Abstract: A needled composite acoustical barrier is provided. The barrier has a non-woven first layer (13) of needleable textile first fibers (13a); the layer (13) has a thickness of between about 0.01 inch and 0.5 inch and a density of between about 1.0 and 10 lbs. per cubic foot. A non-woven, low density second layer (15) of textile second fibers (15a) is provided; the second layer (15) has a thickness of between about 0.2 inch and 5 inches and a density of between about 0.1 and 4.0 lbs. per cubic foot. A high-density intermediate acoustical barrier layer (14) is disposed between the first and second layers (13, 15); the intermediate barrier layer (14) has a thickness of between about 0.01 inch and 0.5 inch, a density of at least 50 lbs. per cubic foot, and the barrier layer has a substantially continuous film of high-density needleable polymeric material.

Abstract: A flexible, adhesively attachable, self-sealing, thermal and acoustical insulating shield has a needled, flexible, fibrous batt having an insulating layer of insulating fibers disposed between opposite binding layers of binding fibers. Binding fibers of each binding layer are needledly disposed through the insulating layer and an opposite binding layer to provide tufts of binding fibers protruding from the opposite binding layer so a to form a tufted upper surface and a tufted lower surface of the batt. A flexible adhesive is disposed and adhered substantially over the upper surface and, preferably, over lower surface of the batt such that the tufts on the upper and lower surfaces are secured to the surfaces by the adhesive. A flexible, protective foil is adjacent to, and preferably permanently adhered by the adhesive to, the lower surface of the batt.

Abstract: A needled composite acoustical barrier is provided. The barrier has a non-woven first layer (13) of needleable textile first fibers (13a); the layer (13) has a thickness of between about 0.01 inch and 0.5 inch and a density of between about 1.0 and 10 lbs. per cubic foot. A non-woven, low density second layer (15) of textile second fibers (15a) is provided; the second layer (15) has a thickness of between about 0.2 inch and 5 inches and a density of between about 0.1 and 4.0 lbs. per cubic foot. A high-density intermediate acoustical barrier layer (14) is disposed between the first and second layers (13, 15); the intermediate barrier layer (14) has a thickness of between about 0.01 inch and 0.5 inch, a density of at least 50 lbs. per cubic foot, and the barrier layer has a substantially continuous film of high-density needleable polymeric material.

Abstract: A flexible, adhesively attachable, thermal and acoustical insulating shield has a needled, flexible, fibrous batt (40) having an insulating layer (43) of insulating fibers (44) disposed between opposite binding layers (41, 42) of binding fibers (45). Binding fibers (45) of each binding layer (41, 42) are needledly disposed through the insulating layer (43) and an opposite binding layer (41, 42) to provide tufts (46) of binding fibers (45) protruding from the opposite binding layer (41, 42) so as to form a tufted upper surface (47) and a tufted lower surface (48) of the batt (40). A flexible adhesive (50) is disposed and adhered substantially over the upper surface (47) and lower surface (48) of the batt (40) such that the tufts (46) on the upper and lower surfaces (47, 48) are secured to the surfaces by the adhesive. A flexible, protective foil (51) is permanently adhered by the adhesive (50) to the lower surface (48) of the batt.

Abstract: A generally elongated, thin, metal sheet heat insulator (1) having at least two generally elongated, thin, metal sheets (3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) disposed generally one above the other in a spaced apart relationship and a metal separator (2) therebetween contacting both sheets for maintaining the spaced apart relationship. The improvement of the invention has distinct, non-woven, substantially open, metal separators (2) having a substantial Z-direction dimension (27) and have substantially parallel upper and lower contact surfaces (27, 29) spaced apart in the Z-direction (27) with a contact surface area of each contact surface less than about 30% of a planar area (48) of the separator parallel to the X and Y-dimensions of the separator.

Abstract: A filter material for filtering leucocytes from a fraction of or whole human blood, comprises a web having a thickness of at least about 1 millimeter and a bulk density of about 0.05 to 0.4 g/cm.sup.3. The web has a plurality of interlocked matrix fibers distributed in the web to form a matrix thereof with spaces between adjacent interstices of interlocked fibers. The matrix fibers are composed mainly of about 1 to 3 micron diameter glass fibers, i.e. at least 75% of the weight of the web being the glass fibers. A plurality of fibrillated particles of textile fiber material, having a surface area of between 5 and 100 square meters per gram are disposed within the spaces of the matrix. The weight ratio of the fibrillated particles to the matrix fibers is between about 1:99 and 40:60. A thermoplastic binder is disposed at least at cross-over portions of the matrix fibers, with the amount of the binder being about 0.1% to 10% by weight of the web.

Abstract: A generally elongated, thin, metal sheet heat insulator (1) having at least two generally elongated, thin, metal sheets (3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) disposed generally one above the other in a spaced apart relationship and a metal separator (2) therebetween contacting both sheets for maintaining the spaced apart relationship. The improvement of the invention has distinct, non-woven, substantially open, metal separators (2) having a substantial Z-direction dimension (27) and have substantially parallel upper and lower contact surfaces (27, 29) spaced apart in the Z-direction (27) with a contact surface area of each contact surface less than about 30% of a planar area (48) of the separator parallel to the X and Y-dimensions of the separator.

