is provided. The secondary backing may be formed of a needle-bonded synthetic fiber. Additionally, the primary backing may be formed of a non-woven material such as nylon and polyester.

Abstract: A durable, water-resistant, breathable, multi-layer laminate adapted to transmit moisture and composed of (1) an outer woven, non-woven or knitted layer of fabric, (2) a discontinuous non-breathable hydrophobic adhesive, (3) a first hydrophilic barrier film adhesively secured to the outer fabric layer, by the hydrophilic adhesive, (4) a continuous film or discontinuous breathable hydrophilic adhesive, and (5) a second hydrophilic barrier film adhered to the hydrophilic adhesive. The first hydrophilic barrier film and second hydrophilic barrier film are adhesively secured to each other with the breathable hydrophilic adhesive and define a void area between the two films and together the films enhance moisture migration and transfer. The laminates may include two additional layers of (6) a second hydrophilic adhesive, and (7) a fabric backing layer secured by the second hydrophilic adhesive.

Abstract: The effects of ultraviolet induced damage to cationic dyeable nylon fibers dyed at a pH of about 2.5 or less with an acid dye, a premetallized acid dye or a reactive dye are arrested or attenuated by applying to the dyed fibers either before of after exposure to ultraviolet light a neutralizing aqueous solution having a pH of about 7.5 or greater and heating the fibers.

Abstract: Seam strips are provided in a textile covering for a floor, wall or ceiling which are exposed and afford an aesthetic surface treatment. The seam strips comprise inverted T-shaped strips with an upstanding web terminating in a margin short of the pile height and a pair of flanges projecting laterally from each of the lower opposite sides of the web. The flanges have holes for securing, by way of screws or nails, the strips to the underlying floor, wall or ceiling. The adjacent edges of the textile covering are secured to the upper surfaces of the flanges. The textile coverings preferably have the backstitches of tufts and portions of the primary backing forming an exposed surface which, together with the exposed margin of the strips, form an aesthetically pleasing surface treatment.

Abstract: A fabric is constructed by weaving on a loom, with a loom setting of between about 78%-88% of firm setting in the greige, using false twist textured polyester warp yarn with about 57-75 ends per inch and air textured polyester weft yarn with about 36-54 picks per inch, and finishing the fabric by scouring (on a jet or on a continuous scouring range) and printing or jet dyeing, and then heat setting at temperature of at least about 350° F. The yarns may be fire resistant (FR), or finished with a durable FR finish. The fabric scores between 4.5 and 5.0 on each of random tumble pilling, brush pilling, and Klopman method roughing and pilling, tests. The fabric also has a surface SMD of at least about 4.3, a bending rigidity 2HB of about 0.1 or less, a compressibility EMC % of less than about 28, a shearing stiffness G value of about 2 or less, and an extensibility EMT % of at least about 3.0. The fabric is especially suitable in the hospitality trade, e.g. for curtains and bedspreads.

Abstract: Colorfastness of cationic dyeable nylon fibers dyed with acid and/or premetalized acid dyes is enhanced and potential water bleed problems can also be overcome by treating the dyed fibers with an acrylic water bleed fixative in conjunction with a traditional cotton water bleed fixative. In a typical procedure, the acrylic fixative is applied first, followed by the nylon fixative or the cotton fixative.

Abstract: Textiles made of synthetic fibers and synthetic fiber blended fabrics are constructed in the form of a garment then dyed while avoiding setting permanent creases and permanent wrinkles in the garment. The process includes selecting a synthetic or synthetic blended fabric for the dyeing process by determining the fabric's shrinkage in the warp and fill directions, for instance no greater than 6%, constructing a garment from the fabric selected, then dyeing the constructed garment in an aqueous dyebath at a temperature in the range of 220 to 260° F. for a time sufficient to achieve a desired shade and levelness of color followed by drying and optionally pressing the dyed garment.

Abstract: A woven fabric formed of dyed blended cotton/polyester warp yarns and polyester stretch fill yarns is finished by passing the fabric through a brusher and singer and then through a finishing pad box to apply the finish. Immediately after application of the finish to the yarns, the fabric is passed over pre-drying cans and set by attaching the fabric to an unheated tenter chain for width control. The fabric is then passed over steam drying cans to reduce the moisture level to 8-10%. Subsequently, the fabric is passed through a first compressive shrinking machine, a scrubbing operation and then through a final compressive shrinking machine.

Abstract: Fabrics and methods of making such fabrics whereby no evident pile structure is present in raised pattern areas on the face of the fabric. The construction of the fabric is nonetheless such that the yarns forming the raised pattern areas are more susceptible to napping as compared to the yarns forming the recessed ground regions of the fabric. This fabric construction of selected yarns will thus permit preferential napping of the pattern areas to be achieved (e.g., using conventional napping wires) while the adjacent ground regions of the fabric remain substantially unnapped. Subsequent shearing of the napped pattern areas thereby results in a velvet-like hand being achieved.

Abstract: Replacement of an existing permanent type commercial carpet installation is facilitated by applying a first pressure sensitive adhesive (preferably containing about 2-10% (by weight) shredded fiberglass) to an existing floor surface, e.g. using a napped roller, and applying a layer of creped kraft base paper with reinforcing yarns substantially directly to the first adhesive. The creped kraft paper layer provides a macroscopically smooth surface substantially impervious to moisture. A conventional, e.g. wet laid, carpet installation adhesive is applied in any conventional manner to the layer, and commercial carpeting is applied substantially directly to the wet laid adhesive.

Abstract: A room darkener fabric has about 40-60% of flame-resistant warp yarns on a face and 60-40% on the back. The warp yarns produce a fire-resistant barrier for a middle layer of non-flame resistant black yarn. About 70-90% of the black filling yarns binds with the warp yarns and forms a middle layer so that both the face and back comprise approximately 85-95% white warp yarns and 5-15% black filling yarn, with the balance of the black filling yarns forming the middle layer. The filling yarn is a non-flame resistant yarn that is solution dyed black.