Abstract: An insulating fiber mat is comprised of a plurality of fibers bound together by a binder means and distributed throughout the mat. At least some of the fibers throughout the mat are inclined. The inclined fibers on opposed sides of a central horizontal plane of the mat have opposed angles of inclination. This permits the fiber mat to be easily separated substantially along the central horizontal plane by applying a pulling force on one side of the mat in the direction of the inclined fibers.

Abstract: A fiber mat as well as its method of fabrication and forming machine are described. The fiber mat comprises a plurality of fibers which are limitations bound together and distributed throughout the mat, and wherein some of the fibers are inclined towards a central horizontal plane of the mat. The inclined fibers on opposed sides of the mat have opposed angles of inclination whereby the mat, when used as insulation, can be easily separated substantially along the central horizontal plane by applying a pulling force on one side or opposed sides of the mat in the direction of the inclined fibers. The forming machine is characterized by having two forming surfaces, one disposed horizontally and the other vertically whereby the mat is formed with higher density towards the opposed flat horizontal surfaces of the mat and the lower density is distributed along the central horizontal plane.

Abstract: An aerodynamic forming hood is provided for supplying a substantially uniform distribution of fibers in a downward laminar airstream for the deposition of the fibers on one or more forming surfaces. The hood is formed by a rectangular housing having opposed elongated downwardly diverging side walls and short downwardly diverging end walls. The housing has a smaller rectangular open top end through which a supply of fibers is released in an airstream which enters into the housing. The forming surfaces are disposed at a larger bottom forming end of the housing. The side walls and end walls in the top part of the hood are provided with elongated horizontal apertures.