U.S. patent application number 17/231669 was filed with the patent office on 2021-10-21 for sharp color effect yarn.
The applicant listed for this patent is Universal Fibers, Inc.. Invention is credited to Stuart P. Fairgrieve, Larry Allen Kestner, Kenneth Justin Mallette.
Application Number | 20210324548 17/231669 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005578916 |
Filed Date | 2021-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210324548 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kestner; Larry Allen ; et
al. |
October 21, 2021 |
SHARP COLOR EFFECT YARN
Abstract
Processes are provided for the manufacture of color effect face
yarns for use in tufted goods. These color effect yarns may exhibit
unique color effects and contain a lower overall denier, thereby
allowing the production of tufted goods with a greater than normal
tuft density per unit area. Consequently, this can result in finer
color effects and/or sharper definition of color effects in the
tufted goods and expands the design possibilities for such
products.
Inventors: |
Kestner; Larry Allen;
(Saltville, VA) ; Mallette; Kenneth Justin;
(Bristol, TN) ; Fairgrieve; Stuart P.;
(Kidlington, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Universal Fibers, Inc. |
Bristol |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005578916 |
Appl. No.: |
17/231669 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
63011337 |
Apr 17, 2020 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D10B 2331/02 20130101;
D02G 1/0206 20130101; D02G 3/38 20130101; D03D 27/12 20130101; D02G
1/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D02G 3/38 20060101
D02G003/38; D03D 27/12 20060101 D03D027/12; D02G 1/12 20060101
D02G001/12; D02G 1/02 20060101 D02G001/02 |
Claims
1. A process for manufacturing a face yarn for tufted products,
said process comprising: (a) drawing a plurality of initial singles
yarns to thereby form a plurality of drawn singles yarns, wherein
said initial singles yarns comprise continuous filament yarns that
are undrawn, wherein said initial singles yarns comprise two or
more singles yarns exhibiting different colors, wherein each of
said drawn singles yarns has a denier of 100 to 320; (b) stuffer
box crimping said drawn singles yarns to thereby form a plurality
of drawn and crimped singles yarns; (c) converging said drawn and
crimped singles yarns to thereby form a yarn bundle comprising
bundled single yarns; and (d) entangling said yarn bundle to
entangle said bundled singles yarns and thereby form said face
yarn.
2. The process according to claim 1, further comprising twisting,
false-twisting, and/or wrapping of said face yarn subsequent to
said entangling of step (d).
3. The process according to claim 1, wherein said face yarn
comprises in the range of 2 to 8 singles yarns.
4. The process according to claim 1, wherein said face yarn
comprises a total denier of 200 to 3600.
5. The process according to claim 1, wherein said initial singles
yarns are formed from a polyamide, a polyester, a polyolefin, or a
combination thereof.
6. The process according to claim 1, wherein said initial singles
yarns are formed from at least one polyamide.
7. A tufted goods face yarn manufactured according to claim 1.
8. A tufted good comprising said face yarn manufactured according
to claim 1.
9. A process for manufacturing a face yarn for tufted products,
said process comprising: (a) drawing a plurality of initial singles
yarns to thereby form a plurality of drawn singles yarns, wherein
said initial singles yarns comprise continuous filament yarns that
are undrawn, wherein said initial singles yarns comprise two or
more singles yarns exhibiting different colors, wherein each of
said drawn singles yarns has a denier of 100 to 320; (b) stuffer
box crimping said drawn singles yarns to thereby form a plurality
of drawn and crimped singles yarns; (c) entangling said drawn and
crimped singles yarns to thereby form a plurality of entangled
singles yarns; (d) converging said entangled singles yarns to
thereby form a yarn bundle comprising bundled single yarns; and (e)
entangling said yarn bundle to entangle said bundled singles yarns
and thereby form said face yarn.
10. The process according to claim 9, further comprising twisting,
false-twisting, and/or wrapping of said face yarn subsequent to
said entangling of step (e).
11. The process according to claim 9, wherein said face yarn
comprises in the range of 2 to 8 singles yarns.
12. The process according to claim 9, wherein said initial singles
yarns are formed from at least one polyamide.
