Columbia Insurance Company

Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

Derek S Bass

Thomas Odum

James T Burns

Tom Odum

Jay Peter Vecsey

Philipe Aldahir

Jean Briere

Jim Burns

James Burns

Disclosed are artificial turfs having a nonwoven backing layer and a plurality of turf fibers extending through the nonwoven backing layer such that a face side portion of the turf fibers extends from the face side of the nonwoven backing layer and a back side portion of the turf fibers extends from the back side of the nonwoven backing layer, wherein at least a portion of the back side portion of turf fibers are bonded to themselves. Also disclosed herein are the methods of making the same.

Artificial turf and methods of making same

Described is a composite made from a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, or a knitted face fabric and a non-woven fabric. The woven fabric, the non-woven fabric, or the knitted face fabric is needle punched such that fibers protrude into the non-woven fabric. The woven fabric, the non-woven fabric, or the knitted face fabric has a first polymer having a first melting point and a second polymer having a second melting point being higher than the first melting point. The nonwoven backing material comprises a third polymer having a third melting point and a fourth polymer having a fourth melting point being higher than the third melting point. The woven fabric, the non-woven fabric, or the knitted face fabric is further bonded to the nonwoven backing material applying heat to at least partially melt or soften the first polymer and the third polymer such that they bond together.

Composite and methods of making same

A surface covering element can have a rigid core. The rigid core can include at least one densified fiber batt. The rigid core can have a first surface and an opposed second surface that are spaced apart along a first axis. The rigid core can have a plurality of edges that define a periphery of the rigid core. The plurality of edges can include at least a first edge and an opposed second edge that are spaced along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The first edge can include a tongue, and the second edge can define a groove.

Nonwoven surface covering elements having tongue and groove

Described is a method of making a densified fiber batt that includes the steps of: a) providing a fiber batt with a first plurality of fibers having a first melting point and a second plurality of fibers having a second melting point different from the first melting point; and b) subjecting the fiber batt to heat and pressure in a static press, thereby forming a densified fiber batt having a first surface and an opposed second surface.

Growing community of inventors

Cartersville, GA, United States of America

Derek S Bass