Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for producing a decorative article, comprising: (a) providing a flocked surface, the flocked surface comprising a plurality of flock fibers and an activatable adhesive, wherein the activatable adhesive is less than 50% activated; (b) dimensionalizing the plurality of flock fibers, such that a first set of fibers is embedded to a greater distance in the activatable adhesive than a second set of fibers; and (c) after dimensionalizing, at least substantially fully activating the activatable adhesive to form the decorative article.

Abstract: Methods of forming a loop product are provided. Methods include needling polymeric fibers through a substrate to form hook-engageablc loop structures of the fibers extending from one surface of the substrate and then using heat and pressure to soften and bond polymer of the fibers directly to the substrate and adjacent fibers, thereby anchoring the loop structures to resist fiber pullout under fastening loads. Loop products are also provided.

Abstract: A filling material for filling into articles of bedding is made by providing a plurality of discrete fibre clusters, applying a temperature stabilizing substance to the discrete fibre clusters, mixing the discrete fibre clusters with each other, and collecting the discrete fibre clusters thereby obtaining a filling material in which the distribution of the temperature stabilizing substance is substantially even. A device (1) for producing a filling material has an application station (22) for applying a temperature stabilizing substance to discrete fibre clusters, a curing station (24) for fixing the substance, a mixer (30) for mixing the discrete fibre clusters and a collecting station (32) for collecting the fibre clusters to form the filling material in which the distribution of the temperature stabilizing substance is substantially even.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides for tufted needlefelts with partially or totally obscured loop bights that provide good tuft bind.

Abstract: A pile fabric for apparel having designability and real appearance similar to natural fur imparted thereto. There is provided a pile fabric of high disignability with highly real appearance, which pile fabric has a pile-length-differentiated long/short two layer structure or long/middle/short three layer structure wherein with respect to the piles other than those of longest-pile layer corresponding to a fluff portion of natural fur, the tip region thereof has a color different from that of the root region. This pile fabric can find application in apparel, and can provide merchandise with real appearance as a substitute material for natural fur.

Abstract: A carpet is described which incorporates a set of distinct figures, shapes, or patterns. In embodiments as described, each of the set of shapes can begin in one color pattern and end in another color pattern, for instance, changing from a set of darker colors or tones to a lighter set of colors or tones. An adjacent set of shapes then begins in the same color pattern in which the preceding shapes end, and extends to another color pattern in which that adjacent set of shapes terminate. The blending effect of the color patterns preserves a visually continuous appearance, even when contrasting sets of shapes are placed side by side. In embodiments, carpet tiles cut from the carpet incorporating the multiple shapes and color patterns as described herein can be assembled into a tiled flooring assembly, while also maintaining a consistent visual appearance. Other aspects of the present invention are also described.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A pile weatherstrip has a pile of yarn ultrasonically welded to a backing strip inside a channel defined by flanges, called pile directors, which direct the pile perpendicularly with respect to the backing. A film provides a covering for the pile and is releasably attached to the flanges on the outside thereof. The covering film may have perforations therein which are located adjacent to the flanges near the upper ends of the flanges. Alternatively, a weak ultrasonic weld of the covering to the flanges, such as made at much lower energy than used to weld the pile and the backing together, provides a releasable attachment for the covering. The covering protects the pile, for example during installation in a frame which may be painted after the weatherstrip is installed. The covering can be released by being pulled off the pile director flanges after installation and painting.

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.

Abstract: Loop materials are provided for touch fastening. The loop materials include a web of nonwoven fibrous material defining a plane, the web including: (a) raised areas, elevated above the plane of the web, defining loops constructed for engagement with male touch fastener elements; (b) rib areas surrounding the raised areas to anchor the loops; and (c) between the rib areas, either open areas, or planar areas that are substantially in the plane of the web.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A carpet which is suitable for use in a vehicular passageway, includes a backing fabric that is woven by using the multi-filament yarns for the warps and wefts. A binding resin is applied to the filaments which compose the weft. The filaments which make up the weft are partially fixed to one another through the binding resin. The warp and the weft are partially fixed through the binding resin sticking on the filament of the weft before the tufting process.

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.

Abstract: Lightweight, non-woven loop products for hook-and-loop fastening are disclosed, as are methods for making them and end products employing them. The products are non-woven webs of entangled fibers of substantial tenacity, the fibers forming both a sheet-form web body and hook-engageable, free-standing loops extending from the web body. The product is stretched and stabilized to produce spaced-apart loop clusters extending from a very thin web of taut fibers. In some embodiments, the fibers include low denier fibers and/or bicomponent fibers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: Porous acrylic fibers produced by a method comprising subjecting a spinning dope containing 0.3 to 20 parts by weight of poly(vinyl acetate) relative to 100 parts of an acrylic copolymer to a wet spinning to give fibers, crimping and cutting the fibers, subjecting the resultant fibers to a treatment by hot water at 90 to 100° C. for 30 to 120 minutes or by saturated steam at 90 to 130° C. for 10 to 90 minutes to thereby form porous fibers; and a pile fabric having pile portions which comprise the porous fibers in an amount of 3 wt % or more, and, in the pile fabric, respective single fibers are visible being separate and emphasized, and thus the pile fabric has an appearance being highly decorative and excellent in design characteristics.

Abstract: A fabric for decorative towels is disclosed that combines exceptional hand and image-carrying capability with high strength and absorbency. The fabric includes two different pile faces, preferably opposite one another, with one of the faces being formed of synthetic filaments of 0.9 denier or less—i.e., microfibers—for providing strength and absorbency, with the other of the faces of the fabric being formed of cotton for providing desirable hand and decorative design capabilities, and with the synthetic microfiber face being more absorbent on a weight-for weight basis than the cotton face.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pile fabric comprising at least a long pile portion and a short pile portion to form a step, the pile fabric having a specific pile portion other than the long pile portion, which contains at least 3% by weight of an acrylic fiber (A) based on the entire pile portion, wherein the acrylic fiber (A) has a transmittance of light in a range of 15 to 70% in a direction of width of the fiber and a maximum surface reflectance of light in a range of 30 to 80% at an incident angle of 60 degrees in a direction of length of the fiber, and the pile fabric obtained thereby has an animal hair-like appearance with a distinct step.

Abstract: A decorative texturized fabric is provided. The fabric is produced from a fabric substrate that includes a yarn nappable from one side of the substrate. For instance, in one embodiment, the fabric substrate is a warp knitted fabric. According to the present invention, the fabric substrate is treated with a size composition according to a particular pattern. The fabric is then napped causing a nap to form on one side of the fabric where the size composition has not been applied. In this manner, a texturized pattern is formed into the fabric. After napping, the size composition can be removed from the fabric and the fabric can be dyed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat-insulating material acceptable for use, such as a bed blanket. The heat-insulating material has a reinforcing layer, a base layer bonded to the reinforcing layer, and flock fibers secured to the exposed surface of the base layer through a discontinuous coating of cured adhesive. The base layer can have a thickness of less than 0.0625 inch. The flock fibers can have a diameter in the range from about 3 denier to about 4 denier. The invention also relates to a method of making the heat-insulating material by providing a laminate of a reinforcing layer and a base layer of a thickness less than 0.

Abstract: Lightweight, non-woven loop products for hook-and-loop fastening are disclosed, as are methods for making them and end products employing them. The products are non-woven webs of entangled fibers of substantial tenacity, the fibers forming both a sheet-form web body and hook-engageable, free-standing loops extending from the web body. The product is stretched and stabilized to produce spaced-apart loop clusters extending from a very thin web of taut fibers. In important cases a binder is added to stabilize the product in its stretched condition. An example of the loop product is produced by needle-punching a batt of staple fibers in multiple needle-punching operations, applying a foamed acrylic binder, and then stretching the needled batt and curing the binder with the batt stretched. Other forming techniques are disclosed and several novel articles and uses employing such loop products are described, such as for filters and fasteners.

Abstract: A mat has fabric layer (4) and a rubber backing (6) bonded to the fabric layer. The fabric layer (4) includes a microknitted plush polyester fabric that is chemically treated to render it hydrophilic. The fabric layer (4) may also have a textured surface that includes raised and/or recessed surface formations (14).

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.

