Springs Industries, Inc.

John V Cauthen

James E Hendrix

Thomas W Tolbert

Jeffrey S Dugan

An accordion folded laminate of a fiber sheet reinforced with a thermoplastic film and bonded together with adhesive is utilized as a window shade or as a shower curtain or other end use product. In the preferred form, the thermoplastic sheet comprises polyester and the adhesive comprises a low melt polyester adhesive powder. The powder is applied uniformly to the reverse face of the fiber sheet and is heated to a temperature higher than its melt temperature, and the thermoplastic sheet is pressed over the adhesive against the polyester sheet. This laminate is subsequently formed into an accordion folded configuration, with the edges of the accordion folds being heated to a temperature higher than the melt temperature of the adhesive, causing the folds to retain a memory that enhances the appearance and function of the end use product.

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Van Wyck, SC, United States of America

John V Cauthen