| US 7,507,364 B2 | ||
| Systems and methods for air embossing utilizing improved air lances | ||
| William Laird, Warwick, R.I. (US); and George Murphy, Franklin, Mass. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Microfibres, Inc., Pawtucket, R.I. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jun. 10, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/866,177. | ||
| Application 10/866177 is a continuation of application No. 09/979217, granted, now 6,770,240, previously published as PCT/US00/13993, filed on May 22, 2000. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/135379, filed on May 21, 1999. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0046089 A1, Mar. 03, 2005 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. D06C 23/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 264—546 [264/555; 425/385] | 61 Claims |
| 55. A method for embossing a surface of an embossable fabric with a gas comprising:
positioning at least a portion of at least one nozzle of an air lance within a first separation distance from a first surface
of a stencil;
positioning a main body portion of the air lance so that the smallest distance separating the main body portion from the first
surface of the stencil exceeds any distance separating the nozzle from the first surface of the stencil;
forming a stream of the gas with the air lance by passing the gas through the nozzle of the air lance; and
directing the stream of the gas through at least one opening in the stencil and onto an embossable surface of the fabric to
form a predetermined pattern of embossed features.
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