Abstract: A system and method for forming synthetic/artificial grass or turf products in which a series of tufts of artificial/synthetic grass filaments or yarns are formed in a backing material with various graphic pattern effects being formed therewith. The system generally will include at least one needle bar having at least one row of needles mounted along a tufting zone and reciprocated through the backing to a desired penetration depth, and will present a desired set or group of yarns to a series of pattern pixels or stitch areas. A series of level cut loop loopers or hooks will be aligned with and will engage the needles in order to form tufts of yarns in the backing material. Clips of the level cut loop loopers will be selectively controlled to control the retention of selected ones of the yarns presented at each pattern pixel. The remaining, non-selected yarns generally are not retained at the pattern pixels, and can be formed as lower pile tufts or removed from the backing material.

Abstract: A towel is provided comprising a ground cloth having warp yarns and weft yarns in a flat weave and having first and second sides. Stripes are provided on the first and second sides of the ground cloth that are defined by alternating areas of pile loops and flat weave, the pile loops on the first side being opposed by flat weave on the second side and the flat weave on the first side being opposed by pile loops on the second side. The pile loops have a density of 60 loops per cm2. A method for manufacturing a terry towel is also provided in which the towel has a weight of less than 240 gsm using a combination of open structured 100% cotton pile yarn of finer counts with ground and weft yarns that have a proportion of synthetic fiber of from 10% to 100%; comprising: weaving a striped pattern of 100% of pile yarn on one side alternated with 100% of pile yarn on other side to create double density loop stripes, the stripes having width in the range of 2 mm to 25 mm.

Abstract: A deconstructed tufted carpet having an at least partially visible primary backing. In aspects, deconstructed carpet can utilize the primary backing layer as a design element of the overall pattern and styling in order to reduce material use, waste and the ounce weight of the finished carpet and to improve the method of carpet construction. In order to expose the primary backing, at least some yarn can be pulled very low in the pattern areas to expose the primary backing layer. It is contemplated that the primary backing layer can have a color that comprises part of the overall pattern and styling of the carpet.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including, but not limited to, thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these engineered thermal fabric articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height.

Abstract: The stealthiness of a camouflage fabric product is enhanced by rendering the camouflage pattern in three dimensional relief. In one implementation, a treatment such as an anti-pill treatment is applied to selected portions of the pattern prior to a finishing process. In the case of a circular web fabric, the finishing process may involve fleecing the fabric. In this manner, a cost effective process is provided for constructing a three-dimensional relief camouflage fabric product.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including, but not limited to, thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these engineered thermal fabric articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height. In another implementation, loop yarn having a first shrinkage performance is formed in first regions to a predetermined loop height, and loop yarn having another, different shrinkage performance is formed in other regions; the loops are cut and finished to a common pile height and the web is exposed to heat to cause loop yarn to shrink to one or more different pile heights.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including, but not limited to, thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these engineered thermal fabric articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including, but not limited to, thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these engineered thermal fabric articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. The fabric element has at least two regions of contrasting insulative capacity. The method includes designing a pattern and combining yarns in a continuous web according to the pattern. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height.

Abstract: A region of a pile fabric is impacted with a laser at spaced illuminated areas in a dithered image, wherein the laser energy and duration of impact in the illuminated areas are selected to shorten the fibers within the illuminated area. The spacing of the illuminated areas within the region and the amount of shortening within the illuminated areas are selected to essentially maintain a hand or feel of the pile fabric. Fleece and corduroy can be sculpted to provide a three-dimensional image, while maintaining the hand of the fleece. In dyed pile fabrics, the illuminated areas can be selected to change the dye distribution within the pile material to provide an altered coloration.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a textile material comprising yarns wherein the material is textured by subjecting specified regions of the material to incremental strains sufficient to cause yarn failures or yarn elongation in yarns running in one direction within the specified regions. The yarns in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the failed or elongated yarns will generally have substantially unaltered physical properties and are redistributed within the specified regions. Typically, the yarn failures or elongation will be in the fill direction and yarns in the warp direction will have unaltered physical properties and be redistributed within the specified regions. Also included in the present invention is a method of manufacturing the textured textile material.

