Abstract: An apparatus 10 and related process for enhancement of woven and knit fabrics through use of dynamic fluids which entangle and bloom fabric yarns. A two stage enhancement process is employed in which top and bottom sides of the fabric are respectively supported on members 22, 34 and impacted with a fluid curtain including high pressure jet streams. Controlled process energies and use of support members 22, 34 having open areas 26, 36 which are aligned in offset relation to the process line produces fabrics having a uniform finish and improved characteristics including, edge fray, drape, stability, abrasion resistance, fabric weight and thickness.

Abstract: A white blackout fiber comprising a core, a sheath, said sheath surrounding said core, said core including a light blocking substance therein that substantially prevents the transmission of light therethrough, the light blocking substance being in an amount equal to 0.005-0.01 weight % of the core, a whitening agent in the core in an amount equal to 3-10% of the weight of the core, and a whitening agent in the sheath in an amount equal to approximately 0.0-4.0 weight % of the sheath.

Abstract: An hydropatterning apparatus and method conveys a sheet of fabric (12) through a patterning station (16) along a machine direction on a conveyor (24), preferably a drum, having a support surface (16, 60) formed with a pattern of raised or solid areas (16a) and lowered or void areas (16b), and has one or more manifolds (30) of hydrojet nozzles (32) disposed above the conveyor for directing a continuous curtain of fluid (40) downwardly to impact on the fabric so that properties of the fabric become altered in correspondence to the pattern of the support surface (16, 60). Fabric colored with a non-colorfast dye is hydropatterned by subtractive color removal to obtain a patterned washout effect. Alternatively, a support surface having raised or embossed areas is used to obtain a fiber displacement, lace-like effect in light fabrics. The disclosed hydropatterning technique is particularly suitable for producing a color washout effect in indigo dyed denim.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 and related process for enhancement of woven and knit fabrics through use of dynamic fluids which entangle and bloom fabric yarns. A two stage enhancement process is employed in which top and bottom sides of the fabric are respectively supported on members 22, 34 and impacted with a fluid curtain including high pressure jet streams. Controlled process energies and use of support members 22, 34 having open areas 26, 36 which are aligned in offset relation to the process line produces fabrics having a uniform finish and improved characteristics including, edge fray, drape, stability, abrasion resistance, fabric weight and thickness.

Abstract: A fabric includes an intermediate layer of substantially parallel spun warp yarns, the intermediate layer having a first surface and an opposite, second surface; a top backing layer formed of spun bonded non-woven fibers on the first surface of the intermediate layer; a bottom backing layer of spun bonded non-woven fibers on the opposite, second surface of the intermediate layer; a chain stitching extending substantially parallel to and between adjacent spun warp yarns to connect the top layer to the bottom layer and thereby secure the warp yarns therebetween; and the stitched fabric being hydraulically entangled to adhere the loose warp yarns to the spun bonded non-woven yarns of the top and bottom backing layers.

Abstract: A fabric includes a first substrate layer; second substrate layer; the first and second substrate layers being at least translucent, being made from a non-woven fabric, and having a weight in the range between 0.25 ounces/yd..sup.2 and 8.0 ounces/yd..sup.

Abstract: A decorative fabric has two faces and is made on two stitch through type machines of different gauge. The fabric has a non-woven, flexible substrate and a first plurality of spaced yarns laid on the front face of the substrate in the filling direction. First knitting threads of predetermined gauge form a series of warpwise loop chains which bind the first filling yarns and the substrate into an integral structure. The rear face of the substrate has a second plurality fo spaced yarns laid thereon in the filling direction, and second knitting threads of predetermined gauge which are different from the predetermined gauge of said first knitting threads, thereby forming a series of warpwise loop chains which bind the second plurality of spaced yarns and said substrate into an integral structure.

Abstract: A dimensionally stable, padded, fabric of the type having a layer of carded, fibers reinforced by a woven fabric layer, warp knitted together by separate yarns is characterized by the carded fiber layer being unbonded, uncompacted and of intermingled, non-parallel fibers. Also by the woven fabric base layer being a fine mesh, thin, strong, tightly woven scrim of spun polyester fibers in the range of 28s to 40s. Also by the warp knit yarns being spun polyester fibers in the range of 16s to 24s. The knit yarns are embedded in the soft exposed batting face but are on the surface of the exposed scrim face to give that face high abrasion resistance.