Columbia Insurance Company

Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

Kyle Andrew Aylor

William N Vaughan

Jeffrey J Wright

James Jarrett

Philipe C F Aldahir

Wesley Coleman Tincher

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

Systems and methods for pre-tensioning backing materials of a tufted product. The systems can include at least first and second tensioning assemblies and a guide assembly. Each tensioning assembly can have a backing supply subassembly for supporting a backing material and a roller subassembly for effecting movement of the backing material at a desired tension. The roller subassembly can include a driven roller for pulling the backing material from the backing supply subassembly, and a compensator for receiving the backing material from the driven roller. The guide assembly can simultaneously receive the tensioned backing materials from the tensioning assemblies and position the backing materials in contact with each other for delivery to a tufting machine at the desired tension.

Systems and methods for applying tension to backing materials for tufted products

Growing community of inventors

Cartersville, GA, United States of America

Kyle Andrew Aylor