Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional colored design, such as a simulated animal bone, in production material which is to be formed into an article such as a handbag, including forming a master, forming a mold member, and applying a colored design to the production material. A light-transmitting film, which includes a colored design formed on one surface thereof, is positioned intermediate the production material and the mold member with the colored design facing the production material. The production material, the light-transmitting film, and the mold member are heated and pressed together in a high frequency heating press, and the production material and light-transmitting film are hardened, so as to form the three-dimensional colored design in an efficient, convenient and economical manner.

Abstract: The process herein is used for achieving multilevel mechanical embossing of a fused or cured wear layer in register with a print on an expanded foam thereunder. The expansion of the decorative foam and fusion of the wear layer are carried out and then the back of the foam is cooled by wetting and liquid evaporation. The wear layer is maintained at a high temperature for embossing and is embossed with registry between the embossed pattern and the printed pattern on the foam. Just prior to embossing, the decorative foam-wear layer web is wrapped around the backup roll of the embossing apparatus, and after embossing, is wrapped partially around the embossing roll of the embossing apparatus.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of non-woven fabric which comprises the following steps:A. impregnating a web of non-woven fibers with a chemical binder capable of thermal polymerization and with a curing agent for the binder,B. coagulating but not drying the binder, to form a non-woven fabric,C. coating one face of the fabric with a paste or foam of a waterproofing agent,D. drying the impregnated and coated fabric andE. heat embossing the non-coated face of the fabric; non-woven fabric whenever made by the above process.

Abstract: This invention proposes a method for eliminating "sink" in molded glass fiber reinforced panels for automotive and other uses. Such panels are normally formed with integrally molded reinforcement shapes (ribs) and fastening locations (bosses), and a slight depression or "sink" occurs in the exposed panel surface over the location of the ribs and bosses. The present invention proposes the elimination of this sink by utilizing innovative material and design techniques that compliment one another.The material approach makes use of dual reinforcements; normal chopped glass fibers reinforcement (1 inch or less in length) in combination with a long fiber reinforcement (2 inches or more in length) and preferably a continuous fiber reinforcement. The long fiber reinforcement is placed such that it is oriented in the panel to closely underlie the exposed panel surface.

Abstract: An article capable of being hot stamped with desired lettering or designs comprising a plastic laminate and an overlying carrier film with colored matter attached to an appendage portion of the plastic laminate. The back of the laminate has a pressure-sensitive adhesive protected by a removable covering or backing. The method of imprinting and using the article comprises hot stamping the foil and underlying plastic laminate to form the desired lettering or design, removing the foil and appendage portion from the plastic laminate, removing the protective backing to expose the adhesive and to affix the imprinted laminate to a plaque or other item. The process of imprinting on the article includes hot stamping the laminate to deboss it and transfer the coloring matter to the debossed portions, and removing the carrier film.

Abstract: A process for making composite contoured sound insulating panels of a type suitable for use adjacent to structural panels of automobile vehicle bodies, which in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, comprises forming a fibrous pad incorporating controlled amounts of a heat curable thermosetting binder and a heat softenable thermoplastic binder distributed in a controlled manner therethrough.

Abstract: A process is provided for the manufacturing of a hollow rotating body which process comprises mounting at least two wheels in a parallel fashion upon a shaft, placing a plurality of strips of glass fiber fabric along the outer circumference of the wheels, whereby an enveloping cylinder is formed, impregnating the strips with plastics or synthetic resins capable of subsequent setting, setting, applying helically layers of impregnated fiber strips tangentially to the cylinder mantle whereby the size of the walls increase, applying a reinforcing belt of wire or tape, applying a finishing coat of plastic or synthetic resin, whereby surface irregularities are smoothed, setting, and mechanically treating the surface to remove irregularities. An apparatus for accomplishing this process is disclosed.

Abstract: A non-woven material is applied to the surface of a woven scrim. The non-woven material is needle-bonded to the scrim. The composite structure is then embossed. The embossed pattern is placed by a heated embosser on the finished product and in the non-embossed areas, the heat of embossing causes the non-woven material to partially melt and assume a textured effect which mirrors the texture of the woven scrim.