Abstract: A patterned pile fabric of stitch-bonded construction. The fabric includes a substrate layer with an arrangement of ground yarns extending in stitched relation through the substrate layer so as to define a ground covering across the substrate layer. An arrangement of pile forming yarns extend in stitched relation through the substrate layer such that the pile forming yarns define a patterned arrangement of looped elements projecting away from the ground covering in predefined three dimensional patterned arrays disposed across the fabric.

Abstract: A base textile with a camouflage pattern is subjected to hot fluid streams to create flat regions and puckered or wrinkled regions, enhancing the three dimensional characteristics of the resulting material.

Abstract: Air embossing systems, air lances and methods of air embossing fabrics produce fine detail, crisp transition between unembossed and embossed regions, and a high degree of uniformity across the width of an embossed fabric. The air embossing systems utilize air lances (210) for directing a stream of air onto the embossable surface (113) of a fabric (111) that have at least one nozzle (216) having an orifice dimension substantially less than that of conventional nozzles.

Abstract: A base textile with a camouflage pattern is subjected to hot fluid streams to create flat regions and puckered or wrinkled regions, enhancing the three dimensional characteristics of the resulting material.

Abstract: A soft, durable, nonwoven fabric formed of hydroentangled synthetic polymer fibers in sheet form. The polymer fiber is surface embossed on at least one major surface with a predetermined pattern to provide a fiber sheet having enhanced dimensional stability. The fiber sheet is surface napped to soften the surface and disturb and make indistinct the surface embossed pattern. The pattern may preferably be a twill pattern, and the napping process is preferably a wire-napping process. The fabric can be constructed into blankets and numerous apparel items.

Abstract: A moisture applicator is positioned to apply moisture to a pile fabric prior to the blades of a tip shearing cutter contacting the carpet so that moisture may be selectively applied for one of a number of purposes such as, but not excluding, creating a pattern, and/or providing a more uniform appearance as viewed from above in the event that the latex securing the polypropylene layer is not uniform across the width of the carpet. While moisture application may take one of a variety of forms, the preferred embodiment utilizes a steam applying moisture applicator wherein the selected portions which have moisture applied are cut to a deeper depth than the unselected portions which do not have moisture applied thereto.

Abstract: Range-dyed fabrics that possess excellent hand characteristics and simultaneously exhibit substantially nondirectional appearances are provided. Such a combination permits the production and utilization of an extremely comfortable apparel fabric that can be attached to any other similar type of fabric to form a target apparel article without the time-consuming need to align such component fabrics to ensure an overall aesthetic appearance is met for the target apparel article. In general, such a fabric is produced through the initial immobilization of individual fibers within target fabrics and subsequent treatment through abrasion, sanding, or sueding of at least a portion of the target fabric. Such a procedure produces a fabric of short pile height and desirable hand. Upon range-dyeing the target fabric exhibits the extra benefit of nondirectional surface characteristics.

Abstract: A lightweight loop pile fabric having improved particle pick-up is described. In addition, a patterned loop pile fabric is described. The fabric has a plurality of multifilament loops extending from at least one of its surfaces, with at least some of the loops being teased. In one embodiment, the loops are formed from splittable multifilament yarns which are hypersplit during the manufacturing process to form teased loops. The fabrics perform particularly well in the manufacture of wiping cloths with enhanced performance characteristics. In addition, the fabrics enable the production of patterned articles having performance characteristics similar to or exceeding those of unpatterned goods. A process for making the fabrics is also described.

Abstract: A composite camouflage composition includes a substrate and a plurality of individual strips of camouflage material being spaced apart and adhered to the substrate along a bonding axis, each strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material presenting a plurality of lobes adjacent the bonding axis, each strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material being gathered at points along the bonding axis such that more than one layer of each strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material is adhered to the substrate at such points. A garment and a method of forming the camouflage composition is further included.

