Appeal No. 1999-2423
Application 08/825,204
THE INVENTION
The appellants’ claimed invention is directed toward a
process for reclaiming carpet components in which a
combination of shear forces under turbulent conditions and a
chemical softening agent for the carpet’s binder are used to
promote detachment of the binder from at least one of the
carpet’s pile and backing. Claim 15 is illustrative:
15. A process for reclaiming carpet components, said
carpet including a backing and carpet pile disposed within
said backing and secured to said backing with a binder, said
process comprising:
(a) reducing the size of said carpet to form a reduced
carpet material including pile material, backing material and
binder material attached to at least one of said pile material
and backing material;
(b) combining at least a portion of the reduced carpet
material with a composition including a chemical softening
agent for the binder to form a mixture; and
(c) applying to the mixture shear forces under turbulent
conditions in an amount sufficient to promote detachment of
the binder from at least one of said pile material and said
backing material.
THE REFERENCES
Hagguist et al. (Hagguist) 5,230,473 Jul. 27,
1993
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007