US4061804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-directional rectangular filaments and products
Assignee: Akzona Inc
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Filing: 1976-08-12
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Granted: 1977-12-06
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Expires: 1996-08-12
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein are novel synthetic polymer filaments, and yarns made therefrom, for use in synthetic turf products. The filaments have a rectangular cross-section and the normal directional tendency of such filaments when used in synthetic turf is overcome by folding or texturing the filaments in such a manner that, while the normal advantageous flexibility of the rectangular filament is retained, the directional tendency is removed. When filaments of the invention are used to produce synthetic turfs, the turf surface imparts an essentially non-directional response to objects rolled thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Graham McCulloch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:40
CPC Classifications
D; D02; D02G; D02G1/00; D02G1/12; D02G1/122; E; E01; E01C; E01C13/00; E01C13/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23907; Y10T428/23957; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2922; Y10T428/2973
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
Continuous universally-flexible ribbon filaments of at least 100 denier each for use in outdoor cut-pile synthetic turf, said filaments having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration characterized by major and minor axes which impart a directional flexibility to the filament, each of said filaments having a plurality of folds wherein both the major and minor axes bend simultaneously, said folds being randomly oriented with respect to one another to overcome the natural directional flexibility of the rectangular cross-section and impart universal, non-directional flexibility to the filaments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
Continuous universally-flexible ribbon filaments of at least 100 denier each for use in outdoor cut-pile synthetic turf, said filaments having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration characterized by major and minor axes which impart a directional flexibility to the filament, each of said filaments having a plurality of folds wherein both the major and minor axes bend simultaneously, said folds being randomly oriented with respect to one another to overcome the natural directional flexibility of the rectangular cross-section and impart universal, non-directional flexibility to the filaments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The filaments of claim 1 further characterized as possessing high residual shrinkage of at least 5.0% developed by application of heat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The filaments of claim 1 having a denier of from 225 to 250.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The filaments of claim 1 being stabilized against degradation from sunlight by incorporation of a UV absorbing material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
9 words
The filaments of claim 1 having color-pigments incorporated therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
8 words
Filaments as in claim 1 comprised of nylon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
9 words
Filaments as in claim 1 comprised of polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A continuous filament yarn comprising a plurality of entangled but physically separate ribbon filaments of at least 100 denier each, said filaments having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration characterized by major and minor axes which impart a directional flexibility to the filament, each of said filaments having a plurality of folds wherein both major and minor axes bend simultaneously, said folds being randonly oriented with respect to one another to overcome the natural directional flexibility of the rectangular cross-section and impart universal, non-directional flexibility to the filament.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
A continuous filament yarn comprising a plurality of entangled but physically separate ribbon filaments of at least 100 denier each, said filaments having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration characterized by major and minor axes which impart a directional flexibility to the filament, each of said filaments having a plurality of folds wherein both major and minor axes bend simultaneously, said folds being randonly oriented with respect to one another to overcome the natural directional flexibility of the rectangular cross-section and impart universal, non-directional flexibility to the filament.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A yarn as in claim 8 wherein the filaments possess a high residual shrinkage of at least 5.0% developed by application of heat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A yarn as in claim 8 wherein the filaments have a denier of from 225 to 250.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A yarn as in claim 8 wherein the filaments are stabilized against UV degradation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
A yarn as in claim 8 wherein the filaments are pigmented.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
A yarn as in claim 8 wherein the filaments are nylon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A yarn as in claim 8 wherein the filaments are polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
A cut-pile synthetic turf product wherein the pile is formed of ribbon filaments of at lest 100 denier each, having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration and characterized by major and minor axes which impart a directional flexibility to the filament, each of said filaments having a plurality of folds wherein both the major and minor axes bend simultaneously, said folds being randomly oriented with respect to one another to overcome the natural directional flexibility of the rectangular cross-section and impart non-directional flexibility to the filaments, said turf having an essentially uniform, flat pile surface giving a non-directional response to objects rolled thereon, due to the universal flexibility of the filaments forming said surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
113 words
A cut-pile synthetic turf product wherein the pile is formed of ribbon filaments of at lest 100 denier each, having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration and characterized by major and minor axes which impart a directional flexibility to the filament, each of said filaments having a plurality of folds wherein both the major and minor axes bend simultaneously, said folds being randomly oriented with respect to one another to overcome the natural directional flexibility of the rectangular cross-section and impart non-directional flexibility to the filaments, said turf having an essentially uniform, flat pile surface giving a non-directional response to objects rolled thereon, due to the universal flexibility of the filaments forming said surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A synthetic turf as in claim 15 wherein the pile filaments have high residual shrinkage of at least 5.0% which can be developed by heating the turf product to reduce the drag imparted by the pile surface to objects rolled thereon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A synthetic turf as in claim 15 wherein the pile is tufted into a backing material and secured thereto by an adhesive applied to the backing on the side opposite the cut-pile face.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
A synthetic turf as in claim 17 wherein the backing is latex.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A synthetic turf as in claim 15 wherein the cut pile filaments have a denier of from 100 to 350.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A synthetic turf as in claim 15 wherein the filaments are stabilized against UV degradation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
A synthetic turf as in claim 15 wherein the filaments are pigmented.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
A synthetic turf as in claim 15 wherein the filaments are nylon.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
A synthetic turf as in claim 15 wherein the filaments are polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A synthetic turf as in claim 15 wherein the pile filaments are woven into a warp and fill backing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
A synthetic turf as in claim 15 having a knitted, cut-pile construction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-05 | 1981-06-06 | 1981-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-05 | 1985-06-06 | 1985-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-05 | 1989-06-06 | 1989-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |