Abstract: An apparatus for and method of making a carpeting strip are provided wherein such carpeting strip has integral joining means enabling the forming of a substantially invisible seam between an adjoining pair of carpeting strips upon forming a carpet employing such strips.

Abstract: A fluid is passed in contact with the surface of a fabric on the surface opposite that exposed to sufficient infrared radiation to fuse at least a portion of the synthetic thermoplastic fibers which comprise at least a portion of the fabric.

Abstract: In apparatus for making a pile article by applying a backing to free ends of an assembly of pile fibers, the combination of means for forming pile units each comprising a laterally compressed and substantially radially symmetrical array of pile fibers, means for supporting assembled pile fibers, means for distributing a plurality of the pile units transversely across the supporting means and releasing the fibers thereof from lateral compression, and means for advancing the released pile units longitudinally of the supporting means while applying a force for promoting lateral expansion of the released units into a continuous assembly of fibers, prior to application of the backing.