Abstract: An overhanging barrier fin weatherstrip and method having a backing strip, and one surface of a sealing body affixed thereto with the opposite surface free. The backing strip and sealing body form a sealing assembly. An inverted shallow V-shaped barrier fin is provided having first and second web portions joined together along a common fold line. The barrier fin is arranged with an edge surface of the first web portion secured to the sealing assembly, and the first web portion extending vertically with the fold line substantially at the level of the opposite free surface of the sealing body. The second web portion extends outwardly from the fold line overhanging the opposite free surface of the sealing body.

Abstract: A fiber sheet for forming comprising a low softening point fiber and/or a high stretchability fiber and a high softening point fiber.

Abstract: A non-woven fabric having a plurality of patterns of groups of fiber segments that alternate and extend throughout the fabric. One pattern is disposed in discontinuous portions of the fabric, each of which portion include at least one pivotal packing of fiber segments protruding out of the general plane of the fabric and a yarn-like bundle of fiber segments attached to said pivotal packing by ribbon-like groups of aligned fiber segments extending from the pivotal packing. The discontinuous portions of the fabric are interconnected by highly entangled fibrous areas which form a continuous pattern throughout the fabric.

Abstract: A non-woven sheet or web of fibers, containing at least some thermoplastic fibers, is fused to consolidate the fibers, bond another sheet of material thereto, perforate the sheet or bind tufting fibers therein by heating the sheet to a temperature and for a time sufficient to fuse at least some of the fibers in preselected areas of the sheet while simultaneously blocking heat transmission to the non-selected areas, or by pretreating patterned areas of the sheet to increase or decrease the heat-absorptivity of the patterned areas relative to the remainder of the sheet and thereafter heating the sheet. Improved non-woven fabrics, consolidated in preselected areas, non-woven fabrics bonded to another sheet material in preselected areas, non-woven fabrics perforated in predetermined areas and non-woven fabric substrates firmly holding tufting materials in preselected areas, are also produced.

Abstract: A pile fabric is treated overall with a solution containing a solvent for the fiber comprising the pile fabric. The solvent concentration of the solution is of a low enough level to produce little or no shrinkage by itself upon subsequent application of heat. Portions of the fabric before heating are treated with a solution to increase the solvent concentration on the pile fabric to a point where the solvent will have a shrinking effect on the fabric. The subsequently heated product then has an embossed effect.

Abstract: Three dimensional shapes, typically of convex-concave form and having sufficient rigidity to maintain that form are molded from nonwoven, needlepunched fabrics containing certain ethylene-vinyl acetate fibers in admixture with fibers of a higher melting point polymer. Molding is accomplished by heating the fabric to a temperature whereat the ethylene-vinyl acetate fibers soften or melt but below the melting point of the other fibers and thereafter pressing the fabric between the mating faces of a mold pair and allowing the ethylene-vinyl acetate fibers to solidify and cool while in the mold.

Abstract: A melt bonded fabric is produced by blending particular ethylene-vinyl acetate fibers with fibers of higher melting materials, forming a fabric thereof as by needle punching, and thereafter subjecting the fabric to temperatures above the melting point of ethylene-vinyl acetate but below that of the other fibers in the fabric.

Abstract: Laminer pile-surfaced material having piles on both outer surfaces, at least one pile having improved resistance to slide.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide an improved soft barrier fin weatherstrip 10 and method of manufacturing same. The weatherstrip 10, which is used for sealing openings between fixed and sliding members, comprises a soft barrier fin 16 preferably formed from polypropylene material. The fin 16 is coated or impregnated with paraffin which fills the openings or interstices in the fin. The coated fin 16 has good resistance to air and moisture infiltration. The fin 16 further reduces the noise generated by the weatherstrip 10 sliding on a mating surface, and the break-away force required to reverse the direction of the fin. The paraffin in the fin 16 acts as a lubricant between the weatherstrip 10 and mating surface.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with the tack spinning of materials and has particular reference to the formation of tack spun materials by applying a thermoplastic polymer to a backing or carrier sheet to form a pattern or layer thereon and then heating the layer and contacting the layer with a second surface whereby separation of the carrier from the second surface results in separation of the thermoplastic polymer within its plane to draw fibres therefrom on progressive separation. The preferred embodiment of the invention involves two backing sheets prepared between a pair of nip rollers to form a sandwich structure with a layer of thermoplastic tack spinnable material and separating the same on the downstream side of the nip to provide the fibres disposed substantially transverse to the plane of the carrier sheet. The invention also describes novel apparatus for performing this operation.

