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US4579763A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for forming densified tufted carpet tiles by shrinking primary backing

Assignee: Armstrong World Industries Inc
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Filing: 1985-06-17
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2005-06-17
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Abstract

Abstract A heat-shrinkable backing material, which preferably is a spun-bonded polyolefin backing material, is tufted with a relatively heat stable yarn and the tufted backing is subjected to a temperature of not less than 300° F. The applied temperature induces the tufted backing to shrink, thereby increasing the tuft density by not less than about 130% so as to produce an unbacked, densely tufted carpet tile. A secondary backing is then applied to provide a stable structure.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jeanne L. Mitman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 05:36
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/06; B29C61/0608; B29C61/0658; D; D05; D05C; D05C17/00; D05C17/02; D05C17/023; D06; D06N; D06N7/00; D06N7/0063; D06N7/0065; D06N7/0068; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/765; B29L2031/7652; D06N2201/00; D06N2201/02; D06N2201/0245; D06N2201/0254; D06N2201/0263; D06N2201/04; D06N2201/042; D10; D10B; D10B2321/00; D10B2321/02; D10B2321/022; D10B2401/00; D10B2401/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23907; Y10T428/23979; Y10T428/23986; Y10T428/23993

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
A process for forming a densified tufted carpet tile, said process comprising the steps of selecting a heat shrinkable primary backing material, said backing material being capable of shrinking to not more than 85% of its initial dimensions when subjected to a temperature of not less than 300° F.; tufting said backing with a yarn which will not be adversely affected by the shrinkage conditions; placing the tufted backing on a tenter frame; subjecting the tufted backing to a temperature not less than 300° F., thereby inducing said backing to shrink so as to increase the tuft density by at least 130%; and applying a secondary backing to the densified tufted backing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
A process for forming a densified tufted carpet tile, said process comprising the steps of selecting a heat shrinkable primary backing material, said backing material being capable of shrinking to not more than 85% of its initial dimensions when subjected to a temperature of not less than 300° F.; tufting said backing with a yarn which will not be adversely affected by the shrinkage conditions; placing the tufted backing on a tenter frame; subjecting the tufted backing to a temperature not less than 300° F., thereby inducing said backing to shrink so as to increase the tuft density by at least 130%; and applying a secondary backing to the densified tufted backing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said primary backing is a spun bonded backing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said backing comprises polyolefin fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 10 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said fiber is polypropylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said tuft density is increased by at least 150%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 107 words
A densified tufted carpet tile comprising tufting, a primary backing and a secondary backing, said tile being obtained from the heating on a tenter frame of a heat shrinkable primary backing at a temperature of not less than about 300° F. such that said backing shrank to not more than 85% of its initial dimensions, said backing having been pretufted with a yarn which was not adversely affected by the heating conditions, said heating having caused an increase in tuft density of at least 130% relative to the initial tuft density, said densified primary backing having been provided with a secondary backing after densification of said tufting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 107 words
A densified tufted carpet tile comprising tufting, a primary backing and a secondary backing, said tile being obtained from the heating on a tenter frame of a heat shrinkable primary backing at a temperature of not less than about 300° F. such that said backing shrank to not more than 85% of its initial dimensions, said backing having been pretufted with a yarn which was not adversely affected by the heating conditions, said heating having caused an increase in tuft density of at least 130% relative to the initial tuft density, said densified primary backing having been provided with a secondary backing after densification of said tufting.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The product of claim 6 wherein said primary backing is a spun bonded backing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 11 words
The product of claim 7 wherein said backing comprises polyolefin fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 10 words
The product of claim 8 wherein said fiber is polypropylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
The product of claim 6 wherein said tuft density was increased by at least 150%.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2988800A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-03-31 1989-09-30 1990-04-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-03-31 1993-09-30 1994-04-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-03-31 1997-09-30 1998-04-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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