AU2005201438B2 - Direct forming of non-textile fabric elements from thermoplastic pellets or the like - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): SAMSONITE CORPORATION Invention Title: DIRECT FORMING OF NON-TEXTILE FABRIC ELEMENTS FROM THERMOPLASTIC PELLETS OR THE LIKE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: r DIRECT FORMING OF NON-TEXTILE FABRIC ELEMENTS

FROM

THERMOPLASTIC PELLETS OR THE LIKE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a combination polymer processing and article manufacturing process, and more particularly relates to a method and processfor creating uniquely shaped polymer elements in an interlinked structure.

BACKGROUND

The use of plastics has become pervasive in present-day products of all types. The processes by which plastics are formed into or integrated as specific elements with the products have been carefully developed to generally maximize the volume of product output and performance characteristics of the resulting plastic products. Typically, the polymer process is used to form an individual product or element, such as a packaging structure (plastic bottle) or an individual element of a larger article (gear member for a low power drive train, or a filament of thermoplastic for combining into yam or synthetic textiles).

The traditional and well-known plastic forming processes include, among others, injection molding, blow molding, and extrusion. Each of these forming processes has several related sub-processing techniques, but in the end they all rely on at least one common characteristic: the plastic starting material must be transformed into a molten state for the process to perform as desired. The molten thermoplastic stream is generated by masticating plastic pellets (and perhaps some uregrind" from the offal of previous molding processes) to work heat the resulting mass to molten temperatures. This molten requirement mandates the use of relatively complex equipment, and the processing parameters must be precisely controlled for successful processing. These forming processes are also somewhat limited in that there are limitations on the type of products that can be made. The material parameters-of the final products made using these forming processes, such as surface properties, chemical resistance, electrical properties, optical properties, melt properties, tensile strength, shear strength, elasticity and rigidity can be compromised as a result of these traditional plastic forming processes. Some of these forming processes also creat substantial scrap material that may be later recycled into the molten plastic prior to continued processing.

-2- These limitations become more important when the desired product made of the plastic 0 is required to be flexible, durable, strong and easily assembled, such as a non-textile fabric.

Non-textile fabric here means a generally flexible web made of individual interconnected elements, the web having many of the characteristics of textile fabric, but not depending on fibers or fiber related processes for these characteristics. Chain mail is one example of a non 00o C textile fabric.

Another plastic forming process is solid phase forming, also called superplastic forming C by Shell Development Company, and "Scrapless Forming of Plastic Articles" by Dow SChemical Company. This solid phase forming process is used to create plastic articles having C high heat distortion temperatures, expanded or porous layers with integrally formed skin, using ultra high molecular weight polymers, and blended or layered structures of two or more materials. A related process is also used in the forming of metals, particularly aluminum, to form forged aluminum shapes from precisely formed slugs of metal. While solid phase forming can be used to create plastic products that generally overcome the short falls of the previously described forming processes, solid phase forming itself has not been utilized to directly form an interconnected structure.

Another shortcoming of these plastic forming processes is that the subsequent manufacturing steps for integrating the formed product into the final embodiment includes further handling of the formed product. This further handling to assemble the final product is expensive, both in labor costs and speed of production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacturing a non-textile fabric of elements having mutually engaging portions including the acts of: solid phase forming a first element with at least one engagement portion; and solid phase forming a second element having at least one engagement portion in operable connection with said first element by molding said engagement portion of said second element directly against said engagement portion of the first element.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a nontextile fabric of individual elements made by solid phase forming.

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THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIALLY LEFT BLANK N AMelboume\CasesPaen\45000.45999\P4629.AU~ MSpccis\P45629.AU I Speciication 2007-10-17.doc 7110107 -7- 00 THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIALLY LEFT BLANK N \MclbOume\Cases\Patenl\45000-45999\P45629.AU. I \Specis\P45629.A U I Speciication 2007-1 0-17 doc17/10107 -8- SBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS O Fig. 1A is a front perspective view of a plate element which forms part of the non Stextile fabric produced by the present invention.

Fig. 1B is a representational section of a rivet used to operably connected the plate 00 5 elements to form the non-textile fabric produced by the present invention.

Fig. 2A is a plan view of a portion of the non-textile fabric formed by the process of the Spresent invention, showing a legs-up plate element, a legs-down plate element and a rivet.

I Fig. 2B is a section view taken along line 2B-2B in Fig. 2A.

Fig. 2C is a representative section view similar to that in Fig. 2B, with the plate elements laterally expanded relative to the rivet.

