US4294577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dyed flocked fabric and method of making the same
Assignee: INTERMARK FLOCK Corp
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Filing: 1980-03-25
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Granted: 1981-10-13
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Expires: 2000-03-25
Abstract
Abstract The invention contemplates a flocked fabric and method wherein flock is adhered by a heat-cured flock adhesive to a substrate fabric and wherein a heat-sublimable dye is contained as a component of the adhesive and/or as preprint of the substrate fabric, the adhesive having a curing time and temperature at which such dye substantially sublimes. Various examples are given to achieve different selectively available color patterns and contrasts, as well as different selectively available surface textures in the dyed product.
Inventors
- 👤 Leo N. Bernard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:34
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H11/00; D06; D06C; D06C23/00; D06M; D06M17/00; D06M17/04; D06M17/06; D06P; D06P1/00; D06P1/0024; D06P5/00; D06P5/003; D06P5/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
The method of producing a dyed flocked fabric, which comprises selecting a suitable substrate fabric, coating the substrate fabric with a wet layer of flock adhesive, said adhesive having as an essential component thereof a selected heat-sublimable dye, selecting flock of a material capable of being dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, applying the selected flock to the wet coating of flock adhesive, drying the adhesive at a temperature less than that at which said dye sublimes, and then curing the adhesive by exposing the dried flocked substrate for a predetermined period of time to an elevated curing temperature at which said dye substantially fully sublimes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
The method of producing a dyed flocked fabric, which comprises selecting a suitable substrate fabric, coating the substrate fabric with a wet layer of flock adhesive, said adhesive having as an essential component thereof a selected heat-sublimable dye, selecting flock of a material capable of being dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, applying the selected flock to the wet coating of flock adhesive, drying the adhesive at a temperature less than that at which said dye sublimes, and then curing the adhesive by exposing the dried flocked substrate for a predetermined period of time to an elevated curing temperature at which said dye substantially fully sublimes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, in which said substrate is a woven fabric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, in which said substrate is a knitted fabric.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, in which said fabric is of a material selected from the group comprising cotton, polyester, nylon, acrylic, polyrayon, and acetate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, in which said substrate is a cotton fabric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, in which said substrate is a polyester fabric.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, in which said substrate is a fabric of blended cotton and polyester.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, in which said fabric is of a blended material comprising two or more materials selected from the group comprising cotton, polyester, nylon, acrylic, polyrayon and acetate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, in which said flock is of a material selected from the group comprising nylon, acrylic, and polyester.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, in which an air-embossing step is performed after the flock-application step and prior to the drying step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, as a continuous process, wherein the substrate fabric is an elongate continuously transported web, and continuously winding as a completed product the thus-cured flock-coated substrate web.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11, in which an additional step of gouging the wet-adhesive coating is performed prior to the drying step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the gouging is at equally spaced locations transverse to the direction of web transport.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11, in which a roll-embossing step is performed on the wet-flocked coating prior to the drying step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14, in which the embossing roll is relatively soft and yielding.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11, in which a roll-embossing step is performed on the flocked coating after the drying step and prior to the curing step, the embossing roll being relatively hard and non-yielding.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 11, in which the curing step includes continuously tensed application of the uncoated side of the substrate web to a roll heated at least to curing temperature.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 17, in which the heated roll is pattern-embossed, whereby heat-transfer to the dried web and therefore dye-sublimation are locally enhanced for color contrast in accordance with the embossment pattern.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16, in which the engraved depth of the embossing roll is less than the flock length.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16, in which the engraved depth of the embossing roll is greater than the flock length.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
113 words
The method of producing a dyed flocked fabric, which comprises selecting a substrate fabric having the ability to withstand approximately a four-minute exposure at substantially 400 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature, which comprises coating the substrate fabric with a wet layer of flock adhesive, said adhesive having as an essential component thereof a heat-sublimable dye, selecting flock of a material capable of being dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, applying the selected flock to the wet coating of flock adhesive, drying the adhesive at a temperature so sufficiently below 400 degrees Fahrenheit as not to cure the adhesive, and then curing the adhesive at substantially 400 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of approximately four minutes.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
113 words
