Method for making formed fabric treatments

• US 6,132,666 A
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interfacefabric, Inc. (Duvaltex, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interface Incorporated
• Inventors: Foley, William Howard, Newhouse, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnstone, Adrienne C.
• Application Number:
  US08/885,745
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 156/222, 156/224, 156/285, 156/583.3, 264/510-512, 264/546, 264/313, 264/316, 29/897.32, 29/453, 52/144, 52/145, 52/796.1, 52/773, 52/481.2, 428/83, 428/119-120, 428/122, 428/121, 428/81
• US Class Current: 264/313
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/8409 sheet-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7422 with separate framed panels without intermediary support posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/8263 Mounting of acoustical elements on supporting structure, e.g. framework or wall surface
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/8461 layered
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7479 Details of connection of flexible sheets to frame or posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/749 Partitions with screw-type jacks
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2009/0492 with fabrics tensioned on frames
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/0428 having a closed frame around the periphery
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/303 for flexible tensioned membranes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1044 of parallel stacked sheets only

Abstract

A molded fabric treatment includes an integral undercut or inturned peripheral flange for affixing the treatment to the structure to be treated. The treatments have a conventional, decorative, woven polyester fabric (of the type currently used in conventional office divider screen systems), or fabrics comprising other synthetic or natural fibers, bonded with adhesive to a relatively stiff moldable non-woven polyester fiber backing. The treatments are formed in a membrane or bladder press in which a flexible membrane presses the fabric and fiber composite against a form or mold that includes an undercut edge which, in cooperation with the press membrane, forms undercut flanges about the periphery of the treatment. The undercut or inturned flange may then be "snapped" over a corresponding mounting lip on the structure to be treated.

Claims

1. A method for making a molded fabric treatment, comprising:

a) providing a non-woven fabric backing sheet which comprises, at least in part, heat-fusible fibers and a heat-activated binder;

b) providing a fabric facing sheet and a heat- or pressure-activated adhesive layer;

c) placing together and aligning the facing sheet and the backing sheet with the adhesive layer therebetween to form a lay-up having a periphery;

d) bladder molding the lay-up against a tool to form the treatment such that the periphery of the lay-up is forced into a peripheral undercut in the tool to form the lay-up into a treatment having a central portion with a substantially continuous undercut affixing portion about the periphery of the treatment; and

e) removing the treatment from the tool.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the tool has a plurality of corners and wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forming the lay-up into a prow-shaped structure at all of the corners of the tool such that corresponding corners of the treatment are smooth.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the backing sheet further comprises providing a non-woven fabric backing sheet moldable into a desired shape by the application of heat or pressure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the backing sheet further comprises providing the backing sheet only at the undercut affixing portion of the treatment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises applying heat to the backing sheet so that it remains in its molded shape.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises the undercut affixing portion forming a flexible flange and an inwardly-turned lip.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises the undercut affixing portion forming an inwardly-angled flexible flange and an inwardly-turned lip, the lip formed parallel to the central portion of the treatment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forcing the lay-up into the peripheral undercut having a radius large enough such that the periphery of the lay-up is completely drawn into the peripheral undercut.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises applying about 5.5 bars of pressure at about 180 degrees Celsius for about 120 seconds to about 160 seconds.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric backing sheet, the adhesive layer and the fabric facing sheet are made of materials capable of being recycled together.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the backing sheet comprises non-hygroscopic fibers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the backing sheet comprises hygroscopic fibers.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the lay-up or treatment with at least one additional material layer selected from the group consisting of a fire retardant sheet, a sound attenuating sheet, and a backing board, each additional material layer being either interposed between the facing sheet and the backing sheet in the lay-up or affixed to the inside of the lay-up or treatment.

14. The method of claim 1, in which bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forming grooves in the central portion.

15. The method of claim 1, in which bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forming ridges in the central portion.

16. A method for making a molded fabric treatment, comprising:

a) providing a non-woven backing sheet which comprises, at least in part, heat-fusible fibers and a heat-activated binder;

b) providing a fabric facing sheet;

c) providing a heat- or pressure-activated adhesive layer;

d) placing together and aligning the facing sheet and the backing sheet with the adhesive layer therebetween to form a lay-up having a periphery, wherein the adhesive layer allows slippage between the facing sheet and backing sheet of the lay-up;

e) bladder molding the lay-up against a tool to form the treatment such that the periphery of the lay-up is forced into a peripheral undercut in the tool to form the lay-up into a treatment having a central portion with a substantially continuous undercut affixing portion about the periphery of the treatment; and

f) removing the treatment from the tool.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the tool has a plurality of corners and wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forming the lay-up into a prow-shaped structure at all of the corners of the tool such that corresponding corners of the treatment are smooth.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises applying heat to the backing sheet so that it remains in its molded shape.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises bonding together the backing sheet and the facing sheet.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises the undercut affixing portion forming a flexible flange and an inwardly-turned lip.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises the undercut affixing portion forming an inwardly-angled flexible flange and an inwardly-turned lip, the lip formed parallel to the central portion of the treatment.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forcing the lay-up into the peripheral undercut having a radius large enough such that the periphery of the lay-up is completely drawn into the peripheral undercut.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises applying about 5.5 bars of pressure at about 180 degrees Celsius for about 120 seconds to about 160 seconds.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the fabric backing sheet, the adhesive layer and the fabric facing sheet are made of materials capable of being recycled together.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the backing sheet comprises non-hygroscopic fibers.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the backing sheet comprises hygroscopic fibers.

27. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the lay-up or treatment with at least one additional material layer selected from the group consisting of a fire retardant sheet, a sound attenuating sheet, and a backing board, each additional material layer being either interposed between the facing sheet and the backing sheet in the lay-up or affixed to the inside of the lay-up or treatment.

28. The method of claim 16, in which bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forming grooves in the central portion.

29. The method of claim 16, in which bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forming ridges in the central portion.

30. A method for making a molded fabric treatment, comprising:

a) providing a non-woven fabric backing sheet which comprises, at least in part, heat-fusible fibers and a heat-activated binder;

b) providing a fabric facing sheet and a heat- or pressure-activated adhesive layer;

c) placing together and aligning the facing sheet and the backing sheet with the adhesive layer therebetween to form a lay-up having a periphery;

d) providing slippage between the facing sheet and backing sheet of the lay-up;

e) bladder molding the lay-up against a tool to form the treatment such that the periphery of the lay-up is forced into a peripheral undercut in the tool to form the lay-up into a treatment having a central portion with a substantially continuous undercut affixing portion about the periphery of the treatment, such that bladder molding the lay-up bonds together the backing sheet and the facing sheet, and such that the undercut affixing portion comprises an inwardly-angled flexible flange and an inwardly-turned lip; and

f) removing the treatment form the tool.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the tool has a plurality of corners and wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forming the lay-up into a prow-shaped structure at all of the corners of the tool such that corresponding corners of the treatment are smooth.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises applying heat to the backing sheet so that it remains in its molded shape.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises the undercut affixing portion inwardly-tuned lip being parallel to the central portion of the treatment.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forcing the lay-up into the peripheral undercut having a radius large enough such that the periphery of the lay-up is completely drawn into the peripheral undercut.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein bladder molding the lay-up further comprises applying about 5.5 bars of pressure at about 180 degrees Celsius for about 120 seconds to about 160 seconds.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the fabric backing sheet, the adhesive layer and the fabric facing sheet are made of materials capable of being recycled together.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the backing sheet comprises non-hygroscopic fibers.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the backing sheet comprises hygroscopic fibers.

39. The method of claim 30, further comprising forming the lay-up or treatment with at least one additional material layer selected from the group consisting of a fire retardant sheet, a sound attenuating sheet, and a backing board, each additional material layer being either interposed between the facing sheet and the backing sheet in the lay-up or affixed to the inside of the lay-up or treatment.

40. The method of claim 30, in which bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forming grooves in the central portion.

41. The method of claim 30, in which bladder molding the lay-up further comprises forming ridges in the central portion.