Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Coated or structually defined flake – particle – cell – strand,... – Rod – strand – filament or fiber
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-27
2003-12-02
Edwards, N. (Department: 1774)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand,...
Rod, strand, filament or fiber
C428S399000, C428S310500, C428S373000, C428S374000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06656586
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to bicomponent fibers comprising poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(trimethylene terephthalate), particularly such fibers having a plurality of longitudinal grooves.
2. Description of Background Art
Polyester bicomponent fibers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,671,379 and Published Japanese Patent Application JP08-060442, and non-round polyester fibers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,914,488, 4,634,625, 5,626,961, 5,736,243, 5,834,119, and 5,817,740. However, such fibers can lack sufficient crimp levels and/or wicking rates, and fibers with improved wicking are still needed for dry comfort, especially in combination with the high stretch desired for today's apparel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a bicomponent fiber comprising poly(ethylene terephthalate) in contact with poly(trimethylene terephthalate) wherein the weight ratio of poly(ethylene terephthalate) to poly(trimethylene terephthalate) is at least about 30:70 and no more than about 70:30 and wherein the bicomponent fiber has:
(a) a scalloped oval cross-section selected from the group consisting of side-by-side and eccentric sheath-core;
(b) a cross-section long axis;
(c) a boundary between the poly(ethylene terephthalate) and the poly(trimethylene terephthalate) that is substantially parallel to the long axis, and
(d) a plurality of longitudinal grooves.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a bicomponent fiber selected from the group consisting of fully-drawn continuous filament, fully-oriented continuous filament, partially oriented continuous filament, and fully-drawn staple wherein the fiber comprises poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(trimethylene terephthalate) and has:
a weight ratio of poly(ethylene terephthalate) to poly(trimethylene terephthalate) of at least about 30:70,
a weight ratio of poly(ethylene terephthalate) to poly(trimethylene terephthalate) of no more than about 70:30,
a scalloped oval cross-section selected from the group consisting of side-by-side and eccentric sheath-core,
a cross-section long axis,
a polymer boundary between the poly(ethylene terephthalate) and the poly(trimethylene terephthalate) and substantially parallel to the cross-section long axis, and
a plurality of longitudinal grooves,
wherein:
when the fiber is a fully-drawn filament, it has an after heat-set crimp contraction value of at least about 30%,
when the fiber is a fully-oriented filament, it has an after heat-set crimp contraction value of at least about 20%
when the fiber is a partially oriented bicomponent filament, it has an as-drawn after heat-set crimp contraction value of at least about 10%, and
when the fiber is a fully-drawn staple, it has a tow crimp take-up value of at least about 10%.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3914448 (1975-10-01), Gorrafa
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patent: 4634625 (1987-01-01), Franklin
patent: 5626961 (1997-05-01), Aneja
patent: 5736243 (1998-04-01), Aneja
patent: 5817740 (1998-10-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5834119 (1998-11-01), Roop
patent: 96060442 (1996-03-01), None
patent: 2002-129433 (2002-05-01), None
patent: WO 97/02373 (1997-01-01), None
patent: WO 02/22926 (2002-03-01), None
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2002129433, Publication Date May 9, 2002, Highly Strechable Polyester-Based Conjugated Fiber.
Hartzog James V.
Howell James M.
Schultze Claudia
Watkins Michelle H.
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
Edwards N.
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