Edge Feature Or Configured Or Discontinuous Surface Patents (Class 428/88)
  • Patent number: 7442423
    Abstract: Engineered tile panels incorporating a hard surface veneer formed from ceramic, glass, and stone layer affixed to the core or substrate which may be assembled gluelessly and which provide uniform grouting gaps upon assembly, is disclosed along with methods therefore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Shaw Industries Group
    Inventor: Robert J Miller
  • Patent number: 7435264
    Abstract: A textile is disclosed having regions of color contrast and corresponding regions of sculptured three-dimensional surface geometry. Furthermore, one or more methods of making such a textile also are disclosed. The textile includes a first side having first regions and second regions in a predetermined pattern. The first and second regions differ in color shade values due to the etching of the textile, which has the effect of degrading or dissolving fiber material from the second regions, thereby providing a three dimensional sculpted geometry and a color contrast between etched and non-etched areas. Screen printing is applied using an extremely strong acidic or alkali composition paste upon the textile, followed by heating. Then, a washing step and a drying step results in a product having a color shade difference between etched areas and non-etched areas having differing ?L* color shade values using L*a*b* color space measurement techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Mark Kiff
  • Patent number: 7431974
    Abstract: The present invention provides for tufted needlefelts with partially or totally obscured loop bights that provide good tuft bind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Tuftco Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Lovelady, Steven Frost, Ernest S Boyd
  • Patent number: 7422044
    Abstract: A machine for on-site folding and securing a tape to an unfinished edge of a carpet. A housing rolls under the carpet. A heating unit is contained in the housing and heats the tape to melt an adhesive thereon. A die is interchangeably mounted to the housing and has the tape feed therethrough to be folded and attached to the carpet by way of the melted adhesive thereon. A first embodiment of the die has spaced-apart bottom and a top walls to receive the tape therebetween. A second embodiment of the die further has a pair of flanges extending outwardly from free edges of the bottom and top walls, respectively. The pair of flanges fold inwardly onto the bottom and top walls, respectively, and are spaced a slight distance from the bottom and top walls, respectively, so as to form a pair of guides that receive the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Inventor: Benigno G. Perez
  • Publication number: 20080206512
    Abstract: Filamentary materials, such as yarn (18), is wound a frame (28), provided by pairs of movable filaments or wires (35, 38), about which the end of the spindle (22) rotates provides the turns (26) of the winding as the article having the winding is moved along a process path. Mechanically or hydraulically actuated pins (34) support the winding frame in a fixed position. The filaments of the frame may be provided by laterally spaced pairs (44, 46) of filaments of weldable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Alexander Z. Chernyak, Richard T. Arvidson, Alan J. DeMello, Grant E. Wylie
  • Publication number: 20080199650
    Abstract: A multifunctional and modular combined doormat includes a basic mat and a functional mat. The basic mat has two abutting edges of its topside respectively fixed with numerous positioning lugs spaced apart equidistantly and respectively bored with a positioning hole, and the other two abutting edges of its underside respectively disposed with numerous position projections spaced apart equidistantly and corresponding with the positioning holes. Two or more basic mats can be combined together by mutual engagement of the positioning holes and the position projections. The functional mat is assembled on the basic mat, having special functions. Thus, a multifunctional and modular combined doormat is made by combining the basic mats with the functional mats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: Larry Yaw
  • Patent number: 7410683
    Abstract: A laminate web comprising a first and second precursor webs, at least the first precursor web being a nonwoven web, the laminate web having a first side, the first side comprising the second precursor web and at least one discrete tuft, each of the discrete tufts having a linear orientation defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of tufted fibers being integral extensions of the first precursor web and extending through the second precursor web; and a second side, the second side comprising the first precursor web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Joseph Curro, Robert Haines Turner, Jody Lynn Hoying, Susan Nicole Lloyd, John Lee Hammons
  • Publication number: 20080102245
    Abstract: A leather-like sheet having hills on the surface thereof is characterized by having a composite layer comprising nap-like ultra fine fibers connected to fibers constituting a substrate layer and an elastic polymer (B) joined to the ultra fine fibers, on one surface of the substrate layer comprising the ultra fine fibers and an elastic polymer (A), having coating layers consisting mainly of an elastic polymer (C) on the top portions of the hills on the surface of the sheet, and further having through pores reaching the substrate layer through the surface in the side portions between the top portions and the valley bottom portions of the hills. Further, it is preferable that the coating layer has a multi-layered structure having two or more layers, and it is preferable that the surface layer of the coating layer contains a tackifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: TEIJIN CORDLEY LIMITED
    Inventors: Masahisa Mimura, Shogo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7350443
