Patents Examined by Cheryl Juska
  • Method for manufacturing pile carpet
    Patent number: 9556556
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing pile carpet or pile carpet tiles, wherein a pile yarn (8) is connected via a pile thread holder (1) to at least a primary backing (7), wherein the pile thread holder (1) comprises a plurality of pile thread guide channels (2) which perforate the pile thread holder (1) through two opposite sides, wherein the pile thread holder (1) is provided between a pile thread gripping station (14) on a first perforated side (5) and a primary backing (7) on a second perforated side (6) such that the pile yarn (8) is arranged via the first perforated side (5) through a pile thread guide channel (2) to the second perforated side (6) onto, into or through the backing (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CTTEC BVBA
    Inventor: Geert Roelens
  • Nonwoven batt with curved carbon fiber bundles
    Patent number: 9551098
    Abstract: A nonwoven material is composed of a nonwoven batt of a plurality of bundles formed of carbon fibers. At least some of the bundles have a curved progression that includes a curved vertex area of a first curvature between the bundle ends and at least one bundle end area of a second curvature extending from said one bundle end to the vertex. The first curvature is greater than the second curvature, in particular it is greater by at least 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Birgit Reiter, Martin Danzer, Gerald Ortlepp
  • Method and treatment composition for imparting durable antimicrobial properties to carpet
    Patent number: 9493908
    Abstract: Methods and treatment compositions for imparting durable antimicrobial properties to carpet are provided. The method includes applying a composition comprising a first antimicrobial compound and a fluoropolymer to the carpet substrate. The carpet substrate may be steamed thereafter. The treatment composition may comprise a fluoropolymer, an antimicrobial compound selected from a group consisting of zinc pyrithione, a silver-containing antimicrobial compound and combinations thereof, and a foamer. Carpet products treated with the treatment composition or treated in accordance with the methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Beaulieu Group, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Mull, James Lesslie, Danny S. Wade
  • Impregnated cloth
    Patent number: 9486974
    Abstract: A knitted spacer fabric has a tightly knitted bottom layer, a more loosely knitted upper layer and linking fibers extending across the space between the lower and upper faces. Settable material, e.g. cement, is introduced into the space between the upper and lower faces and can be caused to set by the addition of a liquid, e.g. water. Until set, the fabric is flexible and can be shaped but after the material in space has set, the fabric is rigid and can be used as a structural element in a wide range of situations. The bottom layer has an extension that extends beyond the upper face and is connected to the upper face by elastic connecting fibers that draw the extension towards the other face, thereby at least partly closing the space at the edge of the cloth and preventing the settable material from spilling out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Concrete Canvas Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: William Campbell Crawford, Peter Eric Brewin
  • Artificial grass fibre and artificial lawn comprising such a fibre
    Patent number: 9469921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a synthetic monofilament fiber for use in an artificial lawn, said synthetic fiber having a width greater than the thickness of the synthetic fiber and being provided with solid thickened parts at its free ends, and a central part between the thickened parts comprising a curved section and having a substantially uniform thickness, seen in transverse direction, the synthetic fiber having a thickness/width ratio such that the synthetic fiber can buckle locally upon being subjected to an external load. The invention further relates to an artificial lawn with a backing to which one or more synthetic fibers according to the invention are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TEN CATE THIOLON B.V.
