A method for manufacturing a piece of interior equipment of an automotive vehicle includes: obtaining a first web of fibers on a conveyor, the first web including a first layer of fibers forming a sole, and a second layer of fibers intended to form a velvet; depositing a second web of fibers and obtaining an assembly; needling the assembly; heating the needled assembly to a heating temperature, and obtaining a coating; and thermoforming the coating and a lower portion at a forming temperature in order to obtain the piece. The second web has continuous fibers with a single component having a melting temperature, the assembly further including a binding layer deposited on the sole of the first web, the binding layer in majority including at least one thermoplastic polymer having a melting temperature greater than the forming temperature and less than the melting temperature of the single component.

A blend of polyester staple fibers and insulation fill materials useful as a replacement for natural down in articles such as outdoor apparel, sleeping bags, bedding, etc. The blend includes first, second and optionally third polyester staple fiber formats that differing in terms of average diameter. A length of substantially all the fibers of the blend is in the range of about 16 to about 63 mm, alternatively 20-40 mm. At least a majority of the fibers of the blend are opened. In some embodiments, some or substantially all of the fibers of the blend are crimped and/or include a lubricant (e.g., siliconized). One non-limiting example blend includes 20-30 weight percent of not greater than 1 Denier fibers, 20-30 weight percent of greater than 1 up to 2 Denier fibers, and 40-60 weight percent of greater than 2 Denier fibers.

A blend of polyester staple fibers and insulation fill materials useful as a replacement for natural down in articles such as outdoor apparel, sleeping bags, bedding, etc. The blend includes first, second and optionally third polyester staple fiber formats that differing in terms of average diameter. A length of substantially all the fibers of the blend is in the range of about 16 to about 63 mm, alternatively 20-40 mm. At least a majority of the fibers of the blend are opened. In some embodiments, some or substantially all of the fibers of the blend are crimped and/or include a lubricant (e.g., siliconized). One non-limiting example blend includes 20-30 weight percent of not greater than 1 Denier fibers, 20-30 weight percent of greater than 1 up to 2 Denier fibers, and 40-60 weight percent of greater than 2 Denier fibers.

There is provided a laminated nonwoven fabric having excellent sound absorbing performance in a low frequency range, the laminated nonwoven fabric having a skin layer and a base material layer, the skin layer having a nonwoven fabric A, the nonwoven fabric A having a density of 100 to 500 kg/m.sup.3, a thickness of 0.5 to 2.5 mm, and an air permeability of 4 to 40 cm.sup.3/cm.sup.2/s; and the base material layer having a nonwoven fabric B, the nonwoven fabric B having a basis weight of 200 to 500 g/m.sup.2 and a thickness of 5 to 40 mm.

There is provided a laminated nonwoven fabric having excellent sound absorbing performance in a low frequency range, the laminated nonwoven fabric having a skin layer and a base material layer, the skin layer having a nonwoven fabric A, the nonwoven fabric A having a density of 100 to 500 kg/m.sup.3, a thickness of 0.5 to 2.5 mm, and an air permeability of 4 to 40 cm.sup.3/cm.sup.2/s; and the base material layer having a nonwoven fabric B, the nonwoven fabric B having a basis weight of 200 to 500 g/m.sup.2 and a thickness of 5 to 40 mm.

The laminated filler provided by the present invention comprises: a first fiber batt (1) and a second fiber batt (2) compounded to the first fiber batt. In the present invention, by providing the fiber batts in layers, the resulted filler is allowed to have good bulkiness and warmness, and an independent and flexible delamination and diversified combination of different component fibers can be achieved. The results show that the laminated filler provided by the invention has a thickness of 1 to 10 cm and a do value 5.0.

The laminated filler provided by the present invention comprises: a first fiber batt (1) and a second fiber batt (2) compounded to the first fiber batt. In the present invention, by providing the fiber batts in layers, the resulted filler is allowed to have good bulkiness and warmness, and an independent and flexible delamination and diversified combination of different component fibers can be achieved. The results show that the laminated filler provided by the invention has a thickness of 1 to 10 cm and a do value 5.0.

A multi-faceted family of non-woven webs that can take the form of a filter media, an adaptable forming process and a machine capable of making the range of media are disclosed. The filter medium can have a first surface and a second surface defining a thickness. The medium can comprise a region having a gradient. Such a gradient is formed by having a medium wherein the concentration of a fiber, a property or other component varies from one surface to the next surface. The gradient region of the media can comprise the entire thickness of the medium or can comprise a region that comprises a portion of the media thickness. The media are characterized by the presence of a continuous change of the fiber concentration or property within the region. A non-woven web can also be made comprising a planar fiber structure having a gradient. Such a web can comprise fibers having diameters that can range from 1 to 40 microns and a second fiber having a diameter that can range from 0.5 microns to about 5 microns. The gradient can change in the cross machine (x-dimension) or across the thickness (z-dimension) increasing or decreasing in either direction. The media of the invention can be used in a variety of applications for the purpose of removing particulates from a variety of gas use on liquid media. Further, the filtered medium of the invention used in a variety of filter element types including flat media, pleated media, flat panel filters, cylindrical spin-on filters, z media pleated filters and other embodiments wherein the gradient provides useful properties. Methods or processes or an apparatuses for forming a nonwoven medium comprising controllable characteristic within the medium are disclosed. The term medium (plural media) refers to a web made of fiber having variable or controlled structure and physical properties.

A multi-faceted family of non-woven webs that can take the form of a filter media, an adaptable forming process and a machine capable of making the range of media are disclosed. The filter medium can have a first surface and a second surface defining a thickness. The medium can comprise a region having a gradient. Such a gradient is formed by having a medium wherein the concentration of a fiber, a property or other component varies from one surface to the next surface. The gradient region of the media can comprise the entire thickness of the medium or can comprise a region that comprises a portion of the media thickness. The media are characterized by the presence of a continuous change of the fiber concentration or property within the region. A non-woven web can also be made comprising a planar fiber structure having a gradient. Such a web can comprise fibers having diameters that can range from 1 to 40 microns and a second fiber having a diameter that can range from 0.5 microns to about 5 microns. The gradient can change in the cross machine (x-dimension) or across the thickness (z-dimension) increasing or decreasing in either direction. The media of the invention can be used in a variety of applications for the purpose of removing particulates from a variety of gas use on liquid media. Further, the filtered medium of the invention used in a variety of filter element types including flat media, pleated media, flat panel filters, cylindrical spin-on filters, z media pleated filters and other embodiments wherein the gradient provides useful properties. Methods or processes or an apparatuses for forming a nonwoven medium comprising controllable characteristic within the medium are disclosed. The term medium (plural media) refers to a web made of fiber having variable or controlled structure and physical properties.

An extraction sheet having high machinability in the manufacture of an extraction filter for beverages and an extraction filter using the same and having high handling property is provided. The extraction sheet includes a layer including a meltblown nonwoven fabric that is formed from fibers of a polylactic acid-based resin having a crystallinity of 9.0% or lower and a fiber diameter of 15.0 m or smaller and that has a basis weight of 2.0 to 30.0 g/m2, and a layer including a spunbonded nonwoven fabric that is formed from fibers of a polylactic acid-based resin having a crystallinity of 30.0 to 60.0% and a fiber diameter of 35.0 m or smaller and that has a basis weight of 5.0 to 30.0 g/m2. The extraction sheet has a bending hysteresis of 5.010.sup.3 to 14.510.sup.3 gf.Math.cm/cm.