Abstract: Repeatable and reliable chemical treatment for loose fibers is achieved by spraying or immersing loose fibers in a chemical treatment bath, and continuously moving the soaked fibers through a continuous centrifuge. The continuous centrifuge controls the wet pickup of the chemical formulation on the fibers and assures a substantially even chemical distribution on the centrifuged fibers. The centrifuged fibers may be dried to fix the chemicals in the chemical formulation to the fibers and/or to remove water from the chemical formulation. Recycling of the chemical formulation from the continuous centrifuge allows for the process to be performed more economically and in a more environmentally friendly fashion.

Abstract: A mobile App enables customers and restaurants to communicate with one another to negotiate reduced costs for meals at specified reservation times when the restaurant is otherwise light for business. As an example, the App enables the customer to specify either a percentage reduction on the total bill or a budget price for the entire meal. The restaurant may either accept the offer or provide counteroffers. Once agreed upon, if the customer is a no show, the customer compensates the restaurant for operational costs in saving the table by paying a previously agreed upon penalty fee.

Abstract: A personalized virtual shopping assistant system and method includes a plurality of individualized avatars which can be used by shoppers to see how various articles of clothing or accessories would look on themselves. The individualized avatars are created from a 3D body scan of all or a portion of the shopper to create an avatar which accurately reflects the size and shape of the shopper. When performing online shopping, the shopper retrieves his or her avatar for display on a display screen of a smartphone, tablet, computer, kiosk, or other device or system, and places computer representations of articles of clothing or accessories on the avatar. The computer representations are provided by the manufacturers or retailers or other sources. In some configurations, the computer representations may be manipulated to shrink or expand to fit the avatar.

Abstract: A nonwoven is formed from one or more performance enhancing fibers together with one or more cellulosic fibers. The nonwoven could include low melting fibers for holding the nonwoven together on melting, and could include one or more optional fibers which impart a characteristic of interest to the nonwoven. The cellulosic fiber in the nonwoven is treated with fire resistant chemicals. The nonwoven has enhanced fire barrier performance, such as char elongation and char strength.

Abstract: Nonwoven containing inherent flame retardant cellulosic fibers has improved fire barrier performance, such as char elongation and char strength when the inherent flame retardant cellulosic fibers are treated with flame retardant chemicals. The flame retardant chemical treatment on the inherent flame retardant cellulosic fibers can be done either before or after the nonwoven formation.

Abstract: Customers obtain customized textile materials by selecting style, shape, size, pattern and color for an undyed textile product. Based on a selection made by the customer, the textile product is transformed by a dyeing operation performed on a single item (or multiple items selected to be dyed the same) to yield a product, such as a shirt, pants, or jacket, which has a color and pattern of his or her own choosing, in the size and style he or she desires. The process can be performed in a retail setting using a dye apparatus which allows the process to be viewed by the customer. To enhance the educational and entertainment experience of the customer, the dyeing operation can be performed in a transparent tank or water kettle in the retail outlet so that the customer can view, for example, the garment as it is being dyed to the customer's specifications.

Abstract: The invention relates to “closed loop” processes, systems and compositions for providing flame retardant properties to substrates containing at least about 5 weight percent of non-thermoplastic material, such as non-thermoplastic fibers, fibrous compositions or fabrics, and to treated substrates. The processes and systems are environmentally friendly, and advantageously conserve chemical compounds and water by recycling flame retardant composition. The processes of the invention generally comprise: (a) applying a flame retardant composition containing one or more flame retardant substances, an aqueous liquid and one or more adhesion agents to substrates; (b) removing excess flame retardant composition from the substrates; (c) permitting the substrates to dry to a low moisture content; and (d) recycling excess flame retardant composition; wherein the flame retardant composition does not contain an amount of a dye or other agent that could contaminate the flame retardant composition.

