Patents Assigned to Southern Mills, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20240102212
    Abstract: Flame resistant fabrics comprising a blend of modacrylic, aliphatic polyamide, and cellulosic fibers. Some embodiments are printed and/or dyed with vat dyes so as to comply with the color requirements (including the color, colorfastness, and IR requirements) set forth in the relevant sections of GL-PD-07-12 and/or MIL-PRF-EFRCE. Some embodiments further include reinforcing yarns that improve the strength of the fabrics. Still other embodiments are flame resistant fabrics for use in electrical applications that comply with some or all of the requirements of ASTM F 1506.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope, Timothy James Thorne, Charles S. Dunn
  • Patent number: 11891731
    Abstract: Flame resistant fabrics formed with fiber blends that provide the requisite flame and thermal protection but that have improved durability. In some embodiments this is accomplished with the use of fiber blends that include relatively large percentages of FR nylon fibers in combination with cellulosic and inherently flame resistant fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Self, Keith Edward Pickering
  • Patent number: 11873587
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to flame resistant fabrics formed with inherently flame resistant fibers that provide the requisite thermal and arc protection, that have improved comfort, and that, in some embodiments, are less expensive than other fabrics formed with inherently flame resistant fibers. Improved comfort and lower cost can be achieved by predominantly locating the inherently flame resistant fibers on the front face of the fabric to impart the requisite thermal and arc protection and predominantly locating the more comfortable (and less expensive) fibers on the back face of the fabric positioned next to the wearer. In this way, overall protection of the fabric is maintained while improving comfort. Some embodiments of such fabrics may also achieve NFPA 70E PPE Category 2 protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominique Janay Adams, Charles S. Dunn, Elijah Dufty, Michael T. Stanhope
  • Patent number: 11846043
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to flame resistant fabrics containing fibers having at least one energy absorbing and/or reflecting additive incorporated into the fibers. Inclusion of such fibers into the fabric increases the arc rating/fabric weight ratio of the fabric while still complying with all requisite thermal protective requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope, Dominique Janay Adams, Charles S Dunn
  • Publication number: 20230218027
    Abstract: Fabrics that are exhibit water repellency, abrasion resistance, and optionally flame resistance are described herein. The fabrics include a plurality of fibers (such as flame resistant fibers) and a finish that imparts water repellency and abrasion resistance to the fibers. The fabrics are free or substantially free from alkylfluoropolymers. Also described herein are garments including the fabrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Rembert J. Truesdale, III, Morgan Bakhshaee, Brian Walsh, Michael Andrew Laton
  • Patent number: 11571032
    Abstract: Fabrics that are exhibit water repellency, abrasion resistance, and optionally flame resistance are described herein. The fabrics include a plurality of fibers (such as flame resistant fibers) and a finish that imparts water repellency and abrasion resistance to the fibers. The fabrics are free or substantially free from alkylfluoropolymers. Also described herein are garments including the fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Rembert J. Truesdale, III, Morgan Bakhshaee, Brian Walsh, Michael Andrew Laton
  • Patent number: 11564429
    Abstract: Fabrics that are exhibit water repellency, abrasion resistance, and optionally flame resistance are described herein. The fabrics include a plurality of fibers (such as flame resistant fibers) and a finish that imparts water repellency and abrasion resistance to the fibers. The fabrics are free or substantially free from alkylfluoropolymers. Also described herein are garments including the fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Rembert J. Truesdale, III, Morgan Bakhshaee, Brian Walsh, Michael Andrew Laton
  • Patent number: 11421348
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to flame resistant fabrics containing fibers having at least one energy absorbing and/or reflecting additive incorporated into the fibers. Inclusion of such fibers into the fabric increases the arc rating/fabric weight ratio of the fabric while still complying with all requisite thermal protective requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope, Dominique Janay Adams, Charles S. Dunn
  • Patent number: 11306418
    Abstract: Flame resistant fabrics that have incorporated into them high tenacity long staple yarns formed of long staple fibers. Such high tenacity long staple yarns are less expensive than continuous filament yarns and increase the strength of fabrics that incorporate them as compared to fabrics formed of only spun yarns formed of short staple fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope, Matthew Lucius Colatruglio
  • Publication number: 20210267293
    Abstract: Fabrics that are exhibit water repellency, abrasion resistance, and optionally flame resistance are described herein. The fabrics include a plurality of fibers (such as flame resistant fibers) and a finish that imparts water repellency and abrasion resistance to the fibers. The fabrics are free or substantially free from alkylfluoropolymers. Also described herein are garments including the fabrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Rembert J. Truesdale, III, Morgan Bakhshaee, Brian Walsh, Michael Andrew Laton
  • Patent number: 10870932