Abstract: A material having a unique, multi-colored appearance is described. More specifically, a material having a multi-colored appearance and a three-dimensional surface is described, along with a method of making such a material. The process involves providing a pile material having an upper portion of the pile yarns of a first color and a lower portion of the pile yarns of a second color that is visually distinct from the first color, then treating the material so as to displace at least some of the pile yarns to a different position with respect to the base web portion of the fabric from other of the pile yarns. In this way, the lower portions of at least some of the pile yarns are exposed, to provide a unique visual appearance as a result of the color differential, and a unique three dimensional appearance as a result of the difference between the position of the treated and untreated portions.

Abstract: A material having a unique, multi-colored appearance is described. More specifically, a material having a multi-colored appearance and a three-dimensional surface is described, along with a method of making such a material. The process involves providing a pile material having an upper portion of the pile yarns of a first color and a lower portion of the pile yarns of a second color that is visually distinct from the first color, then treating the material so as to displace at least some of the pile yarns to a different position with respect to the base web portion of the fabric from other of the pile yarns. In this way, the lower portions of at least some of the pile yarns are exposed, to provide a unique visual appearance as a result of the color differential, and a unique three dimensional appearance as a result of the difference between the position of the treated and untreated portions.

Abstract: A decorative texturized fabric is provided. The fabric is produced from a fabric substrate that includes a yarn nappable from one side of the substrate. For instance, in one embodiment, the fabric substrate is a warp knitted fabric. According to the present invention, the fabric substrate is treated with a size composition according to a particular pattern. The fabric is then napped causing a nap to form on one side of the fabric where the size composition has not been applied. In this manner, a texturized pattern is formed into the fabric. After napping, the size composition can be removed from the fabric and the fabric can be dyed.

Abstract: A printed multicolor synthetic pile fabric having a substrate and pile formed of fibers of substantially uniform length and diameter with the fibers arranged in random groups extending uniformly across the entire width and along the entire length of the fabric. Each group comprises a random number of fibers extending at an angle and in a direction that randomly varies from the angles and directions of the fibers in adjacent groups. The fibers within each group are preferably set in the greige goods.

Abstract: Methods of forming a printed multicolor synthetic pile fabric having a substrate and pile formed of fibers arranged in random groups extending essentially uniformly across the entire width and along the entire length of the fabric are disclosed. The methods can be utilized to form fabrics wherein each of the above-mentioned groups comprises a random number of fibers extending at angles and in directions that randomly vary from the angles and directions of the fibers in adjacent groups. The methods can involve washing griege goods for selected times and at selected temperatures so as to randomly reorient the fibers forming the flocked surface of the fabric. In preferred embodiments, the fabrics are printed after fiber reorientation.

Abstract: Methods of forming a printed multicolor synthetic pile fabric having a substrate and pile formed of fibers arranged in random groups extending essentially unifomn-y across the entire width and along the entire length of the fabric are disclosed. The methods can be utilized to form fabrics wherein each of the above-mentioned groups comprises a random number of fibers extending at angles and in directions that randomly vary from the angles and directions of the fibers in adjacent groups. The methods can involve washing griege goods for selected times and at selected temperatures so as to randomly re-orient the fibers forming the flocked surface of the fabric. In preferred embodiments, the fabrics are printed after fiber re-orientation.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing jacquard with colored image is disclosed, wherein the basic color printing theory in the printing technical is employed in the weaving of jacquard so that jacquard also has image with different gray levels by the same basic colors. Meanwhile, because of the increase number of the gray levels and the range, jacquard having the effect of colored photograph may be manufactured.

Abstract: A fabric which is formed by a weaving system designed to automatically maintain a printed pattern in alignment with a woven pattern as the fabric is being formed. The printed pattern is printed onto the warp yarns. A controller is used to monitor the position of the printed pattern during the weaving process relative to the position of a woven pattern that is being formed into the fabric. Should the printed pattern and woven pattern fall out of alignment, the controller then alters the longitudinal size of the woven pattern, the printed pattern, or both patterns, in order to realign the patterns.