13. A tufted goods face yarn manufactured according to claim 9.
14. A tufted good comprising said face yarn manufactured according
to claim 9.
15. A process for manufacturing a face yarn for tufted products,
said process comprising: (a) drawing a plurality of initial singles
yarns to thereby form a plurality of drawn singles yarns, wherein
said initial singles yarns comprise continuous filament yarns that
are undrawn, wherein said initial singles yarns comprise two or
more singles yarns exhibiting different colors, wherein each of
said drawn singles yarns has a denier of 200 to 320; (b) crimping
said drawn singles yarns to thereby form a plurality of drawn and
crimped singles yarns; (c) converging said drawn and crimped
singles yarns to thereby form a yarn bundle comprising bundled
single yarns; and (d) entangling said yarn bundle to entangle said
bundled singles yarns and thereby form said face yarn, wherein said
face yarn comprises in the range of 2 to 8 singles yarns.
16. The process according to claim 15, wherein each of said initial
singles yarns comprises 10 to 20 filaments, wherein said face yarn
comprises a total denier of 200 to 3600.
17. The process according to claim 16, wherein said drawing of step
(a) draws said initial singles yarn at a draw ratio in the range of
2.5 to 5.0.
18. The process according to claim 17, wherein said initial singles
yarns are formed from at least one polyamide.
19. A tufted goods face yarn manufactured according to claim
17.
20. A tufted good comprising said face yarn manufactured according
to claim 17.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
63/011,337 entitled "SHARP COLOR EFFECT YARN," filed Apr. 17, 2020,
the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is generally concerned with a color
effect yarn for use as a face yarn in the manufacture of tufted
goods, such as carpets, floorcoverings, and other textiles.
Generally, the face yarn may allow the manufacture of such goods
with fine and sharply defined color effects.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] Carpets, floorcoverings, and other piled textile products
generally comprise one or more backing materials through which
yarns are inserted in a chosen manner and patterned to provide
resilient, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing products for
use, for example, in a variety of domestic, commercial, and
mass-transport settings. In the design of such products, these
inserted yarns, commonly referred to as face yarns or tufting
yarns, may come in a variety of forms. Thus, this allows the
product designer considerable scope in providing a customer with a
wide choice of constructions and appearances.
[0004] While there are a multitude of color effect face yarns
available to product designers, both designers and customers are
constantly in search of improvements in the appearance and
properties of tufted goods. One manifestation of this is a desire
for more detailed, sharper, color effects in such manufactured
products. Thus, there is a need in the industry for color effect
face yarns, which can allow such products to be designed and
manufactured.
SUMMARY
[0005] In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure generally
concerns a process for manufacturing a face yarn for tufted
products. The process comprises: (a) drawing a plurality of initial
singles yarns to thereby form a plurality of drawn singles yarns;
(b) stuffer box crimping the drawn singles yarns to thereby form a
plurality of drawn and crimped singles yarns; (c) converging the
drawn and crimped singles yarns to thereby form a yarn bundle
comprising bundled single yarns; and (d) entangling the yarn bundle
through an air-jet entangler to entangle the bundled singles yarns
and thereby form the face yarn. Furthermore, the initial singles
yarns comprise continuous filament yarns that are undrawn and
comprise two or more singles yarns exhibiting different colors. In
addition, each of the drawn singles yarns has a denier of 100 to
320.
[0006] In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure generally
concerns a process for manufacturing a face yarn for tufted
products. The process comprises: (a) drawing a plurality of initial
singles yarns to thereby form a plurality of drawn singles yarns;
(b) stuffer box crimping the drawn singles yarns to thereby form a
plurality of drawn and crimped singles yarns; (c) entangling the
drawn and crimped singles yarns in a first set of air-jet
entanglers to thereby form a plurality of entangled singles yarns;
(d) converging the entangled singles yarns to thereby form a yarn
bundle comprising bundled single yarns; and (e) entangling the yarn
bundle through a second set of air-jet entanglers to entangle the
bundled singles yarns and thereby form the face yarn. Furthermore,
the initial singles yarns comprise continuous filament yarns that
are undrawn and comprise two or more singles yarns exhibiting
different colors. In addition, each of the drawn singles yarns has
a denier of 100 to 320.
