US3917448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Random fiber webs and method of making same
Assignee: RONDO MACHINE CORP
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Filing: 1973-01-04
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1993-01-04
Abstract
Abstract Random fiber webs are made from fibers, having different coefficients of heat shrinkage. When the web is subjected to heat the shrinking of the heat-shrinkable fibers causes the lower shrinkage fibers to buckle and loop so that air spaces are created and the bulk and texture of the web is improved. Various types of fibers, natural, synthetic, mineral, etc., may be employed. Also composite synthetic filaments may be used in which the core and sheath have different coefficients of heat shrinkage.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis E Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:16
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/04; D04H1/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24058; Y10T428/24124; Y10T428/24132; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249922; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2904; Y10T428/2909; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/697
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A PROCESS OF MAKING A NON-WOVEN FABRIC HAVING A HIGH DEGREE OF LOFT, WHICH COMPRISES AERODYNAMICALLY DEPOSITING DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIBERS SOME RETRACTABLE AND OTHERS NON-RETRACTABLE UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE PROCESS, SIMULTANEOUSLY IN AN AREA WHERE SAID FIBERS INTERMINGLE TO FORM A WEB HAVING A RANDOM PATTERN OF FIBER ARRANGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH, BREADTH AND DEPTH OF SAID WEB, SYSTEMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE DEPOSITION OF SAID FIBERS IN SAID AREA TO VARY THE PREDOMINANCE OF ONE TYPE OF FIBER OVER OTHERS OF SAID DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIBERS IN ZONE ARRANGED DEPTHWISE OF AND ESSENTIALLY PARALLEL WITH THE MAJOR SURFACES OF SAID WEB, A ZONE DELIMITED BY A MAJOR FACE OF SAID WEB BEING COMPOSED OF PREDOMINANTLY DIFFERENT FIBERS THAN THOSE OF A ZONE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THERETO, AND TO POSITIONED SAID FIBERS SO THAT SOME EXTEND FROM ONE ZONE INTO ANOTHER AND SOME THROUGH ALL OF THE PLURALITY OF ZONES LYING BETWEEN THE MAJOR SURFACES OF SAID WEB AND THEREAFTER, SUBJECTING SAID ZONED WEB TO A RETRACTING OPERATON TO EFFECT SHRINKAGE OF SAID RETRACTABLE FIBERS AND CAUSE SAID RETRACTABLE FIBERS TO LOOP, BUCKLE AND CURL AND, THEREBY LOCK ADJACENT FIBERS TOGETHER AT THEIR POINTS OF CONTACT AND TIE SAID WEB STRUCTURE TOGETHER FROM WITHIN WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY ELIMIATING INTERFIBER VOIDS,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
A PROCESS OF MAKING A NON-WOVEN FABRIC HAVING A HIGH DEGREE OF LOFT, WHICH COMPRISES AERODYNAMICALLY DEPOSITING DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIBERS SOME RETRACTABLE AND OTHERS NON-RETRACTABLE UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE PROCESS, SIMULTANEOUSLY IN AN AREA WHERE SAID FIBERS INTERMINGLE TO FORM A WEB HAVING A RANDOM PATTERN OF FIBER ARRANGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH, BREADTH AND DEPTH OF SAID WEB, SYSTEMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE DEPOSITION OF SAID FIBERS IN SAID AREA TO VARY THE PREDOMINANCE OF ONE TYPE OF FIBER OVER OTHERS OF SAID DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIBERS IN ZONE ARRANGED DEPTHWISE OF AND ESSENTIALLY PARALLEL WITH THE MAJOR SURFACES OF SAID WEB, A ZONE DELIMITED BY A MAJOR FACE OF SAID WEB BEING COMPOSED OF PREDOMINANTLY DIFFERENT FIBERS THAN THOSE OF A ZONE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THERETO, AND TO POSITIONED SAID FIBERS SO THAT SOME EXTEND FROM ONE ZONE INTO ANOTHER AND SOME THROUGH ALL OF THE PLURALITY OF ZONES LYING BETWEEN THE MAJOR SURFACES OF SAID WEB AND THEREAFTER, SUBJECTING SAID ZONED WEB TO A RETRACTING OPERATON TO EFFECT SHRINKAGE OF SAID RETRACTABLE FIBERS AND CAUSE SAID RETRACTABLE FIBERS TO LOOP, BUCKLE AND CURL AND, THEREBY LOCK ADJACENT FIBERS TOGETHER AT THEIR POINTS OF CONTACT AND TIE SAID WEB STRUCTURE TOGETHER FROM WITHIN WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY ELIMIATING INTERFIBER VOIDS,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of making a nonwoven fabric according to claim 1, wherein the retractable fibers are heat-shrinkable, and the other fibers are non-heat-shrinkable, and heat is applied to the web after its formation to retract the heat-shrinkable fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
THE METHOD OF MAKING A MONWOVEN FABRIC ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1, WHEREIN THE RETRACTABLE FIBERS ARE NATURAL CELLULOSIC FIBERS AND RETRACTION IS EFFECTED BY TREATING THE WEB WITH A SODIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTION OF MERCERIZING STRENGTH.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of making a nonwoven fabric according to claim 1, wherein the retractable fibers are water-shrinkable, and shrinkage is effected by treating the web with water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of making a nonwoven fabric according to claim 1, wherein one major surface, at least, of the web is ornamented with an in-depth colored design by printing a colored design on said one surface, and causing the retractable fibers to shrink, whereby the colored surface extends in depth down into the retracted material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A NON-WOVEN FIBER WEB PRODUCED BY THE PROCESS OF CLAIM 1.
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) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |