Linear panel
AssigneeHunter Douglas Industries BV
InventorsLars Jacobus Johannes Venjen-Jensen, Michiel Jacobus Johannes Langeveld
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Abstract
A linear wall or ceiling panel comprising and formed from a woven or non-woven fibrous material. Preferably, the material is thermoformable and non-woven and comprises at least one of the group consisting of: bi-core polyester fibers; two different types of fibers having different melting points; a mixture of bi-core polyester fibers and non-bi-core (single core) polyester fibers. The panel is preferably shaped to provide means for mounting the panel to a carrier. Optionally, an end portion may be provided to cover the open longitudinal end of the linear panel.
Claims20
A linear wall or ceiling panel comprising and formed from a thermoformable non-woven fibrous material, the material comprising bi-core polyester fibers, the bi-core polyester fibers comprising an inner core formed from a first polyester material having a first melting temperature and an outer sheath formed from a second polyester material having a second melting/softening temperature that is less than the first melting temperature.
A method of forming a linear panel, the method comprising:
- heating a thermoformable fibrous material comprising bi-core polyester fibers to a processing temperature that is greater than a melting/softening temperature of an outer sheath of the bi-core fibers but lower than the melting point of an inner core of the bi-core fibers;
- and
- applying pressure to deform at least part of the material along its length;
- wherein the panel is produced by a continuous process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.