Columbia Insurance Company

James Jarrett

William N Vaughan

Barrett R Morton

Neil Vaughan

Jeffrey J Wright

Mark Honeycutt

Philipe C F Aldahir

Kyle Andrew Aylor

A tufted article (e.g., an artificial turf panel) having a backing and a plurality of tufts extending through the backing. The plurality of tufts are distributed among a plurality of patterned regions. Each patterned region has at least one tuft of the plurality of tufts. The tufts of each patterned region differ from the tufts of at least one other patterned region of the tufted article in at least one of color, pile height, yarn type, or yarn density. At least one patterned region creates a longitudinal discontinuity in the color pattern of the tufted article. The tufted article does not have a seam. Complementary side edges of the tufted articles can be secured together to form at least a portion of the surface covering without the need for cutting or the use of inlay components.

Patterned tufted articles, surface coverings comprising same, and systems and methods of making and using same

Patterned tufted articles, surface coverings comprising same, and systems and methods of making same

A tufting machine for forming tufted carpet having means for inserting loops of at least two different yarns into a backing material moving through the tufting machine and means for controlling the deviation of the ratio of different yarns projecting from a top surface of the backing material. It is contemplated that the tufting machine can be used to maintain the color of the tufted carpet at a desired color during the operation of the tufting machine.

Methods and devices for controlling the tension of yarn in a tufting machine

A portable creel for organizing yarn packages and directing yarn to a tufting machine. A portable creel provides flexibility for carpet manufactures in that operators can pre-load portable creels with yarn packages for future runs and move them into position when needed. In one aspect, the portable creel comprises an outer frame and a movable inner frame. The inner frame is configured to hold a plurality of yarn packages and the outer frame comprises a plurality of tubes configured to direct the yarn from the yarn packages to a header. The header, in turn, directs the yarn from the portable creel to specific portions of a tufting machine.

Modular creel

A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine is disclosed that comprises a first gauge block or needle bar having a first series of tufting needles disposed thereon. The respective tufting needles are spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block. At least one tufting needle is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and the adjacent ones of the tufting needles in the series of tufting needles in the range of from 0.005 to 0.100 inches. The tufting needle assembly further comprises a second series of spaced tufting needles extending along a second longitudinal axis spaced parallel to the first longitudinal axis.

Tufting needle assembly

A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine is disclosed that comprises a first gauge block or needle bar having a first series of tufting needles disposed thereon. The respective tufting needles are spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block. The tufting needle assembly further comprises a second series of spaced tufting needles extending along a second longitudinal axis spaced parallel to the first longitudinal axis.

Growing community of inventors

Cartersville, GA, United States of America

James Jarrett