Abstract: This invention relates to a method for adhering floor tiles together and the flooring system thereby created. The method utilizes individual adhesive units as fasteners for attachment of each floor tile to the next contiguous floor tile. The adhesive units are a multi-layered composite comprised of at least one adhesive layer and at least one layer of polymer film or textile substrate. When a series of floor tiles are attached to one another in this manner, a floating floorcovering article is achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a washable floor mat comprising a reinforcement layer. The floor mat includes a textile component and a base component. The textile component contains a reinforcement layer which dramatically reduces and/or eliminates edge deformation that often occurs as a result of the washing process. The textile component and the base component may be joined together to form a single piece floor mat. Alternatively, the textile component and the base component may be releasably attachable to one another by at least one surface attraction means to form a multi-component floor mat. The floor mat is designed to be soiled, washed, and re-used, thereby providing ideal end-use applications in areas such as building entryways.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the installation of floorcovering articles on chemically abated flooring surfaces and the composite article resulting therefrom. More specifically, the invention relates to a process for chemical removal of mastic, putty and/or paste material from a flooring surface. The process includes applying abatement chemical to the mastic material on the flooring surface to soften the mastic material and cause it to physically separate and release from the flooring surface, removal of the mastic material and abatement chemical, and the subsequent application of a barrier coating to the flooring surface. The barrier coating reduces and/or eliminates the migration of residual abatement chemicals into floorcovering articles thereinafter installed on the chemically abated flooring surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a washable floor mat comprising a reinforcement layer. The floor mat includes a textile component and a base component. The textile component contains a reinforcement layer which dramatically reduces and/or eliminates edge deformation that often occurs as a result of the washing process. The textile component and the base component may be joined together to form a single piece floor mat. Alternatively, the textile component and the base component may be releasably attachable to one another by at least one surface attraction means to form a multi-component floor mat. The floor mat is designed to be soiled, washed, and re-used, thereby providing ideal end-use applications in areas such as building entryways.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for adhering floor tiles together and the flooring system thereby created. The method utilizes individual adhesive units as fasteners for attachment of each floor tile to the next contiguous floor tile. The adhesive units are a multi-layered composite comprised of at least one adhesive layer and at least one layer of polymer film or textile substrate. When a series of floor tiles are attached to one another in this manner, a floating floorcovering article is achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for adhering floor tiles together and the flooring system thereby created. The method utilizes individual adhesive units as fasteners for attachment of each floor tile to the next contiguous floor tile. The adhesive units are a multi-layered composite comprised of at least one adhesive layer and at least one layer of polymer film or textile substrate. When a series of floor tiles are attached to one another in this manner, a floating floorcovering article is achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for adhering floor tiles together and the flooring system thereby created. The method utilizes individual adhesive units as fasteners for attachment of each floor tile to the next contiguous floor tile. The adhesive units are a multi-layered composite comprised of at least one adhesive layer and at least one layer of polymer film or textile substrate. When a series of floor tiles are attached to one another in this manner, a floating floorcovering article is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the installation of floorcovering articles on chemically abated flooring surfaces and the composite article resulting therefrom. More specifically, the invention relates to a process for chemical removal of mastic, putty and/or paste material from a flooring surface. The process includes applying abatement chemical to the mastic material on the flooring surface to soften the mastic material and cause it to physically separate and release from the flooring surface, removal of the mastic material and abatement chemical, and the subsequent application of a barrier coating to the flooring surface. The barrier coating reduces and/or eliminates the migration of residual abatement chemicals into floorcovering articles thereinafter installed on the chemically abated flooring surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for adhering floor tiles together and the flooring system thereby created. The method utilizes individual adhesive units as fasteners for attachment of each floor tile to the next contiguous floor tile. The adhesive units are a multi-layered composite comprised of at least one adhesive layer and at least one layer of polymer film or textile substrate. When a series of floor tiles are attached to one another in this manner, a floating floorcovering article is achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for adhering floor tiles together and the flooring system thereby created. The method utilizes individual adhesive units as fasteners for attachment of each floor tile to the next contiguous floor tile. The adhesive units are a multi-layered composite comprised of at least one adhesive layer and at least one layer of polymer film or textile substrate. When a series of floor tiles are attached to one another in this manner, a floating floorcovering article is achieved.

