Spun-like continuous multifilament yarn

Claim 2

A continuous multifilament yarn, a predetermined length of said yarn comprising: a first component yarn having a least one first simultaneously draw textured filament, each first filament having a first crimp amplitude, a first crimp frequency and a first length; a second component yarn having at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament, each second filament having a second crimp amplitude, a second crimp frequency and a second length, said second crimp amplitude being less than said first crimp amplitude, said second crimp frequency being greater than said frist crimp frequency, and said second length being greater than said first length; and said second component yarn being distributed along and about said first component yarn substantially free of any reversing helices of said second component yarn whereby said continuous multifilament yarn formed thereby exhibits the effective appearance of a yarn spun from staple fibers.

Claim 3

A yarn as defined in claim 1 wherein: said first component yarn comprises a plurality of said first simultaneously draw textured filaments; and said first and second component yarns are entangled.

Claim 4

A yarn as defined in claim 1 wherein: said second component yarn comprises a plurality of said second simultaneously draw textured filaments; and said first and second component yarns are entangled.

Claim 5

A yarn as defined in claim 1 wherein: said first component yarn comprises a plurality of said first simultaneously draw textured filaments; said second component yarn comprises a plurality of said second simultaneously draw textured filaments; said first and second component yarns are entangled; and said entangled first and second yarns are heat-set.

Claim 6

A yarn as defined in claim 1 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of melt-spinnable polymer material.

Claim 7

A yarn as defined in claim 1 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of the same type of melt-spinnable polymer.

Claim 8

A yarn as defined in claim 1 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of a melt-spinnable polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins and mixtures thereof.

Claim 9

A yarn as defined in claim 1 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of polyethylene terephthalate.

Claim 10

A yarn as defined in claim 1 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of the same type of melt-spinnable polymer, the molecular orientation of said at least one first simultaneously draw textured filament being different from the molecular orientation of said at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament.

Claim 11

A yarn as defined in claim 9 wherein: said at least one first simultaneously draw textured filament has a birefringence ranging from about 0.018 to about 0.030; said at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament has a birefringence ranging from about 0.011 to about 0.025; and the birefringence of said at least one first simultaneously draw textured filament is at least 0.005 greater than the birefringence of said at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament.

Claim 12

A yarn as defined in claim 9 wherein: said at least one first simultaneously draw textured filament is produced at a spinning speed in the range from about 2200 meters per minute to about 3200 meters per minute; said at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament is produced at a spinning speed in the range from about 1800 meters per minute to about 2500 meters per minute; and the spinning speed of said at least one first simultaneously draw textured filament is at least 235 meters per minute greater than the spinning speed of said at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament.

Claim 13

A yarn as defined in claim 9 wherein said first component yarn has a denier in the range from about 100 to about 355; and said second component yarn has a denier in the range from about 100 to about 355.

Claim 14

A yarn as defined in claim 9 wherein: said continuous multifilament yarn has a denier in the range of from about 110 to about 347.

Claim 15

A yarn as defined in claim 9 wherein: said at least one first simultaneously draw textured filament has a birefringence of approximately 0.027; said at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament has a birefringence of approximately 0.011; said at least one first simultaneously draw textured filament is produced at a spinning speed of approximately 2735 meters per minute; said at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament is produced at the spinning speed of approximately 1800 meters per minute; said first component yarn has a denier of approximately 290; said second component yarn has a denier of approximately 260; and said continuous multifilament yarn has a denier in the range of from about 285 to about 294.

Claim 16

A yarn as defined in claim 1 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of a melt-spinnable polymer of the same type; said first component yarn is fully drawn; and said second component yarn is partially drawn.

Claim 17

A textile fabric comprising a plurality of yarns, said plurality of yarns comprising: at least one continuous multifilament yarn, a predetermined length of said yarn including: a first component yarn having at least one first simultaneously draw textured filament, each first filament having a first crimp amplitude, a first crimp frequency and a first length; a second component yarn having at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament, each second filament having a second crimp amplitude, a second crimp frequency and a second length, said second crimp amplitude being less than said first crimp amplitude, said second crimp frequency being greater than said first crimp frequency, and said second length being greater than said first length; and said second component yarn being distributed along and about said first component yarn substantially free of any reversing helices of said second component yarn whereby said continuous multifilament yarn formed thereby exhibits the effective appearance of a yarn spun from staple fibers, and said fabric exhibits a spun-like appearance.

Claim 18

A textile fabric comprising a plurality of yarns, said plurality of yarns comprising: at least one continuous multifilament yarn, a predetermined length of said yarn including: a first component yarn having at least one first simultaneously draw textured filament, each first filament having a first crimp amplitude, a first crimp frequency and a first length; a second component yarn having at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament, each second filament having a second crimp amplitude, a second crimp frequency and a second length, said second crimp amplitude being less than said first crimp amplitude, said second crimp frequency being greater than said first crimp frequency, and said second length being greater than said first length; and said second component yarn being distributed along and about said first component yarn substantially free of any reversing helices of said second component yarn whereby said continuous multifilament yarn formed thereby exhibits the effective appearance of a yarn spun from staple fibers, and said fabric exhibits a spun-like appearance.

Claim 19

A fabric as defined in claim 16 wherein: said first component yarn comprises a plurality of said first simultaneously draw textured filaments; and said first and second component yarns are entangled.

Claim 20

A fabric as defined in claim 16 wherein: said second component yarn comprises a plurality of said second simultaneously draw textured filaments; and said first and second component yarns are entangled.

Claim 21

A fabric as defined in claim 16 wherein: said first component yarn comprises a plurality of said first simultaneously draw textured filaments; said second component yarn comprises a plurality of said second simultaneously draw textured filaments; said first and second component yarns are entangled; and said entangled first and second yarns are heat-set.

Claim 22

A fabric as defined in claim 16 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of melt-spinnable polymer material.

Claim 23

A fabric as defined in claim 16 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of the same type of melt-spinnable polymer.

Claim 24

A fabric as defined in claim 16 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of a melt-spinnable polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins and mixtures thereof.

Claim 25

A fabric as defined in claim 16 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of polyethylene terephthalate.

Claim 26

A fabric as defined in claim 16 wherein: the simultaneously draw textured filaments of said first and second component yarns are formed of the same type of melt-spinnable polymer, the molecular orientation of said at least one first simultaneously draw textured filament being different from the molecular orientation of said at least one second simultaneously draw textured filament.