Fig. 3 is a larger scale plan view of a portion of the non-textile fabric formed by the process of the present invention.

Figs. 4A-C are representational section views showingthe solid phase forming steps used to make the legs-up element of the non-textile fabric, such steps making up a portion of N\Mclboumc\Ca cs\Patcn\45000-45999\P45629AU I\.SiS\P45629 AU I Specification 2007-10-17.doc7110107 -9- Sthe process of the present invention.

SFig. 5 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the equipment used to perform the process of the present invention, including showing a plurality of work surfaces formed on the outer surfaces of rollers, and various processing steps both inside the rollers and on the outer surfaces.

00Fig. 5A shows a portion of the surface of the second roller, showing the previously formed legs-up plates and the recesses for holding polymer pellets used to form the legs-down plates.

Fig. 5B shows a portion of the surface of the third roller, showing the previously (ti formed legs-up and legs-down plates prior to the act of forming the rivet to hold the Splates in an operable configuration.

Fig. 5C shows a portion of the non-textile fabric formed by the process of the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows a portion of the work surface of the first roller, including the legsup mold cavities and the recesses for holding the pellets.

Figs. 7A and B are representational section views showing the solid phase forming steps for forming the legs-down element of the non-textile fabric, such steps making up a portion of the process of the present invention.

Figs. 8A and B are representational section views showing the solid phase forming steps for forming the rivet element of the non-textile fabric, such steps making up a portion of the process of the present invention.

Fig. 9 shows a top plan view and typical section of an alternative embodiment of a plate element having barbed edges used in forming the non-textile fabric of the present invention.

Fig. 10 shows a top plan view and typical section of an alternative embodiment of a plate element having recessed edges used in forming the non-textile fabric of the present invention.

Fig. 10A is a representative section showing the engagement of the plate having the H:\krystalm\keep\Speci\14464-01 Divisional .doc 31/03/05 WO 01/32404 PCTUSOWMg948 barbed edges and the plate having the recessed edges of the alternative embodiment shown in Figs. 9and Fig. I11 shows a portion of the non-textile fabric made up of the plate elements of the 00 alternative embodiment of Figs. 9 and 5 Fig. 12 shows a larger portion of the non-textile fabric made up of the plate elements of the alternative embodiment of Figs. 9 and Fig. 13 is a representative section showing the solid phase forming step for forming the plate element of Fig. 10 having recessed edges using the plate element having barbed edges as a portion of the mold cavity.

Fig. 14A and B show another alternative embodiment of the plate structure for forming the non-textile fabric of the present invention, incorporating an integrally formed rivet structure.

Fig. 15 shows a section of the non-textile fabric formed by the alternative embodiment plate of Fig. 14, prior to the rivet heads being formed on the rivet structure.

Fig. 16 shows a section of the non-textile fabric formed by the alternative embodiment plate of Fig. 14, after the rivet heads are formed on the rivet structure.

Figs. 17A, B and C show an alternative embodiment of the plate structure for forming the non-textile fabric of the present invention, incorporating an integrally-formed rivet structure u tilizing a split retainer and a separate cap.

Fig. 18 shows an alternative embodiment of the non-textile fabric formed by the fusing together of separately formed elements along their respective edges, which operation is performed in the direct forming process of the present invention.

Fig. 19 is a block-diagram showing the primary steps in the process of the present invention.

Fig. 20 shows a perspective view of a luggage case with a portion of its outer surface made of non-textile fabric manufactured according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TEINVENTION The present invention utilizes the principles of solid phase forming. The use of solid phase forming techniques was summarized in 1972 by the Plastics Technical Evaluation Center, Picatinny Arsenal, Dover, New Jersey, in Report No R42 titled"Solid-phase Forming r S(Cold Forming) of Plastics." This document is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The instant invention as described herein includes the molding, in place, of each of the Sinterconnected elements in a non-textile type fabric, such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,906,873 and U.S. Patent 5,853,863 (which patents, to the extent they are consistent with this 00 5 application, are hereby incorporated by reference) using such solid-phase molding techniques.

While the particular form of non-textile fabric disclosed in these patents is the preferred material to be produced by this invention, it is contemplated that any other array of miniature, r3 linked plastic units to form a flexible, non-textile (not fiber based) fabric would benefit from the disclosed innovations.

The manufacturing process of the present invention is described herein with respect to the assembly of a non-textile fabric (NTF). One of the intended uses of the nontextile fabric is as an outer surface for luggage, or other like articles, where a durable, flexible outer surface is desired to withstand various types of physical abuse. Other various uses for the non-textile fabric are possible and contemplated.

