Gates Formed-fibre Products, Inc.

Robert R Walters

Elwood G Trask

Ronald W Adams

A nonwoven fibrous flexible material includes a needled web having a front outer surface and a non-glazed back surface disposed opposite thereof. The web includes interengaged first fibers and second thermoplastic fibers with the outer surface being substantially free of the second thermoplastic fibers. The web also has a plurality of weld joints between the second thermoplastic fibers and at least a portion of the first fibers proximate the back surface.

Method of producing a nonwoven fibrous textured panel and panel produced

A method for producing a nonwoven fibrous, flexible panel having a textured outer surface, including the steps: of providing a needled web comprised of interengaged first fibers and second thermoplastic fibers; needlepunching the web to produce the textured outer surface; and passing a fluid, at a temperature sufficient to melt at least a portion of the second thermoplastic fibers, through the web in a direction from the textured outer surface to produce a plurality of weld joints of the melted second thermoplastic fibers, the textured outer surface thereafter being substantially free of the second thermoplastic fibers. A nonwoven fibrous panel produced by the methods characterized herein is also described.

Method of producing a nonwoven dibrous textured panel and panel produced

The disclosure is of decorative vehicular kick panels e.g. for automobiles, and the method of their manufacture. The decorative panels are laminates of textile materials, having a decorative fabric surface. The panels of the invention are particularly advantageous in that they are economical to manufacture and exhibit resistance to edge fraying.

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Auburn, ME, United States of America

Robert R Walters