Differential Pile Length Or Surface Patents (Class 428/89)
  • Patent number: 11564430
    Abstract: Aspects herein relate to a knit textile or garment that comprises at least a first and second portion. The first portion comprises a first percentage by weight of a first yarn and a second yarn. The second portion comprises a second percentage by weight of the first yarn and the second yarn. The two portions are integrally knitted from each other. The second portions provide a high level of air permeability, while the first portions provide moisture wicking and may be used as modesty portions in garments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Tharindu Sashane Perera, S. B. Kith Vishwa Udula Bandara, Niroshan Madusanka Palliyaguruge
  • Patent number: 11246766
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a nonwoven fabric comprising forming polymer fibers from a melt of the polymer material and using these fibers to obtain a nonwoven fabric during a subsequent nonwoven fabric formation procedure, wherein the melt of the polymer material comprises a melt additive, wherein the method comprises thermal bonding at a temperature higher than 40° C. below the melting point of the polymer material and, additionally, one or both of the following steps: a. improving the mobility of the additive by heat-treating the nonwoven fabric at 100° C. or more for 0.1 seconds or more after the nonwoven fabric formation procedure and/or including a filler having a higher thermal conductivity than the polymer material to the polymer material; b. influencing the polymer crystallinity by including a nucleating agent, branched polymers and/or random co-polymers to the polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: FIBERTEX PERSONAL CARE A/S
    Inventors: Brian Udengaard, Barbara Harling Hede, Thomas Broch
  • Patent number: 10905178
    Abstract: A garment, such as a sports uniform, may provide visibility zones and/or flicker zones to enhance the ability of teammates to perceive the wearer. Different zones on a garment may have different sets of visual properties that may contrast with one another and/or a visual background. A denier differential between layers of a garment may facilitate moisture transport across the layers of the garment. Flicker zones may be discrete from or combined with visibility zones. One or more zones of a garment may also be substantially non-reflective at wavelengths associated with the visual background encountered while wearing the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Kirk M. Mayer, Amir H. Morgan, Alan W. Reichow, Andrea J. Staub, Stephanie J. Scott
  • Patent number: 10674887
    Abstract: A maintenance item for cleaning a floor includes a front portion and a rear portion in line with each other and having respective top and bottom faces. The bottom faces define a “cleaning” surface, the front portion includes, projecting from its bottom face, microfibers and scraping fibers of linear density greater than 1 dtex, and the rear portion includes, projecting from its bottom face, microfibers, and possibly also scraping fibers of linear density greater than 1 dtex. The mean linear density T1 (dtex) of the microfibers and of the scraping fibers on the bottom face of the front portion may be greater than or equal to 0.5 dtex, and the mean linear density T2 (dtex) of the microfibers, and optionally of the scraping fibers, on the bottom face of the rear portion may be less than or equal to 2 dtex. In addition, T1 may be different from T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: DECITEX
    Inventor: Nils Riancho
  • Patent number: 9825721
    Abstract: Provided is a communication control apparatus including: an information acquisition unit that acquires channel arrangement information for a first frequency channel on which an interference signal is transmitted and a second frequency channel on which a desired signal to be interfered from the interference signal is transmitted, the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel being a combination of frequency channels that can be partially overlapped with each other; and an interference control unit that determines overlapping on a frequency axis between the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel on the basis of the channel arrangement information, and calculates a protection ratio for protecting the second frequency channel from interference according to the determined overlapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Sawai, Ryota Kimura
  • Patent number: 9714194
    Abstract: A method for controlling formation of glass bumps in a glass article with laser-irradiation without the use of a growth-limiting structure. Standard deviation of height between the glass bumps on the article is less than 1 micron by controlling the laser radiation dose provided on the glass article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonard Thomas Masters, Alexander Mikhailovich Streltsov