The inventive manufacturing process and resulting productare described hereinafter.

An example of the product is described first to facilitate an understanding of the process by which it is manufactured. The non-textile fabric in the exemplary structure is made up of separate plate elements and rivet elements interconnected together in a particular orientation.

An example of a plate element 40 is shown in Fig. IA, and an example of a rivet element42 is shown in Fig. 1B. An example of the non-textile fabric 44 when formed by these separate elements 40 and 42 during the inventive process is shown in Fig. 2.

The plate element 40 in Fig. 1A is shown in a "legs-up" position. The following plate structure is one of many believed to work in the formation of the non-textile fabric, and is described by way of example. The plate element40 includes a generally square main body 46 having four sides, each defining an edge 48. Each edge 48 extends a majority of the length of the side. A curved cutout 50 is formed between adjacent sides of the plate basically at the comers of the main body. The main body40 has a top surface 52 and a bottom surface 54. Each edge 48 curves away from the top surface 52 to extend at approximately degrees relative to the bottom surface 54. Each bent edge 48 forms a leg 56, and each leg defines an engagement structure thereon.

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WO 01/32404 PCT/US00/29948 12 The engagement structure includes a top ridge 58, having flat top wall and sidewalls 00 perpendicular to the main body 46 of the plate member. The ridge 58 extends coincidentally with the edge 48. A sloped cam surface 60 extends down to the bottom surface 54 of the main body 46. A groove 62 is formed in the main body and extends parallel to the ridge58. The t 5 groove 62 is sized to receive a corresponding ridge 58 of an adjacent plate member therein, as described below with respect to the engagement of adjacent plate members. This engagement structure could be modified in many ways and still function as desired. One such non-limiting modification includes that the ridge could extend longer or shorter than the edge, the ridge could have a different profile, the sloped cam surface can be curved or linear, and the groove could be of a different size or have sloped sidewalls.

A representative section of the rivet42 is shown in Fig. IB. Generally, therivet 42 has disc-shaped top 64 and bottom 66 heads and a shaft 68 extending therebetween. The heads are fixed to the shaft.

A section of the assembled structure of the non-textile fabric44 is shown in Figs. 2A-C.

Fig. 2A shows a plan view of the non-textile fabric44, with three plates 40 held in position by two rivets 42. The two outer plates are in the "legs-up" orientation, and the shaded middle plate is in the "legs down" position. Each rivet is positioned so that its shaft58 extends through the aligned cutouts 50 of each adjacent plate. The opposing heads 64 and 66 of the rivet define the limits of the vertical (with respect to Fig. 2B) motion of the plates40. In this position, the adjacent plates 40 are interlocked together with their respective engagement structures in engagement. See Fig. 2B. Briefly, in the engaged position, the ridge58 of the top ("legs down") plate is received in the groove 62 of the bottom ("legs up") plate. The cam surfaces 60 of each plate 40 are resting against one another, and the ridge 58 of the bottom plate is positioned in the groove 62 formed in the top plate. As will be described below, this is the position the plates will be in when the "legs down" plate is formed in the inventive process.

Several plates can be attached to one another in this manner, with the engagement structure on all four sides engaging a corresponding engagement structure of an adjacent plate. Rivets42 are positioned through the cut outs 50 at the comers of the plates 40 to insure that the engagement structures remain in engagement and keep the plates from separating. See Fig. 3.

The engagement structure allows the plates to move to some extent with respect to one S13 Sanother and allow the non-textile fabric to bend. The more the plates40 can move with respect to one another, the more the non-textile fabric can bend have a smaller radius of t¢ curvature), flex and twist. As can be seen, the benefits of a non-textile fabric such as this are significant. A hard, durable outer surface is provided that protects the underlying 00 5 (such as fabric in a piece of luggage) from damage due to sharp impacts, and disperses those impacts over a larger surface area. In addition, this tough armor-like surface is also flexible Sand lightweight.

SFig. 2C shows the embodiment of the non-textile fabric44 of Figs. 2A and B. Here the shaft 68 of the rivet 42 is somewhat extendable and resilient. With an extensible shaft, on lateral stretching of the non-textile fabric, such as when bending, twisting, or being pulled directly in a lateral direction, the mutually engaging cam surfaces60 or ramps ride up on one another. This creates a tensile force on the shaft68 of the rivets holding these mutually sliding plates together, and stretches the shaft slightly. The plates40 are thus at a spaced-apart position, as shown in Fig. 2C. The shafts of the rivets, in turn, apply a compressive force to the plates and, due to the geometries of the cam surfaces60, tend to pull the plates toward one another, thus moving the plates towards their unstretched positions. This compressive/tensile force balance effect makes the non-textile fabric seem resilient (laterally stretchable) as well as flexible. Thus, it is likely to look, feel and perform like a textile and provide an extremely hard and durable surface simultaneously.

