The disclosure provides blowable insulation or filling material, and apparatus and methods for making same. The blowable insulation or filling material includes a plurality of discrete elongate floccules each formed of a plurality of fibers. The floccules include a relatively open enlarged medial portion. The floccules also include relatively condensed twisted tail portions extending from opposing ends of the medial portion. The floccules can be utilized by existing garment fill blowing machines without clogging thereof, and include a superior soft hand feel, thermal resistance and launderability. The floccules may be formed by forcing staple fibers through apertures of a rotating hollow drum to partially form the floccule structure within the drum. The partially formed floccules may be retained within the rotating drum for a dwell time to finalize the floccule structure.

A blowable insulation material comprising natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls. The natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls are individually treated with a water repellent to impart water repellency to the fibers, and later aerodynamically blended together. The water repellent fibers constitute a part or most of the blowable insulation material, thus enhancing the durability of the structure as well as water repellency, which may be advantageous during washing or laundering.

A blowable insulation material comprising natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls. The natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls are individually treated with a water repellent to impart water repellency to the fibers, and later aerodynamically blended together. The water repellent fibers constitute a part or most of the blowable insulation material, thus enhancing the durability of the structure as well as water repellency, which may be advantageous during washing or laundering.

The present invention relates to a method for treating a plastic and/or paper waste material having steps including collecting a plastic and/or paper waste material, preferably paper, and highly preferably a release coated cellulose or polymeric sheet material. The material already includes a selected new-use additive preferably selected from flame retardant, hydrophobic material, pesticide, herbicides, minerals, nutrients, and/or mixtures thereof. The method includes the step of preparing the collected material by mixing, separating foreign bodies like metals, etc., and feeding it to a grinding station. The method also includes the step of, in one or several grinding stations, shredding and grinding the materials into small pieces.

The present invention relates to a method for treating a plastic and/or paper waste material having steps including collecting a plastic and/or paper waste material, preferably paper, and highly preferably a release coated cellulose or polymeric sheet material. The material already includes a selected new-use additive preferably selected from flame retardant, hydrophobic material, pesticide, herbicides, minerals, nutrients, and/or mixtures thereof. The method includes the step of preparing the collected material by mixing, separating foreign bodies like metals, etc., and feeding it to a grinding station. The method also includes the step of, in one or several grinding stations, shredding and grinding the materials into small pieces.

Article, such as quilted construction, and methods of making the same are described. A quilted construction may comprise a first woven sheet, a second woven sheet, a series of stitching, a reinforcing body, and a thermally insulating filler. The first woven sheet may be coupled to the second woven sheet via a series of stitching to define one or more chambers. The reinforcing body may have a figure-eight form and may be disposed between the first woven sheet and second woven sheet such that a crossover of the figure-eight form is aligned with the series of stitching. The thermal insulating filler may be disposed within the one or more chambers.

A blowable insulation material comprising natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls. The natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls are individually treated with a water repellent to impart water repellency to the fibers, and later aerodynamically blended together. The water repellent fibers constitute a part or most of the blowable insulation material, thus enhancing the durability of the structure as well as water repellency, which may be advantageous during washing or laundering.

A blowable insulation material comprising natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls. The natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls are individually treated with a water repellent to impart water repellency to the fibers, and later aerodynamically blended together. The water repellent fibers constitute a part or most of the blowable insulation material, thus enhancing the durability of the structure as well as water repellency, which may be advantageous during washing or laundering.

A filling system includes a first component having a fiber opener configured to open fibers. A second component is connected to the first component. The second component includes a fiber blower configured to blow opened fibers. A third component is connected to the second component. The third component includes a weighing system configured to weigh the opened fibers. A fourth component is connected to the third component. The fourth component includes a filler configured to dispose the opened fibers into a shell. Methods of use are disclosed.

A filling system includes a first component having a fiber opener configured to open fibers. A second component is connected to the first component. The second component includes a fiber blower configured to blow opened fibers. A third component is connected to the second component. The third component includes a weighing system configured to weigh the opened fibers. A fourth component is connected to the third component. The fourth component includes a filler configured to dispose the opened fibers into a shell. Methods of use are disclosed.