Abstract: A facing or lining material of a thermoplastic such as polypropylene is provided with a key fabric bonded to its reverse face so that a reinforcing material such as fibre-reinforced resin or hydraulic cement can be bonded to it. The key fabric is a pile fabric made for example by tufting, and the pile fibres can be embedded in the reinforcement material to provide a strong bond. Glass fibres are suitable for the pile and are made of alkali-resistant glass for use with cement reinforcement. The composite material can be used for lining vessels, tanks, ducts and pipes in chemical plant and as an external or internal facing material for buildings.

Abstract: A plurality of substantially parallel filamentary textile materials are assembled in a bundle to make a textile pile element. One end of the bundle has a base joining the materials at one end in a stable condition whereas the other end of the bundle contains strands which are free and open. The textile materials are retained in parallel arrangement by the base which is located in a mesh. The mesh is a support comprised of a planar structure having openings for receiving the bases of the elements. The mesh may be prefabricated or assembled during fabrication of the pile article. A pile textile article is made from the elements by a process of fabrication which includes the steps of inserting the textile elements in the opening in the mesh to result in an article which has application to furniture, clothing, toys, hats and decorative items.

Abstract: A weatherstrip and method for sealing a gap comprising a base preferably of fabric material, and one or more sealing bodies such as rows of pile fibers extending longitudinally there along. A barrier strip formed of a thin film or sheet of flexible plastic material is secured at one edge to the base and/or sealing bodies and projects substantially above the free or upper ends of the pile members. Foamed cellular plastic bodies may be used in place of the bodies of pile fibers, or a single body of pile or foamed plastic material may be used with the barrier strip located on one side thereof.

Abstract: Cellular linear filaments are disclosed and include a substantially continuous, integral plastic hollow member having internal generally transverse partitions which divide the hollow member into cells. The wall of the hollow member can be continuous or can contain orifices, slits, windows and the like. The cells can be open or closed and uniformly or randomly spaced along the tubular member. The cells are defined by transverse partitions which can be integrally formed with the hollow member or they can be seals in the hollow member. Woven, non-woven and tufted materials including yarns made up in part or in total of the cellular linear element are also disclosed. The cellular linear element can be cut into discrete lengths to form pile-like elements which can be attached upright to a base to form a multi-element device.

Abstract: A non-tacky powder composition useful for coating applications is disclosed. A method of preparing the non-tacky powder composition is also disclosed. This powder composition comprises tacky powder particles and, adhering to the tacky surface of these tacky powder particles in a non-continuous layer, smaller solid particles which are hard and non-tacky. The tacky powder particles comprise a melt blend mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer and a specifically defined melt flow modifier. The smaller solid particles which are hard and non-tacky comprise a specifically defined melt flow modifier which has a glass transistion temperature greater than about 20.degree. C. The final powder composition is non-tacky and is particularly useful in coating glass containers. A process for coating substrates such as a glass container with this composition, as well as the coated glass container, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Standard weather stripping composed of a backing strip and a pile body projecting from one face of the backing strip is guided into a channel having a pair of spaced apart side walls and a bottom wall. Also guided into that channel and positioned against the side of the pile body is an impervious resilient film barrier which extends from the top of the pile body down to the base thereof and across the adjacent side edge margin of the backing strip. The channel side walls are clinched against the bottom wall thereby capturing the weather stripping between those walls and bending the film barrier adjacent the base of the pile body so that the resiliency of the barrier tends to bias the portion of the barrier projecting out of the channel against the pile body so that it remains in an erect position and prevents moisture and drafts from penetrating into the pile body.