Abstract: An interior component for a motor vehicle has a first front surface region made from a first polyurethane, and a second front surface region integrated with the first region and made from a material different from the first polyurethane. For example, the second region may be carpeting or a region of polyurethane having a different color from the first region. In one embodiment, the interior component is a floor for a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A non-woven fiber pad having a convoluted surface formed by cutting a non-woven fiber batt having a plurality of low melt synthetic fibers. The non-woven batt is compressed generally toward a cutting device by a pair of counter-rotating drums having convoluted surfaces.

Abstract: A floor covering includes a primary backing having yarns tufted through the primary backing forming wear surface portions comprised of the back stitches of the tufted yarns in conjunction with non-tufted areas of the primary backing, also forming exposed wear surfaces. Both exposed wear surfaces portions form an aesthetic design pattern whereby a low, dense broadloom or modular carpet is provided at reduced materials and costs. Preferably, the primary backing is comprised of a woven polypropylene and a secondary backing is provided with the cut or loop yarns on the back side of the primary backing being fixed in place by a resin. A secondary backing formed of a composition of EVA, calcium carbonate and resin, overlaid by a woven scrim, is provided. The secondary backing may be formed of a needle-bonded synthetic fiber. Additionally, the primary backing may be formed of a non-woven material such as nylon and polyester.

Abstract: A synthetic turf surface for golf courses, tennis courts and other grass-surfaced game playing fields is formed of a synthetic grass carpet having a flexible base sheet with closely spaced-apart upright, blade-like strands of plastic material forming a dense grass-like surface. The carpet is supported upon a cushioning underpad which is formed of a thick, molded sheet of open cell, expanded bead polypropylene. The resiliently compressible polypropylene underpad combined with the synthetic grass carpet closely simulates the feel of a natural grass covered playing field surface.

Abstract: A pile article having a support strand for attachment to multifilament yarn to form a velour-like pile having loosely entangled filaments in spaced apart monolithic pile rows, a helically wound package of oriented pile articles for shipping and storage, and a pile surface structure comprising pile articles arranged in spaced apart rows on a substrate to form a pile surface that may be flat or moldable, and a method for making a pile surface structure by embedding the pile articles into the backing substrate. The pile surface structures may be usefully employed in automobile mats, carpets and panels.

Abstract: A dust control mat having a pile surface and a backing layer disposed beneath the pile surface. The pile surface includes segmented portions of pile-forming material salvaged from previously used mat structures and adhered to the backing layer in a predefined arrangement to define a contact surface of recycled material for use in removing dirt from the shoes of a user.

Abstract: An improved process for making stitchbonded fabric in which a feed material that has a visible pattern on it is surface is multi-needle stitched with a contractible yarn and then the stitched material is contracted to form an attractive, novel surface pattern that is quite different from the original pattern on the feed material

Abstract: A water- and oil-repellent, antistatic composition comprises (a) at least one nonpolymeric ionic salt consisting of (i) at least one cation selected from the group consisting of monovalent metal cations, divalent metal cations, and organic onium cations, and (ii) at least one weakly coordinating anion, the conjugate acid of the anion having an acidity greater than or equal to that of a hydrocarbon sulfonic acid, and with the proviso that the anion is organic or fluoroorganic when the cation is a metal; (b) at least one fluorochemical repellency-imparting additive or repellent; and (c) at least one insulating material. The composition exhibits good antistatic and repellency characteristics.

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.

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.

Abstract: An omnidirectional carpet tile having a combination of omnidirectional pattern and non-directional pile enable carpet tiles to be laid in any orientation without pile effects.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cushioned floor covering article wherein the mat includes a tufted carpet placed on the top side of a foam rubber sheet and at least one foam rubber protrusion integrated within at least a portion of the bottom side of the foam rubber sheet. Such an article provides effective removal of moisture, dirt, and debris from the footwear of pedestrians through the utilization of a carpet pile component. Furthermore, the utilization of a foam rubber backing also allows for either periodic heavy duty industrial-scale laundering in such standard washing machines or periodic washing and drying in standard in-home machines, both without appreciably damaging the inventive floor covering article, such as a floor mat. Additionally, the presence of integrated foam rubber protrusions within the mat structure provides an effective cushioning effect for pedestrian comfort as well as a means to prevent slippage of the article from its contacted surface.