Dimensionally Stable Carpet
AssigneeTandus Centiva Inc.
InventorsPaul Daniel Evans, JR., Terrell Bradley Marler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A floor-covering article has an upper layer with yarns that extend through a primary backing and are at least partially secured to the primary backing by polymeric material, wherein the yarns define an exterior upper surface of the article; an intermediate layer connected to the upper layer; and a secondary backing connected to the intermediate layer so that the intermediate layer is positioned between the upper layer and the secondary backing. The article includes cut peripheral side edges. The length and/or width of the article can be at least about 3 feet. At least one of the peripheral side edges of the secondary backing can define an upright, outwardly-oriented side face extending obliquely to the bottom surface of the secondary backing.
Claims37
A finished article for covering a floor, the finished article comprising:
- an upper layer comprising yarns that extend through a primary backing and are at least partially secured to the primary backing by polymeric material, wherein the yarns at least partially define an exterior upper surface of the finished article;
- an intermediate layer connected to the upper layer;
- and
- a secondary backing connected to the intermediate layer so that the intermediate layer is positioned between the upper layer and the secondary backing,
- wherein the finished article comprises a plurality of cut peripheral side edges, the plurality of cut peripheral side edges comprises three cut peripheral side edges, at least two of the cut peripheral side edges extend crosswise to one another, and at least one dimension of the finished article selected from a length and a width of the finished article is at least about 3 feet.
A finished article for covering a floor, the finished article comprising:
- a backing having opposite top and bottom surfaces, the backing comprising a textile web and polymeric material;
- and
- a plurality of yarns extending upwardly from the backing, wherein the yarns extend through the textile web and are at least partially secured to the textile web by the polymeric material,
- wherein the backing includes a peripheral side edge defining an upright, outwardly-oriented side face extending both along a length of the finished article and between the top and bottom surfaces of the backing, and the side face extends obliquely to both of the top and bottom surfaces of the backing.
A floor covering, comprising:
- a plurality of articles covering a floor, wherein
- the plurality of articles comprises first and second articles that each comprise
- a backing having opposite top and bottom surfaces, and
- a plurality of yarns connected to the backing and extending upwardly from the top surface of the backing;
- for each article of the first and second articles, the backing of the article includes a peripheral side edge defining an upright, outwardly-oriented backing side face extending both along a length of the article and between the top and bottom surfaces of the backing, and the backing side face extends obliquely to both of the top and bottom surfaces of the backing;
- for each article of the first and second articles, the plurality of yarns of the article has a peripheral side edge defining an upright, outwardly-oriented yarn side face extending both along and upwardly from proximate the backing side face of the article;
- the yarn side face of the first article is in opposing face-to-face engagement with the yarn side face of the second article along the lengths of the first and second articles;
- the backing side face of the first article is in opposing face-to-face relation with the backing side face of the second article along the lengths of the first and second articles;
- an elongate gap is defined between at least a lower portion of the backing side face of the first article and a lower portion of the backing side face of the second article;
- and
- the elongate gap extends along the lengths of the first and second articles.
A method for at least partially forming an article configured for covering a floor;
- the method comprising:
- cutting a peripheral side edge of the article, wherein
- the article comprises
- a backing having opposite top and bottom surfaces, and
- a plurality of yarns connected to the backing and extending upwardly from the top surface of the backing;
- the cutting of the peripheral side edge is comprised of cutting so that the peripheral side edge comprises an upright, outwardly-oriented side face extending both along a length of the article and between the top and bottom surfaces of the backing, and the side face extends obliquely to both of the top and bottom surfaces of the backing;
- and
- the cutting of the peripheral side edge is comprised of a computerized cutting machine moving a cutter along a length of the peripheral side edge to cut the peripheral side edge.
A method for at least partially forming an article configured for covering a floor;
- the method comprising:
- cutting a peripheral side edge of the article, wherein
- the article comprises
- a backing having opposite top and bottom surfaces, and
- a plurality of yarns connected to the backing and extending
- upwardly from the top surface of the backing, and
- the cutting of the peripheral side edge is comprised of a computerized cutting machine moving a cutter so that the cutter forms at least one a cut line in the backing;
- and
- at least partially forming a parting line in the yarns in advance of the moving cutter, so that the parting line is formed in advance of, and is substantially aligned with, the cut line being formed in the backing by the moving cutter.
A knife apparatus, comprising:
- a shank having length and a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the shank;
- and
- a cutting blade extending fixedly from the shank, the cutting blade having a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the cutting blade, wherein
- the longitudinal axis of the cutting blade extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the shank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.