The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 10, 1985
Filed:
Jul. 13, 1984
Charles W Watkins, Ooltewah, TN (US);
Tuftco Corporation, Chattanooga, TN (US);
Abstract
A sculptured high-low cut pile tufting method and apparatus for a multiple-needle tufting machine having cooperating looper hooks and knives in which the base fabric moving through the machine is supported only as it approaches the needles by a needle plate having a transverse free edge substantially in the plane of needle penetration, and does not support the base fabric leaving the needles and directly above the looper hooks. The length of yarns fed to the needles are controlled by a pattern-controlled yarn feed apparatus. When short lengths are fed to the needles, the seized yarn causes the base fabric to be drawn toward the loopers to form short loops which are cut to form low cut pile tufts, while long lengths of yarn fed to the needles form long loops on the looper hooks which are cut to form cut pile tufts while the base fabric maintains its normal longitudinal path through the tufting machine. The apparatus is also characterized by looper hooks of unique construction whose bills have larger rear portions than front portions so that the larger rear portions assist in arresting the longitudinal movement of the short loops on the hook to form low pile.