    Abstract: Design and manufacture of floor covering webs for, design, manufacture and installation of, asymmetrical carpet tiles having a prominent design element not intersected by a tile edge. Bands or regions define “frames” around what will become central carpet tile areas so that design elements positioned within the frames will not be intersected by a tile edge and may also be at least a predetermined distance from each tile edge. Design elements also may be positioned differing distances from each of at least one pair of opposed tile edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Oakey, Jerry C. Hall, William N. Jones
  • Patent number: 7341772
    Abstract: A carpet is described which has a particular yarn pattern which permits the use of different types of yarn such as unused yarn to form a carpet having a visually consistent appearance from manufacturing run to manufacturing run even though different types of yarns may be present. Other aspects of the invention are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Mannington Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy E. Guess
  • Patent number: 7335412
    Abstract: Block seals of pile weatherstripping (6), which may be inserted in doorjambs or window sash and are sometimes called dust plugs (15), are provided by hinged segments (16-21) of a continuous length of pile weatherstripping folded against each other. The pile may have an infiltration barrier providing a fin (4) which extends along a continuous serpentine path having loops (8) bridging the hinges (3). The hinged sections are connected by an adhesive-backed sheet (5). The block seals are adapted to be manufactured by a continuous process where the backing or base strip (7) of a continuous length of pile weatherstripping (1) is slit or notched from opposite spaced edges, leaving sufficient material in the backing to provide the hinges (3). The continuous serpentine barrier fin (4) allows the dust plug (15) to be installed oriented either with the ends or sides of the pile facing the moving member of the door or window to be sealed, while maintaining the fin infiltration barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Ultrafab, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant E. Wylie
  • Patent number: 7300692
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rubbing cloth for use in manufacturing liquid crystal display panels which consists of a velvet fabric having a ground sheet texture comprising warps and wefts, and pile yarns woven to the ground sheet texture in the warp direction, wherein synthetic fibers as the warps were woven with combination of different tensions of the synthetic fibers, or the ground sheet texture comprises warps with combination of different feed lengths, so that the pile yarns are stably inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignees: Hayashi Telempu Co., Ltd, Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Hirota, Kenji Nishiguchi, Kazuo Kani, Takashi Inoue, Hayami Tabira
  • Publication number: 20070269630
    Abstract: A versatile fabric for use as a towel includes multiple surface areas that are formed of different materials. A support web has hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials woven therethrough. The hydrophilic material is interlaced with the web to define loops of material which extend from a first portion of the web surface and loops of material which extend from a second portion of the web surface which is longitudinally spaced from the first portion. Similarly, the hydrophobic material is interlaced with the web to define loops of material which extend from a third portion of the web surface and loops of material which extend from a fourth portion of the web surface which is longitudinally spaced from the third portion. The first and third portions of the support web surface are arranged opposite each other and the second and fourth portions of the support web surface are arranged opposite each other to define four surface portions of the fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventor: Scott H. Silver
  • Patent number: 7297385
    Abstract: A carpet web and a method of forming a carpet web having a striped pattern and color scheme that permits carpet tiles cut from the web to be installed without regard to relative tile positions and without visibly disrupting the pattern, but rather maintaining the appearance of a broadloom web. The web pattern includes parallel stripes having varying widths and longitudinal discontinuities. The stripes are formed with at least two colors or two shades of a color. The tiles are positionally ambiguous in that they need not be located on the floor in the same position they occupied in the web for the flooring installation to exhibit the desired uniform appearance. Instead, the tiles may be shuffled and laid in any side-by-side or top-to-bottom orientation (provided that uniform rotational orientation is maintained among the tiles) with respect to adjacent tiles without looking out of place to the ordinary viewer and without emphasizing the modularity of the flooring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: Sydney D. Daniel, David D. Oakey
  • Patent number: 7288310
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process for manufacturing resilient floor and wall tiles and the products obtained thereby. More particularly, the invention relates to resilient tiles which have been individually cut, routed and mechanically embossed on two adjacent edges to give the appearance that each individual tile has grout lines on two adjacent edges. When a series of these tiles are installed on a floor or wall, the seams between the individual tiles are less visible than when using resilient tiles of the prior art having grout lines on all edges of the tile. This is because the seams between the tiles of the present invention are not in the grout lines themselves but rather adjacent to the grout lines. This creates a more realistic appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Domco Tarkett, Inc.