Abstract: A pile composite with specific appearnace comprising a pile fabric obtained by sliver knitting process, the pile fabric including a ground fabric, substantially straight piles and cone shape piles, both of the piles being developed on a surface of the ground fabric, wherein the cone shape piles are scattered all over the ground fabric and a total area of the cone shape piles at middle portions of the cone shape piles is from 0.5 to 15% of an area of the ground fabric. The pile composite has a specific appearance in which a large number of cone shape piles are developed on the surface of the pile fabric. The method for preparing the pile composite is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a fur-like pile fabric of two-layer construction formed of guard hair fibers and under-fur fibers and used as artificial fur and a method for the production thereof.This invention produces a pile fabric 1 possessing guard hair fibers 2 having sharpened leading terminals and under-fur fibers having a satisfactorily uniform length by a method that comprises preparing a pile knitted or woven fabric with a pile yarn obtained by mixing limited-length polyester type fibers for guard hair fibers of sharpened terminals with limited-length polyester type fibers more susceptible to the action of an alkali treating agent and used for under-fur fibers, imparting an alkali treating agent 6 of a specific viscosity to the hair-raised surface of the pile knitted or woven fabric, and thereafter heat-treating the alkali-treated fabric thereby shortening the under-fur fibers and sharpening the leading terminals of the under-fur fibers.

Abstract: The invention discloses a heat processing apparatus for processing the surface in undulated form and expressing a pattern in a pile sheet having multiple piles on a base cloth, in particular, a pile sheet having piles composed of synthetic fibers, which comprises conveying means for conveying the pile sheet, heating means for heating the pile sheet during the conveying process, and pressing means provided on the conveying route for pressing the pile to the base cloth side by selectively pressing different ones of the piles of heated pile sheet to deform the piles, in which the processing for expressing a pattern by undulating the surface of the pile sheet forming multiple piles on the base cloth is done efficiently and simply by useing a plurality of elements in the pressing means.

Abstract: A drawing device for towel cloth for successively drawing out and cutting off a towel material of long size as long as a sheet of towel from the rest of the towel material at the plain woven portion thereof, the towel material of long size having plain woven portions and pile fabric portions alternately and continuously arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction thereof. The drawing device comprises a feed roller disposed perpendicular to the drawing direction of the towel cloth on the drawing side thereof relative to the cutting unit and capable of feeding back the cut end portion of the cut towel cloth on the drawing side to the side of the towel material relative to the cutting unit and a thickness detector disposed in the same way as the feed roller orthogonally to the drawing direction of the towel cloth having an aperture-adjustable slit for stopping the pile fabric portion of the fed back towel cloth thereby.

Abstract: A pile-detecting apparatus is used in a machine wherein a pile fabric is deflected over a smooth surface of a roll to detect the edge between the pile-free portion of the fabric and the portion with the pile, which edge runs parallel to the displacement direction of the fabric over the roll. The apparatus has a support plate, a frame carrying the plate, a plurality of rollers mounted on the frame and riding on the surface of the deflecting roll, and at least one light source on the plate for generating light beams and directing same tangentially of the surface. Respective detectors on the plate receive the respective light beams.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment of relatively moving substrate materials by preheating the substrate before precise selective application of discrete, high temperature pressurized streams of fluid against the surface of the materials to impart a visual and tactile change thereto. The apparatus includes an elongate manifold for receiving heated pressurized fluid, such as air, disposed across the width of the relatively moving material and having a single slit the full width of the substrate for directing the fluid into the surface of the material. Pressurized cool fluid, such as air, is directed across selected portions of the manifold discharge slit to deflect pressurized heated air away from the substrate. The manifold is provided with cool air outlets which direct the heated air to a position upstream of the path of movement of the substrate for preheating purposes. The apparatus is further arranged and configured to enhance the visibility of faults in the substrate.

Abstract: The process herein described provides the weaving of a manufactured product consisting of an upper fabric (2) made of cotton or any other suitable material and a lower fabric (3) with weft yarns (3a) made of wool and warp yarns (3b) interlaced with the weft yarns (2a) of the upper fabric (2). The weaving operation is followed by a printing step carried out on the upper fabric (2) of the manufactured product and by one or more teaseling steps on the lower fabric (3). Subsequent to each teaseling step there is a dimensional stabilization step of the manufactured product accomplished by a combined action consisting in moistening, heating and tensioning the product, the tensioning lasting until the end of the moistening and heating steps. A napping operation is also carried out together with the last teaseling step. By said process a blanket is obtained which comprises an upper fabric (2) with weft yarns (2a) interlaced with the warp yarns (3b) of a lower fabric (3).

