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. 05, 1995
Filed:
Sep. 19, 1994
Darlene L Ball, Greensboro, NC (US);
Max H Hance, Mooresville, NC (US);
Burlington Industries, Inc., Greensboro, NC (US);
Abstract
Denim fabric suitable for use as apparel is made from about 40-100% fibers produced from denim waste (pre-consumer and/or post-consumer). The denim waste is collected, starch and size are optionally removed, and it is subjected to garnetting to produce denim fibers, the vast majority of fiber lengths greater than about 0.4 inches, and an average length greater than 0.5 inches. The denim fibers are then opened, and subjected to low-tension carding, as by using a Rieter C-4 type card with conveyor belt. The carded denim fibers are spun into filling yarn having a yarn count between about 4.0/1 to 16.0/1, and/or a warp or knitting yarn having a yarn count between about 4.0/1 to 16.0/1. The warp or knitting yarn may be plied with like reclaimed warp yarn, or with virgin fiber warp yarn. There may also be the steps of adding lubricant to the fibers, sorting the denim waste by color and separately processing different colors of denim waste, making the denim fabric into apparel, dyeing the yarn or fabric to provide a substantially uniform color or fabric, and/or cleaning the fibers between the opening and carding steps. The denim fabric produced has strength and related properties sufficient for consumer use.