    Inventor: James N. Hardwick
  • Patent number: 7288306
    Abstract: A textile substrate is made from two or more strands of yarn that are twisted together using a very low variable twist level. The amount of slight twist and variation in the twist are effective to give the finished carpet made from the textile substrate a uniform appearance in spite of any slight variations in one or more characteristics of the yarn. The textile substrate, by using such a low variable twist level, can avoid streaks in the carpet, for instance, caused by variations in yarn lots and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Mannington Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon Kersey
  • Patent number: 7273648
    Abstract: A base substrate having a first side and a second side, first and second receiving loops extending from the first and second side of the base substrate, respectively, and first and second stiff loops extending from the first and second side of the base substrate, respectively. The base substrate is a flexible cloth or cloth-like material. The receiving loops are an absorbent material such as the material used in the base substrate. The stiff loops are formed of a yarn having at least one filament with a cross-section having an aspect ratio of greater than about 1.2, a corner edge, and/or at least a concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Brian G. Morin, Michael P. Sasser, Heather J. Hayes
  • Patent number: 7229680
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to unique flocked pile fabrics and methods for producing such fabrics. The fabrics provided according to one embodiment of the invention include an embossed pattern, characterized by a plurality of elongated depressions in the surface of the pile fabric, and a superimposed printed pattern, characterized by a scene or illustration including a plurality of visual features having elongated shapes. The inventive embossed, printed pile fabrics, having a superimposed embossed and printed pattern, advantageously superimpose the embossed pattern and the printed pattern upon the pile fabric so that the embossed pattern imparts a three-dimensional texture to the scene or illustration or pattern comprising the printed pattern. The texture provided by the embossed pattern can impart a visual effect to the scene or illustration which can render it more realistic than a similar scene or illustration printed upon a conventional unembossed pile fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Microfibres, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin R. Crompton
  • Patent number: 7194958
    Abstract: A process is provided for printing a graphic image onto a cue sports cloth to form a cloth layout including a bed cloth and cushion cloths. The process comprises supplying the desired dimensions of the bed cloth and cushion cloths to a digital computer, accessing a digital image, and scaling and dividing the digital image to enable the image to be printed onto a cloth, with part of the image on the bed cloth and part of the image on at least one of the cushion cloths. The image is then printed onto the cloth using a digital printing apparatus and suitable inks to create a piece of printed cloth having on it a series of image portions making up the bed cloth and the cushions. When separated and fitted to the cue sports table, the bed cloth and cushion cloths co-ordinate to create a printed image having a portion of the said image on the bed cloth and a co-ordinating portion of the image on at least one cushion cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Milliken Industrials Limited
    Inventors: Alan John Brasier, Stuart Gardiner
  • Patent number: 7189445
    Abstract: A durable and wear resistant synthetic sports field having at least one strip having a plurality of fibrillated polypropylene strands tufted within a multilayer backing material. The strands are tufted in a wide variety of pile heights, patterns, gauges, and stitch patterns depending upon end use. The multiplayer backing material has a top mesh polypropylene layer at least three layers of a backing material coated with a secondary coating used to contain the ends of the plurality of strands. The strips are placed onto a fine aggregate layer placed over a coarse aggregate layer and a geotextile fabric. The geotextile fabric is placed onto a compacted and leveled subgrade. A ground rubber infill, with or without sand particles and diatomaceous earth, is introduced onto the strips. In alternative arrangements, a series of perforated drains and drain tiles may be introduced to the coarse aggregate layer to promote drainage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: GeneralSports Turf, LLC
    Inventor: John Knox
  • Patent number: 7182989
    Abstract: A flooring system for use in a residential environment. The flooring system includes a subfloor adapted to support the mass of a user and modular surface covering elements for disposition in edge to edge covering arrangement across at least a portion of the subfloor. The modular surface covering elements include a pile fabric face with an arrangement of yarns projecting outwardly defining a pile layer for contact by a user. At least one layer of cushioning material is disposed in contacting relation at a position below the pile fabric face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Kenneth B Higgins, N. David Sellman, Jr., William Tippett
  • Patent number: 7160600