Abstract: A nonwoven is formed from basalt fiber and/or grass fiber together with cellulosic fiber. The nonwoven is treated with fire resistant chemicals. The nonwoven has enhanced fire barrier performance, such as char elongation and char strength.

Abstract: Basalt fiber and/or glass fiber, when combined with flame retardant (FR) cellulosic fiber, forms a nonwoven fire barrier with enhanced fire barrier performance, such as char elongation and char strength.

Abstract: A nonwoven is formed from one or more performance enhancing fibers together with one or more cellulosic fibers. The nonwoven could include low melting fibers for holding the nonwoven together on melting, and could include one or more optional fibers which impart a characteristic of interest to the nonwoven. The cellulosic fiber in the nonwoven is treated with fire resistant chemicals. The nonwoven has enhanced fire barrier performance, such as char elongation and char strength.

Abstract: Customers obtain customized textile materials by selecting style, shape, size, pattern and color for an undyed textile product. Based on a selection made by the customer, the textile product is transformed by a dyeing operation performed on a single item (or multiple items selected to be dyed the same) to yield a product, such as a shirt, pants, or jacket, which has a color and pattern of his or her own choosing, in the size and style he or she desires. The process can be performed in a retail setting using a dye apparatus which allows the process to be viewed by the customer. Preferably, the textile material is constructed from yarns which include cationic cellulosic fiber alone or in combination with natural or synthetic fibers, and using anionic dyes, such as a fiber reactive dye, such that the dye is exhausted during the process and effluent from the dye machine is environmentally friendly without excess dye, salts, and alkalis.

Abstract: Customers obtain customized textile materials by selecting style, shape, size, pattern and color for an undyed textile product. Based on a selection made by the customer, the textile product is transformed by a dyeing operation performed on a single item to yield a product, such as a shirt, pants, or jacket, which has a color and pattern of his or her own choosing, in the size and style he or she desires. The process can be performed in a retail setting using a dye machine which allows the process to be viewed by the customer. Preferably, the textile material is constructed from yarns which include cationic cotton alone or in combination with natural cotton or other natural or synthetic fibers, and using anionic dyes, such as a fiber reactive dye, such that the dye is exhausted during the process and effluent from the dye machine is environmentally friendly without excess dye, salts, and alkalis.

Abstract: Customers obtain customized textile materials by selecting style, shape, size, pattern and color for an undyed textile product. Based on a selection made by the customer, the textile product is transformed by a dyeing operation performed on a single item to yield a product, such as a shirt, pants, or jacket, which has a color and pattern of his or her own choosing, in the size and style he or she desires. The process can be performed in a retail setting using a dye machine which allows the process to be viewed by the customer. Preferably, the textile material is constructed from yarns which include cationic cotton alone or in combination with natural cotton or other natural or synthetic fibers, and using anionic dyes, such as a fiber reactive dye, such that the dye is exhausted during the process and effluent from the dye machine is environmentally friendly without excess dye, salts, and alkalis.

Abstract: The invention relates to “closed loop” processes, systems and compositions for providing flame retardant properties to substrates containing at least about 5 weight percent of non-thermoplastic material, such as non-thermoplastic fibers, fibrous compositions or fabrics, and to treated substrates. The processes and systems are environmentally friendly, and advantageously conserve chemical compounds and water by recycling flame retardant composition. The processes of the invention generally comprise: (a) applying a flame retardant composition containing one or more flame retardant substances, an aqueous liquid and one or more adhesion agents to substrates; (b) removing excess flame retardant composition from the substrates; (c) permitting the substrates to dry to a low moisture content; and (d) recycling excess flame retardant composition; wherein the flame retardant composition does not contain an amount of a dye or other agent that could contaminate the flame retardant composition.