Other plate structures are contemplated to work adequately in forming the non-textile fabric. Examples of these alternative plate structures are shown in Figs. 9-18. These alternative plate structures are made and assembled (direct formed) in a manner similar to that described below for the plate structures shown in Figs. IA-B, 2A-C, and Fig. 3.

Each plate and rivet is made from a polymer material that is subject to the solid phase forming process. Conventional plastic pellets are preferred to other forms of feed stock materials, all other things being equal. The use of conventional plastic pellets can give the inventive process great versatility and economy, simplifies material handling and also assures minimal thermal degradation of the feedstock. Of course, if the particular thermoplastic chosen does not lend itself to pelletizing, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHDPE), briquetting is also an acceptable starter stock.

WO 01/32404 PCr/USOO/29948 i-n 14 The material for the top and bottom plates could be identical, although it may be OC desirable to use a different plastic material for the plate that is positioned on the exterior of the final product. This may be important because the outer plate may be subject to different Sphysical conditions and stresses abrasion, etc.) than the inner plate. The material for the t 5 exterior plate thus should be selected appropriately to provide at least a scuff resistant polymer for those plates only. Color and texture, among other characteristics, can also be taken in to account in the selection of the polymer for forming the exterior plates. Also, to help prevent any undesirable or unwanted welding of the legs down plates to the legs up plates during the processing when the legs up is used as a portion of the mold cavity for forming the legs down plate, the legs down plates should be formed of a polymer having a higher melting point, or one incompatible with the polymer of the legs down plates. This is described in more detail below.

The rivet materials could again be similar polymers to those of the plates, or another polymer with characteristics particular to the processing and functional peculiarities of the rivets.

The inventive process is best explained with reference to a preferred manufacturing apparatus which includes at least two assembly rollers having a nip line (line of contact) between the at least two rollers. In general, the outer surface of each roller is a work surface, and at selected locations this work surface receives the plastic pellets. The plastic pellets are generally received, retained, transported, formed, and released from the work surface of each roller. The motion of the rollers is preferably computer controlled for precision movement with respect to one another and other equipment. Each roller is generally hollow, and contains internal apparatus, as described below, for receiving, holding, forming and manipulating the polymer pellets.

The solid phase forming process utilized in the inventive direct forming process is described in Figs. 4A, B, and C. The basic direct-forming steps are described here to facilitate the description of the entire process below. The basic processing step occurs at the nip between adjacent rollers. Each roller surface forms a portion of a mold cavity72, 74 such that when positioned in alignment together along the nip between the rollers, forms a complete moldcavity. (See Fig. 4A.) A recess 76 is formed adjacent to the cavity mold, generally radiallyinward from the cavity mold, to receive a polymer pellet78 from an earlier step in the direct forming process. The volume of the polymer pellet78 and the mold cavity are generally the same. A striker 80, controlled by an actuator 82, is positioned adjacent the recess 76 to impact the pellet 78 and force it into the mold cavity to take on the shape of the mold cavity.

In Fig. 4A, the mold cavity portions on rollers A and B are aligned along the nip to form a complete mold cavity. The mold cavity is shaped to form a plate40 similar to that shown in Fig. 1. The pellet 78 is positioned in the recess 76, with the striker head 84 engaging the pellet 78. Nearly instantaneously to the alignment of the two cavities72 and 74, the actuator 82 is caused to impact the pellet 78 and force it into the mold cavity. See Fig. B. The speed of the impact by the striker 80, along with the physical characteristics of the pellet 78, and the possible heated condition of the pellet, causes the pellet 78 to enter the mold cavity, deform, and adapt the shape of the mold cavity. The striker80 motion terminates at the sidewall of the mold cavity, in this example, to form part of the mold cavity. This step is the solid phase forming of the pellet 78 into the element 40, discussed in greater detail below.

As the rollers A and B continue to rotate with respect to one another, and in this example in opposite directions, the element 40 is retained in the mold cavity portion of roller B by some means, such as mechanical fit or vacuum pressure. See Fig. 4C. The strikerS0 can be used to expel the element from the portion of the mold cavity on roller A if required. The striker 80 then retracts into the recess 76, in preparation for receiving another pellet 78. The element 40 is carried along on roller B to the next forming position.

