Patents by Inventor Wilbert E. Fink

Wilbert E. Fink 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: 20030099787
    Abstract: A sports surface is disclosed with upstanding synthetic yarn tufts which simulate blades of grass. The blades are widely spaced and supported by an under layer of high denier, knit-deknit yarn tufts, without the need of particulate in-fill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Wilbert E. Fink
  • Publication number: 20020132084
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a carpet product, a process for manufacturing carpet, and an apparatus used in a carpet manufacturing process. The carpet product is made from tufted polymer filament yarn wherein the individual yarn filaments of the yarn back loops are integrally fused so that the carpet resists fuzzing. The primary backing preferably is modified polypropylene in the fill direction. Further, the primary backing may be coated with a polymer before tufting to adhere or integrally fuse the inside of the fiber tuft to the primary backing. An optional secondary backing is preferably made of tape yarn in both directions. The process includes providing a carpet base having a primary backing penetrated by yarn, applying heat to the underside of the primary backing, extruding a heated sheet of polymer and continuously contacting the heated extruded sheet of polymer with the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Wilbert E. Fink, Jean-Claude Auguste
  • Publication number: 20020039636
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a carpet product, a process for manufacturing carpet, and an apparatus used in a carpet manufacturing process. The carpet product is made from tufted polymer filament yarn wherein the individual yarn filaments of the yarn back loops are integrally fused so that the carpet resists fuzzing. The primary backing preferably is modified polypropylene in the fill direction. Further, the primary backing may be coated with a polymer before tufting to adhere or integrally fuse the inside of the fiber tuft to the primary backing. An optional secondary backing is preferably made of tape yarn in both directions. The process includes providing a carpet base having a primary backing penetrated by yarn, applying heat to the underside of the primary backing, extruding a heated sheet of polymer and continuously contacting the heated extruded sheet of polymer with the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Wilbert E. Fink, Jean-Claude Auguste
  • Publication number: 20020023327
    Abstract: An improved heavy denier fibrillated polymer carpet yarn is densely knit, deknit and heat treated. An improved carpet face yarn is provided in an omnidirectional carpet pile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Auguste, Fred Childs, Wilbert E. Fink
  • Patent number: 6321427
    Abstract: An improved heavy denier fibrillated polymer carpet yarn is densely knit, deknit and heat treated. An improved carpet face yarn is provided in an omnidirectional carpet pile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Polyloom Corporation of America
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Auguste, Fred Chiles, Wilbert E. Fink
  • Patent number: 6051300
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a carpet, a process for manufacturing a carpet and a method for recycling a carpet. The carpet of the present disclosure includes a primary backing having tufts of synthetic carpet fibers protruding from a top surface and, optionally, a secondary backing, with an extruded sheet of an isotactic polyolefin polymer between and integrally fused to a bottom surface of the primary backing and an upper surface of the secondary backing. The process for manufacturing the recyclable carpet includes contacting the extruded sheet with the primary backing and, optionally, the secondary backing, at a temperature sufficiently high to integrally fuse the extruded sheet to the respective backing. The method for recycling synthetic carpet of the type described includes manufacturing the carpet, collecting portions of the carpet, and melting the collected portions to make a feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Polyloom Corporation of America
    Inventor: Wilbert E. Fink
  • Patent number: 5876827
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a carpet product, a process for manufacturing carpet, and an apparatus used in a carpet manufacturing process. The carpet product is made from tufted polymer filament yarn and includes a sheet of extruded polypropylene, integrally fused to the individual yarn filaments of the yarn back loops. The yarn fibers are substantially all secured to the integrally fused sheet so that the carpet resists fuzzing. The process includes providing a carpet base having a primary backing penetrated by yarn, applying heat to the underside of the base, extruding a heated sheet of polymer and continuously contacting the heated extruded sheet of polymer with the base thereby integrally fusing the base to the extruded sheet. The apparatus includes a source of carpet precursor, a heated cylinder for heating the underside of the carpet, an extruder and a casting roll against which the extruded sheet and heated carpet are pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Polyloom Corporation of America
    Inventors: Wilbert E. Fink, Jean-Claude Auguste
  • Patent number: 5728444
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a carpet, a process for manufacturing a carpet and a method for recycling a carpet. The carpet of the present disclosure includes a primary backing having tufts of synthetic carpet fibers protruding from a top surface and, optionally, a secondary backing, with an extruded sheet of an isotactic polyolefin polymer between and integrally fused to a bottom surface of the primary backing and an upper surface of the secondary backing. The process for manufacturing the recyclable carpet includes contacting the extruded sheet with the primary backing and, optionally, the secondary backing, at a temperature sufficiently high to integrally fuse the extruded sheet to the respective backing. The method for recycling synthetic carpet of the type described includes manufacturing the carpet, collecting portions of the carpet, and melting the collected portions to make a feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventor: Wilbert E. Fink
  • Patent number: 5578357
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a carpet, a process for manufacturing a carpet and a method for recycling a carpet. The carpet of the present disclosure includes a primary backing having tufts of synthetic carpet fibers protruding from a top surface and, optionally, a secondary backing, with an extruded sheet of an isotactic polyolefin polymer between and integrally fused to a bottom surface of the primary backing and an upper surface of the secondary backing. The process for manufacturing the recyclable carpet includes contacting the extruded sheet with the primary backing and, optionally, the secondary backing, at a temperature sufficiently high to integrally fuse the extruded sheet to the respective backing. The method for recycling synthetic carpet of the type described includes manufacturing the carpet, collecting portions of the carpet, and melting the collected portions to make a feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Polyloom Corporation of America
    Inventor: Wilbert E. Fink
  • Patent number: 5288349
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a carpet, a process for manufacturing a carpet and a method for recycling a carpet. The carpet of the present disclosure includes a primary backing having tufts of synthetic carpet fibers protruding from a top surface and, optionally, a secondary backing, with an extruded sheet of an isotactic polyolefin polymer between and integrally fused to a bottom surface of the primary backing and an upper surface of the secondary backing. The process for manufacturing the recyclable carpet includes contacting the extruded sheet with the primary backing and, optionally, the secondary backing, at a temperature sufficiently high to integrally fuse the extruded sheet to the respective backing. The method for recycling synthetic carpet of the type described includes manufacturing the carpet, collecting portions of the carpet, and melting the collected portions to make a feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Performance Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilbert E. Fink
  • Patent number: 5240530
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a carpet, a process for manufacturing a carpet and a method for recycling a carpet. The carpet of the present disclosure includes a primary backing having tufts of synthetic carpet fibers protruding from a top surface and, optionally, a secondary backing, with an extruded sheet of an isotactic polyolefin polymer between and integrally fused to a bottom surface of the primary backing and an upper surface of the secondary backing. The process for manufacturing the recyclable carpet includes contacting the extruded sheet with the primary backing and, optionally, the secondary backing, at a temperature sufficiently high to integrally fuse the extruded sheet to the respective backing. The method for recycling synthetic carpet of the type described includes manufacturing the carpet, collecting portions of the carpet, and melting the collected portions to make a feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Performance Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilbert E. Fink