[0007] In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure generally
concerns a process for manufacturing a face yarn for tufted
products. The process comprises: (a) drawing a plurality of initial
singles yarns to thereby form a plurality of drawn singles yarns;
(b) stuffer box crimping the drawn singles yarns to thereby form a
plurality of drawn and crimped singles yarns; (c) converging the
drawn and crimped singles yarns to thereby form a yarn bundle
comprising bundled single yarns; and (d) entangling the yarn bundle
through an air-jet entangler to entangle the bundled singles yarns
and thereby form the face yarn, wherein the face yarn comprises in
the range of 2 to 8 singles yarns. Furthermore, the initial singles
yarns comprise continuous filament yarns that are undrawn and
comprise two or more singles yarns exhibiting different colors. In
addition, each of the drawn singles yarns has a denier of 200 to
320.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] As discussed herein, a unique color effect yarn may be
produced for use as a face yarn in the manufacture of tufted goods
such as carpets, floorcoverings, and other textiles. The face yarns
described herein may be used to produce various end products with
sharply defined color effects.
[0009] An especially desirable type of face yarn is a
multicomponent yarn constructed from a plurality of smaller
component yarns, commonly referred to as "singles yarns," at least
one of which differs from the other singles yarns in one or more
physical properties. Consequently, these styling yarns can be used
to provide tufted goods with a variety of useful and/or aesthetic
effects. A particularly useful type of face yarn is one that
comprises at least one singles yarn which is of a different color,
or different colorability, relative to the other singles yarns
constituting the final face yarn. Such constructs may be processed
in several different ways to produce a range of effects in the
final product tufted goods.
[0010] The present invention is generally aimed at processes for
the manufacture of color effect face yarns for use in tufted goods.
More particularly, when compared to conventional face yarns
presently available in today's market, the color effect yarns
described herein may comprise a lower overall denier and thereby
produce tufted goods with a greater than normal tuft density per
unit area. Such an approach allows for finer color effects and/or
sharper definition of color effects in the tufted goods, and thus
expands the design possibilities for such products. While not
wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is also suggested
that tufted goods with higher tuft density for the same unit
weight, especially in the form of carpets and other floorcoverings,
are easier to clean than equivalents with larger/denser tufts.
Thus, this may reduce the maintenance cost of such products, which
is known to be a major concern for customers in deciding between
tufted flooring materials and non-tufted flooring, such as
linoleum, vinyl, or wood.
[0011] The various characteristics and properties of the color
effect yarns and the processes for producing such yarns are
described below. It should be noted that, while all of the
following characteristics and properties may be listed separately,
it is envisioned that each of the following characteristics and/or
properties of the following color effect yarns, singles yarns, and
process steps are not mutually exclusive and may be combined and
present in any combination.
[0012] The color effect yarns described herein may be in the form
of a multicomponent yarn formed from a plurality of singles yarns,
wherein at least one of the singles yarns exhibits a different
color or colorability relative to the other singles yarns. Thus, in
one or more embodiments, the color effect yarns of the present
application may be formed by combining a plurality of singles yarns
and processing them so as to form the resulting color effect yarn.
For example, in such embodiments, a plurality of undrawn,
melt-spun, polymeric continuous filament singles yarns, at least
one of which is of a different color or different colorability
relative to the other singles yarns, may be: (i) drawn, (ii)
crimped, and (iii) optionally air-jet entangled. The resulting
treated singles yarns may then be converged and intermittently or
continuously air-jet entangled together.
[0013] As noted above, the formed yarns may be directly used as
face yarns in the manufacture of tufted goods. Alternatively, in
one or more embodiments, the resulting yarns may be further
processed, for example by twisting, false-twisting, and/or
wrapping, prior to being used as a face yarn.
[0014] As discussed above, the color effect yarns may be produced
by processing a plurality of singles yarns, wherein at least one of
the singles yarns exhibits a different color or colorability
relative to the other singles yarns. For example, in one or more
embodiments, a process for producing the color effect yarns can
comprise: (i) providing a plurality of undrawn polymeric continuous
filament singles yarns, wherein at least one of the singles yarns
exhibits a different color or different colorability relative to
the other singles yarns; (ii) separately and simultaneously drawing
each of the singles yarns; (iii) crimping the drawn singles yarns
in a stuffer box; and (iv) collectively air-jet entangling the
single yarns in a controlled, intermittent or continuous manner so
as to produce the color effect yarn.
[0015] Alternatively, in one or more embodiments, a process for
producing the color effect yarns can comprise: (i) providing a
plurality of undrawn polymeric continuous filament singles yarns,
wherein at least one of the singles yarns exhibits a different
color or different colorability relative to the other singles
yarns; (ii) separately and simultaneously drawing each of the
singles yarns; (iii) crimping the drawn singles yarns in a stuffer
box; and (iv) separately and simultaneously air-jet entangling and
converting the single yarns in a controlled, intermittent or
continuous manner so as to produce the color effect yarn.
[0016] In one or more embodiments, the resulting color effect yarns
described herein may optionally be further processed prior to
tufting. Generally, such processing may include, but is not limited
to, twisting, false-twisting, and/or wrapping with an additional
component comprising a further filament or yarn.
[0017] The singles yarns used to form the color effect yarns
described herein can comprise single yarns that are melt-spun,
undrawn, and in the form of continuous filaments. In one or more
embodiments, the initial singles yarns (i.e., the singles yarns
prior to processing into the color effect yarn) may comprise
melt-spun, undrawn, polymeric continuous filament singles yarns
with a denier of at least 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, or 900 and/or
less than 2000, 1800, 1600, 1400, 1200, or 1000. In certain
embodiments, the initial singles yarns may comprise a denier of 800
and 1200 or 900 to 1000
[0018] Additionally or alternatively, in one or more embodiments,
the starting singles yarns may be comprised of any suitable number
of individual filaments. For example, the starting singles yarns
may comprise at least 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 filaments and/or less than
50, 40, 30, 25, or 20 filaments. In certain embodiments, the
starting singles yarns may comprise in the range of 10 to 20
filaments. Each of the filaments forming the initial singles yarn
may comprise melt-spun, continuous filaments.
[0019] In one or more embodiments, the filaments forming a singles
yarn may comprise filaments exhibiting different colors and/or
colorabiliity from each other. For instance, a starting singles
yarn may comprise a set number of filaments exhibiting one color
(e.g., white) and a set number of filaments exhibiting a different
color (e.g., red). Thus, in such embodiments, the starting single
yarn may comprise at least 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 filaments and/or not
more than 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, or 3 filaments exhibiting
different colors and/or colorability. For example, the starting
yarns may comprise six red filaments, four white filaments, and one
blue filament.
[0020] Alternatively, in one or more embodiments, the filaments
forming a singles yarn may all exhibit the same color and/or
colorability.
[0021] In one or more embodiments, the starting singles yarns may
comprise melt-spun, undrawn, polymeric continuous filament singles
yarns with a denier of 800 to 1200 or 900 to 1000. Additionally, in
such embodiments, the singles yarns may comprise 10 to 20
filaments.
[0022] In one or more embodiments, the starting single yarns may be
composed of polymeric continuous filaments comprising, consisting
essentially of, or consisting of any suitable melt-processable,
fiber-forming polymer. In certain embodiments, each of the
filaments forming the singles yarns and/or the single yarns
themselves may comprise at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 99, or 99.5
weight percent of one or more melt-processable, fiber-forming
polymers. In more specific embodiments, each of the filaments
forming the singles yarns and/or the single yarns themselves may be
produced entirely from one or more melt-processable, fiber-forming
polymers.
[0023] Generally, the fiber-forming polymers may comprise, but are
not limited to, polyamides, polyesters, and/or polyolefins. The
polymers forming the singles yarns may be derived from petroleum
resources, renewable resources, mechanically recycled materials,
and/or chemically recycled materials.
[0024] In certain embodiments, the singles yarns, particularly the
filaments forming the singles yarns, may be produced from one or
more polyamides. Examples of polyamides that may be used to form
the singles yarns include Nylon 6; Nylon 11; Nylon 12; Nylon 6,6;
Nylon 5,6; Nylon 4,6; Nylon 6,10; Nylon 6,12; and copolymers and
blends thereof
[0025] In certain embodiments, the singles yarns, particularly the
filaments forming the singles yarns, may be produced from one or
more polyesters. Examples of polyesters that may be used to form
the singles yarns include poly(ethylene terephthalate);
poly(propylene terephthalate); poly(butylene terephthalate);
poly(butylene succinate); poly(butylene adipate); poly(lactic
acid); poly(hydroxybutyrate); and copolymers and blends
thereof.
[0026] In certain embodiments, the singles yarns, particularly the
filaments forming the singles yarns, may be produced from one or
more polyolefins. Examples of polyolefins that may be used to form
the singles yarns include polyethylene; polypropylene; and
copolymers and blends thereof.
[0027] In one or more embodiments, the individual filaments forming
the singles yarns may additionally contain one or more
melt-incorporated additives, which can be introduced before or
during the melt spinning of the filaments forming the singles
yarns. The additives may include, but are not limited to, colorants
(e.g., dyes and/or pigments), antioxidants, light stabilizers,
metal deactivators, antimicrobials, antistatics, nucleating agents,
antinucleating agents, lubricants, processing aids, or combinations
thereof.
[0028] In one or more embodiments, the singles yarns utilized in
the present invention may comprise or consist of filaments of any
suitable cross-sectional shape. Exemplary shapes include, but are
not limited to, round, oval, square, ribbon, bilobal, trilobal,
delta, regular multilobal, irregular multilobal, and combinations
thereof.
[0029] Turning back to the processes used to produce the color
effect yarns described herein, the starting singles yarns may be
separately and simultaneously drawn using methods and systems known
to those skilled in the art. Exemplary drawing systems and
techniques are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,408,376 and 5,804,115,
the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference to
the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure. In one or
more embodiments, the starting singles yarns may be separately and
simultaneously drawn to a draw ratio of at least 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, or
3.0 and/or less than 10.0, 8.0, 6.0, 5.0, or 5.0. In certain
embodiments, the starting singles yarns may be separately and
simultaneously drawn to a ratio between 2.5 to 5.0 or 3.0 to
4.0.
[0030] In one or more embodiments, the drawn singles yarns may
comprise a denier of at least 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 220, 240,
260, or 280. Additionally or alternatively, in one or more
embodiments, the drawn singles yarns may comprise a denier of less
than 600, 500, 450, 400, 380, 360, 340, 320, 310, 305, 300, 295,
290, or 285. In certain embodiments, the drawn singles yarns may
comprise a denier of 280 to 320.
[0031] Following the drawing process, the plurality of drawn
singles yarns may be subjected to a stuffer box crimping process,
utilizing equipment and methods known to those skilled in the art.
Generally, this crimping step does not involve crimping by thermal
or chemical methods (e.g., hot water baths or chemical coatings),
but instead relies on mechanical crimping using a stuffer box
crimper, which utilizes a plurality of rollers to generate
friction. Examples of suitable crimping equipment are described in,
for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,346,258; 3,353,239; 4,004,330; and
7,152,288, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present
disclosure.
[0032] Subsequently, in one or more embodiments, the plurality of
drawn and crimped singles yarns may be converged and conveyed to an
air-jet entangling device, wherein they are air-jet entangled
together in a controlled, intermittent or continuous, manner. The
drawn and crimped singles yarns may be subjected to cable twisting,
air twisting, and/or air entanglement. Examples of suitable
entanglement equipment are described in, for example, U.S. Pat.
Nos. 4,592,119 and 6,848,151, the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent
with the present disclosure.
[0033] In one or more embodiments, the plurality of drawn and
crimped singles yarns may be separately and simultaneously conveyed
to a first set of air-jet entangling devices where each of the
yarns is continuously air-jet entangled. Subsequently, the drawn,
crimped, and entangled singles yarns may then be converged into a
yarn bundle. Afterwards, the yarn bundle may be conveyed to a
second air-jet entangling device where it is entangled in a
controlled, intermittent or continuous, manner.