Abstract: A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a outermost nonwoven layer, forming a structural nonwoven layer, needling the structural nonwoven layer and the outermost nonwoven layer together from both the outer surface of the outermost nonwoven layer and the second surface of the structural nonwoven layer, applying an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160° C. to the second surface of the structural nonwoven layer, and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite. Heat and pressure may be applied to form the moldable, uncured composite. A moldable, uncured nonwoven composite and a molded, cured nonwoven composite are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer, at least partially impregnating the structural nonwoven layer with an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160° C., and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite such that the temperature at the inner plane is less than about 130° C. forming an moldable, uncured composite. The structural nonwoven layer contains a plurality of bi-component binder fibers and a plurality of reinforcing fibers, the bi-component fibers containing a core and a sheath. The core contains a polymer having a melting temperature of at least about 180° C. and the sheath contains a polymer having a melting temperature less than about 180 ° C. A process for forming a molded, cured composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer and a molded cured nonwoven composite are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a washable floor mat comprising a reinforcement layer. The floor mat includes a textile component and a base component. The textile component contains a reinforcement layer which dramatically reduces and/or eliminates edge deformation that often occurs as a result of the washing process. The textile component and the base component may be joined together to form a single piece floor mat. Alternatively, the textile component and the base component may be releasably attachable to one another by at least one surface attraction means to form a multi-component floor mat. The floor mat is designed to be soiled, washed, and re-used, thereby providing ideal end-use applications in areas such as building entryways.

Abstract: This invention relates to a washable floor mat comprising a reinforcement layer. The floor mat includes a textile component and a base component. The textile component contains a reinforcement layer which dramatically reduces and/or eliminates edge deformation that often occurs as a result of the washing process. The textile component and the base component may be joined together to form a single piece floor mat. Alternatively, the textile component and the base component may be releasably attachable to one another by at least one surface attraction means to form a multi-component floor mat. The floor mat is designed to be soiled, washed, and re-used, thereby providing ideal end-use applications in areas such as building entryways.

Abstract: A method is provided for making an annular reinforcement structure having inner and outer reinforcement bands maintained in concentric alignment by a resilient spacing element positioned between the bands. The method includes the steps of placing the spacing element against the inside face of the outer reinforcement band and compressing the spacing element with a jig, adjacent the top edge of the outer reinforcement band. The spacing element is sufficiently compressed to allow the inner reinforcement band to slide into concentric alignment with the outer reinforcement band, with a minimum of deflection and/or distortion of the inner reinforcement band.

Abstract: A method is provided for making an annular reinforcement structure having inner and outer reinforcement bands maintained in concentric alignment by a resilient spacing element positioned between the bands. The method includes the steps of placing the spacing element against the inside face of the outer reinforcement band and compressing the spacing element with a jig, adjacent the top edge of the outer reinforcement band. The spacing element is sufficiently compressed to allow the inner reinforcement band to slide into concentric alignment with the outer reinforcement band, with a minimum of deflection and/or distortion of the inner reinforcement band.

Abstract: A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer, at least partially impregnating the structural nonwoven layer with an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160° C., and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite such that the temperature at the inner plane is less than about 130° C. forming an moldable, uncured composite. The structural nonwoven layer contains a plurality of bi-component binder fibers and a plurality of reinforcing fibers, the bi-component fibers containing a core and a sheath. The core contains a polymer having a melting temperature of at least about 180° C. and the sheath contains a polymer having a melting temperature less than about 180 ° C. A process for forming a molded, cured composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer and a molded cured nonwoven composite are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer, at least partially impregnating the structural nonwoven layer with an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160° C., and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite. The structural nonwoven layer contains a plurality of binder fibers and a plurality of reinforcing fibers which are cellulosic fibers. Heat and pressure are applied to the moldable, uncured composite to a temperature of at least about 160° C. at least partially melting the binder fibers, curing the water-based thermosetting resin, and bonding at least a portion of the reinforcing fibers to other reinforcing fibers forming the molded, cured composite. The reinforcing fibers react with and form covalent bonds with the thermosetting resin.

Abstract: A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a outermost nonwoven layer, forming a structural nonwoven layer, needling the structural nonwoven layer and the outermost nonwoven layer together from both the outer surface of the outermost nonwoven layer and the second surface of the structural nonwoven layer, applying an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160° C. to the second surface of the structural nonwoven layer, and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite. Heat and pressure may be applied to form the moldable, uncured composite. A moldable, uncured nonwoven composite and a molded, cured nonwoven composite are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to reinforcement assemblies for matrix materials, and more specifically to reinforcement assemblies for continuous loop members with reinforced matrix materials.