Patents by Inventor Alonzo M. Burns
Alonzo M. Burns has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 7014802Abstract: A method for making a surface covering is disclosed which includes providing a surface covering having a backing layer, a foamable layer, and a design layer, wherein the design layer includes a portion of a pattern printed with at least one retarder composition. A wear layer is then provided on the design layer and the wear layer is cured. The foamable layer is thereby expanded to form a foam layer, and the pattern printed with at least one retarder composition is chemically embossed. The cured product is subsequently cooled to ambient temperature and then the top surface of the wear layer is subjected to a sufficient temperature to soften the wear layer. After being softened the wear layer is mechanically embossed with a surface texture, the embossed surface texture is set in the wear layer, and a top coat may then be provided on the embossed set wear layer. A surface covering having the various features described above is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1999Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Mannington Mills, of Delaware, Inc.Inventors: John M. Eby, Hao A. Chen, Alonzo M. Burns, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6838147Abstract: A secondary backing for surface coverings is disclosed which comprises at least one thermoplastic material optionally having polymeric microspheres dispersed therein. A textile substrate comprising a primary backing with textile fibers extending upwardly from the backing and forming a surface and the above-described secondary backing attached thereto is also described. Methods of making the textile substrate and the secondary backing which can be foam or hardback are also described. Also described is a resilient surface covering, such as vinyl flooring, using the secondary backing of the present invention in one or more layers.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1999Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Mannington Mills, Inc.Inventors: Alonzo M. Burns, Jr., Hao A. Chen, Nicholas Zerebecki, Charles Patterson
-
Patent number: 6753066Abstract: A method for making a surface covering is disclosed which includes providing a surface covering having a backing layer, a foamable layer, and a design layer, wherein the design layer includes a portion of a pattern printed with at least one retarder composition. A wear layer is then provided on the design layer and the wear layer is cured. The foamable layer is thereby expanded to form a foam layer, and the pattern printed with at least one retarder composition is chemically embossed. The cured product is subsequently cooled to ambient temperature and then the top surface of the wear layer is subjected to a sufficient temperature to soften the wear layer. After being softened the wear layer is mechanically embossed with a surface texture, the embossed surface texture is set in the wear layer, and a top coat may then be provided on the embossed set wear layer. A surface covering having the various features described above is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2000Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Mannington Mills of Delaware, Inc.Inventors: John M. Eby, Hao A. Chen, Alonzo M. Burns, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20030157295Abstract: A secondary backing for surface coverings is disclosed which comprises at least one thermoplastic material optionally having polymeric microspheres dispersed therein. A textile substrate comprising a primary backing with textile fibers extending upwardly from the backing and forming a surface and the above-described secondary backing attached thereto is also described. Methods of making the textile substrate and the secondary backing which can be foam or hardback are also described. Also described is a resilient surface covering, such as vinyl flooring, using the secondary backing of the present invention in one or more layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 1999Publication date: August 21, 2003Inventors: ALONZO M. BURNS, HAO A. CHEN, NICHOLAS ZEREBECKI, CHARLES PATTERSON
-
Publication number: 20010002293Abstract: A method for making a surface covering is disclosed which includes providing a surface covering having a backing layer, a foamable layer, and a design layer, wherein the design layer includes a portion of a pattern printed with at least one retarder composition. A wear layer is then provided on the design layer and the wear layer is cured. The foamable layer is thereby expanded to form a foam layer, and the pattern printed with at least one retarder composition is chemically embossed. The cured product is subsequently cooled to ambient temperature and then the top surface of the wear layer is subjected to a sufficient temperature to soften the wear layer. After being softened the wear layer is mechanically embossed with a surface texture, the embossed surface texture is set in the wear layer, and a top coat may then be provided on the embossed set wear layer. A surface covering having the various features described above is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2000Publication date: May 31, 2001Applicant: Mannington Mills of Delaware, Inc.Inventors: John M. Eby, Hao A. Chen, Alonzo M. Burns
-
Patent number: 6114008Abstract: A method for making a surface covering is disclosed which includes providing a surface covering having a backing layer, a foamable layer, and a design layer, wherein the design layer includes a portion of a pattern printed with at least one retarder composition. A wear layer is then provided on the design layer and the wear layer is cured. The foamable layer is thereby expanded to form a foam layer, and the pattern printed with at least one retarder composition is chemically embossed. The cured product is subsequently cooled to ambient temperature and then the top surface of the wear layer is subjected to a sufficient temperature to soften the wear layer. After being softened the wear layer is mechanically embossed with a surface texture, the embossed surface texture is set in the wear layer, and a top coat may then be provided on the embossed set wear layer. A surface covering having the various features described above is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Mannington Mills, Inc.Inventors: John M. Eby, Hao A. Chen, Alonzo M. Burns, Jr.
-
Patent number: 5961903Abstract: A method for making a surface covering is disclosed which includes providing a surface covering having a backing layer, a foamable layer, and a design layer, wherein the design layer includes a portion of a pattern printed with at least one retarder composition. A wear layer is then provided on the design layer and the wear layer is cured. The foamable layer is thereby expanded to form a foam layer, and the pattern printed with at least one retarder composition is chemically embossed. The cured product is subsequently cooled to ambient temperature and then the top surface of the wear layer is subjected to a sufficient temperature to soften the wear layer. After being softened the wear layer is mechanically embossed with a surface texture, the embossed surface texture is set in the wear layer, and a top coat may then be provided on the embossed set wear layer. A surface covering having the various features described above is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1997Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Mannington Mills, Inc.Inventors: John M. Eby, Hao A. Chen, Alonzo M. Burns, Jr.
-
Patent number: 5069958Abstract: A printing blanket having a printing face, a compressible body of material below the printing face and at least one body or reinforcing layer adjacent the compressible layer. The reinforcing layer is a woven fabric having air textured polyester warp and fill yarns therein.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1990Date of Patent: December 3, 1991Assignee: Milliken Research CorporationInventor: Alonzo M. Burns, Jr.
-
Patent number: 4353706Abstract: A process for sculpturing a pile fabric, e.g., nylon pile fabric, is provided which comprises selectively contacting the pile surface of said fabric with a fiber degrading composition, said composition comprising a fiber degrading agent in a concentration sufficient to reduce the tensile strength of the fibers of the pile in the selected areas so that said pile fibers may be removed by mechanical action; said fiber degrading agent being an aromatic sulfonic acid having a pK value of from about 0.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1980Date of Patent: October 12, 1982Assignee: Milliken Research CorporationInventors: Alonzo M. Burns, Jr., Woodrow P. Gilbert
-
Patent number: 4290766Abstract: A method for sculpturing a pile fabric, e.g., acrylic pile fabric, is provided which comprises contacting selected areas to be sculptured of the pile surface of the fabric with a sufficient amount of a sculpturing composition to provide a sculptured effect, said composition comprising: at least one lower alkylene carbonate, e.g., ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, etc., provided in said composition in a concentration sufficient so that said fibers may be subsequently caused to shrink to a lower energy configuration upon application of heat; said sculpturing composition further containing E-caprolactam in an amount sufficient to maintain a relatively soft hand of the shrunken pile fibers; and heating said pile fabric to a temperature sufficient to cause the pile height of said fibers in the selected areas of the pile fabric to be reduced sufficiently to provide a sculptured effect on said pile fabric.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1980Date of Patent: September 22, 1981Assignee: Milliken Research CorporationInventors: Alonzo M. Burns, Jr., Jeffrey E. Silliman, Woodrow P. Gilbert, William M. Pascoe, Sr.