Abstract: Pile textile elements are disclosed in which heat fusible textile filamentary materials are assembled in a bundle wrapped in a plastic envelope. The filaments are held together at one end only of the bundle by fusing the ends of the filaments and the plastic envelope while they are in contact, under pressure, with a heated flat surface. The fused end of the bundle forms a base to facilitate handling of the pile textile element, and also facilitating securing the element to a suitable backing, such as a textile backing, furniture, bedding, etc., in a conventional manner.

Abstract: Linear elements such as filaments having grafted nibs are disclosed. The grafted nibs are generally fibrils and/or scales which can be flexible or rigid. The nibs can be randomly grafted onto the linear element or they can be inclined or oriented in one direction so as to offer relatively little resistance to penetration into a material and greater resistance to pulling out. The linear element with grafted nibs can be twisted or spun into a yarn or it can be used as a yarn component. The linear element with grafted nibs or a yarn thereof can be used as a non-slip thread, as laces, and the like or they can be a component of woven and non-woven articles.Also disclosed is a method for making the linear elements having a plurality of nibs physically bonded thereto. A substantially linear element such as a thread, a wire, a monofilament, a yarn, a ribbon or the like is contacted with a static or agitated mass of nibs thereby causing same to become physically bonded to the linear element.

Abstract: A sealing material comprising a sealing strip and a peeling tape overlying the sealing strip, with the peeling tape having substantially the same width as the sealing strip and having a low adhesiveness on both sides thereof, wherein one or both edges of the sealing strip are flocked with short fibers with or without a bonding layer.

Abstract: Synthetic suede leather is produced by casting a mixture containing polyurethane elastomer and a solvent therefor between two sheets of a substrate fabric, immersing the resulting structure in a liquid which is a nonsolvent for polyurethane elastomer but miscible with said solvent, splitting said structure into two sheets at middle of the cast layer before it is fully gelled, and re-immersing the resultant sheets in said nonsolvent to allow complete gelation of said mixture.

Abstract: Combinations of boric acid with certain dispersible or soluble metal salts, oxides and hydroxides, preferably also with certain hydrocarboxylic acids, provide unexpectedly enhanced flame retardancy to carpets, said flame retardancy being durable to usual carpet cleaning procedures. Such combinations may take the form of certain metal borocitrates or borotartrates.

Abstract: The ground covering structure comprises a porous and resilient underlayer made of synthetic material forming open meshes or alveoles and which is anchored to the ground, and water-pervious vault forming elements having holes or slots through which water may flow, also made of synthetic material, with the formed vaults having a concavity turned towards the ground. The elements include means for their connection with the underlayer on which they are applied and having a top provided with shags or filaments having free ends, with the free ends of said shags or filaments all ending substantially in the same plane.

Abstract: Stabilized fabrics include a woven, knitted or tufted fabric layer bonded to a stabilizing layer of staple or continuous filament fibers by an air-permeable bonding layer of thermoplastic material. The bonding is carried out under heat and pressure sufficient to melt the bonding layer and have it penetrate into the fibers of both the fabric layer and the stabilizing layer.

Abstract: A weatherstrip has a backing strip on which is attached two longitudinal rows of pile. An air infiltration membrane is secured near one end to the backing strip and is supported in upright position between the two rows of pile. When the weatherstrip is disposed in sealing engagement with a closure member, such as a window or door, it provides controlled air infiltration therethrough without increased stiffness which would make movement of the closure member, as in opening or closing the window or door, difficult.

Abstract: A suede-like sheet material characterized by being formed of a base cloth and ultrafine fibers of a denier less than 0.5 per filament, said ultrafine fibers being entangled with each other and covering at least one surface of the base cloth, wherein a portion of said ultrafine fibers is stuffed into the gaps in the network of the base cloth, at least a portion of said ultrafine fibers being entangled with the component fibers of the base cloth, and said base cloth and ultrafine fibers being substantially integrated with each other.