    Abstract: Flame resistant fabrics that provide protection against molten metal splash but that have improved comfort at a lower cost by predominantly locating the protective molten metal shedding fibers on the front face of the fabric. Concentrating the protective fibers predominantly on the front face of the fabric still provides good protection against molten metal adherence and allows for more comfortable and less expensive fibers to be used on the back face of the fabric positioned next to the wearer. In this way, overall protection of the fabric is maintained while improving comfort. Embodiments of such fabrics may also achieve NFPA 70E PPE Category 2 protection, for example ?8 cal/cm2 arc rating whether ATPV or EBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope, Dominique Janay Adams, Charles S. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20200367584
    Abstract: Fabrics that are exhibit water repellency, abrasion resistance, and optionally flame resistance are described herein. The fabrics include a plurality of fibers (such as flame resistant fibers) and a finish that imparts water repellency and abrasion resistance to the fibers. The fabrics are free or substantially free from alkylfluoropolymers. Also described herein are garments including the fabrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Rembert J. Truesdale, III, Morgan Bakhshaee, Brian Walsh, Michael Andrew Laton
  • Patent number: 10774451
    Abstract: A flame resistant fabric includes first yarns including inherently flame resistant fibers and second yarns including wool fibers. The fabric may satisfy one or more performance standards set forth in ASTM F 1506-02, NFPA 2112 and NFPA 70E. The fabric may be a knit or woven fabric, such as a plush or terry knit construction, and one or both sides of the fabric may be napped to form a fleece fabric. The second yarns may include wool and modacrylic fibers, or wool fibers and other inherently flame resistant fibers. The first yarns or second yarns may include sufficient inherently flame resistant fibers such that the fabric has a char length of no more than 4 inches and an afterflame of no more than 2 seconds when tested in accordance with ASTM D6413. The fabric may exhibit a thermal shrinkage of no more than 10% when tested in accordance with NFPA 2112.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope, Charles S. Dunn
  • Patent number: 10704169
    Abstract: Flame resistant fabrics that have incorporated into them cellulosic filament yarns. The cellulosic filament yarns may be flame resistant (either inherently FR or treated so as to be FR) or non-flame resistant. Fabrics according to some embodiments are formed entirely of cellulosic filament yarns. However, fabrics according to some embodiments include additional yarns to ensure that the fabric complies with NFPA 1971 and/or 2112.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Christine J. Habicht, Charles S. Dunn, Michael T. Stanhope, Matthew Lucius Colatruglio
  • Patent number: 10487424
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to flame resistant fabrics containing fibers having at least one energy absorbing and/or reflecting additive incorporated into the fibers. Inclusion of such fibers into the fabric increases the arc rating/fabric weight ratio of the fabric while still complying with all requisite thermal protective requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope, Dominique Janay Adams, Charles S. Dunn
  • Patent number: 10485281
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention replace relatively bulky nonwoven thermal insulating materials used in thermal liners with thin, lightweight, flexible films that maintain or improve TPP performance while reducing the thickness, and enhancing the flexibility, of the thermal liner so as to increase wearer comfort. Moreover, the films incorporated into the thermal liners can be both air and vapor permeable such that the TPP performance is not realized at the expense of THL performance. Rather, the THL performance of garments incorporating embodiments of thermal liners contemplated herein is comparable to—if not improved over—garments formed with traditional thermal liners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope, Matthew Lucius Colatruglio
  • Patent number: 10316438
    Abstract: A fabric includes base yarns and antistatic spun yarns located in discrete portions of the fabric such that the fabric dissipates static electricity by way of an inductive field and complies with one or more standards for static dissipation in fabric. The antistatic spun yarns may include inductive antistatic staple fibers, and may include less than 20% antistatic fiber. The fabric may be a woven fabric with the antistatic spun yarns inserted into the fabric in both the warp and filling directions in a ratio of antistatic spun yarns to base yarns of from 1:1 to 1:40. The fabrics may be flame resistant and comply with one or more standards for flame resistant fabrics and/or may comply with one or more standards for high visibility apparel. The fabric may have a total antistatic fiber content of less than about 1%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Lipscomb, Robert Self
  • Patent number: 10316440
    Abstract: Flame resistant fabrics are formed by warp and fill yarns having different fiber contents. The fabrics are constructed, for example, by selection of a suitable weaving pattern, such that the body side of the fabric and the face side of the fabric have different properties. The fabrics described herein can be printable and dyeable on both sides of the fabric and are suitable for use in military and industrial garments. Methods of forming flame resistant fabrics, and methods for forming garments from the fabrics, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope, Charles S. Dunn, Matthew Lucius Colatruglio
  • Publication number: 20180313006
    Abstract: Flame resistant fabrics comprising a blend of modacrylic, aliphatic polyamide, and cellulosic fibers. Some embodiments are printed and/or dyed with vat dyes so as to comply with the color requirements (including the color, colorfastness, and IR requirements) set forth in the relevant sections of GL-PD-07-12 and/or MIL-PRF-EFRCE. Some embodiments further include reinforcing yarns that improve the strength of the fabrics. Still other embodiments are flame resistant fabrics for use in electrical applications that comply with some or all of the requirements of ASTM F 1506.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope, Timothy James Thorne, Charles S. Dunn
  • Patent number: D1011768
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian John Walsh, Michael Andrew Laton, Scott Ritenour