    Inventors: Marinus Hendrikus Olde Weghuis, Frederik Jan van der Gaag
  • Modular turf system and method of turf installation
    Patent number: 9464388
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a method and system for synthetic turf and the installation thereof. Modular turf sections are formed by attaching a turf section to a corresponding base structure of any desired size and shape. The base section has smooth edges, and can be cut to any desired shape, angle or cutout. The modular turf sections are laid side by side to cover a surface having any size and shape. The modular turf sections are portable and can be individually lifted after having been installed, thereby allowing for cleaning, repair and/or access under one or more selected modular turf sections, or for the replacement of selected modular turf sections which become worn or damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Perfect Tuff LLC
    Inventors: David J. Sternberg, Thomas G. Lober, Matthew V. Scavo
  • Artificial turf and artificial turf facility
    Patent number: 9458579
    Abstract: Provided are artificial turf with which a temperature alleviation effect can be sustained over an extended period and which is easily maintained, and an artificial turf facility wherein the artificial turf is laid. A first pile (41), and a second pile (42) which comprises a water absorbent void therein which absorbs water, which configure the artificial turf, are placed mixed among each other in a base fabric (31) at a prescribed proportion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ishimaru
  • Special coatings and infill for artificial turf
    Patent number: 9435083
    Abstract: An artificial turf surface comprised of natural looking fibrous materials can be infilled with small beads of black crumb rubber coated with heat reflecting material. These beads can also be engineered to have a variable spring force and can also be coated with titanium dioxide powder to have an anti-bacterial effect and laumontite to bind lead. Turf blades can also be coated to increase solar reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Turf Group LLC
    Inventors: Sean Allen Packer, Alfred Abraham Brenner, Harold Brad Rinehart
  • Woven carpet coating compounds, associated methods of use, and articles made therefrom
    Patent number: 9428857
    Abstract: A method of preparing a woven carpet comprising applying a coating compound as an adhesive layer to the woven carpet to form a coated woven carpet, wherein the coating compound comprises an aqueous dispersion comprising a base polymer, a stabilizing agent, and a liquid medium, wherein the base polymer comprises a polyolefin-based polymer; and a wetting agent. A woven carpet comprising a woven substrate; and an adhesive layer comprising a dehydration product of a coating compound comprising an aqueous dispersion comprising a base polymer, a stabilizing agent, and a liquid medium, wherein the base polymer comprises a polyolefin-based polymer; and a wetting agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Hans De Vos
  • Weatherstripping
    Patent number: 9399887
    Abstract: A weatherstripping for use with a frame having at least one channel comprises a backing and a weatherstripping material coupled to the backing. The backing has a front surface, a bottom surface opposite the front surface, a first side edge, a second side edge opposite the first side edge, a central support defining a central axis, and a plurality of alternating tabs extending from the central support to the first side edge to define notched out spaces between the alternating tabs. The second side edge defines a plane that is parallel to the central axis of the central support. The weatherstripping material, which is coupled to the backing, extends from the front surface of the backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: GREENSTAR TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Steven Robert Abramson
  • Method for forming an artificial grass layer and artificial grass product for use therein
    Patent number: 9388536
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming an artificial grass layer on a substrate, comprising the steps of supplying a pack of flat and deformable artificial grass strips, in which the strips are arranged with their flat faces side-by-side and are connected to each other at mutually offset locations, placing the pack of artificial grass strips on or partially in the substrate, pulling apart the artificial grass strips, thus forming a grid, and at least partially filling at least some of the openings in the grid with a stabilizing material. The invention further relates to a method for forming such a pack of flat and deformable artificial grass strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Greenfields B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo De Vries
  • Method for producing synthetic turfs
    Patent number: 9388535
    Abstract: Method for making a synthetic turf comprising laying a turf (1) consisting of a mat (2) on which a plurality of blades (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) of synthetic material is woven. An infill material (18) is obtained using the granular and fibrous part (17) of a loose product based on ground coconut, alone or with addition of other material such as rubber in granules or sand or other loose vegetable material such as cork. The raw material based on coconut, having a heterogeneous granulometry set between about 500 micron and several mm, is obtained loading a loose product based on ground coconut by a hopper on a conveyor belt for being fed in a sieve, for example a rotating screen that separates the powder part from the granular and fibrous part. In particular, the powder part of the raw material, is gathered on a conveyor belt and from here sent to a storage reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventor: Roberto Nusca
  • Carpet coating composition
    Patent number: 9382341