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing a cloth for stuffed animal toys, comprising directly binding long or superlong fibers with the lining cloth of a high pile base cloth by hand knitting. The cloth produced by this process can dispense with back processing for preventing the fibers from falling off. The stuffed animal toy made of this cloth is endowed with a soft touch quite analogous to the natural one of the animal.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing permanently set crumple pleat crease patterns in fabric webs, having a heatable crumple tube with an oscillatingly driveable stuffing element with which a fabric web in rope form is batchwise successively inserted into the crumple tube, compressed and finally forced out. Upstream of the entry end of the crumple tube there is a rope feed tube of smaller diameter than the crumple tube. The rope feed tube has a through-hole connected on the outside to a vacuum source, while part of the crumple tube is concentrically surrounded by a jacket tube. Annular gaps between the crumple and jacket tubes are tightly sealed by annular walls, thereby forming a heating chamber with an inlet and an outlet for a fluid heating medium.

Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing an artificial fur from an intermediate pile cloth such as a double velvet weave fabric, a knitted pile fabric provided with two ground constructions and a connecting pile connecting these two ground constructions, and an intermediate pile cloth provided with looped pile projected upward from a ground construction fabric or knitted fabric or non-woven fabric. In the method of this invention, the continuity of the pile yarns of the intermediate pile cloth is broken by sliding separation, so as not to break at least a partial number of fibrous material which will become guard hair of the artificial fur.

Abstract: Method for pressurized fluid stream treatment of the surface of a relatively moving substrate to impart visual surface changes thereto. A fluid discharge manifold having an elongate discharge slot disposed across the path of relative movement of the substrate discharges pressurized fluid, such as air, in one or more narrow discrete streams into the surface of a substrate, such as a textile fabric. In one embodiment, a plurality of spaced air outlets are disposed in the discharge slot of the manifold and pressurized cooler air is selectively directed through the outlets and across the slot in accordance with pattern information to block heated air streams from exiting from the discharge slot in selected locations and thus pattern the surface of a substrate comprised of thermoplastic yarns. The slot of the discharge manifold also may be provided with an elongate shim member having a plurality of spaced notches in a side edge of the shim member.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making the appearance of a raised fabric suede-like comprising jet spraying a high pressure liquid (12) (14) onto the nap surface of a raised fabric through the means of the liquid passable material (2) having liquid impassable parts thereon while keeping the reverse side of the raised fabric (26) in close contact with the supporter (16) whose surface has a pattern of random contour variation specified by raised parts and hollow parts, in order to make the appearance of the raised fabric, which has the nap composed of extra fine fibers of monofilament fineness in the range of 0.0001 to 0.8 denier, suede-like.

Abstract: In order to produce random changes in texture of pile fabrics, continuous multifilament bulked yarn is treated to detexturize spaced portions along its length.

Abstract: Apparatus for imparting visual surface effects to a relatively moving substrate by application of discrete streams of heated pressurized fluid to surface areas of the substrate. The apparatus includes an elongate manifold assembly comprising two fluid receiving compartments, each extending across the path of said substrate. Fluid from the first compartment passes into the second compartment, which is comprised of a series of chambers, each associated with a throttling gap. The fluid is uniformly mixed within this second compartment, and may then be directed onto the substrate as a thin, continuous stream extending the length of the manifold. By use of blocking streams of relatively cool fluid, smaller streams or groups of streams extending along selected portions of the manifold may be formed.

