Patent US4247347A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4247347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for molding cloth including a fabric layer by heating to at least the greater of the set or softening temperature the stitches thereof having never been set, and molding a cloth covered foam filled product
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-03-19
•
Granted: 1981-01-27
•
Expires: 1999-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A method of molding cloth. A special multi-layer cloth is drawn into a heated mold by means of a vacuum between the cloth and the mold. The cloth includes a fabric layer having a heat-flexible fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, a polyurethane foam layer and a polyvinyl chloride film layer bonded together. The cloth is heated to at least the greater of the set temperatures of the fabric layer and the polyvinyl chloride film. After the cloth has conformed to the contours of the mold, the cloth is cooled in the mold. The steps of heating the cloth in the mold and then cooling the cloth sets the stitch of the fabric to the contours of the mold. Polyurethane foam may then be poured into the mold and allowed to expand to form a seat cushion or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Lischer
- 👤 Raoul Quertain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:08
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; B29; B29C; B29C44/00; B29C44/02; B29C44/12; B29C44/14; B29C44/145; B29C51/00; B29C51/14; B29C51/145; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/065; B32B27/12; B32B5/245; D; D06; D06N; D06N3/00; D06N3/007; D06N3/0079; B29K; B29K2313/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: drawing the cloth into a mold, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer; heating the cloth to at least the heat-fixable fiber set temperature; and cooling the cloth, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber of the cloth to the shape of the mold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: drawing the cloth into a mold, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer; heating the cloth to at least the heat-fixable fiber set temperature; and cooling the cloth, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber of the cloth to the shape of the mold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: drawing the cloth into a mold, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer, the elastic composition layer including a thermoplastic film layer; heating the cloth to at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of the film layer; and cooling the cloth, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber and the film layer to the shape of the mold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: drawing the cloth into a mold, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer, the elastic composition layer including a thermoplastic film layer; heating the cloth to at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of the film layer; and cooling the cloth, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber and the film layer to the shape of the mold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: drawing the cloth into a mold, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer, the elastic composition including a flexible foam layer and a thermoplastic film layer; heating the cloth to at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of said film layer; and cooling the cloth, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber and the film layer to the shape of the mold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: drawing the cloth into a mold, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer, the elastic composition including a flexible foam layer and a thermoplastic film layer; heating the cloth to at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of said film layer; and cooling the cloth, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber and the film layer to the shape of the mold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as in claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising the step of preheating the cloth prior to the drawing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: drawing the cloth into a mold, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer; heating the cloth to at least the heat-fixable fiber set temperature during the drawing step; and cooling the cloth, the process heat-fixing that heat-fixable fiber of the cloth to the shape of the mold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: drawing the cloth into a mold, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer; heating the cloth to at least the heat-fixable fiber set temperature during the drawing step; and cooling the cloth, the process heat-fixing that heat-fixable fiber of the cloth to the shape of the mold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: preheating the cloth, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer, the elastic composition layer including a thermoplastic film layer, the temperature to which the cloth is preheated being at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of the film layer; drawing the cloth into a mold; heating the cloth to at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of the film layer; and cooling the cloth, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber and the film layer to the shape of the mold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: preheating the cloth, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer, the elastic composition layer including a thermoplastic film layer, the temperature to which the cloth is preheated being at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of the film layer; drawing the cloth into a mold; heating the cloth to at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of the film layer; and cooling the cloth, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber and the film layer to the shape of the mold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
A process for forming a cloth covered item comprising the steps of: drawing the cloth into a mold, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer; heating the cloth to at least the heat-fixable fiber set temperature during the drawing step; cooling the cloth; and pouring foam into the mold, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber of the cloth to the shape of the mold and filling the back side of the molded cloth with foam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
97 words
