US4144044A — Method and apparatus for forming fibers

Claim 1

Independent Claim 40 words

The method of forming a glass filament comprising: supplying a stream of glass; positioning a movable member at the zone of attenuation within such stream; attenuating the stream to a filament; and moving the member sufficient to texture said filament.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 40 words

The method of forming a glass filament comprising: supplying a stream of glass; positioning a movable member at the zone of attenuation within such stream; attenuating the stream to a filament; and moving the member sufficient to texture said filament.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the member is rotated to form a twisted filament.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 41 words

The method of forming a filament comprising: supplying a stream of heat softenable material; positioning a movable member within such stream at the zone of attenuation; attenuating the stream to a filament; and moving the member sufficient to texture said filament.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 41 words

The method of forming a filament comprising: supplying a stream of heat softenable material; positioning a movable member within such stream at the zone of attenuation; attenuating the stream to a filament; and moving the member sufficient to texture said filament.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the member is vibrated sufficient to texture said filament.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising impinging the stream of glass with a stream of fluid in the vicinity of said member sufficient to modify the texture of the filament.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the member is reciprocated lengthwise within the stream sufficient to texture said filament.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 6 further comprising impinging the stream of glass with a stream of fluid in the vicinity of the member sufficient to enhance the texture of the filament.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising contacting the filament with a moving surface sufficient to further modify the texture of the filament.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 8 wherein said member is rotated to form a twisted filament and said surface is moving in a direction transverse to the direction of filament advancement.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 8 further comprising impinging the stream of glass with a stream of fluid in the vicinity of the movable member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus for forming a filament comprising: means for supplying a stream of heat softenable material; a movable member positioned within the stream of material at the zone of attenuation; means for moving said member sufficient to impart a textured effect to the subsequently formed filament; and means for attenuating the stream into said filament having a textured surface.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus for forming a filament comprising: means for supplying a stream of heat softenable material; a movable member positioned within the stream of material at the zone of attenuation; means for moving said member sufficient to impart a textured effect to the subsequently formed filament; and means for attenuating the stream into said filament having a textured surface.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the member is rotatable to form a twisted filament.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a means for impinging the stream of material with a stream of fluid.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the member has a beveled section located in the stream of material at the zone of attenuation of the filament.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the member has a spherical section within the stream of material at the zone of attenuation of the filament.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the spherical section has at least one ear protruding from the spherical section.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the member is sufficiently vibratable to produce a textured filament.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a means for impinging the stream of material at the zone of attenuation with a stream of fluid sufficient to modify the texture of the filament.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the member is reciprocable along the length thereof sufficient to produce a textured filament.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a means for impinging the stream of material at the zone of attenuation with a stream of fluid sufficient to modify the texture of the filament.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a means for imparting twist to the filament to modify the texture of the filament, the means for imparting twist being spaced from the means for supplying the streams of heat the softenable material.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the means for imparting twist has at least one surface adapted to be placed in contact with the filament, said surface being movable in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of filament advancement.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus for forming glass filament comprising: means for supplying a stream of heat softened glass; a movable member positioned within the stream of glass; means for moving said member sufficient to impart a textured effect to the subsequently formed filament; and means for attenuating the stream into said filament having a textured surface.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus for forming glass filament comprising: means for supplying a stream of heat softened glass; a movable member positioned within the stream of glass; means for moving said member sufficient to impart a textured effect to the subsequently formed filament; and means for attenuating the stream into said filament having a textured surface.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said movable member projects from said means for supplying said stream of glass.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said movable member is positioned within the stream of glass at the zone of attenuation.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 3 wherein the member is positioned to project from a means for supplying said stream of material.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 26 further comprising impinging the stream of material in the vicinity of the movable member with a stream of fluid.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-03-12	1982-09-11	1983-03-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-03-12	1986-09-11	1987-03-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-03-12	1990-09-11	1991-03-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for forming fibers

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