Patents by Inventor Gregory D. Fowler

Gregory D. Fowler 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).

  • Publication number: 20240068175
    Abstract: Implementations herein describe an artificial turf having a backing layer and a plurality of rows of individual tufts tufted into the backing layer. Each tuft comprises at least three yarns per tuft and each one of the at least three yarns varies in at least one of material, color, texture, denier and cross-section. Each row of individual tufts is substantially similar to each adjacent tufted row and adjacent tufts on a given row are spaced apart at a predetermined gauge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: GREGORY D. FOWLER, PHIL STRICKLEN, LISA PORTER
  • Patent number: 11821149
    Abstract: Implementations herein describe an artificial turf having a backing layer and a plurality of rows of individual tufts tufted into the backing layer. Each tuft comprises at least three yarns per tuft and each one of the at least three yarns varies in at least one of material, color, texture, denier and cross-section. Each row of individual tufts is substantially similar to each adjacent tufted row and adjacent tufts on a given row are spaced apart at a predetermined gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory D. Fowler, Phil Stricklen, Lisa Porter
  • Publication number: 20230115841
    Abstract: Fabrics having conventional turf yarns provided in combination with traditional carpet yarns. Optionally, the turf yarns and/or the carpet yarns can be unpigmented natural yarns. A color pattern can be applied to the fabrics to produce surface coverings, such as floor coverings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory D. Fowler, Michael Mathis
  • Publication number: 20220145550
    Abstract: Implementations herein describe an artificial turf having a backing layer and a plurality of rows of individual tufts tufted into the backing layer. Each tuft comprises at least three yarns per tuft and each one of the at least three yarns varies in at least one of material, color, texture, denier and cross-section. Each row of individual tufts is substantially similar to each adjacent tufted row and adjacent tufts on a given row are spaced apart at a predetermined gauge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory D. FOWLER, Phil STRICKLEN, Lisa PORTER
  • Patent number: 11268248
    Abstract: Implementations herein describe an artificial turf having a backing layer and a plurality of rows of individual tufts tufted into the backing layer. Each tuft comprises at least three yarns per tuft and each one of the at least three yarns varies in at least one of material, color, texture, denier and cross-section. Each row of individual tufts is substantially similar to each adjacent tufted row and adjacent tufts on a given row are spaced apart at a predetermined gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory D. Fowler, Phil Stricklen, Lisa Porter
  • Publication number: 20190100885
    Abstract: Implementations herein describe an artificial turf having a backing layer and a plurality of rows of individual tufts tufted into the backing layer. Each tuft comprises at least three yarns per tuft and each one of the at least three yarns varies in at least one of material, color, texture, denier and cross-section. Each row of individual tufts is substantially similar to each adjacent tufted row and adjacent tufts on a given row are spaced apart at a predetermined gauge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: GREGORY D. FOWLER, PHIL STRICKLEN, LISA PORTER
  • Publication number: 20160312414
    Abstract: A non-filled artificial turf surface (e.g., field) that can be removed by disconnecting and rolling up a plurality of non-filled artificial turf mats, and reinstalled by unrolling and reconnecting the non-filled artificial turf mats. In a further aspect, the invention is also directed at a method for installing and subsequently removing the non-filled transition artificial turf field in a quick and efficient manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: GREGORY D. FOWLER, PHIL STRICKLEN, LISA PORTER, STEVE KERR, CHAD LIND
  • Publication number: 20150354147
    Abstract: Implementations herein describe an artificial turf having a backing layer and a plurality of rows of individual tufts tufted into the backing layer. Each tuft comprises at least three yarns per tuft and each one of the at least three yarns varies in at least one of material, color, texture, denier and cross-section. Each row of individual tufts is substantially similar to each adjacent tufted row and adjacent tufts on a given row are spaced apart at a predetermined gauge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: GREGORY D. FOWLER, PHIL STRICKLEN, LISA PORTER
  • Publication number: 20140220304
    Abstract: Disclosed is a floor covering having an embossed polyurethane foam backing layer and methods of making and using same. A bottom surface of the backing layer can be thermo-embossed with a predetermined pattern, and the bottom surface of the backing layer can define at least one fluid pathway in communication with a side edge of the floor covering. The floor covering can also have a layer of skid-resistant material connected to the bottom surface of the backing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Shaw Industries Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory D. Fowler
  • Patent number: 8728581
    Abstract: Disclosed is a floor covering having an embossed polyurethane foam backing layer and methods of making and using same. A bottom surface of the backing layer can be thermo-embossed with a predetermined pattern, and the bottom surface of the backing layer can define at least one fluid pathway in communication with a side edge of the floor covering. The floor covering can also have a layer of skid-resistant material connected to the bottom surface of the backing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Gregory D. Fowler
  • Publication number: 20110014431
    Abstract: Disclosed is a floor covering having an embossed polyurethane foam backing layer and methods of making and using same. A bottom surface of the backing layer can be thermo-embossed with a predetermined pattern, and the bottom surface of the backing layer can define at least one fluid pathway in communication with a side edge of the floor covering. The floor covering can also have a layer of skid-resistant material connected to the bottom surface of the backing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Gregory D. Fowler
  • Patent number: 7115315
    Abstract: A reinforced secondary backing and method of using the same, in which the reinforced secondary backing includes reinforcing yarns interconnect to the secondary backing fabric. The reinforcing yarns generally extend in the longitudinal or warp direction and provide additional surface area to which an adhesive may bind when combining the reinforced secondary backing to a primary backing in forming a laminate carpet. The reinforcing yarns may be spaced across at least a portion of the backing uniformly, concentrated in an area that typically displays weakness (such as adjacent the edges of the carpet), or a combination thereof. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Shaw Industries Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory D. Fowler
  • Patent number: 6344254
    Abstract: A modified secondary backing fabric (20) for carpet (50) comprises a secondary backing scrim fabric (15) and a fiber batt (21) integrated with the secondary backing fabric forming the modified fabric, providing a soft face (51) opposite the face (52) presented by the scrim fabric, uninterrupted by the scrim fabric. A carpet (50) comprises a face yarn (11); a primary backing fabric (12), the face yarn being tufted into the primary backing fabric; a modified secondary backing fabric (20) attached to the primary backing fabric; and an adhesive material (14) binding the face yarn to the primary backing fabric and the primary backing fabric to the secondary backing fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignees: Sind, LLC, Shaw Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory B. Smith, Gregory D. Fowler
  • Patent number: 6060145
    Abstract: A modified secondary backing fabric (20) for carpet (50) comprises a secondary backing scrim fabric (15) and a fiber batt (21) integrated with the secondary backing fabric forming the modified fabric, providing a soft face (51) opposite the face (52) presented by the scrim fabric, uninterrupted by the scrim fabric. A carpet (50) comprises a face yarn (11); a primary backing fabric (12), the face yarn being tufted into the primary backing fabric; a modified secondary backing fabric (20) attached to the primary backing fabric; and an adhesive material (14) binding the face yarn to the primary backing fabric and the primary backing fabric to the secondary backing fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Synthetic Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory B. Smith, Gregory D. Fowler
  • Patent number: D954448
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory D. Fowler, Michael Mathis
  • Patent number: D955758
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Gregory D. Fowler
  • Patent number: D955759
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Gregory D. Fowler