Jerry Mills Mallonee

US Patent:

51242001, Jun 23, 1992

Filed:

Sep 12, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/581517

Inventors:

Jerry M. Mallonee - Hickory NC

Assignee:

Petco - Newton NC

International Classification:

D04H 104
D02G 300
D06P 700
D04C 100

US Classification:

428296

Abstract:

An article adapted to be used as a liquid transfer wick and method for making same. The core is comprised of a heat fusible, nonwoven textile sheet material that is chemically inert to many solvents and oils. A binder is applied to the core in an open mesh braid to maintain the core in a predetermined compact condition. The outer portions of the core are heat fused to the binder forming a unitary fray resistant structure by the application of a flow of heated air which melts outer portions of the core exposed within the binder. The flow of heated air may be increased to create cavities in the outer portions of the core, thereby forming a wick that is absorbent along the outer longitudinal surface, as well as at the wick ends.

US Patent:

54606721, Oct 24, 1995

Filed:

Apr 26, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/233469

Inventors:

Jerry M. Mallonee - Hickory NC

Assignee:

Petco, Inc. - Newton NC

International Classification:

B32B 3116

US Classification:

156 734

Abstract:

An apparatus for joining a plurality of textile webs together in side-by-side relation includes a feeder for positioning a first textile web overlying a second textile web and advancing the textile webs along a predetermined path of travel, an ultrasonic horn and anvil for forming a relatively narrow flexible joint between the textile webs by heat fusing together adjacent portions thereof, and an unfolding frame for unfolding the textile webs about the joint so that the textile webs lie in a common plane to define the relatively wide textile fabric. More particularly, in order to form the convolute roll of the relatively wide textile fabric, the apparatus also preferably includes a driven take-up spindle positioned downstream from the unfolding frame to wind the relatively wide textile fabric into successive convolute wound layers. Accordingly, the relatively narrow flexible joint is thus folded to lie flat between successive layers so that the successive convolute wound layers define a cylindrical convolute roll being devoid of a substantial bulge at the joint. An associated method is also disclosed.