In this basic example of the process, it is clear that the solid phase forming process in combination with the continuous motion of the rollers provide a very advantageous method of forming and transporting the formed part. Since the use of rollers in highspeed production and manufacturing processes is very well developed, the control systems required for the preciselytimed forming step are known in the art. This process produces very little waste and has a high production rate.

In particular, the embodiment first described herein, as shown in Fig. 5, includes three fairly large and one relatively small, serially interengaging rollers 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively.

Each roller turns at the same speed but in a direction opposite that of the adjacent roller. A nip region is formed along the tangential line of contact between the adjacent rollers. The direct forming operation is performed in this nip region between each roller to form a line or rank of SWO132404 PCT/US00/29948 16 elements in mold cavities formed along that nip region. In Fig. 5, there is a nip region between 00 rollers 1 and 2, between rollers 2 and 3, and between rollers 3 and 4.

Each of these rollers has an outer perimeter surface86 that include dimples or cavities 0 making up one of the two portions of the miniature clamshell type mold cavities to form the plates 40 or rivets 42 that make up the non-textile fabric elements. These mold halves come together and form closed or complete mold cavities at the nip between rollers and are then ready to receive the flowable thermoplastic material from the pellet, as described above with regard to Figs. 4A-C. Each roller differs from the others in that the internal structures within the rollers, and shapes of the dimples or cavities are specific to the operations performed by that roller. The axial dimension of these rollers has no real limit, but it should at least exceed the width of the largest non-textile fabric article to be made. In the case of luggage then, the axial dimension over which elements may be formed and assembled would be in the range of 100 centimeters.

In the exemplary process, in an overview, one of the elements is formed in the "legsup" position at the nip between rollers 1 and 2. A second of the elements is formed in the "legs-down" position at the nip between rollers 2 and 3. This "legs-down" element is formed in engagement with the "legs-up" element as part of the direct-forming process to interengage the elements together during processing. The rivet is then formed at the nip between rollers 3 and 4 to keep the interengaged plate elements together. The non-textile fabric is then extracted from the process in a fully assembled condition at the off-feed from between rollers 3 and 4.

Each of rollers 1, 2 and 3 can have several similar stages or features that facilitate the direct forming process. Roller 1 has six basic stages associated therewith. The first stage88 includes the striker structure 80 mounted inside the roller at the inner surface of the outer wall 86. The striker, as noted above, is positioned and controlled to interact with the pellet receiving recess 76. Each striker 80 corresponds to a pellet-receiving recess 76, and can be actuated between a retracted and fully extended position, and any position therebetween.

The striker 80 can be solenoid operated, for example, and must have several characteristics in addition to the ability to position the striker head as mentioned above. In particular, the striker and its solenoid (activator82) must fit within the roller in a relatively small space. Since the plates to be made on each roller are likely arrayed on 4mm centers, a Ssolenoid and its connections must occupy less than an approximate 8mm diameter cylindrical space within the body of each cylinder. This is easily accomplished in view of the t miniaturization strides made in dot matrix and inkjet printer heads. If more room for the striker mechanism 80 is needed than is available within the cylinder, belts made up of linked arrays of 00 5 strikers and cavities could be used to give almost unlimited space for such mechanisms.

The striker activator 82 must also move the striker head 84 (ideally, but not limited to, one striker actuator per pellet) at considerable speed and force, adequate to plastically deform the pellet or pellets into the mold cavities. The striker activator must complete its molding stroke almost instantaneously, since the mutually engaging rollers will be rapidly rotating to produce an adequate flow of completed non-textile fabric shapes. Thus, the molding stroke must be very brief in view of the relatively small time the mold cavities will be aligned at the nip in the rollers.

Lastly, the striker assemblies must be easily operated in various combinations and arrays in response to computer operated control signals. Again, past development of dot matrix printers, ink jet printers, and the like in the past places all of these mechanisms easily at the disposal of one of ordinary skill, once the application of these technologies has been disclosed as above. One such structure is disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,126,618, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Returning to Fig. 4, the strikers 80 in roller I are positioned the striker heads84 are positioned by the controller) to be flush with the mold cavity wall to exclude a pellet78 and thus not make a plate, or withdrawn into the recess 76 to receive the pellet therein if a plate is to be formed in this mold cavity. In this way, pellets are only positioned in the recesses76 intended to receive pellets 78 to form a predetermined shape of non-textile fabric.

