Fibrous mat and method and apparatus for producing same

Claim 1

A METHOD OF PRODUCING A CONTINUOUS LAMINATED BODY OF FIBROUS MATERIAL INCLUDING THE STEPS OF FLOWING GROUPS OF STREAMS OF FIBERS FORMING MATERIAL FROM A SUPPLY; OF AT TENUTATING THE GROUPS OF STREAMS TO FORM INDIVIDUAL GROUPS OF FIBERS; OF COLLECTING THE GROUPS OF FIBERS UPON INDEPENDENT SURFACES; OF MOVING THE SURFACES IN DIRECTIONS TO BRING THE GROUPS OF FIBERS INTO CONTIGUOUS RELATION TO FORM A LAMINAR BODY; OF DIRECTING THE LAMINAR BODY AWAY FROM THE COLLECTING SURFACES IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL DIRECTION; OF DELIVERING A BONDING AGENT IN A DRY STATE INTO THE BODY DURING VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREOF, AND OF AGITATING THE BODY TO SECURE SUBSTANTIALLY HOMOGENEOUS DISTRIBUTION OF THE BONDING AGENT THROUGHOUT THE LAMINATED FIBROUS BODY.