Abstract: A patterned, decorative laminate is made by: (1) preparing a core layer, comprising a plurality of fibrous sheets impregnated with a resinous material, (2) placing on top of the core, at least one unfilled kraft paper barrier sheet, impregnated with at least 30 weight percent of an aminotriazine-aldehyde, urea-aldehyde, thiourea-aldehyde or unsaturated polyester resin, (3) placing on top of the impregnated barrier sheet, an unfilled protective sheet, impregnated with an aminotriazine-aldehyde, urea-aldehyde, thiourea-aldehyde or unsaturated polyester resin; the protective sheet having a design printed on the bottom surface facing the barrier sheet, the design covered with colored pigmented material, and (4) heat and pressure consolidating the sheets into a unitary, bonded laminate.

Abstract: A system for treating paper webs and the like including a platen roller and a plurality of support rollers angularly spaced thereabout. At least one of the support rollers is an embossing roller cooperative with the platen roller to emboss a web advanced between the facing juxtaposed surfaces of the platen and embossing rollers. The platen roller is floatingly confined by the support rollers and has no rigidly fixed axis of rotation. Such platen roller is also hollow, including a cylindrical wall component defining a gaseous fluid pressurized chamber. The cylindrical wall component of the roller is of resilient construction and is inwardly depressible by the support rollers against the force of the gaseous pressure fluid acting outwardly thereagainst within the pressurized chamber. The web material to be treated is passed through the nips defined by one or more support rollers, including at least one embossment roller, and the platen roller.

Abstract: A procedure is provided for producing a laminate having a crushed, polymeric latex foam, preferably thermoset, bonded either to a non-woven absorbent layer which is bonded to an absorbent layer or bonded directly to the absorbent layer, which in turn is bonded to a liquid-impermeable film or gauze. The crushed foam is self-bonded to the non-woven or absorbent layer, i.e., no adhesive is needed to bond the crushed foam. The foam may be applied by either of two methods. One procedure comprises applying a thin layer of foamed latex of a thermosettable polymer on a release medium and drying without causing thermosetting. The dry foam, still on the release paper, is then bonded to the absorbent layer when crushed by pressure. The thermosetting may be done simultaneously with bonding or subsequent thereto. A second method comprises applying the foam directly on the non-woven and drying, bonding and crushing as described above.

Abstract: A process of making heat and dimensionally stable, consolidated, laminated, asbestos cored, textured unitary structures for use in making textured decorative laminates, and said structures per se, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of assembling and embossing a multiple layer workpiece has, in a most complete conception, a first die having die surfaces for defining periphery of an area portion to be embossed on the workpiece which engages a blank to mark the blank with the die surfaces. Means are then located on the blank relative to the mark for operating on the blank to make a model of the desired workpiece from the blank. A second die is made conformably with the model. Workpiece layers are then assembled in overlapping relation and welded together by the first die along the periphery of the area porton defined by the die surfaces. Portions of one layer outside the welded periphery are then removed to leave the area portion covered by the one layer and secured to the other about the periphery of the area portion.

Abstract: A method of surfacing an area with a surface covering having a decorative wear layer formed of a thermoplastic vinyl resin-containing composition that has been formed by fusing under heat and/or pressure and bonded to a strippable backing before stresses, set up therein during formation, are relieved. The backing is removed prior to installation and the wear layer secured at its perimeter only against movement with respect to the surface being covered and before stresses therein are relieved.

Abstract: Embossed decorative sheet-type covering material such as sheet vinyl flooring is prepared by forming a foamed plastic layer over a pigmented layer on a substrate and then selectively crushing the foamed layer by mechanical embossing to produce selectively crushed transparent portions through which the pigmented layer is visible. Printing is normally included on the upper surface of the plastic layer before the latter is foamed and a conventional wear layer is also preferably used. In a preferred embodiment, a foamed undercoat layer is also used to reduce embossing requirements. Conventional materials are preferred, such as latex coated felt for the substrate, cured, foamed polyvinyl chloride organosol or plastisol for the foamed layers and cured, clear polyvinyl chloride organosol for the wear layer.