Abstract: A method of producing surface height patterned materials by application of streams of pressurized, heated fluid into surface areas of a relatively moving material having thermally modifiable surface components. The heated fluid streams are selectively activated and deactivated in accordance with pattern information to strike selected surface areas of the material to thermally shrink and compact the surface areas by a desired amount. Heated fluid stream flow is controlled by use of cooler pressurized fluid which is selectively directed into the heated fluid stream flow to block the same from striking the surface of the moving material. The temperature of selected of the heated fluid streams striking the material is controllably varied by rapidly introducing small amounts of cooler fluid which blend into the heated streams to correspondingly vary the height reduction of the surface of the material.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for imparting visual surface effects to a relatively moving substrate material by application of discrete streams of heated pressurized fluid to surface areas of the material. The apparatus includes an elongate manifold assembly disposed across the path of relative movement of the material and comprising a pair of elongate manifold housings which are coupled by quick release clamping means in fluid tight relation to facilitate pattern changes and maintenance of the treating apparatus. The manifold housings are constructed and arranged so that any distortion of the manifold assembly caused by differential thermal expansion of the same is resolved to minimize displacement of the manifold toward or away from the substrate. Baffle means, filter means, and fluid passageways are provided in the manifold assembly to evenly distribute the heated air at uniform temperature throughout the full length of the assembly.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for treatment of relatively moving substrate materials by precise selective application of discrete, high temperature pressurized streams of fluid against the surface of the materials to impart a visual change thereto. The apparatus includes an elongate manifold for receiving pressurized heated fluid, such as air, disposed across the width of the relatively moving material and having a plurality of spaced parallel fluid stream discharge channels for directing the fluid into the surface of the material. Pressurized cool fluid, such as air, is directed into selected manifold discharge channels to block selectively the passage of pressurized heated air therethrough.

Abstract: A synthetic fur closely resembling a natural fur comprises relatively long and thick guard hair-like raised synthetic fibers, each having a transverse cross-section wherein at least one constricted part is formed, and underfur-like raised synthetic fibers, each having a rate of dissolution in a solvent or of hydrolysis with a hydrolyzing agent higher than that of said guard hair-like raised fibers, and a length and fineness less than those of said guard hair-like raised fibers. The synthetic fur is prepared by applying a viscous treating liquid containing a solvent or hydrolyzing agent to a raised surface of a fabric comprising relatively thick raised synthetic fibers, each having a transverse cross-section wherein at least one constricted part is formed, and relatively fine raised synthetic fibers, each having a rate of dissolution in the solvent or of hydrolysis with the hydrolyzing agent higher than that of said relatively thick raised fibers.

Abstract: A knitted velour lace fabric is made by knitting a net or mesh ground fabric and knitting velour threads on to the ground fabric. Each velour thread substantially follows the path of one of the ground threads, except that at points along the length of the velour thread the latter is extended across a plurality of wales of the ground fabric to form an elongated loop. Stitches of soluble yarn are knitted on to the ground fabric to temporarily hold the elongated loops against one face of the ground fabric. Thereafter, the fabric is treated with a liquid or vapor to dissolve the soluble yarn and permit the velour loops to project outwardly from the face of the ground fabric. The velour loops may be of different lengths.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing velvet having an appearance similar to that of a woven velvet wherein slubbed yarns are used in the weft. The apparatus includes a non-contact heater for heating the pile of a fabric which is then pressed against a cool pattern roll where it is cooled to permanently set the pattern into the pile.

Abstract: Multi-level nylon pile fabrics having a selectively etched surface and a process of developing an etched effect that comprises selectively applying a chemical fiber etching agent to the surface of a level pile fabric, controlling the depth of penetration into said fabric and heating in the presence of steam to a temperature of 180.degree. F.-250.degree. F. to destroy part of the pile in the treated areas and thus to reduce the height of the pile in the treated areas creating the desired multi-level effect.

Abstract: Process technology is provided for making a synthetic fur piece from a sliver knit, high pile, differentially transversely knitted, longitudinally patterned, unstabilized starting fabric having a pile containing heat shrinkable fibers. The process involves stabilizing the starting fabric, contour shearing same, and then further processing the resulting sheared fabric under conditions which result in heat shrinking of the heat shrinkable pile fibers therein. The preferred product is a synthetic fur piece comprised of seemingly seamed together animal pelts. Various finishing operations typically and preferably are performable upon such a product to enhance fur-like properties and to simulate the appearance and qualities of specific desired animal furs, such as, for example, mink.