04.27.04
A tufted pile structure has been issued a patent. The article has a backing with upper and lower faces. Many yarns are tufted into the backing, and each yarn is tufted by a separate tufting needle through a plurality of needle insertion points in the backing. Face fiber elements are formed that lie adjacent to the upper face of the backing. Backstitch elements overlay the lower face of the backing.
The insertion points produced by the tufting needles form a pattern of parallel lines that extend along the backing. An activated binder material is located beneath the backstitch to hold the backstitch elements to the backing. The activated binder material is concentrated along the lines of insertion points. The lower face of the backing between adjacent lines of insertion points are left free of binder.