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:
Mar. 24, 2009
Filed:
Jun. 10, 2004
William Laird, Warwick, RI (US);
George Murphy, Franklin, MA (US);
William Laird, Warwick, RI (US);
George Murphy, Franklin, MA (US);
Microfibres, Inc., Pawtucket, RI (US);
Abstract
Air embossing systems, air lances, and methods of air embossing fabrics produce an unprecedented level of fine detail, crisp transition between unembossed and embossed regions, and a high degree of uniformity across the width of an embossed fabric. The air embossing systems can utilize air lances for directing a stream of air onto the embossable surface of a fabric that have at least one nozzle having a characteristic orifice dimension substantially less than that of conventional air lance nozzles, and also substantially less than a characteristic length of the nozzle. Air lances can also include one or more nozzles in the shape of an elongated slit oriented so as to be positioned across essentially the entire width of a fabric being embossed. Air lances for embossing fabrics can include a nozzle-forming component that can be separable from the main body of the air lance and that enables the nozzle(s) of the air lance to be positioned within close proximity to the fabric, when the air lance is in operation, and that also can act to redirect air flowing within the air lance so that it is emitted from the nozzle(s) such that a substantial fraction of the air stream is directed essentially perpendicular to the surface of the fabric being embossed. Yet other air lances include therein one or more baffles or air redirecting elements, which serve to deflect air flowing within the air lance so that it passes through the nozzle(s) of the air lance and is directed onto the embossable surface of the fabric at an angle that is substantially greater, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the air lance, than the angle of an air stream emitted from a nozzle of an essentially equivalent air lance, except excluding the air redirecting element or baffle.