Abstract: A game ball including a leather cover secured about a solid core, wherein the leather cover includes an inner surface contacting the solid core and an opposing outer surface and wherein the game ball is characterized by including polyacrylate particles dispersed on but not encased about the outer surface of the leather cover.

Abstract: A seat skin 11 has a front surface layer 12, a back surface layer 13, and pores 15. The inner wall of the pore 15 is covered by the front surface layer 12. The seat skin 11 is produced by forming a base material having at least a front surface layer 12 and a back surface layer 13; sandwiching the base material between a pressing plate having a die for the pores, and a backing plate opposite the pressing plate; pressing the pressing plate against the backing plate with the base material being heated at a temperature that a component contained in the front surface layer 12 does not melt, to form the pores in the base material; and removing the base material having the pores formed therein from between the pressing plate and the backing plate.

Abstract: A leather burnishing tool is described. The tool comprises a first end disposed opposite a second end and a body portion disposed between the first end and the second end. The first end includes a first channel and a top portion. The second end comprises a second polished channel configured to accept an edge of a piece of leather therein and a bottom portion configured to be flush with a horizontal surface. The tool is continuously slid along the edge of the piece of leather to shape the edge of the piece of leather. In examples, the leather burnishing tool is configured to engage a tool holder.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing breathable leather material including the following steps: a leather-based material is provided; the leather-based material is perforated; a support body is provided; a finishing is applied to the support body such that a later visible side of the finishing is facing the support body and the finishing is transferred to the surface of the perforated leather-based material and removed from the support body.

Abstract: A plurality of interlocking stackable foam pillow segments together with a head and neck support and an elongated generally cylindrical resilient neck support member. The pillow segments are generally rectangular defining interlocking members which facilitate the stacking and interlock of the pillow segments in a vertical stack. The head and neck support defines a pillow resting surface and a head resting surface. The head resting surface further defines an ear clearance cavity surrounded by a face support surface. The head and neck support further includes a flexible mesh fabric ear coupling having an outer edge joined to and surrounding the face support surface and encircling the ear-receiving cavity. The ear-receiving cavity is sized to receive the user's ear into the ear coupling and is elastically constricted to close upon the user's ear between the ear and head surface to captivate the ear.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a combination of a support device (1, 33) and a holding device (7), the support device comprising an attachment surface having rows (5) with elongated slot openings (3, 3?), and the holding device comprising an attachment part (9) and a carrier part (11). The attachment part is intended to be attached to the support device by being partly inserted into a first slot (3), such that the holding device can take up a load directed in the plane of attachment surface, and the carrier part (11) being capable of supporting an item to be stored. A stem part (13) interconnects the attachment part and the carrier part and the stem part includes a fin (15) that fits into a second slot (3?) which is located under said first slot (3). This provides a more reliable connection to the support device. A holding device suitable for this combination is also considered.

Abstract: Devices and methods for removal of animal hair are provided. The devices and methods can include one or more rotating bodies that form pinch regions for mechanical removal of animal hair.

Abstract: The present invention is a hair controller for mounting on a stretching machine used for stretching a pelt on a pelt board. The stretching machine has at least one holder for engaging the pelt. The hair controller includes a device for moving hair aside to expose a selected area of leather on the pelt, in particular the area of leather engaged by the holder. Also disclosed is a method for moving the hair of a pelt aside before the pelt is fixed by a holder in a stretching machine.

Abstract: A machine for cutting leathers has a bearing structure and an operating element exhibiting a rotation axis and three distinct work planes each arranged about the rotation axis and provided with an aspirating plate that is activatable/deactivatable such as to retain or release the leathers. The operating element successively positions each work plane at three successive and distinct positions with respect to the bearing structure: a first position in which the leathers can be positioned and stretched above the work plane and held stretched thereon, a second position in which the work plane with the leathers stretched and retained thereon is located below a cutter, and a third position wherein the leathers can be unloaded from the work plane by force of gravity following deactivation of the respective aspirating plate.

Abstract: A variety of products may incorporate cultured leather, which is produced in vitro. Examples of products that may incorporate cultured leather include footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, furniture, handbags or any other consumer or industrial product that commonly incorporates conventional leather or synthetic leather.

Abstract: A leather punching device 1 has a receiving mold 21 formed with receiving holes 22, a pressing mold 31 formed with storing holes 32 which communicate with the receiving holes 22 when joined with the receiving mold 21, and a moving member 45 provided with punching pins 5 which are stored in the storing holes 32 of the pressing mold 31, pressing projections 35 are provided around the storing hole 32 of the pressing mold 31, a leather 3 is disposed between the receiving mold 21 and the pressing mold 31, the pressing projections 35 of the pressing mold 31 come into pressure-contact with the leather 3, and the punching pins 5 project from the pressing projections 35 by the movement of the moving member 45 to one side to form punch holes 9 in the leather 3.