Abstract: An arrangement for manufacturing a fibrous sheet in which fibers are crushed and dispersed to form a layer of substantially uniform thickness and width. The layer of crushed fibers is conveyed as a continuous belt-shaped sheet layer, and adhesive is sprayed onto the crushed fibers. The sheet layer is then heated and compressed after being impregnated with the adhesive.

Abstract: A hot-melt carpet seaming tape having means for cooperating with a specially designed electric iron to maintain registery of the tape and iron while the heated iron is moved along and over the tape beneath the abutting edges of carpet segments to adhere the segments to the tape and together in a novel process for accomplishing the same.

Abstract: As a laminated film formed by continuously melt extruding an .alpha.-olefin polymer as a covering film on a traveling, continuous substrate film of an .alpha.-olefin polymer is being cooled by means of a cooling roll contacting the covering film side, pressing rolls are pressed against the laminated film on the substrate film side, along the lateral edge parts thereof, and toward the cooling roll thereby to cause local plastic deformation and thinning of the cover film, which has not fully solidified, due to elastic deflection without appreciably thinning the substrate film, and then the pressing rolls are retracted away from the laminated film, whereby thin-film regions for ensuring positive gripping by tentering clips for lateral stretching are formed along the lateral edge parts.

Abstract: An embossing assembly, for use in making high pressure decorative laminates, contains at least one metal sheet 0.0003-0.05 inch thick, having a patterned embossing side and a support side, the support side having indentations therein which form the pattern on the embossing side, and an accompanying fibrous support having a thickness of from about 0.5-7 times the deepness of the indentations per metal sheet, disposed next to the support side of the metal sheet.

Abstract: An article capable of being hot stamped with desired lettering or designs comprising a plastic laminate and an overlying carrier film with colored matter attached to an appendage portion of the plastic laminate. The back of the laminate has a pressure-sensitive adhesive protected by a removable covering or backing. The method of imprinting and using the article comprises hot stamping the foil and underlying plastic laminate to form the desired lettering or design, removing the foil and appendage portion from the plastic laminate, removing the protective backing to expose the adhesive and to affix the imprinted laminate to a plaque or other item. The process of imprinting on the article includes hot stamping the laminate to deboss it and transfer the coloring matter to the debossed portions, and removing the carrier film.

Abstract: A laminated decorative sheet is prepared by applying a coating layer consisting of a thermo-setting resin composition on a base paper for a decorative laminate which has been prepared by incorporating a composition the whole or a major part of which is composed of a synthetic rubber and/or a thermo-plastic synthetic resin substance into the base paper during the paper making thereof or by impregnating the base paper with the thermo-plastic synthetic resin composition or with the mixture thereof; or alternatively is prepared by laminating another base paper for a decorative laminate which has been impregnated with the thermosetting resin composition on the above mentioned base paper containing the thermo-plastic synthetic resin composition, and the thus prepared layers are laminated under heat and pressure to form a laminated decorative sheet having smooth surface which is subjected to emboss-processing under a heating condition of at least 100.degree.

Abstract: Decorative sheet materials such as foamed vinyl floor coverings comprising, preferably, a base or substrate such as asbestos felt, a layer of foam or cellular resin material on the base having portions of different thickness providing a relief pattern, the foam of the lands having relatively large cells and the foam of the valleys being crushed and having smaller cells with cell walls bonded to each other, a layer of non-cellular transparent resin material overlying both the land and valley areas of the relief pattern, and a printed color pattern or design being provided between the foam resin layer and the transparent resin layer, with colored areas of the pattern or design in accurate registration with and/or predetermined relation to the crushed or valley areas of the foam layer. In addition to the relief and color patterns, the product may also have a third pattern effect in registration with the relief and color patterns, i.e.