US PATENT SUBCLASS 28 / 103
.~ Fiber entangling and interlocking

Current as of: June, 1999
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28 /   HD   TEXTILES: MANUFACTURING

100  DF  TEXTILE PRODUCT FABRICATION OR TREATMENT {4}
103.~ Fiber entangling and interlocking {4}
104  DF  .~.~> By fluid jet needling or perforating {1}
106  DF  .~.~> To form perforations
107  DF  .~.~> Needling {8}
116  DF  .~.~> Compressive manipulation {8}

DEFINITION

Classification: 28/103

(under subclass 100) Method or apparatus wherein the component members of a nonwoven textile article or structure are rearranged to intermingle, one with the other, and are held in such intermingled condition by interfiber friction existing therebetween.

(1) Note. The term "nonwoven" as utilized herein includes a

textile article or structure assembled by operations other than weaving, knitting, braiding, lacing, knotting or sewing, particularly including a textile article or structure assembled by needling, felting, cross-laying (not found in this subclass) and combinations thereof.

(2) Note. The term "fiber" as utilized herein generally intends the fundamental unit of determinate, i.e., staple, length in the preparation of a textile article or structure but may also include a thread of substantial determinate or indeterminate length which is either used in the preparation of an individual needled or felted nonwoven article or structure or as a nonwoven entity of a composite needled or felted nonwoven article or structure.

(3) Note. Fiber entangling and interlocking of a thread or a thread interlaced article or fabric, per se, as by needling or felting for example, is excluded from this subclass since such treatment operations serve to enhance or embellish rather than to create or establish the textile article or structure. However, the preparation of a base, layer or substrate by a thread interlacing operation such as by weaving, knitting or the like, which base, layer or substrate is subsequently utilized in the manufacture of a composite nonwoven article or structure is included herein.

(4) Note. Fiber entangling and interlocking by subjecting a nonwoven textile structure under tensionless conditions to the influence of a fluid medium to develop latent shrinkage tendencies of the component members thereof, i.e., relaxation after treatment is found herein.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 271+, for entangling a running length of thread by fluid jet.

281, for entangling a running length of thread by latent bulk or crimp development.

282+, for blooming or dephasing a running length of bulked or crimped tow where the intent is not to create a coherent, entangled, unitary, nonwoven web.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

19, Textiles: Fiber Preparation,

296+, for assembling a web-like structure in a manner not found elsewhere.

65, Glass Manufacturing,

443+, and 531+ for processes and apparatus, respectively, for combined glass filament formation and nonwoven web formation with coating or treatment thereto.

264, Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes,

109+, for methods of forming articles by uniting randomly associated particles which are either fused at their cross-over points or adhesively bound to one another.

419, Powder Metallurgy Processes, appropriate subclasses for processes of forming articles by uniting particulate material containing metal particles. 425, Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus,

80.1+, for air felting type shaping means.