Abstract: A method of processing a leather material. The method may include providing a tanned and dried leather material and pre-stretching the leather material after the leather material is dried.

Abstract: A method of processing a leather material. The method may include providing a tanned and dried leather material and pre-stretching the leather material after the leather material is dried.

Abstract: A coated leather, in particular split cowhide leather, has a preferably nubuck-like appearing surface structure. The coating is formed with a surface layer formed with a mechanically and moisture-stable polymer and bonded to the surface of the leather or split leather by a polymer-based bonding layer. The outer layer is notable for inner smoothness and is formed with soft polyurethane. It includes in the non-embossed region microdepressions which are essentially closed in the direction of the leather but are open towards the outside, have an internal width of less than 130 ?m and are arranged close-packed to each other in the manner of soapy foam cells. The microdepressions are each separately bounded by thin mutually crosslinked stays which have on the outside a matt or finely fibrous fine-roughness structure surface, and have an essentially semispherical-shaped concave inner surface which faces outward and is smooth.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method (HV) for producing finished leather (FL) for covering components with leather, wherein the following process steps for treating a leather hide (LH) are performed on a raw hide (RH) as an initial product for producing the finished leather (FL) as an end product of the method: mechanical process steps in which the leather hide (LH) is treated using mechanical tools, and chemical process steps in which the leather hide is treated with chemicals, wherein both mechanical and chemical modes of action are combined in individual process steps, it is envisaged that, in a process step of retanning, synthetic and/or vegetable tanning materials, fattening agents, microencapsulated auxiliary agents based on ammonium, phosphate, phosphorus and the ester compounds thereof and natural additives based on rubber and milk products are used, and in a process step of reducing the thickness of the leather hide, the leather thickness of the leather hide (LH) is reduced by splitting and/or scraping witho

Abstract: A method for shaping animal hide into a desired form that is unlike the shape of the base used to support the animal hide during the shaping process. The process includes the steps of wetting a natural hide side of an animal hide; chemically treating a substantially wetted natural hide side of the animal hide with a sizing and shaping a chemically treated animal hide.

Abstract: Disclosed are a reducing leather and a method for preparing the same. The leather is mainly made by three-dimensionally interweaving the collagen fibres obtained through fibre disintegration of a leather material, with an apparent density of 0.35 g/cm3-1.4 g/cm3. The method for preparing the leather comprises the steps of preparing collagen fibres by fibre disintegration of a leather material, laying, spunlacing, and wet-hot shrinking setting. The reducing leather approaches to a natural leather in the weaving structure and the apparent density, and each of the strength criteria, as well as the wear resistance. The advantages of the leather are that the leather piece is big and regular so that it can be arbitrarily tailored, and the weaving apparent density is consistent. The scraps in the leather industry are mainly used as the raw materials for the reducing leather. The preparation method facilitates to reutilizing the resources in the leather industry.

Abstract: Provided are a car-seat split crust leather and leather. A hide already subjected to pretreatment and subjected to tanning treatment is split into leather including a grain surface and into split leather with a thickness of 4 mm to 2.3 mm, the taken-out split leather is arranged so that a flesh side of the split leather can be located on an upper side and that a grain side of the split leather can be located on a lower side, split leather with a thickness of 2.6 mm to 1.8 mm is made, next, the flesh side of the split leather is shaved to thereby set the thickness of the split leather to 2.0 mm to 1.1 mm, and a car-seat split crust leather with a thickness of 1.6 mm to 1.0 mm is manufactured, which is then subjected to tanning and re-tanning treatment, and has a coating film formed thereon.

Abstract: A leather groove forming apparatus includes: a blade holder 43 holding a blade 35 for forming a groove 9 in one surface in a thickness direction of a held leather 5 held in a flat sheet state; blade holder moving unit for moving the blade holder in an in-plane direction of the one surface in the thickness direction of the held leather 5; and blade holder positioning unit for positioning the blade holder 43 in a direction intersecting with the in-plane direction with the blade holder 43 placed on a guide member 55 in formation of the groove in the held leather 5 by moving the blade holder 43 using the blade holder moving unit.

Abstract: A method for reducing a burned odor characteristic of lased leather is provided. Lased leather having a burned odor characteristic is heated, and the heated lased leather is subjected to a forced gas flow to reduce the burned odor characteristic of the lased leather. A system and a method for producing laser-marked leather with reduced burned odor characteristic are also provided. The system features laser marking equipment for producing laser-marked leather having a burned odor characteristic, and treatment equipment for heating and subjecting the laser-marked leather to forced gas flow to reduce the burned odor characteristic of the laser-marked leather.

Abstract: A method of producing a plant biostimulant includes hydrolyzing bacterial cells to obtain a hydrolysate and formulating the hydrolysate as a plant biostimulant for foliar application or application as a soil adjuvant.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method for producing a composite body comprising a flexible decorative material for use as decorative trim having a visible surface in a motor vehicle. The method comprises first joining a plurality of material pieces to form a material block, and then severing one or more composite bodies from the material block. The severing is carried out such that the severed composite body contains several of the material pieces. Thereafter, the severed composite body is applied to a visible surface of a decorative trim.

Abstract: The invention relates to new, hydrolysis-stable, aqueous polyurethane-polyurea dispersions based on polycarbonate-polyols, to a process for preparing them and to their use in coating materials.

Abstract: A cutting machine, particularly for leather and similar materials, comprising a cutting area provided with one or more cutting heads and with an area for unloading the cut parts, the areas being arranged along a conveyor belt, material detection means being provided in order to detect the position of the material before cutting it, the machine further comprising a detection area, arranged upstream of the cutting area, the material detection means being arranged in the detection area in order to detect the position of references provided on the material to be cut.

Abstract: An ABCITE® reinforced leather and a method for producing the ABCITE® reinforced leather for use in making shoes, gloves and garments are shown. ABCITE® pellets are ground into a fine powder and floated in a carrier so that they penetrate the fiber structure of a tanned skin. The ABCITE® particles bond to the fiber structure and provide enhanced abrasion resistance and tensile strength to the leather. This ABCITE® impregnated leather can be used to make gloves, shoes and garments. Also, ABCITE® powder can be added to the surface to make the surface more durable and abrasion resistant.

Abstract: A leather-marking method and its device mainly includes a marking machine combined with a special marking needle having ball shaped needle head such that the marking needle will be punched on the leather with a certain degree of force to form the indents but not penetrate through. And, the marking needle will be displaced through an automatic control method to create the continuous or intermittent indented lines sequentially on the leathers and become the distinct symbols that can conveniently be provided for the subsequent processing procedures of leathers to obtain the practicability.

Abstract: A coated leather, in particular split cowhide leather, has a preferably nubuck-like appearing surface structure. The coating is formed with a surface layer formed with a mechanically and moisture-stable polymer and bonded to the surface of the leather or split leather by a polymer-based bonding layer. The outer layer is notable for inner smoothness and is formed with soft polyurethane. It includes in the non-embossed region microdepressions which are essentially closed in the direction of the leather but are open towards the outside, have an internal width of less than 130 ?m and are arranged close-packed to each other in the manner of soapy foam cells. The microdepressions are each separately bounded by thin mutually crosslinked stays which have on the outside a matt or finely fibrous fine-roughness structure surface, and have an essentially semispherical-shaped concave inner surface which faces outward and is smooth.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for processing animal hides in a meat processing facility. In one embodiment, the system the system includes a grading station for determining hide grades, a measuring station for determining at least one hide dimension of the animal hide, a hide folding station, a stacking station adapted to deposit hides at a plurality of stacking sites, a conveyor system and a control system.

Abstract: A leather finishing process in which, in pertinent part, a warm water milling step is added after the base coat is applied to “crust” leather and cured. The warm water contains at least one dye fixation agent including but not limited to about 0.1-2.0% by weight of formic acid. Moreover, the base coat itself is an aqueous base coat containing at least two polymers such as an acrylic salt or a polyurethane salt. Between the polymeric constituents of the base coat, the acid fixation agent, and the use of the warm water milling step after the base coat has been applied and dried, a surprisingly natural feel to the leather is attained without loss of excellent adhesion, wear-resistance and other properties when the leather is completely finished.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the modification of goat and caprine leathers to render them suitable for use in the manufacture of sports shoes, and certain other items of footwear and apparel. Goatskin, while possessing some desirable properties, has poor wear and tear resistance. The present invention discusses the attachment of specific types of bonding layers to the non-grain face side to alter the overall performance of caprine leathers so that they may be used in durable footwear. Treatments to, and coatings on, the caprine leather are also discussed.

Abstract: A riding saddle provided with a semi-rigid tree (1) is remarkable in that it includes a semi-rigid trapezium (2) facing the back (50) of the horse and on which the saddle is placed, which trapezium co-operates with the tree (1).

Abstract: A method of leather processing which, without need of using a large amount of a hardener, etc., can yield a leather which can retain a three-dimensional shape, especially one with a fine, highly attractive design, for a long time and has high stretchability and high recovery while retaining the flexibility inherent in leathers; and a leather of a three-dimensional shape, especially a processed leather of a pattern and shape such as ones formed by wringing the leather together. The method comprises deforming a flat leather into a three-dimensional shape having recesses and protrusions and heating at least part of either or both of the protrusions (2) and recesses (1) to cure the heated parts and thereby cause the leather to retain the three-dimensional shape. More specifically, the protrusions and the recesses are partly heated while keeping the remaining parts being insulated from the heat to cure the heated parts only.

Abstract: A paint composition for leather comprising a fluorine-containing resin and a silicone oil, and a paint composition for leather comprising a curable fluorine-containing resin, a curing agent and a silicone oil can have both soft feeling of a leather itself and film properties such as soil resistance and abrasion resistance.

Abstract: The use of lime and sodium sulfide in leather making creates a lot of environmental concern. However, there is no commercial beam house process that could totally eliminate the use of lime and sodium sulfide. In this invention, a novel bio-chemical process has been standardized employing specific enzymes and non-toxic chemical that could totally eliminate the use of lime and sodium sulfide in leather processing. It has been found that the extent of hair removal and opening up of fiber bundles is comparable to that of the conventional limed leathers. Performance of the leathers is shown to be on par with conventionally leathers. The process also enjoys reduction in chemical oxygen demand and total solids load compared to conventional process.

Abstract: By a new method for the fastening of pelts stretched on pelt-boards, the belt is secured in a stretched position on the pelt-board by means of a sleeve/bag which is drawn over and around the pelt, so that the pelt is pressed in and locked against the pelt-board by means of the sleeve/bag. The method gives rise to the need for the pelts to be stretched out longer on the pelt-board than has hitherto been possible without damaging the pelts, inasmuch as the pelts will have a tendency to shrink slightly more when they are not fastened to the pelt-board by means of the staples traditionally used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an eco-friendly beam house process for de-hairing of leather using commercially available enzymes that obviates the use of lime and other alkalis. The present invention also provides an alternate process for opening the fibers of leather using commercially available enzymes. The present invention further provides a three-step process for tanning hide or skin in a narrow pH range of from about 7.5 to about 8.5.

Abstract: Moldable products which conform to the size and shape of a particular object and methods of forming the same are provided. The products are made from a material selected from the group consisting of natural leathers, synthetic leathers, and mixtures thereof. The products and methods of the invention are particularly useful for manufacturing custom-fit footwear at a reasonable price. Methods in accordance with the invention comprise molding the starting material on and around a foot, wetting the material with a mixture comprising a leather stiffening or hardening agent, and drying the wetted material while still on the foot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to water-soluble, acid-groups-containing graft copolymers which are at least partially biodegradable and are based on sugars and monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids and/or phosphonic acids or the salts of said acids as well as optional further monomers. The present invention further relates to a process for producing the graft copolymers at temperatures of up to 200.degree. C. by means of radical polymerization initiators, in that a total mixture of 5-60%-wt. mono-, di- and oligosaccharides, the derivatives thereof or the mixtures thereof, and 95-40%-wt. of a monomer mixture comprising at least one monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, at least one monoethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acid, one monoethylenically unsaturated sulfuric acid ester and/or vinylphosphonic acid or the salts of said acids with monovalent cations, as well as optional further monomers is polymerized.

Abstract: Procedure to improve the area yield in the manufacture of leather consisting of a thermal treatment applied to the extended or stretched leather, before the operation of drying. During this treatment there should be no loss in the water content of the leather. The applicattion of this procedure in the manufacture of leather allows improvements to be obtained in the area yield of about ten percent and, when applied to dyed leathers, an improvement is obtained in the fixation of the products used in the wet phases and, therefore, an improvement in the fastness properties to rubbing at dry as well as wet conditions. The application of this procedure reduces the modulus of the leather for which its use can be especially interesting for leather destined for clothing, upholstery, and some types of footwear which require lower elasticity values.

Abstract: A moving piece of leather on a bearing support will be moved parallel to a moving open-porous-structured, mesh-like (strainer) belt, the pores or meshes being filled with fluid. This fluid will be transmitted by pressure onto the leather surface.The pressure can be caused either by a pressure roll, or an oscillating zone of pressure, rotating bristle or a linear air or steam flow. The applied amount will be controlled by the relative speed between the leather surface and the mesh-like (strainer) belt.

