Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Including variation in thickness
Patent
1996-04-02
1998-03-31
Choi, Kathleen
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Including variation in thickness
428 74, 42831111, 296191, B60R 1302
Patent
active
057336318
ABSTRACT:
A soft panel has a layer formed from thermoplastic fiber clusters comprised of a very high percentage of crooked matrix fibers and a very low percentage of crooked binder fibers with a lower melt temperature and wherein the fibers have a plurality of bends that entangle the fibers together in the clusters. The fiber clusters are blown onto a first foraminous screen that defines a retainer side of the fiber layer and through which air is being drawn. A second foraminous screen is then added to compact the fiber clusters and define a skin side of the fiber layer. Hot air is then circulated through the compacted fiber clusters to melt the binder fibers to fuse the matrix fibers together where they touch to form an integral soft springy fiber cluster layer to the shape of the screens. The second screen is then removed and a layer of thermoplastic power is sprayed onto a thermoplastic veil draped over the fiber cluster layer while the latter remains on the first screen and air is drawn through this screen and the veil to retain the power layer in place. A skin and a retainer are then bonded to the fiber cluster layer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4411944 (1983-10-01), Moore
patent: 4794038 (1988-12-01), Marcus
patent: 5169580 (1992-12-01), Marcus
patent: 5200252 (1993-04-01), Kelman
patent: 5254402 (1993-10-01), Okubo et al.
Choi Kathleen
Davidson Textron Inc.
LandOfFree
Soft panel with thermoplastic fiber cluster layer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Soft panel with thermoplastic fiber cluster layer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Soft panel with thermoplastic fiber cluster layer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-49823