US4401708A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nonwoven fabric and method of bonding same using microwave energy and a polar solvent
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1981-12-07
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A method of producing a nonwoven fabric from a web of fibers, said fibers being substantially nonreactive to microwave energy, comprising applying a microwave reactive material to fibers in said web, subjecting the web to microwave energy at a temperature and for a time to heat said microwave reactive material sufficiently to cause bonding at at least some of the fiber intersections in said web thereby producing a nonwoven web. The resulting nonwoven fabric has a number of uses and is especially suitable as primary carpet backing.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R. Paul
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:48
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06M; D06M11/00; D06M11/32; D06M11/34; D06M10/00; D06M10/003; D06M11/36; D06M11/48; D06M11/50; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24826; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/69
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of producing a nonwoven fabric from a web of fibers, said fibers being substantially nonreactive to microwave energy, comprising applying a solvent having (1) sufficient polarity to be heated by microwave radiation and (2) a solubility parameter close to the solubility parameter of the fibers of the web to fibers in said web, subjecting the web to microwave energy at a temperature and for a time to heat said microwave heatable solvent sufficiently to cause bonding at at least some of the fiber intersections in said web thereby producing a nonwoven web.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of producing a nonwoven fabric from a web of fibers, said fibers being substantially nonreactive to microwave energy, comprising applying a solvent having (1) sufficient polarity to be heated by microwave radiation and (2) a solubility parameter close to the solubility parameter of the fibers of the web to fibers in said web, subjecting the web to microwave energy at a temperature and for a time to heat said microwave heatable solvent sufficiently to cause bonding at at least some of the fiber intersections in said web thereby producing a nonwoven web.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fibers are at least in part polyester resin fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fibers are at least in part polyamide resin fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said web is given a pretreatment to improve receptivity of fibers in the web to the microwave reactive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said pretreatment is exposure to corona discharge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said pretreatment is exposure to UV light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said pretreatment is chemical etching.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent is benzyl alcohol, nitro benzene, m-cresol, or trichloroacetic acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A nonwoven fabric having individual fibers bonded at intersections by bonds weaker than the fibers, the tenacity of the fibers being not substantially less at bond points than at other points in the fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A nonwoven fabric having individual fibers bonded at intersections by bonds weaker than the fibers, the tenacity of the fibers being not substantially less at bond points than at other points in the fiber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3053609A
Cited
US3949111A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |