Patents by Inventor James N. Rockwell

James N. Rockwell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6726975
    Abstract: Dual fiber carpet and matting fabrics are made of tufted ends of yarn with one end being made from standard carpet denier yarns ranging from about 10 to 30 denier per filament and total denier ranging from about 600 to 5000 denier and the second end being made from heavy monofilament fibers with a denier per filament ranging from about 100 to 500 denier and a total denier ranging from about 300 to 5000 denier per yarn bundle. Both fibers can be made from a variety of synthetic and/or natural materials. Also, a combination of at least three floor or ground covering articles, A, B, and C, for placement in and around the entryway of a building is disclosed which provides more effective cleaning ability for pedestrians' footwear, thus better ensuring the inside of the building itself remains clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: James N Rockwell, Richard C Willey, Jr., Tammy B Gooch
  • Publication number: 20030165657
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a floor covering that is compatible for installation with surrounding carpet tiles, that is aesthetically compatible with surrounding carpet tiles, and that includes an abrasive component for removing dirt. The carpet tile of the present disclosure includes a monofilament component that aggressively dislodges dirt from pedestrian footwear. The carpet tile further includes a cushioned backing that increases the underfoot comfort to users thereof. The carpet tile can be made from solution dyed yarns or can be dyed or printed after construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: James N. Rockwell
  • Publication number: 20030129354
    Abstract: This invention relates to a floor mat which comprises a nonwoven substrate through which carpet pile fibers are tufted and which also comprises either a foam rubber backing sheet which exhibits the same degree of shrinkage as the carpet pile component or a rubber backing sheet which possesses a strength modulus above about 1,000 pounds per square inch. With such backing sheet requirements either the overall shrinkage of the mat will be even or the backing sheet will be strong enough to compensate for varying degrees of shrinkage between the pile substrate and the backing sheet. The resultant floor mat is the first such mat which meets industrial laundry standards of rippling (i.e., curling up) and delaminating (i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: WILLIAM O. BURKE, JAMES N. ROCKWELL, ROBERT C. KERR
  • Patent number: 6478995
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cushioned floor covering article wherein the mat includes a tufted carpet placed on the top side of a foam rubber sheet and at least one foam rubber protrusion integrated within at least a portion of the bottom side of the foam rubber sheet. Such an article provides effective removal of moisture, dirt, and debris from the footwear of pedestrians through the utilization of a carpet pile component. Furthermore, the utilization of a foam rubber backing also allows for either periodic heavy duty industrial-scale laundering in such standard washing machines or periodic washing and drying in standard in-home machines, both without appreciably damaging the inventive floor covering article, such as a floor mat. Additionally, the presence of integrated foam rubber protrusions within the mat structure provides an effective cushioning effect for pedestrian comfort as well as a means to prevent slippage of the article from its contacted surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: James N. Rockwell, Jr., Robert C. Kerr, William O. Burke, III
  • Publication number: 20020092261
    Abstract: Dual fiber carpet and matting fabrics are made of tufted ends of yarn with one end being made from standard carpet denier yarns ranging from about 10 to 30 denier per filament and total denier ranging from about 600 to 5000 denier and the second end being made from heavy monofilament fibers with a denier per filament ranging from about 100 to 500 denier and a total denier ranging from about 300 to 5000 denier per yarn bundle. Both fibers can be made from a variety of synthetic and/or natural materials. Also, a combination of at least three floor or ground covering articles, A, B, and C, for placement in and around the entryway of a building is disclosed which provides more effective cleaning ability for pedestrians' footwear, thus better ensuring the inside of the building itself remains clean.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: James N. Rockwell, Richard C. Willey, Tammy B. Gooch
  • Patent number: 6332293
    Abstract: A launderable dust control mat having antimicrobial properties is provided. The mat includes a pile fiber upper surface and a rubber backing surface. Metal based antimicrobial agent, are disposed within both the fiber forming the upper surface and the rubber forming the backing surface thereby providing antimicrobial character to the mat as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Robert C. Kerr, James N. Rockwell
  • Patent number: 6296919
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cushioned floor covering article wherein the mat includes a tufted carpet placed on the top side of a foam rubber sheet and at least one foam rubber protrusion integrated within at least a portion of the bottom side of the foam rubber sheet. Such an article provides effective removal of moisture, dirt, and debris from the footwear of pedestrians through the utilization of a carpet pile component. Furthermore, the utilization of a foam rubber backing also allows for either periodic heavy duty industrial-scale laundering in such standard washing machines or periodic washing and drying in standard in-home machines, both without appreciably damaging the inventive floor covering article, such as a floor mat. Additionally, the presence of integrated foam rubber protrusions within the mat structure provides an effective cushioning effect for pedestrian comfort as well as a means to prevent slippage of the article from its contacted surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: James N. Rockwell, Jr., Robert C. Kerr, William O. Burke, III
  • Patent number: 6159576
    Abstract: This invention relates to a floor mat primarily for use in an outdoor environment wherein the mat includes a tufted carpet solely comprised of nylon monofilament fibers. Furthermore, this mat comprises a foam rubber backing which possesses a high level of ozone resistance and simultaneously will not appreciably stain a handler's skin or a floor's surface with carbon particles. The utilization of all monofilament nylon fibers provides for the extreme effective removal of moisture, dirt, and debris from the footwear of pedestrians and also permits easy cleaning and effective drying of the overall article. The utilization of a foam rubber backing also allows for heavy duty industrial-scale laundering in such standard washing machines without appreciably damaging either the washing machines or inventive floor mats themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: James N. Rockwell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6042925
    Abstract: A sculpted launderable dust control mat is provided. The dust control mat includes a pile fiber upper surface and a rubber backing disposed beneath the pile fiber upper surface. The pile fiber upper surface is formed of solution dyed nylon yarns which have under gone selective sculpting through controlled exposure to a fiber degrading composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Robert C. Kerr, James N. Rockwell
  • Patent number: 5928446
    Abstract: A process for the application of tear resistant side and edge strip materials to a rubber base sheet of a launderable dust control mat is provided. The process involves the in-line mating of first and second strips of carboxylated rubber to the longitudinal borders of a rubber sheet and the in-line mating of third and fourth strips of carboxylated rubber to the leading and tailing edges of a rubber sheet, respectively, all by means of a series of pressure rolls. The process permits separate rubber sheet and side strip materials to be joined in a continuous or semicontinuous operation immediately prior to assembly of a mat thereby enhancing material handling efficiencies. Dust mats produced thereby are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
    Inventors: James N. Rockwell, Jr., William O. Burke, III, Robert C. Kerr
  • Patent number: RE38422
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cushioned floor covering article wherein the mat includes a tufted carpet placed on the top side of a foam rubber sheet and at least one foam rubber protrusion integrated within at least a portion of the bottom side of the foam rubber sheet. Such an article provides effective removal of moisture, dirt, and debris from the footwear of pedestrians through the utilization of a carpet pile component. Furthermore, the utilization of a foam rubber backing also allows for either periodic heavy duty industrial-scale laundering in such standard washing machines or periodic washing and drying in standard in-home machines, both without appreciably damaging the inventive floor covering article, such as a floor mat. Additionally, the presence of integrated foam rubber protrusions within the mat structure provides an effective cushioning effect for pedestrian comfort as well as a means to prevent slippage of the article from its contacted surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Co.
    Inventors: James N. Rockwell, Jr., Robert C. Kerr, William O. Burke, III