Abstract: A turf-like product suitable for use as a golf tee surface is constructed of artificial turf units which are strung on a plurality of tie rods which are secured at both ends. Each turf unit comprises a number of superimposed layers of a polymeric tape having slits which are transverse to the length of the tape. Holes are programmed in determined frequency along the length of each layer by a heated plunger which passes through the layers of tape. The layers of tape are fused together at the circumference of each hole whereby integrity in the turf unit is obtained. The programmed holes are also used as a mechanical device to construct the pile surface by means of the tie rods. The superimposed layers may be formed by winding the tape on a skein winder.

Abstract: There is provided a polyurethane ground rubber composite and a new method for formation and preparation thereof. The composite is suitable for use in laminated and other surfacing or as a surfacing and has excellent flexibility, resiliency, weatherability, and elastomeric qualities; and comprises particulate vulcanized rubber substantially coated on each particle with about 3 to about 8 microns, and in some instances about 3 to about 10 microns, of a cross-linked binder derived from an essentially solvent-free polymeric isocyanate prepolymer having a number average molecular weight of 800-4000, the cross-linking of the isocyanate prepolymer being accomplished by controlled reaction with water using an equivalent ratio of NCO/OH of 0.14/1 to 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new polyether urethanes corresponding to the general formula ##STR1## and to a process for their production. The polyether urethanes are stable for prolonged periods at temperatures of up to approximately 300.degree. C in aliphatic polyamide melts, and polyamides containing urethanes of this kind, more especially filaments and fibers of such polyamides or woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, nonwovens or pile fabrics produced from these filaments or fibers, show excellent antistatic properties.

Abstract: A backing material for handcraft yarn arts comprises a foundation fabric having plural thermo plastic pile threads extending from one surface thereon in substantially upright direction with the free ends deformed by melting to assume enlarged, deformed configurations in a random and irregular pattern. Yarn of a generally soft or porous nature is placed in a desired pattern on the upstanding threads and loosely retained thereon while being readily removed to alter the pattern. When a final pattern is achieved, heat and pressure is applied, urging the yarn fully into and within the pile threads and further deforming the free ends into enlarged deformations for securely anchoring the yarn and providing a substantially permanent yarn part handcraft product.

Abstract: A grass-like carpet comprises 1-20 plies of a fibrous web needle-punched into a substrate. The fibrous web is made from a uniaxially oriented polymer film.

Abstract: A pile product comprising a plurality of relatively long, thin face fibers extending from a base is molded from a crosslinkable polymeric material. During formation of the fibers, crosslinking of the polymeric material is initiated by heat activating a substance incorporated in the polymeric material which promotes crosslinking. Crosslinking imparts hot strength to the pile fibers so that the pile product, while still hot, can be removed from the mold without materially deforming the fibers. Consequently, the time it takes to mold the pile product is significantly reduced, thereby increasing productivity and lowering the cost of the product. Moreover energy is conserved because the mold is not continuously cycled between high and low extremes in temperature.

Abstract: A self-sealing fuel tank which utilizes elongated nonself-adhering polymer ibers attached to the inner surface of the tank wall and interwoven to form a carpet-like liner for efficiently sealing large tears and cored holes. After penetration of the tank wall by a large or tumbling projectile, escaping fluid causes nearby elongated fibers to be swept into the hole, thereby choking the escaping fluid flow. Conventional small caliber self-sealant incorporated in the tank wall then flows into the hole choked by fibers and completes the seal.

Abstract: A pad for protecting wood or other finished of articles such as guitars and basses, the pad including a major surface having a smooth, non-abrasive covering, and a plurality of pedestal-members including opposing hook and loop sections, one of which sections is bonded to the pad and the other of which is bondable to the article to be protected so that the pad can be releasably attached to the article by mating the hook and the loop sections.

Abstract: Carpeting especially suitable for use in areas subjected to heavy wear or abrasive weather includes a plurality of cured, rubber-based strips with filaments embedded in and projecting upwardly from them forming a pile on their upper surfaces. The strips lie side-to-side, and each is bonded along its bottom surface only to a vulcanized, rubber-based sheet that does not project substantially into the spaces between the elements. Apparatus and a method for making the carpeting are also disclosed.

