US1657744A - Tufts, material therefor, and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Description

Jim 31, 1928. 1,657,744

A. C. DURKEE,

TUFTS, MATERIAL THEREFOR, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Dec. '7, 1925 j Z MEfiTOT L/ZZfreCZ 621177? @e Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED C. DURKEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO F. BURKART MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MIS- SOURI.

TUFTS, MATERIAL THEREFOR, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE.

Application filed December 7, 1925; Serial No. 73,923.

This invention pertains to tufts adapted for use on mattresses and the like, or for ornamental purposes in connection with trimmings on Christmas trees or other purposes. The tufts now in general use are composed of a bunch of threads or strings assembled side by side and bound intermediate their ends by a wire clip or cord wrapped around and compressed upon the bunch. With this type of tuft it is difficult to trim the threads to a uniform length so as to present a symmetrical and even appearance in the finished article. Moreover, such tuft is comparatively unyielding and after being in use for a while presents an unsightly appearance and they are comparatively expensive.

Therefore it is an object of my invention to not only materially reduce the cost of tufts, and overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, but also to provide one which is very soft, fiuffy, symmetrically spherical in shape, and will present a nice appearance.

The above and other features of novelty, advantages and capabilities will become apparent from a detail description of the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated one form of m invention, but it will be understood that he form shown is illustrative only, and does not define the limits of my invention.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a strip ofv my improved material from which the sections are cut for forming the tuft;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a tuft showing the cord or string tied therearound intermediate its ends; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tuft shown in Figure 3 after being fiuffed to form a symmetrical spherical shape concealing the binding cord.

The material shown in Figure 1 comprises a body portion 10 of unspun roving with a cotton string or thread 11 extending through ,the center thereof. This strip is produced by carding or garnetting cotton or cotton Waste. The thread 11 which is in the center of the body portion is fed from a cone or tube to the delivery end of thecard or garnett in such a way that the cotton cord or.

thread lies approximately in the center of the body portion 10. With this arrangementthe finished material is given sufficient strength to be subsequently pulled through the tuft forming machines, whereas with the cheaper material if the cord or thread were not inserted the material would not have sufficient strength to be successively used in a tufting machine. Withhigh grade material the string 11 may be omitted. The material shown in Figure 1 is made in one continuous piece and as it passes from the card or 'garnett is coiled in a can by a regular cotton or wool coiling machine well understood in the art. When the can is full the end is cut off and a new can inserted in the machine. Subsequently in order to form the tuft this material is fed from the cans into any suitable tuft forming machine, cut off in the desired lengths, which lengths are bound intermediate their ends by a wire, cord or other suitable binder 12, in any satisfactory manner, and then fluifed, thus producing a soft, fluify tuft 13 made of unspun V ing approximately through the center of,

said body portion, a binder tightly surrounding said tuft intermediate its ends, the unbound portions being fluffed to form a symmetrical ball concealing said binder, sub-- stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name to the foregoing specification at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 30th day of November, 1925.

ALFRED C. DURKEE.

ajmmed January 31, 1928, to

Patent Na. 3, 657, 74 3.

it is hereby aertiiied H1 r Page:

@ laws ahove numbered patent rfiquixing cor s Patent should be read with this cm'rectian fiuaren timfi; die the case in the Patsnt (Mike.

Signefi and sealed this 6th day of Maaeh, A, D,

M. J. Moore, Acting Geanmissioner of Patents.

SeaE.

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