    Abstract: Lightweight, hook-engageable materials capable of functioning as hook-engageable fasteners are treated and configured for use for economical and attractive displays and decorations. Laminates of the material with various substrates with associated printing are used to form visually attractive point of purchase, merchandise or trade show displays. Self-supporting or stable materials having lettering or designs on their surface are used to form banners or floor coverings. Non-woven materials with varied areal density of fibers perform those functions with particular economy. Low density knit fabrics are also useful according to broad features of the invention. Methods are shown to produce reinforced corrugated board and desirably laminated and printed materials having hook-engageable surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: William H. Shepard, George A. Provost
  • Patent number: 7160598
    Abstract: This invention discloses an intertoe towel operable for drying between the toes. The intertoe towel consists of an elongated, tubular body member made of plush absorbent fabric, an elongate flexible core disposed within the tubular member and a loop handle affixed to at least one end of the body member to facilitate pulling the towel between the toes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Inventor: James H. Sabo
  • Patent number: 7125595
    Abstract: A multi-component floor mat that, in one embodiment, is comprised of a first base or frame portion, intended to be positioned on the floor, that is dimensioned to accommodate a second flexible textile mat or rug portion that is releasably held in place on or in said base or frame portion by a plurality of magnets associated with one or both portions, thereby allowing for the easy removal or replacement of the textile portion of the mat and the economical laundering of same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Seiin Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7083841
    Abstract: Carpet tiles having patterns and color schemes that obviate the need to orient the tiles in a particular positional or rotational relationship relative to each other. The tiles exhibit orthogonal ambiguity, meaning that they may be laid in any side-by-side orientation with respect to adjacent tiles without looking out of place to the ordinary viewer and thereby still achieving an appearance of continuity like broadloom carpet. Each tile has patterns of shapes having some straight and curved elements. At least some of the straight elements on each tile preferably parallel a tile edge. The shapes are formed from a color or combination of colors so that adjacent shapes on each tile have at least one color in common. Furthermore, each tile has at least one color in common with every other tile, so that when the tiles are laid, the colors on adjacent tiles coordinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Oakey, Sydney D. Daniel
  • Patent number: 7070846
    Abstract: A textile substrate such as patterned carpet for coordinating with other flooring is provided. The substrate includes a multi-colored pattern produced by a process for coloring substrates, using the application of liquid colorants, in which the assignment of color is done on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and corresponding products. Relatively large areas of a substrate may be given the appearance of being uniformly colored by successively replicating or tiling a group of individually colored pixels comprising a repeating unit (i.e., a superpixel) across the substrate surface. The repeating unit is constructed in such a way that if a colorant application error develops, causing one or more pixels within the repeating unit to be colored incorrectly or incompletely, the overall arrangement of the pixels within the repeating unit will render such error less visually apparent when viewed on the substrate. A display rug having a plurality of areas of different patterns, colors or shades is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Robin R. Beistline, Eric A. Dunkelberg, Jonathan C. McCay, Lisa R. Bailey, Richard W. Stoyles, Lou H. Webster, John K. Gurr
  • Patent number: 7033661
    Abstract: A fabric is provided having discrete surface portions of a primary backing and tufted yarns exposed on the technical face of the fabric. To form the fabric, the yarn feed controlled by servomotors is adjusted in increments to rob back yarn sufficient to pull out the previously tufted loops in selected portions of the fabric, leaving the primary backing portion of the pulled-out loops exposed on the technical face. By the selection process, random or patterned tufted portions and exposed primary backing surface portions are provided on the technical face of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Mohawk Brands Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Whitten, Gene C. Duff, Robert D. Hutchison
  • Patent number: 6969691
    Abstract: A doctor blade for removing water from a mating member, such as a grooved elastic belt in the press part of a papermaking machine, comprises a resin-impregnated fibrous laminate, in which at least a part of the warp of a base material in the laminate, which comes into contact with the mating member, is brush-shaped, so that the warp enters the insides of the grooves to remove water therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Takeuchi, Hirofumi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6946182
    Abstract: Disclosed are mono-layer or multi-layer films, sheets, or coatings wherein at least on layer comprises a fringed surface microstructure (1), a process for making these items and uses thereof. Further disclosed are articles of manufacture comprising such film, sheet, or coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas T. Allgeuer, Selim Bensason, Pak-Wing S. Chum, Jacquelyne A. Degroot, Robert H. Kelch, Wenbin Liang, Antonio Torres, Werner Wagner
  • Patent number: 6927182
    Abstract: A composite textile fabric for rapidly moving moisture away from the skin is provided. The composite fabric includes an inner fabric layer (the technical back) formed therealong with a plurality of vertical and horizontal channels and made of a yarn comprising a plurality of fibers of polyester or nylon which have been rendered hydrophilic. The fabric also includes an outer fabric layer (the technical face) made of a moisture absorbent material, a yarn comprising a plurality of fibers primarily of polyester of other man-made yarn which has also been rendered hydrophilic, or a combination thereof. The inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer are formed concurrently by knitting a plaited construction so that the layers are distinct and separate, yet integrated one with the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Malden Mills Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Rock, Charles Haryslak
  • Patent number: 6911245
    Abstract: A textile substrate for coordinating with other flooring is provided. The substrate includes a multi-colored pattern produced by a process for coloring substrates, using the application of liquid colorants, in which the assignment of color is done on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and corresponding products. Relatively large areas of a substrate may be given the appearance of being uniformly colored by successively replicating or tiling a group of individuals colored pixels comprising a repeating unit (i.e., a superpixel) across the substrate surface. The repeating unit is constructed in such a way that if a colorant application error develops, causing one or more pixels within the repeating unit to be colored incorrectly or incompletely, the overall arrangement of the pixels within the repeating unit will render such error less visually apparent when viewed on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Robin R. Beistline, Eric A. Dunkelberg, Jonathan C. McCay, Lisa R. Bailey, Richard W. Stoyles, Lou H. Webster, John K. Gurr
  • Patent number: 6908656
    Abstract: Carpet tiles having patterns and color schemes that obviate the need to orient the tiles relative to each other. The tiles exhibit orthogonal ambiguity, meaning that they may be laid in any side-by-side orientation with respect to adjacent tiles without looking out of place to the ordinary viewer and thereby still achieving an appearance of continuity like broadloom carpet. Each tile has patterns of shapes having some straight sides and that appear to be randomly positioned but oriented with some straight sides parallel to carpet tile sides. The shapes are formed from a color or combination of colors so that adjacent shapes on each tile have at least one color in common. Furthermore, each tile has at least one color in common with every other tile, so that when the tiles are laid, the colors on adjacent tiles coordinate. All of the colors have similar intensities so that no one color will significantly stand out from the other colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: Sydney D. Daniel, David D. Oakey
  • Patent number: 6905751
    Abstract: A covering for a floor, wall or ceiling surface includes tiles each having first and second discrete tile sections. The first section includes a primary backing exposed on one side of the tile forming a first discrete exposed surface portion and a plurality of yarns tufted into the primary backing with cut or loop yarns on the back side of the primary backing leaving backstitches forming a second discrete exposed surface portion of the first section. The primary backing and backstitches form the first and second surface portions, respectively, of the first section with aesthetic characteristics different from one another. The second section of the tile is formed of one of a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric and a tufted pile and which second section forms the remaining portion of the exposed surface of the tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Mohawk Brands Inc.
    Inventor: Alejandro Jauregui
  • Patent number: 6890615
    Abstract: A pre-defined trim line within a carpet between a usable portion of carpet and a trim edge. The trim line may be formed by avoiding the tufting of yarn or by the removal of a tufting of yarn along a row. In one aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the pre-defined trim line provides an identifier of where to cut a patterned carpet to provide a high quality seam. Another aspect of an embodiment of the invention provides a gap for installers to easily cut between rows of yarn without unintended cross-cuts and also speeds the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Atlas Carpet Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James Horwich, Kenneth W. Bitting, Stanley E. Dunford
  • Patent number: 6872438
    Abstract: Disclosed are mono-layer or multi-layer profiles or moldings wherein at least one layer comprises a fringed surface microstructure, a process for making these items and uses thereof. Further disclosed are articles of manufacture comprising such profile or molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Design Concept GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas T. Allgeuer, Selim Bensason, Pak-Wing S. Chum, Jacquelyne A. deGroot, Wenbin Liang, Antonio Torres, Werner Wagner
  • Patent number: 6858272
    Abstract: An artificial turf system that includes a base and a turf assembly. The base is readily constructed, at least in part, from naturally occurring ground elements that are present upon initiation of the construction of the base. The base is constructed to include a drainage mechanism that is disposed near the surface of the base. The turf assembly is laid out upon the base and is constructed to pass fluid, e.g., water, therethrough such that the fluid is specifically directed to the drainage mechanism of the base as it moves through the turf assembly. The turf assembly includes a plurality of layers such as an impermeable moisture barrier layer, a drainage layer, a filtering layer, and a turf mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Inventor: Troy Squires