Abstract: A weatherseal is made by extruding a resin base with a relatively thick, flat support portion and a relatively thin, portion U-shaped in cross section and joined to opposite side edges of the support portion to arch over the center of the support portion. While the resin material is still plastic, a pressure differential expands the U-shaped portion to reduce the thickness of the walls of the U-shaped portion, and then each side of the U-shaped portion is cut at a predetermined distance from the support to leave a pair of thin, spaced-apart resilient fins. Then fibrous pile material is secured to the support between the fins to form a double-fin, pile weatherseal.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of pile surfaced products in which the pile is produced by tack spinning thermoplastic polymer composition onto one or both external surfaces, preferably one of a foundation layer which comprises at least two sheets which adhere together using an adhesive having a softening point similar to that of the thermoplastic polymer composition.

Abstract: Natural suede-like artificial leathers are manufactured by subjecting pile fibrous structures wherein at least the pile portion is composed of separatable composite filaments made by bonding different polymers having mutual low adhesive affinity with each other, the cross-section of which is constituted of a radial segment (A) and segments (B) complementing the radial segment or a radial segment (A), segments (B') corresponding to said radial segment and having wedge-shaped concave portions directing to the center and wedge-shaped segments (C) complementing said concave portions, to at least one of a heat treatment and a swelling treatment to shrink said fibrous structure at least 10% in the area, impregnating or coating said fibrous structures with a synthetic polymer solution or emulsion, coagulating said polymer solution or emulsion, drying the thus treated pile fibrous structure and then buffing said piles to raise naps.

Abstract: A bristled article is integrally formed in an essentially one step low pressure process from a sheet of thermoformable material between a top and bottom mold surface. The bottom mold surface is smooth and the top mold surface is channeled, and the sheet, in a fused state, is pulled between the mold plates and while bonded thereto by hot tack adhesion, and bristles form at the points of contact with the top mold surface.The bristled articles are useful as brush devices, artificial turf, packaging material and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel synthetic polymer filaments, and yarns made therefrom, for use in synthetic turf products. The filaments have a rectangular cross-section and the normal directional tendency of such filaments when used in synthetic turf is overcome by folding or texturing the filaments in such a manner that, while the normal advantageous flexibility of the rectangular filament is retained, the directional tendency is removed. When filaments of the invention are used to produce synthetic turfs, the turf surface imparts an essentially non-directional response to objects rolled thereon.

Abstract: Combinations of certain hydroxycarboxylic acids with certain metal oxides and hydroxides provide unexpectedly enhanced flame retardancy to carpets, said flame retardancy being durable to usual carpet cleaning procedures.

Abstract: To form carpet tiles that lie flat, a layer of thermoplastic material is doctored onto a carrier sheet and a piece of carpeting to be coated is laid on the layer. The carpet piece has dimensions slightly larger than the desired carpet tile. Heat is applied to the layer to bond the layer of thermoplastic material to the carpet piece and the bonded layer and carpet piece are cooled so as to form a coated carpet piece. The carrier sheet is then stripped from the coated carpet piece and waste is trimmed from the periphery of the bonded carpet piece so as to form a carpet tile. The carrier sheet is supported on a substantially flat surface during the heating and cooling steps so that the carpet piece is maintained in a substantially flat and relaxed condition and the warps and wefts of the carpet piece do not support the weight of the carpet piece.

Abstract: A pile weatherstripping has a continuous length of a resin anchorage base with even lengths of filaments secured to opposite sides of the base along the length of the base and extending away from the base in the same general direction on each side of the base. The filaments are long enough and dense enough to form insulating pile rows extending out of a retainer slot in which the anchorage base has an interference fit. A sheet resin fin preferably extends continuously outward from the base between the filaments on the opposite sides of the base, and such a weatherstripping is preferably made by wrapping a multifilament yarn around a plurality of bases, securing the yarn to opposite sides of the bases, and then slitting to separate each individual weatherstrip.