Abstract: A leather layer is burned, preferably under a protective gas blanket, with a laser beam to increase the water vapor permeability for use of the leather in automotive vehicle seats.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing leather coin pouches. The method provides for wetting a leather assembly comprising a substantially flat, flexible leather cover laminated to a substantially flat, more rigid centerpiece, to soften the leather which facilitates the eventual forming of the leather. The method further comprises creasing the leather in a creasing die. After a preforming step designed to foldedly bias the leather assembly toward forming as desired, the leather assembly is formed into a foldedly raised leather assembly with an overlapping flap spiral closure. Finally, while its formed shape is retained, the leather assembly is dried.

Abstract: A process for stretching leather and similar flat materials, characterized by at least one part of an initial surface of a piece of leather is placed on a bearing surface which is slidable with respect to the leather, the piece of leather being loaded with pressure forces, which are spread over at least one part of the bearing surface, working in the direction of the bearing surface, and the stretching forces for stretching the leather under strain relative to the bearing surface are put into effect over at least one part of a second surface of the piece of leather and being at least approximately tangential with reference to a leather surface as well as at least approximately polydirectional in the direction of the edge of the leather piece.

Abstract: A method of handling skins or hides having a central line of increased thickness along the back of the skin or hide between a tail end portion and a front end portion comprises displacing the skin or hide to a workstation by means of two clamping pincers on a handling apparatus, in accordance with the following sequence of steps: the skin or hide is engaged at its tail and front portions by the pincers; the pincers are moved away from each other in order to put the skin or hide under tension along the backline of the hide; the skin or hide is raised so as to allow it to fold along the backline while it hangs freely; the skin or hide is then displaced to a workstation while hanging in the folded position; the folded skin or hide is then laid out flat under tension on a reception plane at the workstation; and the pincers are released from the tail and front portions of the skin or hide.

Abstract: Bonding of leather to leather without the use of any adhesives is achieved by pressing together the two leather portions to be bonded at a pressure of at least about 50 bar and at a bonding temperature of from about 60.degree. to about 200.degree. C. for at least 10 seconds and subsequently cooling them or allowing them to cool while maintaining a pressure of at least about 10 bar at any time during said cooling when the temperature is above about 85.degree. C., the entire process being conducted in an oxygen-poor environment.

Abstract: A method of replicating a color photograph (11) onto a leather surface by transferring the photograph (11) to a xerographic copy (20), tracing the copy (20) onto the surface of the leather (50), using specialized leather working tools (30) to cut and raise the surface of the leather (50) and then applying colored leather dyes (81) to selected portions of the leather surface in accordance with the color scheme of the color photograph (11).

Abstract: A machine for progressively roughing marginal portions of shoe bottoms comprising a shoe support (18) having toe support means (470) and a heel support arrangement including two sets of clamps (390, 392), one set (392) of which serves also as sensing means for sensing, by engagement with an off-set portion of the shoe last whether the shoe thus supported is a left or a right. An inductance sensing device (610) associated with the second set of clamps (392) supplies a signal to control means of the machine, the signal being dependent upon whether the shoe is a left or a right. The control means ensures that, in the operation of the machine, a roughing operation is carried out on the shoe bottom in such a manner that the inside waist region of the shoe bottom is traversed always in the same directiion, regardless of whether the shoe is a left or a right (and of course similarly the outside waist region is consistently operated upon).

Abstract: Reversible treated hides are obtained by a process for treating animal skins. The process includes physiochemical operations, such as tanning, retanning, and finishing, to provide an aniline, semi-aniline, or pigmented hair-side appearance on the flesh side of the skin. By providing reversible skins in accordance with the process, finished leather articles can be manufactured without the necessity of providing linings.

Abstract: Imidazoline derivatives of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 designate C.sub.1 -C.sub.19 -alkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.19 -alkenyl,m and n designate 2 or 3, andA.sup..crclbar. designates an anion, in particular formate, acetate, phosphate, phosphite, phosphonate, sulphonate, toluenesulphonate or benzoate,a process for their preparation, and their use as softeners.

Abstract: A frame forms a container having four vertical sides and a flat bottom plate. A hydraulically raised and lowered gate forms one of the sides. Wet hides are stacked on a pallet commonly used with a forklift. The gate is raised, and the loaded pallet placed on the bottom plate. The gate is lowered, and fillers are extended through side openings in the pallet into voids between the pallet top and bottom. A platen above the hides is hydraulically pressed downward within the container to compress the hides. A selected pressure on the hides is maintained for a desired compression period. The fillers within the voids limit deflections of the pallet top during compression of the hides, and consequently prevent damage to the pallet. The fillers are withdrawn, the gate raised, and the loaded pallet removed. The compressed, dry, cohesive hide bundles have a flat top and flat, vertical sides and are more efficiently packed for shipping.