Abstract: A filter material for filtering leucocytes from a fraction of or whole human blood, comprises a textile web having a thickness of between about 2 millimeters to about 12 millimeters and a bulk density of about 0.05 to 0.4 g/cm.sup.3. The web has a plurality of interlocked textile fibers with average deniers between about 0.05 and 0.75 and average lengths between about 3 millimeters and 15 millimeters. The textile fibers are distributed in the web to form a matrix thereof with spaces between adjacent interstices of interlocked fibers. A plurality of fibrillated particles of textile fiber material, having a surface area of between 5 and 100 square meters per gram are disposed within the spaces of the matrix. The weight ratio of the fibrillated particles to the textile fibers is between about 1:99 and 40:60. A plurality of glass fibers, having an average diameter of between 0.1 and 5 microns and being about 2% to 85% of the web, also form part of the matrix.

Abstract: A protective and at least in part heat-insulating cover for a battery, especially an automobile battery disposed in an automobile, having a pleasing appearance, and having a molded, rigid plastic support with at least a top wall and side walls, which walls are sufficiently rigid so as to be self supporting. Heat insulation is disposed on at least a portion of at least one wall and an envelope of plastic material encloses the insulation. Attachments attach the envelope to at least a portion of at least one wall.

Abstract: A filter material for filtering leucocytes from a fraction of or whole human blood, comprises a shape-sustaining laid textile web having a thickness of between about 2 millimeters to about 12 millimeters and a bulk density of about 0.05 to 0.4 g/cm.sup.3. The web has a plurality of interlocked, staple, textile fibers with average deniers between about 0.05 and 0.75 and average lengths between about 3 millimeters and 15 millimeters. The textile fibers are substantially uniformly distributed in the web so as to form a matrix of the textile fibers with spaces between adjacent interstices of interlocked fibers. A plurality of fibrillated particles of a polymeric material, e.g. a textile fiber material, having a surface area of between 5 and 60 square meters per gram are substantially disposed within the spaces of the matrix.

Abstract: There is provided an integral textile composite which fabric comprises a substrate portion having at least one organic textile fiber layer and an insulating portion. The insulating portion has at least one inorganic fiber layer which is substantially co-extensive with the organic fiber layer, and at least one insulating layer of insulating material which is substantially less than co-extensive with the inorganic fiber layer. A plurality of first needled stitches composed of organic fibers from said organic fiber layer of said substrate portion are needled in and disposed at least substantially through the insulating portion, while the inorganic fibers of the inorganic fiber layer in the insulating portion are substantially undisturbed.

Abstract: There is provided an integral textile composite fabric of non-woven, needled textile fibers which comprises at least one organic textile fiber layer of laid and needled textile organic fibers, at least one glass fiber layer of laid and needled glass fibers, and a plurality of needled stitches composed essentially of the organic fibers from the organic fiber layer needled in and disposed substantially through the glass fiber layer. The layers are bound together at their inner surfaces, are substantially non-detachable from each other and form an integral textile composite fabric having substantially uniform and high physical properties. There are at least 700 stitches per square inch passing through the glass fiber layer, and the organic fiber layer is essentially free, at least on the outer surface thereof, of glass fibers displaced from the glass fiber layer.

Abstract: There is provided a non-woven textile composite which simulates the strength, durability, appearance, temper, smooth surface, hand and feel of natural leather and a method of producing the same. The composite includes a non-woven needled textile fabric substrate having a coherent network of randomly entangled textile fibers with an as needled overall bulk density of at least 6 pounds/cubic foot and having a face surface and a back surface, and a geometric center therebetween. A shape-sustaining immobilized polymeric composition is differentially disposed in the substrate such that there is at least 25% more polymeric composition between the face surface and the geometric center than between the back surface and the geometric center. A moldable skin coat layer may be disposed on the face surface. The substrate and the immobilized polymeric composition are in a co-compacted state such that the thickness of the co-compacted substrate and immobilized polymeric composition are less than 0.

Abstract: A flexible, adhesively attachable, self-sealing, thermal and acoustical insulating shield has a needled, flexible, fibrous batt having an insulating layer of insulating fibers disposed between opposite binding layers of binding fibers. Binding fibers of each binding layer are needledly disposed through the insulating layer and an opposite binding layer to provide tufts of binding fibers protruding from the opposite binding layer so a to form a tufted upper surface and a tufted lower surface of the batt. A flexible adhesive is disposed and adhered substantially over the upper surface and, preferably, over lower surface of the batt such that the tufts on the upper and lower surfaces are secured to the surfaces by the adhesive. A flexible, protective foil is adjacent to, and preferably permanently adhered by the adhesive to, the lower surface of the batt.

Abstract: There is provided an integral textile composite fabric of non-woven, needled textile fibers which comprises at least one organic textile fiber layer of laid and needled textile organic fibers, at least one glass fiber layer of laid and needled glass fibers, and a plurality of needled stitches composed essentially of the organic fibers from the organic fiber layer needled in and disposed substantially through the glass fiber layer. The layers are bound together at their inner surfaces, are substantially nondetachable from each other and form an integral textile composite fabric having substantially uniform and high physical properties. There are at least 700 stitches per square inch passing through the glass fiber layer, and the organic fiber layer is essentially free, at least on the outer surface thereof, of glass fibers displaced from the glass fiber layer.