  • Mop
    Patent number: 9427130
    Abstract: A mop comprising a mop head (1) that has at least one cleaning strip (2) is disclosed. The cleaning strip (2) comprises at least one cleaning surface (5) on which raised cleaning islands (6) made of flock fibers are arranged. The cleaning strip (2) is attached to the mop head (1) at one of its ends (3) and has a free end (4). The raised cleaning islands (6) on the at least one cleaning surface (5) of the cleaning strip (2) are arranged at certain distances (7) from each other and are surrounded on all sides by storage spaces (8) for holding dirt. The size of the storage spaces (8) steadily decreases from the end (3) of the cleaning surface (5) facing the mop head (1) in the mopping direction (9) of the free end (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Karl-Ludwig Gibis, Norbert Weis, Dieter Philipp, Lars Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9222207
    Abstract: A cross-tufting machine and process for manufacturing carpet. The cross-tufting machine includes a sewing head and a tufting gun. The sewing head is movably mounted on support railing and a support platform is provided to support carpet that is to be provided with a tufted secondary pattern. The carpet moves in steps on top of the support platform in a machine direction and the sewing head traverses back and forth in a cross-wise direction wherein the tufting gun forms the tufted secondary pattern in the carpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SIDETUFT, LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Weiner, M. Steven Berger, David B. Porter
  • Publication number: 20150140260
    Abstract: A needle punched carpet for use in a car is disclosed. The needle punched carpet comprises at least a needle punched facing layer defining a top layer and made of staple fibers. The staple fibers comprise hollow fibers having a hollow fiber content that is at least more than 45 weight % of the total staple fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: James Taylor, Michael Kiessig, Meganathan Meenakshisundaram
  • Patent number: 9005723
    Abstract: A filament for use in an artificial grass field, wherein the filament has a front and a back surface and at least one of the front surface and back surface includes a plurality of adjacent concave indentations extending generally from a first end to a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tarkett Inc.
    Inventors: Thorsten Emge, Juergen Morton-Finger
  • Patent number: 8863347
    Abstract: A cleaning pad structure of stitch bonded construction incorporating one or more substrate layers of an absorbent nonwoven material with an optional additional fluid blocking substrate layer of polymer film or other suitable material in juxtaposed relation to the absorbent nonwoven layers. Stitching yarns are introduced in stitching relation through the substrate layers. One face of the pad defines a cleaning surface of raised yarn loops formed by the stitched yarns. The pad further includes an attachment surface facing away from the cleaning surface. The stitches of yarns across the attachment surface define an engagement surface for attachment to cooperating hooking elements across a surface of a mop head to define a hook and loop attachment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Tietex International Ltd
    Inventor: Martin Wildeman
  • Patent number: 8656564
    Abstract: A fastening fabric structure is disclosed to have a micro-fibriform loop fabric, fabricated by complex, textured micro-fiber yarn and split thereafter to recover more and smaller fibers, all of the fibers forming the micro-fibriform loops or pile loops between the inter-weaving or inter-knitting nodes, and a fibriform pile fabric, fabricated by spun yarn or synthetic filament yarn and sheared to form erected, dispersed non-hook fiber bundles of micro-fibriform pile for fastening the micro-fibriform loops of said micro-fibriform loop fabric. The erected, dispersed non-hook fiber bundles of micro-fibriform pile will not be tangled together, enhancing the fastening ability of the fastening fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Chao-Mu Chou
  • Publication number: 20140037885
    Abstract: Rectangular carpet modules or “planks” and installation of such planks having the continuous appearance of broadloom carpet or a wide variety of other effective, human scale designs. “Planks” sized approximately ¼ meter (25 cm) by 1 meter (100 cm) (or approximately 9 inches by 36 inches) are particularly effective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Interface, Inc.
    Inventor: David D. Oakey
  • Patent number: 8623487
    Abstract: A portable synthetic grass turf assembly—that is capable of being assembled, transported, disassembled, and stored—includes a plurality of synthetic grass module units that can be laid side by side atop a base surface to provide a continuous synthetic grass surface for various activities. Each module unit includes a synthetic grass turf with an infill layer of particulate materials disposed among the synthetic grass ribbons and atop a base sheet. A barrier of synthetic ribbons extends about the perimeter of the module unit to retain the particulate material within the module unit during its transportation and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Tarkett Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Murphy, Alain Bissonette, Yves Lalande
  • Patent number: 8617685
    Abstract: Conventional cleaning sheets having brush parts provided on a surface of substratum sheet have been satisfactory in the trapping of dirt or dust at the brush parts but unsatisfactory in the trapping of dirt or dust at areas between brush parts where no brush is present. It is intended to provide a cleaning sheet with which any dirt or dust having sneaked through areas between brush parts and remaining untrapped can be trapped by brush parts provided in alternately positioning relationship adjacent to the brush parts, thereby attaining effective cleaning. The cleaning sheet comprises a sheet substratum and, disposed on at least one major surface thereof, multiple brush part lines each provided with multiple brush parts arranged intermittently along one direction of the sheet substratum, the multiple brush part lines arranged in a direction intersecting with the one direction, and that mutually adjacent brush part lines are provided so that the respective brush parts are alternately positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Daisaku Yamada
  • Patent number: 8557363
    Abstract: An artificial grass turf carpet comprises a ground structure having an upper surface and upstanding synthetic grass fibers attached to the ground structure, which synthetic grass fibers form a grass surface of the artificial grass turf. The carpet further has upstanding synthetic base layer fibers attached to the ground structure at positions between the upstanding synthetic grass fibers. The base layer fibers have a lower height than the grass fibers. The base layer fibers are positioned tight against one another and against neighboring grass fibers, so that a dense base layer is obtained above which the grass fibers extend. An artificial grass turf system includes such a carpet and preferably includes a thin, rubber-free infill layer on top of the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ten Cate Thiolon B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Albert Van Balen, Marc Verleyen
  • Publication number: 20130230681
    Abstract: A carpet tile having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of a background pattern. The contrast pattern is positioned proximate a selected side edge of the carpet tile and has a contrast color different than the colors of the background pattern. Within a floor covering, the rotational position of the carpet tile can be varied to thereby achieve a desired visual appearance with respect to the contrast patterns of adjacent carpet tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: REESIE DUNCAN, Shannon Crump Cochran
  • Publication number: 20130230682
    Abstract: A carpet tile having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of a background pattern. The contrast pattern is positioned proximate a selected side edge of the carpet tile and has a contrast color different than the colors of the background pattern. Within a floor covering, the rotational position of the carpet tile can be varied to thereby achieve a desired visual appearance with respect to the contrast patterns of adjacent carpet tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: REESIE DUNCAN, Shannon Crump Cochran
  • Publication number: 20130216763
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide carpet tile patterns and techniques for making carpet tile patterns that provide diversity of color, texture, and/or other pattern attributes. In some embodiments, a color attribute changes along a dimension of a web from which the carpet tiles are cut. In other embodiments, a yarn pile height changes along a dimension of a web from which the carpet tiles are cut. In some embodiments, carpet tiles mimic in some respects the appearance of wood flooring having natural variations in the appearance of the wood elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Interface, Inc.
    Inventor: Interface, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130115409
    Abstract: A composite velour fabric garment includes a laminate consisting of an outer woven shell layer, an inner thermal layer of knit construction, and an intermediate layer disposed between and laminated to each of the shell layer and the thermal layer. The outer woven shell layer contains spandex in at least a weft direction for stretch and recovery in a width direction. The knit construction of the inner thermal layer provides stretch in at least a width direction, in harmony with the shell layer, and the inner thermal layer has a raised surface facing inwardly, away from the shell layer. The intermediate layer has controlled air permeability, including zero air permeability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicants: MMI-IPCO, LLC
    Inventors: Moshe Rock, Jane Hunter, David Costello, Gadalia Vainer
  • Patent number: 8414995
    Abstract: A textile web includes a plurality of yarns tufted to define a motif that is repeated along the length and width of the textile web. Each occurrence of the motif comprises a design module repeated to form a unitary array of contiguous design modules, with the design modules having various orientations with respect to one another in fixed positions within the unitary array of design modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Tandus Flooring, Inc.
    Inventor: Jhane Barnes
  • Patent number: 8361581
    Abstract: A modular textile system comprises a plurality of distinct, but coordinating, textile tiles, each including at least one design zone, where at least two of the distinct tiles include at least one design zone having substantially the same composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Tandus Flooring, Inc.
    Inventors: Suzanne Tick, Terry Mowers
  • Patent number: 8283016
    Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial grass fiber in particular for use in an artificial mat for an artificial lawn, which artificial grass fiber is made of at least one synthetic material. The invention also relates to an artificial mat, in particular for use in an artificial grass sports field, which artificial mat is built up of a carrier to which at least artificial grass fibers according to the invention are attached. The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved artificial grass fiber which on the one hand can be produced by means of the existing techniques and which on the other hand reduces the number of injuries on the field. According to the invention, the artificial grass fiber to that end furthermore comprises at least one additional material component, which additional material component imposes a permanent volume increase on the artificial grass fiber under the influence of an external stimulus after the artificial mat has been provided with the artificial grass fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ten Cate Thiolon, B.V.
    Inventors: Geurt Bastiaan Slootweg, Frederik Jan Van Der Gaag, Marinus Hendrikus Olde Weghuis
  • Publication number: 20120237718
    Abstract: A structured fibrous web having thermally stable, hydrophilic fibers that are thermally bonded together using heat provides a base substrate that is thermally stable. The base substrate is textured via mechanical treatment to increase its thickness and optionally modified via over bonding to improve its mechanical and fluid handling properties. The structured fibrous web provides optimal fluid wicking and fluid acquisition capabilities and is directed toward fluid management applications. The structured fibrous web has a bio-based content of about 10% to about 100% using ASTM D6866-10, method B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Paul Thomas Weisman, Eric Patton Weinberger, Eric Bryan Bond, Dimitris Ioannis Collias, Patti Jean Kellett
  • Patent number: 8268424
    Abstract: A composite structure mainly composed of hydratable fine fibers in the form of microfibril and a water swellable solid body, the fine fibers being obtained from cellulose or a derivative thereof, and at least part of the surface of the solid body is covered with the fine fibers. The absorbent composite can be formed in various form of, for example, particle, pellet, sheet and the like, especially of a sheet type with a supporting sheet of a non-woven fabric. The present invention further provides a method of making the composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: DSG International Limited
    Inventors: Migaku Suzuki, Ryoichi Matsumoto, Shingo Mori
  • Patent number: 8236403
    Abstract: A versatile fabric for use as a towel includes multiple surface areas that are formed of different materials. A support web has hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials woven therethrough. The hydrophilic material is interlaced with the web to define loops of material which extend from a first portion of the web surface and loops of material which extend from a second portion of the web surface which is longitudinally spaced from the first portion. Similarly, the hydrophobic material is interlaced with the web to define loops of material which extend from a third portion of the web surface and loops of material which extend from a fourth portion of the web surface which is longitudinally spaced from the third portion. The first and third portions of the support web surface are arranged opposite each other and the second and fourth portions of the support web surface are arranged opposite each other to define four surface portions of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Scott H. Silver
  • Publication number: 20120100333
    Abstract: A rubbing cloth for the rubbing an alignment film is provided, which comprises a rubbing base film capable of being attached onto an external surface of a rubbing alignment roller; and rubbing hairness fixedly provided on the rubbing base film. A surface faulted by tips of all the rubbing hairness on the rubbing base film for contacting with a surface of the alignment film is in a serration or circular arc shape along a rubbing direction when the rubbing cloth is flattened; and both the tips of all the rubbing hairness on the rubbing film and the tips of the hairness at the two ends of the rubbing base film are continuously connected when the rubbing cloth forms an entire circle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiaoming LU, Yongzhi SONG
  • Publication number: 20120094052
    Abstract: A carpet that can be installed onto a flooring surface without the requirement for registration between adjacent broadloom carpet pieces. The carpet comprises a design member that comprises a plurality of pattern members that are colorized and that define a void area, which has a substantially uniform color and pile height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: James H. Bailey, Paul A. Young
  • Patent number: 8141214
    Abstract: A method of making a textile pattern includes forming a design module having a substantially square shape, forming a motif from the design module by repeating the design module to form a unitary array of design modules, where the design modules of the unitary array of design modules have various orientations with respect to one another in fixed positions within the unitary array, and repeating the motif along a length and a width of a continuous textile web so that the continuous textile web comprises a first occurrence of the motif and a second occurrence of the motif.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Tandus Flooring, Inc.
    Inventor: Jhane Barnes
  • Patent number: 8142872
    Abstract: Vehicular upholstery fabric is woven by using chenille yarn and multi-fiber yarn for weft yarns. The weaving interval between chenille yarns is set up less than the apparent thickness of the chenille yarn, which is specified as an observed value of the thickness. The apparent thickness of the multi-fiber yarn is less than one-fifth of the apparent thickness of the chenille yarn. There are tight portions where a great number of warp yarns passes over the chenille yarn, and rough portions, where a small number of warp yarns passes over the chenille yarn that is formed on the surface of fabric. PPT-fibers are used for the pile of the chenille yarn and the warp yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., TB Kawashima Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Susa, Hidehito Fukumoto, Takeko Tamura
  • Publication number: 20120070608
    Abstract: Unitary fabric engineered thermal fabric articles, e.g. garments, home textiles, and upholstery covers, and elements for use therein, formed according to this disclosure, have predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. For example, in one implementation, loop yarn in first regions has a first pile height and loop yarn in other regions has a different, relatively greater pile height. In another implementation, in first regions, loop yarn having a first shrinkage performance is formed to a predetermined loop height and in other regions, loop yarn having a different shrinkage performance is formed to the predetermined or other loop height. The loops are the cut and finished to a common pile height, and the continuous web is exposed to heat to cause loop yarn to shrink to one or more different pile heights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Moshe Rock, William K. Lie, Charles Haryslak, David Costello, Jane Hunter
  • Publication number: 20120058293
    Abstract: Carpet, comprising high piles and low piles, wherein a majority of the fibres which the high piles comprise is lighter in weight than the smaller fibres which the low piles comprise, and wherein particularly the high piles comprise fibres with a diversity of weights, wherein some of the fibres of the high piles have a weight of less than 15 dTex, and preferably less than 5 dTex, and the remaining fibres of the high piles have a weight of less than 25 dTex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: DESSO B.V.
    Inventor: Ludwig Maria Gerardus Irma Cammaert
  • Publication number: 20120030893
    Abstract: A textile sheet element having selectively applied arrays of surface projection elements defining raised zones across an active surface for cleaning and/or personal care, The textile sheet element is adapted for use by itself and/or for attachment to a user manipulated support with or without a handle such as a mop head or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Martin Wildeman, Michelis Hardegree, William D. Bell, Robert A. Johnson, David K. Osteen, Wade Wallace
  • Patent number: 7968165
    Abstract: A textile motif comprises an arrangement of substantially square, substantially identical modules variously oriented with respect to one another in fixed positions within the motif. Each module includes at least two visually distinct hues. The motif may be repeated to form an overall textile pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Tandus Flooring, Inc.
    Inventor: Jhane Barnes
  • Publication number: 20110111163
    Abstract: Matting material (1) comprises a supporting web (3) of comparatively coarse filaments (11) in which is embedded a web (5) of comparatively fine fibres (15). The upper surface of the embedded fibrous web (5) provides a shoe-wiping surface, and the coarse filaments (11) of the supporting web (3) project above the upper surface of the embedded web (5) to provide shoe-scraping elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Eric . Bozouklian, Bernard Vincent
  • Publication number: 20110081517
    Abstract: A composite velour fabric garment includes a laminate consisting of an outer woven shell layer, an inner thermal layer of knit construction, and an intermediate layer disposed between and laminated to each of the shell layer and the thermal layer. The outer woven shell layer contains spandex in at least a weft direction for stretch and recovery in a width direction. The knit construction of the inner thermal layer provides stretch in at least a width direction, in harmony with the shell layer, and the inner thermal layer has a raised surface facing inwardly, away from the shell layer. The intermediate layer has controlled air permeability, including zero air permeability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Moshe Rock, Jane Hunter, David Costello, Gadalia Vainer
  • Patent number: 7910195
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin comprising a topsheet having a body-facing side and comprising a plurality of discrete tufts of fibrous material. The topsheet has a lotion composition applied to at least a portion of the body-facing side thereof. An absorbent core is in fluid communication with the topsheet, the absorbent core having an average thickness of less than about 10 mm, and a free absorbent capacity of from about 4 to about 125 grams per gram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Lee Hammons, John Richard Noel, Raphael Warren
  • Publication number: 20100330327
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide carpet tile patterns and techniques for making carpet tile patterns that provide diversity of color, texture, and/or other pattern attributes. In some embodiments, a color attribute changes along a dimension of a web from which the carpet tiles are cut. In other embodiments, a yarn pile height changes along a dimension of a web from which the carpet tiles are cut. In some embodiments, carpet tiles mimic in some respects the appearance of wood flooring having natural variations in the appearance of the wood elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Oakey, Bridget Machell
  • Publication number: 20100247841
    Abstract: A mat configuration is configured of a substrate and a cover. The substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a peripheral portion that includes an array of fasteners made from substrate material and acting as “buttons” with respect to slits formed in an underlying portion of the cover to hold the cover in place on the substrate. The fasteners can be achieved through various embodiments of indented or protruded elements on the substrate. The cover can be repeatedly attached and detached, and preferably, is made of material that is hand washable, washable in a standard washing machine or dry cleanable. The substrate is washable with soap and water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Jeneva Bell, Sarah Prinsloo
  • Patent number: 7776421
    Abstract: A composite velour fabric garment includes a laminate consisting of an outer woven shell layer, an inner thermal layer of knit construction, and an intermediate layer disposed between and laminated to each of the shell layer and the thermal layer. The outer woven shell layer contains spandex in at least a weft direction for stretch and recovery in a width direction. The knit construction of the inner thermal layer provides stretch in at least a width direction, in harmony with the shell layer, and the inner thermal layer has a raised surface facing inwardly, away from the shell layer. The intermediate layer has controlled air permeability, including zero air permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: MMI-IPCO, LLC
    Inventors: Moshe Rock, Jane Hunter, David Costello, Gadalia Vainer
  • Patent number: 7743476
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: MMI-IPCO, LLC
    Inventors: Moshe Rock, William K. Lie, Charles Haryslak, David Costello, Jane Hunter
  • Publication number: 20100147329
    Abstract: An upkeep article for use in a dry or damp environment, having at least external layers, a first layer and a second external layer and an absorbent intermediate layer. The external layer presents on its so-called cleaning surface a first group of loops alternating with a second group of loops. The first group has microfibres and the second has threads having a numbering greater than 1.11 dtex. The upkeep article has a surface density less than 350 g/m2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Guillaume Leymonerie
  • Patent number: 7732657
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin comprising a topsheet having a body-facing side and comprising a plurality of discrete tufts of fibrous material. The topsheet has a lotion composition applied to at least a portion of the body-facing side thereof. An absorbent core is in fluid communication with the topsheet, the absorbent core having an average thickness of less than about 10 mm, and a free absorbent capacity of from about 4 to about 125 grams per gram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Lee Hammons, John Richard Noel, Raphael Warren
  • Publication number: 20090269544
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for the incorporation of glitter particulates in flocked pile fabrics, as well as fabrics manufactured using the same. The fabrics produced according to the invention comprise flocking and glitter particulates at the exposed surface of the adhesive used to attach the flocking and glitter particulates to the fabric. By adhering the glitter particulates to the exposed surface of the adhesive layer—rather than admixing the glitter particulates with the adhesive—the decorative effect is maintained while reducing the amount of glitter particulates used in the manufacturing process. In addition, the process does not require the passage of glitter particulates through an adhesive deposition tool, thereby eliminating shape and size restrictions imposed by the use of such tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Microfibres, Inc.
    Inventor: David Morrison
  • Patent number: 7601413
    Abstract: Carpet tiles having patterns and color schemes that obviate the need to orient the tiles relative to each other. The tiles exhibit orthogonal ambiguity, meaning that they may be laid in any side-by-side orientation with respect to adjacent tiles without looking out of place to the ordinary viewer and thereby still achieving an appearance of continuity like broadloom carpet. Each tile has patterns of shapes having some straight sides and that appear to be randomly positioned but oriented with some straight sides parallel to carpet tile sides. The shapes are formed from a color or combination of colors so that adjacent shapes on each tile have at least one color in common. Furthermore, each tile has at least one color in common with every other tile, so that when the tiles are laid, the colors on adjacent tiles coordinate. All of the colors have similar intensities so that no one color will significantly stand out from the other colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: Sydney D. Daniel, David D. Oakey
  • Publication number: 20090233039
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fibrous web having a first region and at least one discrete integral second region, the second region having at least one portion being a discontinuity exhibiting a linear orientation and defining a longitudinal axis, and at least another portion being a deformation having a plurality of tufted fibers integral with but extending from the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Haines Turner, John Joseph Curro, Jody Lynn Hoying, Susan Nicole Lloyd, John Lee Hammons
  • Publication number: 20090218019
    Abstract: Article (1) having at least one visible surface (11), this surface comprising on at least part of it a pattern (2) contrasting with the surface of the article, this pattern (2) comprising a plurality of tufts (21) distributed over the entire said pattern, each tuft (21) having an average cross section between 0.003 and 0.06 mm2. Also disclosed is a moulding process for forming a high-contrast pattern on a surface of an article that can be moulded in a mould, this process consisting in producing, at the position of the pattern on the surface of the mould, a plurality of cavities of average cross section between 0.003 and 0.06 mm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Antoine Paturle
  • Patent number: 7578023
    Abstract: The present invention features a fabric useful for applying a chemical composition, such as a finishing or polishing composition, onto a substrate surface. Typically the fabric contains between about 1% and 50% stiff fibers and between about 50% and 99% adsorbent or absorbent fibers, more typically between about 2% and 10% stiff fibers and between about 90% and 98% adsorbent or absorbent fibers. The fabric can be used to make applicator pads useful, for example, as mop heads for spreading a finishing or polishing composition on a floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Gary L. Olson
  • Publication number: 20090202778
    Abstract: A carpet and carpet tile are described which have a diverse set of patterns, figures or shapes along with a variety of color schemes arranged in various sections of the carpet. In embodiments, carpet tiles incorporating the shapes and color patterns as described herein can be assembled into a tiled flooring assembly, while also maintaining a consistent visual appearance. Other aspects of the present invention are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: MANNINGTON MILLS, INC.
    Inventor: Peggie D. McGee
  • Patent number: 7479318
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fibrillar microstructure and processes for the manufacture thereof. These processes involve micromachining and molding, and can prepare sub-micron dimensioned fibrillar microstructures of any shape from polymeric as well as other materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Anand Jagota, Jinsoo Kim