US4255231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carpet etching
Assignee: Congoleum Corp
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Filing: 1979-06-13
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Granted: 1981-03-10
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Expires: 1999-06-13
Abstract
Abstract Multi-level nylon pile fabrics having a selectively etched surface and a process of developing an etched effect that comprises selectively applying a chemical fiber etching agent to the surface of a level pile fabric, controlling the depth of penetration into said fabric and heating in the presence of steam to a temperature of 180° F.-250° F. to destroy part of the pile in the treated areas and thus to reduce the height of the pile in the treated areas creating the desired multi-level effect.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Boba
- 👤 Robert P. Conger
- 👤 William H. Pedrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:20
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06Q; D06Q1/00; D06Q1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A process for producing an etched effect on nylon pile fabric having a wearing surface of nylon fibers that comprises applying to said nylon fibers in defined areas of the surface of said pile a chemical etching agent for said fibers blended with a thickening agent to form a paste wherein said etching agent is present in a concentration sufficient to effect destruction of the portions of said fibers contacted with said paste and wherein said etching agent comprises one or more acids or acid salts having a dissociation constant stronger than acetic acid, and providing said resulting paste with a hydrogen ion concentration equivalent to a pH no higher than 1, contacting said portions of said fibers remote from the base of said fabric to which said fibers are secured with said paste, and maintaining said paste in contact therewith, in an atmosphere of steam, for a period of time sufficient to destroy that portion of each of said fibers of said pile contacted by said paste to a predetermined depth remote from said base to render that part of the fibers mechanically removable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A process for producing an etched effect on nylon pile fabric having a wearing surface of nylon fibers that comprises applying to said nylon fibers in defined areas of the surface of said pile a chemical etching agent for said fibers blended with a thickening agent to form a paste wherein said etching agent is present in a concentration sufficient to effect destruction of the portions of said fibers contacted with said paste and wherein said etching agent comprises one or more acids or acid salts having a dissociation constant stronger than acetic acid, and providing said resulting paste with a hydrogen ion concentration equivalent to a pH no higher than 1, contacting said portions of said fibers remote from the base of said fabric to which said fibers are secured with said paste, and maintaining said paste in contact therewith, in an atmosphere of steam, for a period of time sufficient to destroy that portion of each of said fibers of said pile contacted by said paste to a predetermined depth remote from said base to render that part of the fibers mechanically removable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said paste is applied to printed wet pile.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said atmosphere of steam is superheated and is maintained at a temperature within the range of 180° F. and 250° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said etched effect is made in register with a printed color design on said fiber and said paste is clear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said paste is a color print paste.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said paste has a viscosity of from about 3000 cps to 60,000 cps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said paste is maintained in contact with said fibers for a period of 4 to 30 minutes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said etched sculptured effect is achieved at multiple levels by application of a plurality of pastes containing a different etching agent or the same or different etching agents in different concentrations, or the same or different thickening agents in different concentrations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said paste and the etched portions of said fibers are contacted with an aqueous medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said aqueous medium is alkaline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said paste contains as its etching agent, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phophoric acid, mixtures thereof, or a mixture of one or all of the foregoing with p-toluene sulfonic acid or with sodium acid sulfate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said etching agent is sulfuric acid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said sulfuric acid is present in said paste in a concentration of about 29 percent to about 35 percent by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said etching agent is a mixture of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said etching agent is hydrochloric acid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said etching agent is a mixture of sulfuric acid and p-toluene sulfonic acid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said etching agent is a mixture of sodium acid sulfate and sulfuric acid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 for producing an etched effect on nylon pile fabric wherein the portions of each of said fibers of said pile destroyed by said paste are mechanically removed to provide an etched sculptured effect in the areas of said pile treated with said paste.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein said etching agent is phosphoric acid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1984-03-09 | 1984-09-08 | 1985-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-09 | 1988-09-08 | 1989-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-09 | 1992-09-08 | 1993-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |