This invention relates to tufted floorcovering articles, including carpet tiles and broadloom carpet. In particular, this invention relates to tufted floorcovering articles made from the family of polymers known as polyester. Specifically, this invention relates to tufted carpet tile products made from polyester. The polyester carpet tiles meet commercial performance specifications and are fully end-of-life recyclable.

A low-weight carpet tile and process for making the same, wherein the carpet tile comprises a facecloth having a plurality of face yarns tufted through a primary backing, an extruded polymer secondary backing layer, and a reinforcing scrim layer partially un embedded within the extruded polymer secondary backing layer. The top surface and bottom surface of the carpet tile are defined by the facecloth and the reinforcing scrim layer, respectively. A polymer-based resin is extruded onto the facecloth to form an at least substantially uniform secondary backing layer, and the reinforcing scrim layer is laid onto the extruded polymer secondary backing layer while the extruded polymer secondary backing layer remains above a softening temperature for the resin. The entire multi-layer web is then passed through a nip to embed the reinforcing scrim layer into the extruded polymer secondary layer, and the entire web is chilled.

A low-weight carpet tile and process for making the same, wherein the carpet tile comprises a facecloth having a plurality of face yarns tufted through a primary backing, an extruded polymer secondary backing layer, and a reinforcing scrim layer partially embedded within the extruded polymer secondary backing layer. The top surface and bottom surface of the carpet tile are defined by the facecloth and the reinforcing scrim layer, respectively. A polymer-based resin is extruded onto the facecloth to form an at least substantially uniform secondary backing layer, and the reinforcing scrim layer is laid onto the extruded polymer secondary backing layer while the extruded polymer secondary backing layer remains above a softening temperature for the resin. The entire multi-layer web is then passed through a nip to embed the reinforcing scrim layer into the extruded polymer secondary layer, and the entire web is chilled.

A low-weight carpet tile and process for making the same, wherein the carpet tile comprises a facecloth having a plurality of face yarns tufted through a primary backing, an extruded polymer secondary backing layer, and a reinforcing scrim layer partially embedded within the extruded polymer secondary backing layer. The top surface and bottom surface of the carpet tile are defined by the facecloth and the reinforcing scrim layer, respectively. A polymer-based resin is extruded onto the facecloth to form an at least substantially uniform secondary backing layer, and the reinforcing scrim layer is laid onto the extruded polymer secondary backing layer while the extruded polymer secondary backing layer remains above a softening temperature for the resin. The entire multi-layer web is then passed through a nip to embed the reinforcing scrim layer into the extruded polymer secondary layer, and the entire web is chilled.

A carpet tile includes a textile top member and a carrier mat that is coupled with the textile top member via a thermoplastic material. The textile top member includes carpet yarns and a backing that is coupled with the carpet yarns so that the backing structurally supports the carpet yarns. The carrier mat includes a polymeric material component, a reinforcement, and a binder that is uniformly distributed throughout the polymeric material component and reinforcement component. The polymeric material component includes polymer fibers that are randomly oriented and entangled together. The reinforcement is disposed within the polymeric material component so that the reinforcement is entirely covered and concealed by the entangled polymer fibers to prevent exposure to a user. The reinforcement mechanically reinforces and stabilizes the polymeric material component and carpet tile.

A carpet tile includes a textile top member and a carrier mat that is coupled with the textile top member via a thermoplastic material. The textile top member includes carpet yarns and a backing that is coupled with the carpet yarns so that the backing structurally supports the carpet yarns. The carrier mat includes a polymeric material component, a reinforcement, and a binder that is uniformly distributed throughout the polymeric material component and reinforcement component. The polymeric material component includes polymer fibers that are randomly oriented and entangled together. The reinforcement is disposed within the polymeric material component so that the reinforcement is entirely covered and concealed by the entangled polymer fibers to prevent exposure to a user. The reinforcement mechanically reinforces and stabilizes the polymeric material component and carpet tile.

A carpet tile includes a textile top member and a cushion mat that is coupled with the textile top member via a thermoplastic material. The textile top member includes carpet yarns and a backing that is coupled with the carpet yarns so that the backing structurally supports the carpet yarns. The cushion mat includes a polymeric material component having polymer fibers that are randomly oriented and entangled together and a scrim reinforcement that is disposed within the polymeric material component. The scrim reinforcement reinforces and stabilizes the polymeric material component and is entirely covered and concealed by the intermeshed polymer fibers.

A flooring product may include an upper flooring material and a glassless wet-laid nonwoven mat. The glassless wet-laid nonwoven mat may include a plurality of polymeric fibers and a binder. The plurality of polymeric fibers have a linear mass density of between about 1.0 denier and 4.0 denier. The plurality of polymeric fibers have lengths of between about 6 mm and 25 mm. The binder has a loss on ignition of at least about 20%. The glassless wet-laid nonwoven mat has a hot-wet % of at least about 20%.

A method of making a floor covering including a tufted textile substrate and a reinforcement backing system. A layer of reinforcement fibers is positioned on the ends of yarn stitches. Applicators are operationally connected such that adhesive is forced into the reinforcement fiber layer towards a primary backing substrate, and adhesive is also substantially simultaneously directed to form a pool of adhesive between the applicators, and a portion of the pool of adhesive is also substantially simultaneously applied as a layer of adhesive on the reinforcement fiber layer.

This invention relates to a washable floor mat comprising a reinforcement layer. The floor mat includes a textile component and a base component. The textile component contains a reinforcement layer which dramatically reduces and/or eliminates edge deformation that often occurs as a result of the washing process. The textile component and the base component may be joined together to form a single piece floor mat. Alternatively, the textile component and the base component may be releasably attachable to one another by at least one surface attraction means to form a multi-component floor mat. The floor mat is designed to be soiled, washed, and re-used, thereby providing ideal end-use applications in areas such as building entryways.