Patents Assigned to West Point-Pepperell, Inc.
  • Patent number: 4109592
    Abstract: In the manufacture of tufted carpets from a sheet of yarns which are dyed along their lengths at different positions with different colors, mending yarns are provided at the edge of the sheet which are dyed in segments along their length using the same dye colors as the yarns in the sheet. The mending yarns are tufted into the selvedge of the carpet where they can be pulled out for use in mending the carpet when dropped stitches occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: West Point-Pepperell, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford A. Bryant
  • Patent number: 4077497
    Abstract: A cylindrical body houses a shaft and is movable with respect thereto. The body carries a first jaw element at one end thereof. A second jaw element is joined to fixed support means connected to the shaft within the body. A compression spring surrounds a portion of the shaft projecting from the opposite end of the body, and the spring urges the jaw elements into clamping relationship. The clamp is opened by moving the body in opposition to the force of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1978
    Assignee: West Point Pepperell, Inc.
    Inventor: Ellis H. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 4076878
    Abstract: A flame-retardant material, and a method for making same, which comprises: (1) a reinforcing ply of textile material; (2) at least one sheet of foam bonded to a face of the reinforcing ply; (3) a layer of flock fibers adhered to the foam thereby covering the exposed face of the foam; and (4) a flame-retardant adhesive system disposed in two layers between said flock fibers and the foam sheeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Assignee: West Point-Pepperell, Inc.
    Inventor: Llaney C. Norby
  • Patent number: 4074005
    Abstract: Flock is treated with a metal salt of a long chain aliphatic acid to control static charges, increase flow and reduce waste. The salt may be applied from a water solution, or from an aqueous mixture of the metal and the acid under high shear mixing conditions under which at least a part of the acid is converted to the salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: West Point-Pepperell Inc.
    Inventors: Ricky L. Moore, Winston E. Hagborg
  • Patent number: 4069775
    Abstract: The invention provides a roll over which a sheet of dyed and dried yarns passes from a drying chamber. During operation of the apparatus, the roll is maintained in a position diverting the yarns out of a straight path, creating a surplus in the path. When the machine stops, the roll is moved slowly under controlled conditions to a position nearer a straight path, during which the surplus is given up to compensate for the shrinkage of the yarn residing in the drying chamber whereby yarn in the dyeing stage remains motionless. The invention is particularly (but not solely) useful in the manufacture of tufted carpeting from yarns dyed individually in segments along their length with different colors for production of predetermined complex designs in the carpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1978
    Assignee: West Point-Pepperell, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford Aldene Bryant, Mark Floyd Jarrell
  • Patent number: 4048368
    Abstract: A woven fabric including fibers of high strength and low elongation extending in the warp direction, is laminated to a non-woven mat which is saturated with a latex. The exposed surface of the resultant laminate is buffed to insure precise dimensional thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1977
    Assignee: West Point Pepperell, Inc.
    Inventors: Ferrell Daniel Hale, Charles H. Crowder
  • Patent number: 4015453
    Abstract: A series of dye troughs or pans are located in a transverse parallel arrangement along the length of apparatus for dyeing parallel yarn ends. Each pan is pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to and eccentric with respect to the horizontal gravitational axis of the pan so that the pan will rotate downwardly when released, for cleaning or repair. Dye rolls are mounted within the pans and driven by gears which automatically engage and disengage with driving means as the pan is let down and restored to normal operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: West Point Pepperell, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford Aldene Bryant
  • Patent number: 4015550
    Abstract: The apparatus and the method of the invention dyes the yarn ends of a sheet thereof individually at predetermined positions along their lengths and manufactures tufted carpets therefrom in a tufting machine to provide a predetermined multi-colored complex pattern in the carpet. The invention includes pretreatment of the yarn in a wetting and cleansing bath, removing excess bath liquid in preparation for dyeing, synchronizing the yarn feed at the start with the feed to the tufting machine, simultaneous dyeing of pairs of adjacent yarn ends and separating them for delivery to the tufting machine in an arrangement to produce identical patterns side-by-side in the carpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: West Point Pepperell, Inc.
    Inventors: William Chelsea Bartenfeld, Clifford Aldene Bryant, Wilbur Koontz Newman, Sr.
  • Patent number: 3998368
    Abstract: Apparatus for leading long lengths of woven or nonwoven textile material over a series of rolls in a sinous path in which the rolls are arranged in upper and lower tiers and some of the upper rolls are driven from electric motors. The lower tier of rolls is supported by parallel beams which are pivoted at one end. At their other ends the beams are connected by a chain and sprocket connection to a motor-speed-control device which automatically adjusts the speed of certain rolls to maintain constant tension on the material along its path through the apparatus, when the material causes the bottom rolls to move up or down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1976
    Assignee: West Point Pepperell, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Hackney
  • Patent number: 3951353
    Abstract: An assembly for supporting a conventional bobbin having at least one metallic ring about its base. A pair of spaced plates define a first groove for receiving the ring on one side of the bobbin. A movable plate member is provided at its bottom portion with a second groove. The latter groove is defined by a flange on the plate member and an L-shaped member secured to the plate member. The plate member is spring biased towards the spaced plates whereby the bobbin ring is received within the second groove on the opposite side of the bobbin. The retention of the ring in the grooves prevents the bobbin from being lifted from the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1976
    Assignee: West Point-Pepperell, Inc.
    Inventor: Ellis H. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 3936561
    Abstract: Durable press fabrics are treated with high molecular weight polyethylene glycol to reduce their tendency to liberate dust in factories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: West Point-Pepperell, Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Cotton