Use of a vegetal or plant fiber

Abstract

A fiber material from the fruits of poplars, willows, composites or similar plants is suitable for use as a raw material for insulation, for the production of fiber mattresses or as a filling or padding material. The fiber material can be extracted from closed fruits with the plants being dried and/or opened using an air flow and agitated in a treatment chamber ( 17 ), whereby the fiber material ( 21 ) contained in the fruit capsules ( 19 ) is substantially separated from the other constituent parts of the fruits. Disadvantages related to the use of cotton are thereby avoided.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A use of fiber material from at least one of poplar, willow, fruit hair developing plants, Bombacacea, cotton, cotton-type epilobium strains, fruits having hairy outgrowths from inner walls thereof, composites, and all other seed hair containing plants for the manufacture of at least one of insulation materials, filling, padding materials, papers, body padding, coverings, non-woven materials, textile material, natural-fiber-reinforced plastics, insulation material for construction purposes, sound-proofing materials, thermal insulation, cosmetic products, hygiene products, diapers, wadding, sanitary napkins, and filter materials.  
     
     
         2 . The use of  claim 1 , further comprising reinforcing the fiber material with at least one of natural and artificial fibers.  
     
     
         3 . The use of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of mixing and treating the fiber material with at least one of other stabilizing materials and treatment methods, to exert an anti-clumping effect.  
     
     
         4 . The use of  claim 1 , further comprising adding at least one of cork waste and peat to the fiber material.  
     
     
         5 . The use of  claim 1 , further comprising decontamination by conventional decontamination methods.  
     
     
         6 . The use of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber material is extracted by a method comprising the steps of: 
 a) introducing fruit pods into a treatment chamber;    b) flowing air through said treatment chamber to dry said fruit pods; and    c) moving said fruit pods in said treatment chamber to substantially release fiber material from other constituents, wherein initially closed fruit pods open to expose fiber material contained therein.