Patents Assigned to Unifi, Inc.
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Patent number: 5746073Abstract: A dye tube spacer for package dyeing. The spacer prevents distortion of the ends of the yarn package when the package is compressed prior to dyeing. The spacer includes a continuous vertical inner wall having an upper edge and a lower edge, the inner diameter of the wall being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tube. A vertical outer wall is spaced from the inner wall and has an upper edge and a lower edge. A top annular wall is inclined upwardly from the upper edge of the inner to the upper edge of the outer wall, the wall having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the end of the yarn winding. A bottom annular wall extends from the lower edge of the inner wall to the lower edge of the outer wall. A support shelf extends inwardly from the inner wall and is positioned to engage the end of the tube. The inclined top and bottom annular walls contact the ends of the yarn packages and prevent undesirable distortion of the yarn during compression prior to dyeing.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1996Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Unifi, Inc.Inventors: Gordon A. Wise, Roger N. Saunders, Matthew M. Thomas, Raymond W. Maynard, Ronald W. Mangrum
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Patent number: 5617748Abstract: A dye tube spacer for package dyeing. The spacer prevents distortion of the ends of the yarn package when the package is compressed prior to dyeing. The spacer includes a continuous vertical inner wall having an upper edge and a lower edge, the inner diameter of the wall being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tube. A vertical outer wall is spaced from the inner wall and has an upper edge and a lower edge. A top annular wall is inclined upwardly from the upper edge of the inner to the upper edge of the outer wall, the wall having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the end of the yarn winding. A bottom annular wall extends from the lower edge of the inner wall to the lower edge of the outer wall. A support shelf extends inwardly from the inner wall and is positioned to engage the end of the tube. The inclined top and bottom annular walls contact the ends of the yarn packages and prevent undesirable distortion of the yarn during compression prior to dyeing.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1996Date of Patent: April 8, 1997Assignee: Unifi, Inc.Inventors: Gordon A. Wise, Roger N. Saunders, Matthew M. Thomas, Raymond W. Maynard, Ronald W. Mangrum
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Patent number: 5490401Abstract: A dye tube spacer for package dyeing. The spacer prevents distortion of the ends of the yarn package when the package is compressed prior to dyeing. The spacer includes a continuous vertical inner wall having an upper edge and a lower edge, the inner diameter of the wall being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tube. A vertical outer wall is spaced from the inner wall and has an upper edge and a lower edge. A top annular wall is inclined upwardly from the upper edge of the inner to the upper edge of the outer wall, the wall having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the end of the yarn winding. A bottom annular wall extends from the lower edge of the inner wall to the lower edge of the outer wall. A support shelf extends inwardly from the inner wall and is positioned to engage the end of the tube. The inclined top and bottom annular walls contact the ends of the yarn packages and prevent undesirable distortion of the yarn during compression prior to dyeing.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1994Date of Patent: February 13, 1996Assignee: Unifi, Inc.Inventors: Gordon A. Wise, Roger N. Saunders, Matthew M. Thomas, Raymond W. Maynard, Ronald W. Mangrum
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Patent number: 5237808Abstract: A method of composite yarn formed of a false twist crimped, heat set elastomeric core yarn intermingled with a false twist crimped, substantially heat set partially drawn, non-elastic yarn. The resulting composite yarn is substantially free of alternating "S" and "Z" twists, as well as voids. The composite yarn of the present invention is formed by increasing the number of turns per inch of the false twist and adjusting the operating conditions of the D/Y ratio, draw ratio of the elastic and non-elastic yarns, disc stacking, heat, and the machine speed to achieve a balanced or stable thread line.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1991Date of Patent: August 24, 1993Assignee: Unifi, Inc.Inventor: O. Lee Gordon, Jr.
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Patent number: 5063108Abstract: A textured, continuous, multi-filament polyester yarn or fabric has a plasticizer incorporated onto the surface thereof and/or into the interfilamentary structure thereof either during the texturizing process or after the yarn has been made into a gauze-like fabric substrate. Because of the plasticizer, the gauze is enabled to be laminated to a vinyl sheet as it is formed. The platicizer is characterized in that it is compatible with both the vinyl and the polyester, it softens the vinyl to receive the polyester gauze, it has a viscosity in the range of 25-105 centistokes (cs), and it swells or plasticizes the vinyl to such an extent that the polyester gauze becomes imbedded therein and affixed thereto to effectively bond the gauze to the vinyl. The gauze fabric substrate, when laminated to the vinyl sheet material, gives the vinyl sheet both enhanced strength and stability.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1990Date of Patent: November 5, 1991Assignee: Unifi, Inc.Inventor: James H. Whetstone
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Patent number: 5043208Abstract: A textured, continuous, multi-filament polyester yarn or fabric has a plasticizer incorporated onto the surface thereof and/or into the interfilamentary structure thereof either during the texturizing process or after the yarn has been made into a gauze-like fabric substrate. Because of the plasticizer, the gauze is enabled to be laminated to a vinyl sheet as it is formed. The plasticizer is characterized in that it is compatible with both the vinyl and the polyester, it softens the vinyl to receive the polyester gauze, it has a viscosity in the range of 25-105 centistokes (cs), and it swells or plasticizes the vinyl to such an extent that the polyester gauze becomes imbedded therein and affixed thereto to effectively bond the gauze to the vinyl. The gauze fabric substrate, when laminated to the vinyl sheet material, gives the vinyl sheet both enhanced strength and stability.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1990Date of Patent: August 27, 1991Assignee: Unifi, Inc.Inventor: James H. Whetstone
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Patent number: 4935293Abstract: A textured, continuous, multi-filament polyester yarn or fabric has a plasticizer incorporated onto the surface thereof and/or into the interfilamentary structure thereof either during the texturizing process or after the yarn has been made into a gauze-like fabric substrate. Because of the plasticizer, the gauze is enabled to be laminated to a vinyl sheet as it is formed. The plasticizer is characterized in that it is compatible with both the vinyl and the polyester, it softens the vinyl to receive the polyester gauze, it has a viscosity in the range of 25-105 centistokes (cs), and it swells or plasticizes the vinyl to such an extent that the polyester gauze becomes imbedded therein and affixed thereto to effectively bond the gauze to the vinyl. The gauze fabric substrate, when laminated to the vinyl sheet material, gives the vinyl sheet both enhanced strength and stability.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1988Date of Patent: June 19, 1990Assignee: Unifi, Inc.Inventor: James H. Whetstone
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Patent number: 4925726Abstract: A textured, continuous, multi-filament polyester yarn has an ethoxylated alkyl aryl alcohol based surfactant incorporated into the interfilamentary structure thereof either during the texturizing process or after the yarn has been made into a gauze-like fabric substrate. The ethoxylated alkyl aryl alcohol based surfactant is characterized in that it is water dispersible and water insoluble; has an HLB scale in the range of 7-10; is compatible with conventional wallpaper glues; is of a viscosity in the range of 50-100 SUS depending on the yarn denier; and has a smoke point greater than 350.degree. F. The yarn so treated is formed into a gauze fabric substrate and affixed to the rear surface of a sheet material such as a vinyl wallcovering. When the glue is applied to the sheet material the surfactant treatment alters the normally hydrophobic characteristics exhibited by the textured polyester yarn so that the characteristics actually become hydrophilic.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1988Date of Patent: May 15, 1990Assignee: Unifi, Inc.Inventor: James H. Whetstone