The method of producing a dyed flocked fabric, which comprises selecting a substrate fabric having the ability to withstand approximately a four-minute exposure at substantially 400 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature, which comprises coating the substrate fabric with a wet layer of flock adhesive, said adhesive having as an essential component thereof a heat-sublimable dye, selecting flock of a material capable of being dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, applying the selected flock to the wet coating of flock adhesive, drying the adhesive at a temperature so sufficiently below 400 degrees Fahrenheit as not to cure the adhesive, and then curing the adhesive at substantially 400 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of approximately four minutes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21, in which the component proportion of dye in the flock adhesive is in the range up to substantially five percent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 22, in which said range is substantially one to substantially four percent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21, in which the adhesive is of a water-based acrylic.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 21, in which the dye component added to the flock adhesive is a water-based mixture of a selected one or more pure dyes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, in which the adhesive is uniformly applied.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, in which the adhesive is applied in a pattern of localized application.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21, in which the substrate fabric is dyed prior to adhesive application.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
105 words
The method of producing a dyed flocked fabric, which comprises selecting a substrate fabric, printing the substrate fabric with a selected heat-sublimable dye, coating the printed substrate fabric with a wet layer of flock adhesive, selecting flock of a material capable of being dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, applying the selected flock to the wet coating of flock adhesive, drying the adhesive at a temperature substantially less than that at which said dye sublimes, and then curing the adhesive by exposing the dried flocked and printed substrate for a predetermined period of time to an elevated curing temperature at which said dye substantially fully sublimes.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
105 words
The method of producing a dyed flocked fabric, which comprises selecting a substrate fabric, printing the substrate fabric with a selected heat-sublimable dye, coating the printed substrate fabric with a wet layer of flock adhesive, selecting flock of a material capable of being dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, applying the selected flock to the wet coating of flock adhesive, drying the adhesive at a temperature substantially less than that at which said dye sublimes, and then curing the adhesive by exposing the dried flocked and printed substrate for a predetermined period of time to an elevated curing temperature at which said dye substantially fully sublimes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 29, in which said adhesive is clear.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29, in which said adhesive has as an essential component thereof a selected second heat-sublimable dye.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 31, in which the printing step comprises a patterned printing with said first-mentioned dye, said second dye being of different developable color than said first dye, whereby upon sublimation, said second dye has color contrast with respect to patterned printed areas of the fabric.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29, in which the selected substrate fabric is a dyed fabric.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 29, in which the selected substrate fabric is a fabric of natural fibers.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
9 words
The fabric product of the method of claim 1.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
9 words
The fabric product of the method of claim 21.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
9 words
The fabric product of the method of claim 29.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
60 words
A dyed flocked fabric, comprising a substrate fabric, a cured flock adhesive coating on one side of said fabric, and flock adhered to said substrate fabric via said cured adhesive coating, said flock being of a material capable of being dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, and said adhesive coating including as an essential component thereof a substantially sublimed heat-sublimable dye.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
60 words
A dyed flocked fabric, comprising a substrate fabric, a cured flock adhesive coating on one side of said fabric, and flock adhered to said substrate fabric via said cured adhesive coating, said flock being of a material capable of being dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, and said adhesive coating including as an essential component thereof a substantially sublimed heat-sublimable dye.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
67 words
A dyed flocked fabric, comprising a substrate fabric printed with a heat-sublimable dye, a cured flock adhesive coating on one side of said fabric, and flock adhered to said substrate fabric via said cured adhesive coating, said flock being of a material capable of being dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, and said adhesive coating having a curing temperature and curing time at which said dye substantially sublimes.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
67 words
A dyed flocked fabric, comprising a substrate fabric printed with a heat-sublimable dye, a cured flock adhesive coating on one side of said fabric, and flock adhered to said substrate fabric via said cured adhesive coating, said flock being of a material capable of being dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, and said adhesive coating having a curing temperature and curing time at which said dye substantially sublimes.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
The dyed flocked fabric of claim 39, in which said adhesive coating includes as an essential component thereof a second heat-sublimable dye which substantially sublimes in the circumstance of said temperature and time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-10-12 | 1985-04-13 | 1985-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-10-12 | 1989-04-13 | 1989-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-10-12 | 1993-04-13 | 1993-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |