Abstract: Methods of enhancing repellency of fibers, carpet yarns and carpets are disclosed. Compositions used to enhance the repellency of fibers, carpet yarns and carpets are also disclosed.

Abstract: A decorated floor panel having a core with a top surface and an opposite bottom surface; a decorative layer coupled to the top surface of the core, the decorative layer having a desired aesthetic appearance; and a wear layer coupled to and substantially covering the decorative layer for protecting the decorative layer. The wear layer has an exposed wear surface with depressions therein of a variable depth below the wear surface, the depressions being arranged to display a desired texture pattern. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure. The abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b).

Abstract: The present invention pertains to carpet and method of making it. In one aspect, the carpet includes (a) a primary backing which has a face and a back surface, (b) a plurality of fibers attached to the primary backing and extending from the face of the primary backing and exposed at the back surface of the primary backing, (c) an adhesive backing, (d) an optional secondary backing adjacent to the adhesive backing, and (e) at least one homogeneously branched linear ethylene polymer. The method includes extrusion coating at least one homogeneously branched linear ethylene polymer onto the back surface of a primary backing to provide an adhesive backing. The method can include additional steps or procedures, either separately or in various combinations.

Abstract: The invention relates to an acarcid-resistant carpet wherein an acaracidal compound is fixed at or near the base of the carpet tufts over which an adhesive layer is applied to the carpet tufts into a primary backing material. The invention further relates to methods of making such carpet.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to carpet and method of making it. In one aspect, the carpet includes (a) a primary backing which has a face and a back surface, (b) a plurality of fibers attached to the primary backing and extending from the face of the primary backing and exposed at the back surface of the primary backing, (c) an adhesive backing, (d) an optional secondary backing adjacent to the adhesive backing, and (e) at least one homogeneously branched linear ethylene polymer. The method includes extrusion coating at least one homogeneously branched linear ethylene polymer onto the back surface of a primary backing to provide an adhesive backing. The method can include additional steps or procedures, either separately or in various combinations.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a process for the trichromatic dyeing of polyamide textile fibers wherein the process comprises the steps of: a. providing at least one polyamide fiber; and b. contacting the at least one polyamide fiber with an aqueous dye solution comprising a yellow component, a red component and a blue component, wherein the yellow component comprises a mixture of Acid Orange 156 and Acid Yellow 199 thereby providing a dyed fiber. In a further aspect, the invention provides compositions for the trichromatic dyeing of polyamide fibers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for texturing yarns that encompasses, after stopping the moving yarns during normal operations, increasing the opening size of the outlet of the stuffer box, and injecting a fluid through the interior of the stuffer box. The fluid entrains some of the yarns remaining within the interior of the stuffer box to move at least a portion of the yarns outside of the stuffer box.

Abstract: A modified secondary backing fabric (20) for carpet (50) comprises a secondary backing scrim fabric (15) and a fiber batt (21) integrated with the secondary backing fabric forming the modified fabric, providing a soft face (51) opposite the face (52) presented by the scrim fabric, uninterrupted by the scrim fabric. A carpet (50) comprises a face yarn (11); a primary backing fabric (12), the face yarn being tufted into the primary backing fabric; a modified secondary backing fabric (20) attached to the primary backing fabric; and an adhesive material (14) binding the face yarn to the primary backing fabric and the primary backing fabric to the secondary backing fabric.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a carpet which comprises a) yarn tufted into a primary backing, wherein the primary backing has a face side and a back side and wherein the yarn is adhesively attached to the primary backing; b) a woven secondary backing with a first side and a second side wherein the first side is directly or indirectly attached to the back side of the primary backing; and c) a thermoplastic polymer layer adjacent to the second side of the secondary backing, wherein the polymer layer is attached to the secondary backing via melt bonding.

Abstract: A polyurethane composition for fabricating antimicrobial based products such as polyurethane foam carpet backing materials and carpets having a polyurethane foam carpet backing material. The polyurethane composition includes a plurality of particles comprising an antimicrobial agent which are at least partially encapsulated by a plasticizer material before being dispersed within a polyurethane.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the stopping point of a tufting machine in relation to a preset stitch pattern. The system includes a controller and an encoder to detect the current location of a tufting machine needle bar in the stitch pattern. Upon receipt of a stop signal, the controller insures that the needle bar is stopped at a preset stop step in the stitch pattern. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the controller first slows the main drive shaft of the tufting machine to a jogging speed prior to stopping the tufting machine, and stops the machine at the home position of the carpet pattern. Introducing a delay between receipt of the stop signal and deceleration of the main drive shaft minimizes the jogging time of the machine. The method is directed to stopping the tufting machine at a predetermined stop step and at a position relative to degrees of mainshaft rotation.

Abstract: A rug exhibiting a wool-like appearance made by the process comprising the steps of a. extruding a dyeable polyolefin resin comprising the reaction product of a polypropylene and an ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer to provide an extruded fiber; b. drawing the extruded fiber by conveying the fiber among a system of unheated and heated godets; c. crimping the drawn fiber by passing the fiber into a texturing jet utilizing hot air; d. twisting at least two separate drawn and crimped fibers to provide a multi-ply carpet face yarn wherein the yarn is from about 1000 to about 8000 denier and has about 2 to about 7 twists per inch; e. heat-setting the multi-ply yarn; f. dyeing the multi-ply yarn using a space-dyeing process; and g. weaving the dyed yarn into a rug; thereby providing a rug with a wool-like appearance. The invention also provides a process for making a rug with a wool-like appearance.

Abstract: A furniture panel stabilizer, having a first lifting member moveably interlocked with a second lifting member, for preventing relative vertical movement between two adjoining furniture panels forming a corner. The first lifting member has a first end, an opposite second end, a top end, an opposite bottom end, and a first longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. The second lifting member has a forward end, an opposite back end, an upper end, an opposite lower end, and a second longitudinal axis extending between the forward end and the back end.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and composition for treating carpet yarn and carpet to thereby enhance its repellency. In one aspect of the invention, the method includes the steps of providing a carpet yarn comprising polymeric fibers. An anionic or nonionic fluorochemical compound is provided in an aqueous medium, the aqueous medium having a pH below about 3.5. The carpet yarn is immersed in the aqueous medium. The carpet yarn and aqueous medium are heated after which excess water is removed from the carpet yarn.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the stopping point of a tufting machine in relation to a preset stitch pattern. The system includes a controller and an encoder to detect the current location of a tufting machine needle bar in the stitch pattern. Upon receipt of a stop signal, the controller insures that the needle bar is stopped at a preset stop step in the stitch pattern. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the controller first slows the main drive shaft of the tufting machine to a jogging speed prior to stopping the tufting machine, and stops the machine at the home position of the carpet pattern. Introducing a delay between receipt of the stop signal and deceleration of the main drive shaft minimizes the jogging time of the machine. The method is directed to stopping the tufting machine at a predetermined stop step and at a position relative to degrees of mainshaft rotation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and composition for treating carpet yarn and carpet to thereby enhance its repellency, and preferably to enhance its stain resistance as well. In one aspect of the invention, the method includes the steps of providing a carpet yarn comprising polymeric fibers. An anionic or nonionic fluorochemical compound is provided in an aqueous medium, the aqueous medium having a pH below about 3.5. The carpet yarn is immersed in the aqueous medium. The carpet yarn and aqueous medium are heated after which excess water is removed from the carpet yarn. The aqueous medium preferably also includes an anionic binding compound that acts to impart stain resistance to the yarn.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and a composition for dyeing polymeric fibers which have limited dye sites and/or difficult to penetrate chemical structures. Briefly stated, the process comprises the steps of contacting polymeric fibers with a dye composition comprising a disperse dye and a swelling agent. The fibers in contact with said dye composition are then preferably heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to effect dispersion of a portion of said dye into said polymeric fibers. Subsequently, the fibers are treated to remove residual dye composition.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dyeing a pile fabric web to produce very novel and distinctive multicolored designs is disclosed. In the practice of the invention a plurality of dyes are applied to a moving pile fabric web with each color or dye being applied as separate, individual streams at varying points along a line traverse of the moving web.

Abstract: Following conventional pretreatment and background dyeing and washing of a carpet web, an applicator means applies a thick viscous gum coating to the pile face of the web, forming a temporary barrier thereon. Conveyor means is provided to transport the coated carpet web horizontally through a liquid dye dripping or splattering station where multiple interrupted syrupy dye streams fall on the temporary barrier and form thereon dye pools and rivulets of irregular shape, size and spacing. The conveyor means continues to transport the carpet web with the barrier coating and dye thereon horizontally into a steamer where the barrier layer dissolves and settles into the carpet pile with the dye to establish a random irregular color pattern. Fixing of the dye also takes place in the steamer. The apparatus has final washing and drying means of a conventional character beyond the steamer. Pin driving rolls for the carpet web are electrically coordinated to maintain a regulated tension on the web at all times.