Abstract: Customers obtain customized textile materials by selecting style, shape, size, pattern and color for an undyed textile product. Based on a selection made by the customer, the textile product is transformed by a dyeing operation performed on a single item to yield a product, such as a shirt, pants, or jacket which has a color and pattern of his or her own choosing, in the size and style he or she desires. The process can be performed in a retail setting using a dye machine which allows the process to be viewed by the customer. Preferably, the textile material is constructed from yarns which include cationic cotton alone or in combination with natural cotton or other natural or synthetic fibers, and using anionic dyes, such as a fiber reactive dye, such that the dye is exhausted during the process and effluent from the dye machine is environmentally friendly without excess dye, salts, and alkalis.

Abstract: A closed-loop system and process is used for applying fire retardant chemicals to substrates including fibers, yarns, fabrics or mixtures thereof. Substrates are preferably positioned in a vessel such as a dye machine which circulates the fire retardant chemicals. After absorption of the fire retardant composition, non-absorbed fire retardant chemicals are recovered and re-used on subsequent batches of fibers. The re-use of fire retardant chemicals can take place in the same vessel which is used to treat successive batches of substrates. Alternatively, recovery can be achieved by directing the non-absorbed fire retardant composition into a second dye machine containing additional fibers, or by extracting the fire retardant composition by centrifugation or other means, or by a combination of the two processes. The process is environmentally friendly, and allows for higher throughput on impregnating fibers with fire retardant chemicals.

Abstract: Customers obtain customized textile materials by selecting style, shape, size, pattern and color for an undyed textile product. Based on a selection made by the customer, the textile product is transformed by a dyeing operation performed on a single item to yield a product, such as a shirt, pants, or jacket, which has a color and pattern of his or her own choosing, in the size and style he or she desires. The process can be performed in a retail setting using a dye machine which allows the process to be viewed by the customer. Preferably, the textile material is constructed from yarns which include cationic cotton alone or in combination with natural cotton or other natural or synthetic fibers, and using anionic dyes, such as a fiber reactive dye, such that the dye is exhausted during the process and effluent from the dye machine is environmentally friendly without excess dye, salts, and alkalis.

Abstract: Customers obtain customized textile materials by selecting style, shape, size, pattern and color for an undyed textile product. Based on a selection made by the customer, the textile product is transformed by a dyeing operation performed on a single item to yield a product, such as a shirt, pants, or jacket, which has a color and pattern of his or her own choosing, in the size and style he or she desires. The process can be performed in a retail setting using a dye machine which allows the process to be viewed by the customer. Preferably, the textile material is constructed from yarns which include cationic cotton alone or in combination with natural cotton or other natural or synthetic fibers, and using anionic dyes, such as a fiber reactive dye, such that the dye is exhausted during the process and effluent from the dye machine is environmentally friendly without excess dye, salts, and alkalis.

Abstract: A closed-loop system and process is used for applying fire retardant chemicals to substrates including fibers, yarns, fabrics or mixtures thereof. Substrates are preferably positioned in a vessel such as a dye machine which circulates the fire retardant chemicals. After absorption of the fire retardant composition, non-absorbed fire retardant chemicals are recovered and re-used on subsequent batches of fibers. The re-use of fire retardant chemicals can take place in the same vessel which is used to treat successive batches of substrates. Alternatively, recovery can be achieved by directing the non-absorbed fire retardant composition into a second dye machine containing additional fibers, or by extracting the fire retardant composition by centrifugation or other means, or by a combination of the two processes. The process is environmentally friendly, and allows for higher throughput on impregnating fibers with fire retardant chemicals.

Abstract: A closed-loop system and process is used for applying fire retardant chemicals to fibers. Fibers are preferably positioned in a vessel such as a dye machine which circulates the fire retardant chemicals. After absorption of the fire retardant composition, non-absorbed fire retardant chemicals are recovered and re-used on subsequent batches of fibers. Recovery can be achieved by directing the non-absorbed fire retardant composition into a second dye machine containing additional fibers, or by extracting the fire retardant composition by centrifugation or other means, or by a combination of the two processes. The process is environmentally friendly, and allows for higher throughput on impregnating fibers with fire retardant chemicals.