Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for making improved carpet are disclosed comprising the use of plasma discharge units to treat carpet backing surfaces to improve the adhesion of carpet backing layers, the adhesion of carpet backing to the carpet segments and to improve the adhesion of the exterior of the carpet backing to surfaces to which the carpet is applied.
Abstract:
A backing or an intermediate layer for a surface covering is described which comprises a fused recycled material, wherein the material comprises a thermoplastic material, for instance, a vinyl material from a vinyl backed carpet or vinyl backed carpet manufacturing waste or both. Surface coverings containing the backing or intermediate layer of the present invention are also described as well as methods of making the backing or intermediate layer and methods of making the surface coverings containing the backing or intermediate layer of the present invention.
Abstract:
A carpet in tile or roll form is produced using an open mesh reinforced foam layer with foam nodules. The carpet is produced having a primary backing through which carpet fiber bundles are tufted and a precoat layer which locks the tufts in place to prevent easy extraction of the fibers so that a tufted face and a relatively smooth back face are provided. The foam layer with foam nodules is brought into intimate contact with the relatively smooth back face, and is substantially permanently adhered to it producing a carpet tile or roll that is substantially prevented from curling or doming (or they are significantly reduced) and may be installed without adhesive if desired. Adhering may be practiced by using a non-fused adhesive formulation which is subsequently fused at a low temperature (about 310null F. or less), or by forcing the foam layer with foam nodules into contact with the carpet back while the hot melt backing is still in a fluid form, or by use of a thermoplastic layer between the carpet and foam sheet.
Abstract:
A flooring system for use in a residential environment. The flooring system includes a subfloor adapted to support the mass of a user and modular surface covering elements for disposition in edge to edge covering arrangement across at least a portion of the subfloor. The modular surface covering elements include a pile fabric face with an arrangement of yarns projecting outwardly defining a pile layer for contact by a user. At least one layer of cushioning material is disposed in contacting relation at a position below the pile fabric face.
Abstract:
Constructions for surface coverings such as wall coverings or floor coverings are provided. Components for surface coverings, precursors, materials, and the like are also provided. In one embodiment, a pile fabric suitable for use as a primary carpet fabric within a carpet construction or composite such as a cushioned carpet or tile includes a plurality of pile-forming yarns tufted through or adhered to a primary backing of integral dimensionally stable character. A cushioning layer of foam, felt, fabric, or other suitable cushioning material may be disposed at a position below the primary carpet fabric.
Abstract:
Improvements in preventing heat- and moisture-shrink problems in specific polypropylene tape fibers are provided. Such fibers are basically manufactured through the initial production of polypropylene films or tubes which are then slit into very thin, though flat (and having very high cross sectional aspect ratios) tape fibers thereafter. Such fibers (and thus the initial films and/or tubes) require the presence of certain compounds that quickly and effectively provide rigidity to the target polypropylene tape fiber after heat-setting. Generally, these compounds include any structure that nucleates polymer crystals within the target polypropylene after exposure to sufficient heat to melt the initial pelletized polymer and upon allowing such a melt to cool. The compounds must nucleate polymer crystals at a higher temperature than the target polypropylene without the nucleating agent during cooling. In such a manner, the nullrigidifyingnull nucleator compounds provide nucleation sites for polypropylene crystal growth. Upon slitting of the initial film and/or tube, the fiber is then exposed to sufficient heat to grow the crystalline network, thus holding the fiber in a desired position. The preferred nullrigidifyingnull compounds include dibenzylidene sorbitol based compounds, as well as less preferred compounds, such as sodium benzoate, certain sodium and lithium phosphate salts (such as sodium 2,2null-methylene-bis-(4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate, otherwise known as NA-11). Specific methods of manufacture of such inventive tape fibers, as well as fabric articles made therefrom, are also encompassed within this invention.
Abstract:
A layered cushioned composite such as a carpet or carpet tile which in at least one embodiment incorporates a layer of stabilizing material and a layer of adhesive material below a primary carpet and above a layer of compressed particle, recycled and/or rebond foam or cushioning material and having special applicability to the residential market, especially the residential do-it-yourself market. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the residential carpet tile has a high twist frieze face, a polyurethane rebond foam cushion, and a non-square shape providing for interlocking with adjacent or abutting carpet tiles.
Abstract:
Raised access flooring utilizing panels having a thick, resilient pad bonded directly to and covering the entire surface of the panel. The pad acts like the backing layer of a conventional floor treatment by absorbing impact and attenuation sound. A reinforced face cloth module having only a face layer and a stabilizing layer covers the pad to protect the pad from wear and to provide an attractive floor treatment. The reinforced face cloth module can be detachable or bonded directly to the pad. Alternatively, hook and loop fasteners can removably affix the pad to the face cloth module.
Abstract:
An improved low weight cushioned flooring, floor covering, carpet, carpet tile, and method is provided. The low weight, cushioned carpet includes a low weight primary carpet having a base and a plurality of pile-forming yarns projecting outwardly from one side. A layer of reinforcement material is bonded to the base on the side opposite the pile forming yarns. The reinforcement layer is adjacent to and may be embedded in, a cushion layer of a polymer such as a polyurethane. An apparatus and process for forming the low weight cushioned carpet or carpet tile of the present invention are also provided.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed at a carpet which comprises a) yarn tufted into a primary backing, wherein the primary backing has a face side and a back side and wherein the yarn is adhesively attached to the primary backing; b) a woven secondary backing with a first side and a second side wherein the first side is directly or indirectly attached to the back side of the primary backing; and c) a thermoplastic polymer layer adjacent to the second side of the secondary backing, wherein the polymer layer is attached to the secondary backing via melt bonding. The present invention is also directed at a method of manufacturing a carpet including: tufting a yarn into a primary backing, wherein the primary backing has a face side and a back side; adhesively affixing the yarn to the primary backing; providing a woven secondary backing having a first side and a second side; attaching directly or indirectly the first side of the secondary backing to the back side of the primary backing; and applying a thermoplastic polymer layer to the second side of the secondary backing under conditions suitable to melt bond the thermoplastic polymer layer to the secondary backing.