Abstract: A monoaxially-oriented polymeric film material formed from an impact copolymer and having increased toughness relative to films that are monoaxially-oriented at conventional temperatures.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing stain resistance of fibers, carpet yarns and carpets are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of treating fiber, yarn or carpet comprising applying an aqueous treating composition to fiber, yarn or carpet, wherein the aqueous treating composition comprises tannic acid heating the fiber, yarn or carpet to a temperature of at least about 160° F.; applying a second topical treating composition to the fiber, carpet or yarn, wherein the second aqueous treating composition comprises a fluorochemical; and heating the fiber, yarn or carpet to a temperature of at least about 160° F.

Abstract: The present invention is a hardwood flooring board including a middle layer formed from a non-hardwood flooring material and a hardwood material upper layer which is secured to an upper surface of the middle layer. The middle layer forms between 45% and 75% of the overall material of the board and enables the board to be manufactured to be more dimensionally stable, i.e., wider and longer, than conventional hardwood flooring boards. Also the use of the non-hardwood material in the middle layer greatly increases the dimensional stability and long term performance of the flooring boards, while providing a genuine hardwood appearance to the floor. The board also includes a lower layer that can be formed from either a hardwood material or a non-hardwood material to function as a base for the board.

Abstract: To improve the liquid barrier properties of a carpet, a repellency compound, such as a fluorochemical, is applied to the backstitch side or underside of the primary backing layer of a carpet.

Abstract: A reinforced secondary backing and method of using the same, in which the reinforced secondary backing includes reinforcing yarns interconnect to the secondary backing fabric. The reinforcing yarns generally extend in the longitudinal or warp direction and provide additional surface area to which an adhesive may bind when combining the reinforced secondary backing to a primary backing in forming a laminate carpet. The reinforcing yarns may be spaced across at least a portion of the backing uniformly, concentrated in an area that typically displays weakness (such as adjacent the edges of the carpet), or a combination thereof. 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 and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A reinforced secondary backing and method of using the same, in which the reinforced secondary backing includes reinforcing yarns interconnect to the secondary backing fabric. The reinforcing yarns generally extend in the longitudinal or warp direction and provide additional surface area to which an adhesive may bind when combining the reinforced secondary backing to a primary backing in forming a laminate carpet. The reinforcing yarns may be spaced across at least a portion of the backing uniformly, concentrated in an area that typically displays weakness (such as adjacent the edges of the carpet), or a combination thereof. 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 and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

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: 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: 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 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 method of monitoring the alignment of pipes to be welded end to end involves supporting a reference bar extending generally parallel to, and external of, the pipes so as to span a weld position of which the ends of two pipes are to be welded, performing measurements of perpendicular distance between the bar and each pipe at two predetermined distances from the end of each pipe, determining the thickness of the walls of the pipes, determining the slope of the exterior of each pipe with respect to the reference bar, calculating from the slopes the difference between the distances from the bar to the outer surface of each of the two pipes to the weld position, so as to provide a measure of the misalignment of the outer surface of the pipes at the weld position, differencing the wall thicknesses of the pipes to provide a wall thickness difference, and subtracting the wall thickness difference from the misalignment of the external walls of the pipe to determine the misalignment of the inner surfaces of the pipes

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 high frequency shielded data transmission cable and method of making same are disclosed. Optimal transmission and minimal signal loss are achieved when the conductors of such a cable are maintained in fixed positions relative to one another and relative to the metal shielding. These features are provided by a cable of the instant invention wherein a central core having diametrically opposed spiral grooves hold the insulated conductors in fixed relation to one another. At least one inner layer of dielectric material maintains the insulated conductors within the grooves and provides a fixed spacing between the conductors and the metal shielding. Metal shielding, preferably of braided strips of metal, provides additional strength and flexibility to the cable. The interstitial spaces of the braid may optionally be filled with a filling compound. Likewise, the insulated conductors may be coated with a water-blocking compound to fill any spaces between the conductors and the walls of the grooves.