Abstract: A sheet material having leather-like grain, excellent scuffing and abrasion resistance and superior dyeability comprising in combination, a substrate, and intermediate layer of 0.05 to 2.5 mm thickness consisting of a finely napped porous polymer bonded to said substrate and an upper layer consisting of a polymeric coating of thickness ranging from 1-100 microns. In typical embodiments, the upper layer may be a polymeric coating material such as linear or cross-linked polyurethanes, the intermediate layer may be a porous polyester, polyamide, vinyl or elastomeric polymer, e.g. a polyurethane, and the substrate may be a woven or non-woven fabric. In preparation of this sheet material, the intermediate layer is pressed and condensed to about 10 to 90% to a density of from about 0.20 to 0.50 g/cc.

Abstract: A pile weatherstripping has a continuous length of a resin anchorage base with even lengths of filaments secured to opposite sides of the base along the length of the base and extending away from the base in the same general direction on each side of the base. The filaments are long enough and dense enough to form insulating pile rows extending out of a retainer slot in which the anchorage base has an interference fit. A sheet resin fin preferably extends continuously outward from the base between the filaments on the opposite sides of the base, and such a weatherstripping is preferably made by wrapping a multifilament yarn around a plurality of bases, securing the yarn to opposite sides of the bases, and then slitting to separate each individual weatherstrip.

Abstract: The back side of a tufted carpet is treated with an agent which will substantially lower the breaking strength of the yarn at points on the backstitch of the yarn. The face yarns or tufts of the carpet are unaffected by the agent. The back of the carpet is covered by a conventional latex coating to bind the carpet yarns in position to the carpet backing. A force engaging an individual tuft and pulling it from the body of the carpet will pull out individual tufts rather than unravel a strand of yarn from the carpet backing.

Abstract: A process for producing pile-surfaced articles from crystal forming polymers with glass/rubber transition temperatures above ambient temperatures comprising drawing fibres from a sheet of amorphous polymer with a heated surface and crystallizing the polymer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making pile fabrics wherein a sheet of longitudinally striated thermoplastic film formed into loops is fusion bonded to a thermoplastic backing sheet by sonic energy to bond the film to the backing sheet at the lines of contact without loss of orientation in either the striated film or the backing sheet and then subsequently the bonded striated film is fibrillated to separate the loops into individual filaments thereby forming a pile fabric.

Abstract: A pile-surfaced product is made by feeding a synthetic polymeric material and a backing web to a surface with the synthetic polymeric material between the backing web and the surface under conditions where the polymeric material is filament forming and the polymeric material adheres to the surface and bonds to the backing web, then withdrawing the backing web from that surface so that as the backing web is so withdrawn the synthetic polymeric material adheres thereto and is drawn into fibrils due to its adhesion to the surface but the fibrils remain integral with the remainder of the polymeric material which is laminated to the backing web, rendering the polymeric material non-filament forming, separating the fibrils from the surface and subsequently separating the pilous synthetic polymeric layer from the backing web.

Abstract: A tufted nonwoven web material exhibiting high loft, bulk and absorbency is made by a papermaking technique using an apertured, plate-like, fiber-collecting element having a structure appropriate to preventing entanglement between adjacent tufts prior to removal from the element. The apertured element is adapted not only to form the tufted nonwoven fibrous web but also to permit consolidation of individual tufts and facilitate the formation of tufted webs from 100 percent wood pulp. Additionally, webs having tufts on both planar surfaces also can be formed by this technique.

Abstract: A pile weatherstripping has a continuous length of a resin anchorage base with even lengths of filaments secured to opposite sides of the base along the length of the base and extending away from the base in the same general direction on each side of the base. The filaments are long enough and dense enough to form insulating pile rows extending out of a retainer slot in which the anchorage base has an interference fit. A sheet resin fin preferably extends continuously outward from the base between the filaments on the opposite sides of the base, and such a weatherstripping is preferably made by wrapping a multifilament yarn around a plurality of bases, securing the yarn to opposite sides of the bases, and then slitting to separate each individual weatherstrip.