[0034] In one or more embodiments, the drawn, crimped, and
entangled yarn may, optionally, be subjected to further processing
after the air-jet entanglement of the plurality of singles yarns.
For example, the further processing may include, but is not limited
to, twisting, false-twisting, wrapping with additional polymeric
continuous filament yarns, and/or wrapping with additional
polymeric continuous single filaments.
[0035] Afterwards, in one or more embodiments, the drawn, crimped,
and air-jet entangled product yarn may be passed over a set of
tension roller and then sent to a take-up device, thus forming a
bobbin of the color effect face yarn.
[0036] As noted above, the produced color effect face yarns may
comprise a plurality of the starting singles yarns. For example, in
one or more embodiments, the produced color effect face yarns may
comprise at least 2, 3, 4, or 5 singles yarns and/or less than 30,
25, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, or 8 singles yarns. In certain
embodiments, the produced color effect face yarns may comprise in
the range of 2 to 12 singles yarns, 3 to 8 singles yarns, or 3 to 4
singles yarns.
[0037] Additionally or alternatively, in various embodiments, at
least one of the singles yarns in the color effect face yarns may
comprise a different color or different colorability relative to
the other singles yarns forming the color effect face yarns. For
example, the color effect face yarns may comprise a plurality of
singles yarns made up of at least 2, 3, 4, or 5 different
colors.
[0038] The color effect face yarns may exhibit a lower denier
relative to conventional face yarns presently available for tufted
products. For example, in one or more embodiments, the color effect
face yarns may comprise a total denier of at least 100, 125, 150,
175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475,
500, 525, 550, 575, 600, 625, 650, 675, 700, 725, 750, 775, 800,
825, or 850 and/or not more than 5000, 4000, 3000, 2900, 2800,
2700, 2600, 2500, 2000, 1750, 1500, 1250, or 1000. In certain
embodiments, the color effect face yarns may comprise a total
denier of 200 to 3600.
[0039] As discussed above, the color effect yarns described herein
may be used to produce a variety of tufted end products, such as
carpets, floorcoverings, and other textiles.
[0040] Thus, one or more embodiments of the present invention
generally concern a color effect face yarn made using the process
described herein. Additionally, or in the alternative, one or more
embodiments of the present invention generally concern a tufted
item of manufacture comprising the color effect face yarn described
herein.
DEFINITIONS
[0041] It should be understood that the following is not intended
to be an exclusive list of defined terms. Other definitions may be
provided in the foregoing description, such as, for example, when
accompanying the use of a defined term in context.
[0042] As used herein, the terms "a," "an," and "the" mean one or
more.
[0043] As used herein, the term "and/or," when used in a list of
two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be
employed by itself or any combination of two or more of the listed
items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described
as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can
contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C
in combination, B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in
combination.
[0044] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "comprises," and
"comprise" are open-ended transition terms used to transition from
a subject recited before the term to one or more elements recited
after the term, where the element or elements listed after the
transition term are not necessarily the only elements that make up
the subject.
[0045] As used herein, the terms "having," "has," and "have" have
the same open-ended meaning as "comprising," "comprises," and
"comprise" provided above.
[0046] As used herein, the terms "including," "include," and
"included" have the same open-ended meaning as "comprising,"
"comprises," and "comprise" provided above.
Numerical Ranges
[0047] The present description uses numerical ranges to quantify
certain parameters relating to the invention. It should be
understood that when numerical ranges are provided, such ranges are
to be construed as providing literal support for claim limitations
that only recite the lower value of the range as well as claim
limitations that only recite the upper value of the range. For
example, a disclosed numerical range of 10 to 100 provides literal
support for a claim reciting "greater than 10" (with no upper
bounds) and a claim reciting "less than 100" (with no lower
bounds).
Claims Not Limited to Disclosed Embodiments
[0048] The preferred forms of the invention described above are to
be used as illustration only, and should not be used in a limiting
sense to interpret the scope of the present invention.
Modifications to the exemplary embodiments, set forth above, could
be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from
the spirit of the present invention.
[0049] The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the
Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair
scope of the present invention as it pertains to any apparatus not
materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the
invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *