Method for producing random-appearing patterns on fabric: nodes and line segments
AssigneeMilliken Research Corporation
InventorWilliam M. Pascoe, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is disclosed for permanently patterning a textile fabric with a visually pleasing random-appearing network of line segments, as well as the fabrics produced thereby. The fabric is preferably calendered on at least one side, then packed into a heated chamber via a multi-stage folding or pleating process. The packed fabric is retained in the heated chamber a sufficient time to heat set the network of creases generated by the packing process. The fabric may then be dyed; creased portions of the fabric appear more saturated with dye.
Claims13
A method for imparting a pattern of nodes and interconnecting line segments having a random appearance to a moving web of textile fabric comprising synthetic yarns and having a relatively hard calendered surface comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing pleats into said calendered fabric in a warp direction;
- (b) introducing folds into said pleated fabric, which folds extend in a transverse direction relative to said pleats;
- (c) wadding said pleated and folded fabric into a confined space in a manner which creates random-appearing creases in said fabric;
- and
- (d) heating said wadded and creased fabric in said confined space under conditions sufficient to heat set said creases in said fabric while moving said fabric through said confined space.
A flat, dye textile fabric having a calendered surface comprised of heat-settable fibers, said calendered surface being dyed and carrying a pattern thereon, said pattern comprised of a plurality of nodes and line segments, said line segments having substantially different lengths, directions, and degrees of sharpness and/or thickness, most of said line segments emanating or terminating in groups of at least three at one or another of said nodes, which nodes are non-uniformly distributed over said fabric surface, forming thereby a substantially interconnected dyed network of nodes and line segments which appear on a contrasting background of calendered fabric, said network and said background having been dyed with the same dye.
A heat settable textile fabric dyed with a single color dye having a fae comprised of synthetic pile fibers, at least some of which have a somewhat flattened cross section and which have been crimped irregularly along their length, said fabric carrying a dyed pattern comprising a plurality of nodes and line segments, said line segments having substantailly different lengths, directions, and degrees of sharpness and/or thickness, most of said line segments emanating or terminating in groups of at least three at one or another of said nodes, which nodes are non-uniformly distributed over said fabric surface, forming thereby a substantially interconnected network of nodes and line segments which appear on a contrasting background of pile fabric, said background containing a substantially lower concentration of said dye than is found in said nodes and line segments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.