    Abstract: An aqueous carpet coating composition includes a particulate filler, a polymeric thickener and an aqueous dispersion of a copolymer that includes vinyl acetate units and ethylene units. The dispersion stabilization system includes a) 1.5 to 3 wt % of a combination of polyvinyl alcohols including a1) one or more partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols with a degree of hydrolysis of 85 to 95 mol % and a Hoeppler viscosity of 10-33 mPa·s, and a2) one or more highly hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols with a degree of hydrolysis of 98 to 100 mol % and a Hoeppler viscosity of 10-33 mPa·s; and b) 1.5 to 3 wt % of an emulsifier component consisting of one or more nonionic emulsifiers and one or more anionic emulsifiers. The dispersion has a viscosity of ?1500 mPa·s and the viscosity of the coating composition is 6000 to 7000 mPa·s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: WACKER CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dennis Sagl, John McClurken, Ronald Joseph Pangrazi
  • Low weight-hardback carpet tile
    Patent number: 9376766
    Abstract: Low weight and non-square carpet tile suitable for use in mass transit vehicles, particularly passenger aircraft. The carpet tile preferably weighs less than about 82 ounces per square yard. The carpet tile of this invention may have a carpet pile and at least one backing layer. The backing layer may use a low weight filler material. The carpet tiles satisfy transportation industry standards for flame, smoke and toxicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: James Hobbs, Joel Sheppard, Stuart Jones, James Woods, Jr., John P. Bradford
  • Homogeneously branched ethylene polymer carpet backsizing compositions
    Patent number: 9376769
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are carpets and carpet tiles comprising a primary backing material having a face and a back side; a plurality of fibers attached to the primary backing material and extending from the face of the primary backing material and exposed at the back side of the primary backing material; and an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition generally comprises at least one homogenously branched ethylene polymer. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing the disclosed carpets and carpet tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: John O. Bieser, Joseph A. Dibbern, Charles F. Diehl, James D. Goins, David C. Kelley, Rexford A. Maugans, Osborne K. McKinney, Lichih R. Peng, Robert R. Turley
  • Double image overprint carpet components and methods of making same
    Patent number: 9332871
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to carpet components and methods of making the carpet components. In one embodiment, a carpet component is provided. The carpet component includes a carpet substrate having a texture comprising a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of adjoining design elements each defining a design and a boundary and wherein the design elements are arranged so that the design of one design element is not predictable from the design of an adjoining design element; and an overprint disposed onto the carpet substrate wherein the overprint comprises a plurality of adjoining design elements each defining a design and a boundary and wherein the design elements are arranged so that the design of at least one design element is predictable from the design of an adjoining design element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Mohawk Carpet Distribution, Inc.
    Inventors: Clyde Ray Burgess, Paul Matthew Dabrowa
  • Double image overprint carpet components and methods of making same
    Patent number: 9332870
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to carpet components and methods of making the carpet components. In one embodiment, a carpet component is provided. The carpet component includes a carpet substrate having a texture comprising a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of adjoining design elements each defining a design and a boundary and wherein the design elements are arranged so that the design of one design element is not predictable from the design of an adjoining design element; and an overprint disposed onto the carpet substrate wherein the overprint comprises a plurality of adjoining design elements each defining a design and a boundary and wherein the design elements are arranged so that the design of at least one design element is predictable from the design of an adjoining design element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Mohawk Carpet Distribution, Inc.
    Inventors: Clyde Ray Burgess, Paul Matthew Dabrowa
  • Fiber products, prepregs, composites and method of producing same
    Patent number: 9321218
    Abstract: A 3-dimension (3D) multi-layer composite comprises a first sheet layer with fastening components on at least one side of the first sheet layer, a second sheet layer with fastening components on both sides of the second sheet layer, and a third sheet layer with fastening components on at least one side of the third sheet layer, wherein the second sheet layer is positioned adjacent to and between the first sheet layer and the third sheet layer, wherein the fastening components on the one side of the first sheet layer engage with the fastening components on one side of the second sheet layer, wherein the fastening components on the one side of the third sheet layer engage with the fastening components on the other side of the second sheet layer, and wherein the engaged fastening components enhance interlayer strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventor: Nanlin Han
  • Artificial turf
    Patent number: 9315954
    Abstract: An artificial turf has a base layer, a multiplicity of blades fixed to and projecting upward from the base layer, and a mass of infill between the blades and on the base layer. The infill is formed of elongated plastic fibers each having a longitudinally extending inner part of a predetermined first plastic and a longitudinally extending outer part bonded to the inner part and of a predetermined second plastic different from the first plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: REIFENHAEUSER GMBH & CO.KG MASCHINENFABRIK
    Inventor: Jürgen Morton-Finger
  • Synthetic turf system having an infill trapping structure
    Patent number: 9267232
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a synthetic turf system including a backing member having a plurality of monofilament ribbons—soft and stiff—projecting there from. A layer of particulate material lies above the backing member and among the monofilament ribbons wherein the soft monofilament ribbons facilitates the stabilization or trapping of the particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: TARKETT INC.
    Inventors: John Gilman, Derek Bearden