Carpet tile renewal process and products

Details Carpet tile renewal process and products Carpet tile renewal process and products

2001-06-05

2003-07-01

Cameron, Erma (Department: 1762)

Coating processes

With post-treatment of coating or coating material

Heating or drying

C427S393400

Reexamination Certificate

active

06586053

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the refurbishment of pile carpet, especially carpet tiles, to provide extended wear life without a detrimental affect on the surroundings due to a reduced aesthetic effect by the existing pile carpet due to dirt and/or matting of the pile on the face of the tile. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating the pile face and/or applying a new layer of material to the back surface of a refurbished carpet tile to create a new like appearance for the back surface of the tile.
As described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,381,592 and 5,457,845 hereby incorporated by reference, in the past it has been necessary to replace pile carpet when it became dirty, develops a change in texture in some areas and/or is matted down due to traffic and/or furniture thereon. The replacement of such carpet is expensive due to the price of new carpet and has to be matched to the existing environment. This replacement of carpet, especially carpet tiles, in commercial establishments is an expense which, if it can be avoided, will free up money which can be used for other desirable purposes.
The above described U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,381,592 and 5,457,845 provide a method and apparatus to refurbish cut and loop pile carpet and eliminate the cost of replacement of such tile with new carpet.
In particular, they describe a system wherein pile carpet tiles are refurbished. The invention is directed in general to pile carpet, cut or loop, but is primarily directed to carpet tiles since these are used in commercial establishments and generally receive more wear due to traffic by pedestrians thereon and therefore tend to mat and get dirty quicker than residential carpet. The carpet tiles are usually in 18 inch squares and have pile yarns, cut or loop, like that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,576 hereby incorporated by reference. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the carpet tiles
10
are treated on cooperating conveyors
12
and
14
but, obviously, one continuous conveyor could be used, if desired.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1885464 (1932-11-01), Miller
patent: 2729536 (1956-01-01), Pull et al.
patent: 2986149 (1961-05-01), Brakel
patent: 3046774 (1962-07-01), Glock
patent: 3333291 (1967-08-01), Hondzinski
patent: 3396422 (1968-08-01), Haverberg
patent: 3574526 (1971-04-01), Bell
patent: 3902452 (1975-09-01), Queen et al.
patent: 4103389 (1978-08-01), Resnick et al.
patent: 4268929 (1981-05-01), Sorensen et al.
patent: 4522857 (1985-06-01), Higgins
patent: 5380561 (1995-01-01), Dorn
patent: 5381592 (1995-01-01), Higgins
patent: 5457845 (1995-10-01), Higgins et al.
patent: 5540968 (1996-07-01), Higgins
patent: 5545276 (1996-08-01), Higgins
patent: 5763001 (1998-06-01), Brown
patent: 5948500 (1999-09-01), Higgins
patent: 6203881 (2001-03-01), Higgins
patent: 3429 049 (1986-02-01), None
patent: 200 04 811 (2000-06-01), None
patent: 2038710 (1980-07-01), None
patent: 01224067 (1989-09-01), None
patent: 09078443 (1997-03-01), None
O'Neill , Floor Focus, 2(5), pp 15, 1993.*
Goodman, Floor Covering Weekly, 47(23), pp 13-14, 1998.*
Goodman, Floor Covering Weekly, 51(9), pp 22-23, 2002.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Carpet tile renewal process and products does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Carpet tile renewal process and products, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Carpet tile renewal process and products will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3053422