A process for forming a cloth covered item comprising the steps of: drawing the cloth into a mold, the cloth including a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, and an elastic composition layer bonded to the fabric layer; heating the cloth to at least the heat-fixable fiber set temperature during the drawing step; cooling the cloth; and pouring foam into the mold, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber of the cloth to the shape of the mold and filling the back side of the molded cloth with foam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as in claim 1, 5 or 7 wherein the elastic composition layer has a low elastic recovery after molding to facilitate the retention of the molded shape of the cloth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process as in claim 1, 2, 5 or 7 wherein the elastic composition layer includes a flexible foam layer formed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride, polychloroprene and rubber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as in claim 1, 5 or 7 wherein the elastic composition layer comprises: a flexible foam layer bonded to the fabric layer; and an elastic film bonded to the foam layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process as in claim 10 wherein the flexible foam layer is formed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of urethane, vinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride, polychloroprene and rubber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as in claim 1, 5 or 7 wherein the elastic composition layer includes a thermoplastic film layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as in claim 12 wherein the film layer is formed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, a mixture of natural and synthetic rubber, neoprene basis composition, and acrylic acid basis composition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as in claim 1, 5 or 7 further comprising the step of casting a flexible foam layer to an elastic film to form the elastic composition layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as in claim 1, 5 or 7 wherein the fabric layer is formed of the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride copolymer, wool, cotton and combinations thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
A process as in claim 1, 5 or 7 wherein: the process further comprises the step of bonding a flexible foam layer to a thermoplastic film layer, and bonding the foam layer to the fabric layer in order to form the cloth; and the heating step includes the step of heating the cloth to at least the softening temperature of the film layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: bonding a flexible foam layer to a thermoplastic film layer, the foam layer and film layer forming an elastic composition layer; bonding the foam layer to a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, the cloth comprising the foam layer, film layer and fabric layer; drawing the cloth into a mold; heating the cloth to at least the greater of the set temperature of the fabric layer and the softening temperature of the film layer; and cooling the cloth in the mold, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber of the fabric layer and the film layer to the shape of the mold.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for molding cloth comprising the steps of: bonding a flexible foam layer to a thermoplastic film layer, the foam layer and film layer forming an elastic composition layer; bonding the foam layer to a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, the cloth comprising the foam layer, film layer and fabric layer; drawing the cloth into a mold; heating the cloth to at least the greater of the set temperature of the fabric layer and the softening temperature of the film layer; and cooling the cloth in the mold, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber of the fabric layer and the film layer to the shape of the mold.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process as in claim 2, 6 or 17 wherein the film layer is formed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, a mixture of natural and synthetic rubber, neoprene-basis composition, and acrylic acid basis composition.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as in claim 1, 5 or 17 wherein the drawing step includes the step of creating a vacuum between the cloth and the mold to thereby conform the cloth to the shape of the mold.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as in claim 1, 3, 5 or 17 further comprising the step of pouring foam into the mold after the cooling step.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for forming a cloth-covered foam filled item comprising the steps of: bonding a flexible foam layer to a thermoplastic film layer, the foam layer and film layer forming an elastic composition layer; bonding the foam layer to a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, the stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, the cloth comprising the foam layer, film layer and the fabric layer; preheating the cloth to a temperature of at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of the film layer; drawing the cloth into a mold; heating the cloth to at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of the film layer; cooling the cloth; and pouring foam into the mold, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber of the fabric layer and the film layer to the shape of the mold and filling the back side of the molded cloth with foam.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for forming a cloth-covered foam filled item comprising the steps of: bonding a flexible foam layer to a thermoplastic film layer, the foam layer and film layer forming an elastic composition layer; bonding the foam layer to a fabric layer having a heat-fixable fiber, the stitches of the fabric having never been thermally set, the cloth comprising the foam layer, film layer and the fabric layer; preheating the cloth to a temperature of at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of the film layer; drawing the cloth into a mold; heating the cloth to at least the greater of the set temperature of the heat-fixable fiber and the softening temperature of the film layer; cooling the cloth; and pouring foam into the mold, the process heat-fixing the heat-fixable fiber of the fabric layer and the film layer to the shape of the mold and filling the back side of the molded cloth with foam.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 1, 5 or 21 wherein the heating step comprises the step of passing hot gas over the cloth during the drawing step.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2361371A
Cited
US3461504A
Cited
GB1325622A
Cited
DE2227143A1
Cited
US4025372A
Cited
US3954537A
Cited
US4046611A
Cited
US4089919A
Cited
US3941633A
Cited
US4114213A
Cited
US4060280A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-27 | 1984-07-28 | 1985-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-27 | 1988-07-28 | 1989-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-27 | 1992-07-28 | 1993-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |