US4233349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suede-like product and process therefor
Assignee: EIDP Inc
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Filing: 1979-03-26
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Granted: 1980-11-11
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Expires: 1999-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A suede-like fabric is produced by impinging a sheet-like structure of discrete fibrillatable fibers with needle-like columnar streams of liquid whereby the fibers are fibrillated to form a close spacing of subdenier fibril ends that extend from the sheet structure at randomly spaced intervals to form one surface of the suede-like fabric with a majority of the fibril ends being tapered.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald O. Niederhauser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:59
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06C; D06C11/00; D04; D04H; D04H11/00; D04H11/08; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/42; D04H1/4382; D04H1/44; D04H1/46; D04H1/492; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/904; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23907; Y10T428/23957; Y10T428/23986; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31551; Y10T428/31565; Y10T428/31786
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A suede-like fabric structure including a ground fabric comprising discrete fibrils, said fibrils extending as fibril ends from said ground fabric at randomly spaced points of attachment to form one surface of the suede-like fabric having a density of from about 5000 to about 100,000 fibril ends per square centimeter, the majority of said fibril ends being tapered and having an average tip width of less than 10μ when measured a distance of about 2μ from the terminal point of said fibril ends, said fibril ends tapering to said tip width from a greater trunk width, the average trunk width being about 1.5 to 10× greater than said average tip width when measured a distance of about 100μ from the terminal point of said fibril ends.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A suede-like fabric structure including a ground fabric comprising discrete fibrils, said fibrils extending as fibril ends from said ground fabric at randomly spaced points of attachment to form one surface of the suede-like fabric having a density of from about 5000 to about 100,000 fibril ends per square centimeter, the majority of said fibril ends being tapered and having an average tip width of less than 10μ when measured a distance of about 2μ from the terminal point of said fibril ends, said fibril ends tapering to said tip width from a greater trunk width, the average trunk width being about 1.5 to 10× greater than said average tip width when measured a distance of about 100μ from the terminal point of said fibril ends.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fabric as defined in claim 1, said suede-like fabric having a density of from about 10,000 to about 100,000 fibril ends per square centimeter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fabric as defined in claim 2, wherein said suede-like fabric structure is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fabric structure of claim 1, wherein said ground fabric comprises discrete fibers and fibrils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fabric as defined in claim 2, wherein said fabric structure is impregnated with soft polymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fabric structure of claim 5, wherein said soft polymer is a polyurethane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fabric structure of claim 2, said ground fabric being a knit fabric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fabric structure of claim 2, said ground fabric being a woven fabric.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fabric structure of claim 2, said ground fabric being a nonwoven fabric.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for producing a suede-like fabric structure in which fibril ends extend from a ground fabric at randomly spaced points of attachment and form one surface of the suede-like fabric, the method comprising: forming a sheet-like structure of discrete fibers fibrillatable to tapered ends; supporting the sheet-like structure on a foraminous support; and impinging the sheet-like structure on the foraminous support with needle like columnar streams of liquid at a pressure of at least 5000 kPa whereby said fibers are fibrillated to form a close spacing of fibril ends that extend from the sheet structure at randomly spaced intervals to form one surface of the suede-like fabric with the majority of said fibril ends being tapered.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for producing a suede-like fabric structure in which fibril ends extend from a ground fabric at randomly spaced points of attachment and form one surface of the suede-like fabric, the method comprising: forming a sheet-like structure of discrete fibers fibrillatable to tapered ends; supporting the sheet-like structure on a foraminous support; and impinging the sheet-like structure on the foraminous support with needle like columnar streams of liquid at a pressure of at least 5000 kPa whereby said fibers are fibrillated to form a close spacing of fibril ends that extend from the sheet structure at randomly spaced intervals to form one surface of the suede-like fabric with the majority of said fibril ends being tapered.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined in claim 10, wherein said foraminous support is a fine mesh screen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 10, including the additional steps of impregnating the fabric with soft polymer after it has been impinged with the streams of liquid and then buffing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 10, said fibrillatable fibers being continuous filament yarns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined in claim 10, said fibrillatable fibers being a batt of staple fibers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 11, said discrete fibrillatable fiber being a copolyester having a Y-shaped cross section formed by the intersection at 120 degree angles of three fins, the ratio of the cross sectional length of each to its width being about 5:1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 12, said sheet-like structure being a woven fabric.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 12, said sheet-like structure being a knit fabric.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 12, said sheet-like structure being a nonwoven fabric.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-11 | 1984-05-12 | 1984-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-11 | 1988-05-12 | 1988-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-11 | 1992-05-12 | 1992-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |