Microfibres, Inc.

Kevin R Crompton

William B Laird

The present invention is directed to unique flocked pile fabrics and methods for producing such fabrics. The fabrics provided according to one embodiment of the invention include an embossed pattern, characterized by a plurality of elongated depressions in the surface of the pile fabric, and a superimposed printed pattern, characterized by a scene or illustration including a plurality of visual features having elongated shapes. The inventive embossed, printed pile fabrics, having a superimposed embossed and printed pattern, advantageously superimpose the embossed pattern and the printed pattern upon the pile fabric so that the embossed pattern imparts a three-dimensional texture to the scene or illustration or pattern comprising the printed pattern. The texture provided by the embossed pattern can impart a visual effect to the scene or illustration which can render it more realistic than a similar scene or illustration printed upon a conventional unembossed pile fabric. In one embodiment, this unique texturing effect is accomplished by substantially aligning the longitudinal axes of the elongate features of the printed pattern and the elongate features of the embossed pattern. The pile fabric provided by the invention can be produced by utilizing a plurality of embossing and printing techniques. In one embodiment, the embossing technique comprises air embossing, and the printing technique comprises paper transfer printing utilizing a paper transfer sheet. The fabrics provided by the invention are especially useful as camouflage fabrics. Such fabrics typically include a printed scene or illustration representing a sylvan setting dominated by visual features such as trees, branches, bushes, leaves, flowers, berries, grass, rocks, moss, etc.

Realistically textured printed flocked fabrics and methods for making the fabrics

Improved air embossing systems, improved air lances, and improved methods of air embossing fabrics, which are able to produce an unprecedented level of fine detail, crisp transition between unembossed and embossed regions, lack of undesired embossing artifacts, and a high degree of uniformity across the width of an embossed fabric, when compared to the performance of typical, conventional air embossing systems are disclosed. The disclosed air embossing systems utilize generally cylindrical, rotating stencils with air lances positioned therein for directing a stream of air through apertures in the stencil and onto the embossable surface of a fabric. The systems also include at least one stencil stabilizer that is constructed and positioned within the system to apply a force to the stencil during operation that is sufficient to reduce, and preferably essentially eliminate, variations in the distance separating the surface of a fabric being embossed by the system and the portion of the fabric-facing surface of the stencil directly adjacent thereto during rotation of the stencil.

Growing community of inventors

Westport, MA, United States of America

Kevin R Crompton