  • Patent number: 6855392
    Abstract: A patterned pile fabric of stitch-bonded construction. The fabric includes a substrate layer with an arrangement of ground yarns extending in stitched relation through the substrate layer so as to define a ground covering across the substrate layer. An arrangement of pile forming yarns extend in stitched relation through the substrate layer such that the pile forming yarns define a patterned arrangement of looped elements projecting away from the ground covering in predefined three dimensional patterned arrays disposed across the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Tietex International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Wildeman, Robert Fontaine
  • Patent number: 6849317
    Abstract: A carpet tile (11) and tile cutting apparatus (20) that produces a carpet tile with a removable cutout section (13) defined by discontinuous slits (19) and held in place by bridges (14). The apparatus includes a perimeter cutting assembly (50) and retractable inner cutting assembly (40). The perimeter cutting assembly is used to cut the carpet tile and the inner cutting assembly simultaneously forms the discontinuous slits in the inner portion of the carpet tile. The inner cutting assembly can be engaged or disengaged during the carpet tile cutting process. The carpet tile is installed by severing the bridges and laying the border sections (12) on the floor with dissimilar cutouts within the borders to create a visually interesting floor covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Oakey, Jerry C. Hall
  • Patent number: 6846545
    Abstract: A material to reduce the effects of trauma received from the impact of a projectile. One embodiment is a needle-punched, non-woven material including at least one type of ballistic fibers selected and oriented to provide a cushioning effect and maintain a high compressive restitution constant. A percentage of the fibers are oriented with at least their ends lying approximately perpendicular to the fabric plane and/or oriented to lie in a waveform generally along or parallel to the fabric plane. This enables the ends of the fibers lying perpendicular to the fabric plane to cushion the impact from the projectile by dissipating energy through compressional resistance, and the fibers along the fabric plane to reduce energy through dispersal along fiber lines, thereby reducing the trauma resulting from an impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventor: Howard Thomas
  • Patent number: 6841216
    Abstract: A carpet web and a method of forming a carpet web having a striped pattern and color scheme that permits carpet tiles cut from the web to be installed without regard to relative tile positions and without visibly disrupting the pattern, but rather maintaining the appearance of a broadloom web. The web pattern includes parallel stripes having varying widths and longitudinal discontinuities. The stripes are formed with at least two colors or two shades of a color. The tiles are positionally ambiguous in that they need not be located on the floor in the same position they occupied in the web for the flooring installation to exhibit the desired uniform appearance. Instead, the tiles may be shuffled and laid in any side-by-side or top-to-bottom orientation (provided that uniform rotational orientation is maintained among the tiles) with respect to adjacent tiles without looking out of place to the ordinary viewer and without emphasizing the modularity of the flooring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: Sydney D. Daniel, David D. Oakey
  • Publication number: 20040265534
    Abstract: A laminate web comprising a first and second precursor webs, at least the first precursor web being a nonwoven web, the laminate web having a first side, the first side comprising the second precursor web and at least one discrete tuft, each of the discrete tufts having a linear orientation defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of tufted fibers being integral extensions of the first precursor web and extending through the second precursor web; and a second side, the second side comprising the first precursor web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Joseph Curro, Robert Haines Turner, Jody Lynn Hoying, Susan Nicole Lloyd, John Lee Hammons
  • Publication number: 20040265533
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet is disclosed. The topsheet has a first side and a second side, the first side being a body-facing side and the second side being in fluid communication with the absorbent core. The topsheet also has a first relatively hydrophobic component and a second relatively hydrophilic component, the relatively hydrophilic component extending through the relatively hydrophobic component and being disposed on both of the sides of the topsheet. The absorbent article exhibits a rewet value of less than about 94 mg, and a fluid acquisition rate of at least about 0.10 ml/sec when tested by the Gush Acquisition and Rewet Test Method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jody Lynn Hoying, John Lee Hammons, Susan Nicole Lloyd, Robert Haines Turner, John Joseph Curro
  • Publication number: 20040258874
    Abstract: Surface coverings, such as carpet, are described which contain at least one styrene polymer in the backing layer or elsewhere. A preferred surface covering is a carpet such as a modular carpet tile. A preferred styrene polymer is styrene-butadiene-styrene polymers. Methods of forming the surface coverings are further described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Peter Desai
  • Patent number: 6833039
    Abstract: A mat (10) comprises a pile surface fabric (40) and a rubber or rubber-like backing layer (20). The pile surface fabric (40) is connected to and extends to the edges of the backing layer (20). The pile surface fabric (40) is provided with a border portion (22) having on its upper surface (26) a contrasting color and/or texture to the remainder (24) of the pile surface fabric and extending along at least a portion of the edge of said pile surface fabric. The mat (10) can be formed in a single cutting operation by cutting the mat from a roll of mat material (30) comprising a pile surface fabric having elongate areas (32, 34) of contrasting surface color and/or texture bonded to a rubber backing layer. The cuts (36, 38) are made along the elongate areas (32, 34). Since the border (22) is formed in the pile, colors and shapes can be selected to suit customer requirements, while the mat (10) serves to clean footwear over its entire area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Soren Andersen, Peter Helge Sorensen, Thomas Brock
  • Publication number: 20040253409
    Abstract: A fabric is provided having discrete surface portions of a primary backing and tufted yarns exposed on the technical face of the fabric. To form the fabric, the yarn feed controlled by servomotors is adjusted in increments to rob back yarn sufficient to pull out the previously tufted loops in selected portions of the fabric, leaving the primary backing portion of the pulled-out loops exposed on the technical face. By the selection process, random or patterned tufted portions and exposed primary backing surface portions are provided on the technical face of the fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Whitten, Gene C. Duff, Robert D. Hutchison
  • Publication number: 20040253408
    Abstract: The textile includes a plurality of raised ribs laterally spaced one from the other and straddling textile yarns between the raised ribs. A yarn strand of a color different than the color of the raised ribs and straddled fibers extends directly along one side of the raised ribs and a yarn strand of a different color extends along an opposite side of the raised ribs. Depending upon the perspective of the viewer of the textile surface, the color of one of the yarn strands is hidden from view, while the color of the other yarn strand is observable, rendering different optical effects (textile colors) to the viewer as a function of the viewer's perspective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert D. Hutchison
  • Publication number: 20040247821
    Abstract: A textile laminate for covering diverse substrates includes a backing layer to be placed adjacent to the substrate, a substantially non-shrinkable fibrous layer coextensive with the backing layer and an adhesive component to bind the fibrous layer to the backing layer. The adhesive component is activated to adhere the fibrous and backing layers only at selected bonding points in a pattern bond. The backing layer is a material adapted to irreversibly shrink by at least about 25% such that after the backing layer shrinks, the fibrous layer separates from the backing layer at locations away from the bonding points and forms pile-like loops that protrude in a direction normal to the plane of the textile laminate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Dimitri Peter Zafiroglu
  • Publication number: 20040229008
    Abstract: A composite web adapted for use as a component in a disposable absorbent article is disclosed. The composite web comprises a first fibrous layer and a second layer, the first and second layers each comprising a body-facing side and a garment-facing side and are disposed in a face to face relationship to form a laminate. The first fibrous layer comprises a fibrous web of randomly oriented fibers with respect to an X-Y plane, and a plurality of discrete regions of fiber reorientation at least on the body-facing side thereof, and a plurality of fibers having portions reoriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to the X-Y plane and extending toward the garment-facing side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Jody Lynn Hoying
  • Publication number: 20040202815
    Abstract: A pre-defined trim line within a carpet between a usable portion of carpet and a trim edge. The trim line may be formed by avoiding the tufting of yarn or by the removal of a tufting of yarn along a row. In one aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the pre-defined trim line provides an identifier of where to cut a patterned carpet to provide a high quality seam. Another aspect of an embodiment of the invention provides a gap for installers to easily cut between rows of yarn without unintended cross-cuts and also speeds the installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: James Horwich, Kenneth W. Bitting, Stanley E. Dunford
  • Patent number: 6797353
    Abstract: This application discloses a relatively thin flexible anchor sheet for installation under carpets or other decorative coverings and a covering module composed of a pre-attached decorative covering and anchor sheet which can be assembled by overlapping hook and loop attachment to an additional covering module to create a complete floor covering of carpet, tile, stone or other material and without attachment to a floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Tac-Fast Georgia, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Joseph R. Pacione