US2015044393A1PendingUtilityA1

Down and Fiber Blend and Method

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Assignee: ALLIED FEATHER & DOWN CORPPriority: Aug 9, 2013Filed: Aug 11, 2014Published: Feb 12, 2015
Est. expiryAug 9, 2033(~7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Daniel UretskyJian Huang
D06M 2200/12D02G 1/00D01C 3/00D06M 19/00D01G 13/00D02J 3/00D04H 1/5418D04H 1/54B68G 1/00D04H 1/732B68G 2001/005D04H 1/02
57
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Claims

Abstract

An exemplary down and fiber blend may comprise a first weight of down having a water-resistant coating applied thereto, and a second weight of water-resistant fiber. The water-resistant treated down is preferably dried prior to mixing with the chosen fiber. The fiber in the blend may preferably be a polyester fiber, such as a polyester staple microfiber. A method of forming a down and fiber blend may include the gradual introduction of the fiber into a mixing box in which the water-resistant treated down is being stirred. Fiber and mixing parameters are also provided which have been determined to result in optimal performance characteristics of the fiber blend. In the microfiber blend embodiments, each strand may preferably have 6 to 9 crimps per inch, and the microfiber strands may preferably be 0.8 to 1.4 denier.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A down and fiber blend comprising:
 a first weight of down having a water-resistant coating applied thereto; and   a second weight of water-resistant-fiber;   wherein the first weight and the second weight form a blend with one another.   
     
     
         2 . A down and fiber blend as defined in  claim 1  in which the fiber is a polyester fiber. 
     
     
         3 . A down and fiber blend as defined in  claim 2  wherein the polyester fiber is a polyester microfiber. 
     
     
         4 . A down and fiber blend as defined in  claim 3  wherein each strand of the fiber is a solid fiber. 
     
     
         5 . A down and fiber blend as defined in  claim 3  wherein each strand of the fiber is 0.8 to 1.4 denier. 
     
     
         6 . A down and fiber blend as defined in  claim 3  in which each strand of the fiber has a length ranging from 8 mm to 32 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A down and fiber blend as defined in  claim 3  in which each strand of the fiber has 6 to 9 crimps per inch. 
     
     
         8 . A down and fiber blend as defined in  claim 1  wherein each strand of the fiber is a hollow conjugated fiber. 
     
     
         9 . A method of forming a down and fiber blend, the method comprising the following steps:
 selecting a first weight of down;   treating the down with a water-resistant coating;   drying the first weight of down;   choosing a second weight of fiber, the second weight of fiber consisting of fiber strands;   introducing the second weight of fiber into a fiber opener, thereby fluffing the second weight of fiber;   vacuuming the first weight of down into a mixing box for stirring therein;   gradually re-introducing the second weight of fiber through the fiber opener;   during the step of re-introducing and simultaneously with the down being stirred within the mixing box, blowing the fiber strands into the mixing box upon their exiting the fiber opener, thereby forming a mixture of the down and the fiber; and   agitating the mixture while it is being stirred.   
     
     
         10 . A down and fiber blend as defined in  claim 9  wherein each strand of the fiber is a solid fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The method defined in  claim 9  wherein, once all of the fiber strands have existed the fiber opener, the stirring continues for at least 5 minutes. 
     
     
         12 . The method defined in  claim 9 , further comprising the step of sucking the mixture out of the mixing box and into one or more down-proof bags. 
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 9  in which each strand of the fiber has 6 to 9 crimps per inch. 
     
     
         14 . A method of forming a down and fiber blend, the method comprising the following steps:
 selecting a first weight of down;   treating the down with a water-resistant coating;   drying the first weight of down;   choosing a second weight of fiber, the second weight of fiber consisting of fiber strands;   converting the second weigh of fiber into fiber ball precursor;   vacuuming the first weight of down into a mixing box for stirring therein;   simultaneously with the down being stirred within the mixing box, blowing the fiber ball precursor into the mixing box, thereby forming a mixture of the down and the fiber; and   agitating the mixture while it is being stirred.   
     
     
         15 . A method defined in  claim 14  wherein each strand of the fiber is a hollow conjugated fiber. 
     
     
         16 . The method defined in  claim 14  wherein, once all of the fiber ball precursor has been blown into the mixing box, the stirring continues for at least 5 minutes. 
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 14  wherein each strand of the fiber is 1 to 8 denier. 
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 14  wherein each strand of the fiber is 3 to 5 denier. 
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 14  in which each strand of the fiber has a length ranging from 32 mm to 64 mm. 
     
     
         20 . A method as defined in  claim 14  wherein each strand includes multi-dimensional crimping.

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