Nelson E Sweezy

US Patent:

46685537, May 26, 1987

Filed:

Jul 28, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/890915

Inventors:

Eddie W. Scott - Mebane NC
Nelson E. Sweezy - Charlotte NC

Assignee:

Collins & Aikman Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

B32B 302
B32B 3300

US Classification:

428 92

Abstract:

A pile fabric is formed of interengaging ground yarns and cut pile tufts. The tufts are formed of wrap yarns extending upwardly from the ground yarns and forming the face of the fabric. Each of the wrap yarns comprises a body strand of untwisted staple fibers and a crimped textured binder strand which has extensible and retractable properties. In the wrap yarn, the binder strand is helically wrapped around the body strand in an axially extended and tensioned condition and is reduced in bulk compared to the condition the binder strand would assume when relaxed. When tufts formed of such wrap yarns are cut to form the face of a cut pile fabric, the binder strands retract and position themselves inwardly away from the face of the pile fabric so as to be hidden among the pile tufts and not visible. The retraction of the binder yarns and the appearance, hand and integrity of the resulting fabric can all be enhanced by various finishing processes.