The second stage is a pellet hopper 90 positioned and controlled to selectively apply pellets 78 to the outer surface 86 of the roller. The pellets 78 are applied in an orientation to allow them to be received in the recesses 76 as desired. The pellet hopper 90 is preferably positioned just downstream of the nip between rollers 1 and 2. While Fig. 5 shows a hopper or the like, it may be more desirable to use electrostatic placement, fluidized bed distribution, or vacuum depositing to position a pellet 78 in each of the appropriate recesses 76. Fluidized bed plus vacuum (a small vacuum channel in the recess exposed by the withdrawn striker head) Q_)WOO01/32404 PCT/USoI299 18 would assure complete filling of all the appropriate recesses 76. Another option is to 00 selectively position the pellets 78 in the desired recesses from within the roller. The pellets78 could be positioned in front of a retracted striker head 84, and pushed into the recess 76 by the striker 80. This would alleviate any problems associated with the mass distribution of Vr) 5 pellets 78 to the outer surface 86 of the roller, and would eliminate the need to remove excess pellets 78. The recesses 76 can be sized to receive only one pellet 78, or could be sized to receive several pellets. As shown, the recess 76 is shaped to closely receive one pellet 78, however, it is contemplated that the recess 76 could be shaped to receive one pellet 78 in a loose manner and not be closely received by the recess 76. Also, it is contemplated that the pellet 78 could be inserted into the recess from inside the roller through an opening in the sidewall of the recess 76. This opening could be selectively blocked by the striker 80 if desired to keep a pellet from being positioned in the recess 76.

The third stage is a pellet placement roller 92 that engages the outer surface 86 of roller I (or its respective roller) to assist in positioning the pellets 78 in their respective recesses 76. The pellet placement roller 92 preferably has a cushioned outer surface to gently urge the pellets into their respective recesses 76 without accidentally performing any solidphase forming, or otherwise deforming the pellet shape. At this stage, soft roller or the like would push any captured pellet almost flush with the recess 76, assuring that the pellet will remain in place until forged or solid-phase molded into its respective mold cavity.

The fourth stage is a pellet remover station 94 to remove those excess pellets not properly positioned in their respective recesses 76. This pellet remover 94 can operate by contact (such as a scraper) or non-contact (such as by vacuum or the like). The removed pellets 78 can be recycled.

The fifth stage is a heat source 96, either external or internal to the roller, for selective temperature conditioning of the pellets 78 prior to the solid-phase forming step. The heat source 96 can be electric, convection, radiation, or any other heating technique kcnown or available for such an operation. For solid phase molding, much of the energy for shaping the pellet 78 or slug into a final shape comes from the instantaneous forging forces dissipated in the preform or slug during the operation. However, itis anticipated that each of the pellets should 3o be at a controlled temperature prior to forging so that optimum molding can occur. The fifth feature shows radiant heaters bathing the pellets held in the recesses prior to forging. Other heating systems are possible including temperature controlling the cylinder itself, or heating the Spellets in a fluidized bed just prior to placement. The heating stage is discussed in more detail below.

00 s Each roller preferably has similar features or stages associated therewith to facilitate the particular solid phase forming process with which that roller is associated. While each of these roller features may not be necessary for optimally sized pellets, the use of cintered briquettes or t loose powders would likely involve them all.

In greater detail, Fig. 5 is an end view diagramming the exemplary molding/assembly process and the equipment required for performing the process of the present invention. The processed materials move generally from left to right as shown. The fourth roller shown at the lower right of the drawing can be a simple anvil roller with appropriate cavities to aid in forming and/or setting the rivets 42.

All the rollers (with the possible exception of anvil roller 4) have hundreds of small recesses 76 for receiving thermoplastic pellets 78. On roller 1, as shown in Figs. 4A, B, C, and 6, each one of these recesses 76 is centered in a dimple or mold cavity portion 74 formed in the outer surface 86 of the roller 1 (in this example). See Fig. 6. Each dimple or mold cavity portion 74 is about half of the miniature mold cavity needed to form a plate element in the "legs-up" position. For roller 1, these cavities are shaped to form the plate with the four "legs" used to loosely link each plate with the overlapping plates in the assembled non-textile fabric.

The plates formed at the nip between rollers 1 and 2 are in the "legs up" position because these plates, once formed, are vacuum transferred to roller 2 with the legs extending radially outwardly away from roller 2. This orientation is in preparation for forming the second plate in the "legs-down" configuration at the nip between rollers 2 and 3.

The pellet receiving recess 76, as can be seen from the side in Fig. 4A, is preferably a right circular cylinder to snugly receive the small thermoplastic pellets78 from the compounder. The circular face of the striker head84 form the bottom circular end of this recess. This striker head 84, as mentioned above, is operated by an electromagnetic or piezoelectric solenoid, or the like. This solenoid can position the face of the striker head84 well within the recess, leaving a space for one, two or more such pellets. The solenoid can also WO 01/32404 PCTIUSOO2994 CPCT/UlSll/29948 position the face of the striker head 84 at or beyond the opening to the recess 76 and extend in o00 to the mold cavity 74 to exclude any pellets 78 from being deposited there. The strikers could also be operated as extraction pins to release the just molded plate40 or rivet 42 from its respective mold cavity after formation.

At the beginning of the process, pellets 78 are positioned on the surface 86 of roller 1 by Sthe pellet hopper 90. The pellets 78 are urged into position by the pellet-positioning roller 92.

The excess pellets 78 are removed by the pellet removal device94. The pellets are then heatconditioned at the heating stage 96. The solid phase forming process then occurs at the nip between rollers 1 and 2 to form the "legs-up" plate elements. This step was described with 1o respect to Figs. 4 above. The "legs-up" plate elements are formed and remain on roller 2, arrayed in approximately the same relative position in which they were formed, such as is shown at Fig. 5A. Roller 1 continues its rotation through all of the stages continuously to allow for efficient and continuous processing of the non-textile fabric.

At roller 2, continuing with Fig. 5, the processing continues. Roller 2 has pellet recesses 76A formed in the mold cavities for the "legs-down" element, which are positioned between the arrayed legs-up plate elements positioned on the surface of roller 2. See the recesses 76A formed in dash on Figs. 5A and 6 to indicate the location of the pellet recesses 76A on roller 2 with respect to the "legs-up" elements. Thus, the pellets78 are deposited on roller 2 between the location of the formation of the "legs-up" plate elements The pellets 78 are preferably positioned, the excess pellets removed, and the remaining pellets heated (similar to the stages on roller 1) prior to the forming process at the nip between rollers 2 and 3.

Alternatively, the pellet deposit (90A), positioning (92A), excess removal (94A), and heating (96A) can take place before the formation of the legsup plates at the nip between rollers 1 and 2, if so desired, as shown in Fig. 5 at the bottom of roller2. It is contemplated that each of the steps associated with the placement, positioning, and conditioning of the pellets on the outer surface 86 of any of the rollers can be performed in any order and location as is beneficial for the solid phase forming process.

At the nip between rollers 2 and 3 the "legs-down" plate elements are formed by the solid phase forming process. See Figs. 7A and B. In this forming step, the "legs-up" plate Selement acts as part of the mold cavity, as described in further detail below.

Referring to Fig. 7A, the pellet 78A is shown in the recess 76A, with the striker head in O the retracted position and engaged with the rear end of the pellet78A. The partial mold cavities 98 and 100 formed partially in rollers 2 and 3, respectively, are aligned to form the 00 5 complete mold cavity at the nip between rollers 2 and 3. See Fig.7A. The mold cavity for forming the "legs-down" plate element is defined in part by the surface of rollers 2, the surface of roller 3, and a portion of the "legs-up" element. This mold-cavity formation allows the tt "legs-down" plate element to be formed to fit precisely with the "legs-up" plate element, thus creating an inter-engaging or connected structure during forming without need of separate assembly of individual parts.

Once the complete mold cavity is formed by the alignment of the mold cavity portions 98 and 100 on rollers 2 and 3, respectively, the striker80A is actuated to force the pellet 78A into the mold cavity and adapt the shape of the complete mold cavity. See Fig. 7B.

This solid phase forming step includes the formation of the inter-engaged ridge and slot formation of the embodiment of the element40 described above. The striker head 84A is shown in its extended position to form a portion of the back surface of the mold cavity in Fig. 7B.

The structure of the "legs-down" plate elements 40A formed to engage with the "legsup" elements 40 at the nip between rollers 2 and 3 is shown in Fig. 5B. This structure leaves only a small, generally circular hole formed between and through the array of plate and 40A between the four overlapping legs of adjacent plate elements. These circular spaces will help position and mold the rivets 42 at the nip between rollers 3 and 4. The mutually engaging legs of the plates 40 and 40A have a shape that meets luggage construction needs in a preferred way.

As rollers 2 and 3 move, the just-formed "legs-down" 40A and the existing "legsup" 40 plate elements disengage from roller 2 and adhere to roller 3, such as by vacuum force on the "legs-down" plate elements. The overlapping plates will likely hold together adequately for transport on roller 3 to the next processing step even without inserted or inserted and set rivets. This is because the intimate mating of mutually molded legs will adhere to one another via VanderWals forces.

I

I

Q WO 01/32404 PCT/US00/29948 The use of part of the previously formed legs-up plate elements40 as a portion of the 00 mold cavity for forming the "legs-down" plate element 40A is very advantageous. It allows for the forming of interengaged (connected) plate elements without requiring the separate plate elements to be manufactured separately and then assembled. It is important for the legsin 5 down 40A and legs-up 40 plate elements to remain separate.elements and not become a single fused element during this forming step. To insure the two plates do not fuse together during the processing step, it is important for the legs-up plate element40 to be formed of a polymer that includes properties that resist permanent fusing with the legs-down plate element 40A during the formation of the legs-down plate element. These properties could include that the legsdown plate element 40A is formed of a polymer that has a lower melting temperature than the legs-up plate element 40. This would result in the legs-down element40A being formed at a temperature where the legs-up element 40 is sufficiently solid and not in a softened state. In addition, the surface characteristics of the legs-up element40 could be manipulated (hardened or lubricated) after formation and prior to its use in the molding of the legsdown plate element 40A to make it resist bonding to the legs-down plate element40A. The selection of the polymers for the formation of each of he two plate elements should consider this requirement, and the processing parameters (temperature, speed, etc.) should also factor in this requirement; For certain non-textile fabric applications, for example in relatively rigid luggage panel constructions, some mutual melting and non-permanent fusing between the previously formed legs-up plates 40 and the just formed legs-down plates 40A may be tolerated. The extra stiffness derived from the occasional permanent weld joint resulting from such mutual melting will likely break loose during the subsequent assembly steps or ordinary consumer use.

Processing speeds should be set at a nominal rate so that such plate-to-plate welds are generally rare. The amount of excess sensible heat left in the legs-up plates 40 and imparted to or generated in the legs-down plates 40A should be controllable and minimal due to the solid phase forming techniques discussed herein. The processes should be able to be controlled at precise enough levels to allow the use of the same type of polymer for each element.

Referring back to Fig. 5, the arrays of overlapping plates now pass to the surface86 of roller 3. The outer surface of roller 3 forms recesses76B for receiving the pellets 78B, and a S23 partial mold cavity 102, both used in the rivet 42 formation step. The outer surface of roller4 forms partial mold cavities 104 also for the formation of the rivets42. The pellet recesses 76B O are formed in the circular spaces left between the comers of adjacent plate elements. The mold cavities 102 and 104 overlap the edges of the circular recesses and engage the top surfaces of 00 5 both legs-up 40 and legs-down 40A plate elements in order to hold the adjacent plate elements together.

The stages of pellet deposition 90, positioning 92, excess removal 94, and heat t treatment 96 are performed on roller 3 to prepare for molding rivets in the appropriate cylindrical holes left between each four overlapping legs of adjacent legs-up 40 and legsdown 40A plate elements. This rivet-forming process, shown in Figs. 8A and B, is overall the same as outlined earlier for the formation of the legs-up 40 and legs-down 40A plate elements.

In this formation step at the nip between rollers 3 and 4, for the process and element structure, roller 4 has only partial mold recesses 104 formed thereon for forming the heads of the rivets.

Both the legs-up 40 and legs-down 40A plate elements form part of the mold cavity corresponding to the shaft 69 of the rivet 42. As with the requirements for the pellet matrial qualities with respect to the formation of the legs-down plate elements40A using the legs-up plate elements 40 as part of the mold cavity, it is important that the polymer used to form the rivets 42 does not permanently fuse with either the legs-down 40A or legs-up 40B plate elements during or after the formation step. Again selection of the rivefforming polymer and its material characteristics should consider these criteria the temperature of the plate elements, the temperature of the rivet-forming pellets, etc.) Fig. 8A shows the pellet in the recess and the striker in its retracted position in engagement with the rear end of the pellet. As rollers 3 and 4 meet at the nip between them, the complete mold cavity is formed. Nearly instantaneosly, the striker is actuated to cause the pellet to deform into the mold recess and adapt the shape of the mold recess. See Fig. 8B.

Again, the rivet in its final formed embodiment, is not fused to either of the plate elements.

The rivets keep the inter-engaged plate elements from separating by limiting the distance the plates can move away from each other. The lateral motion of the plates, relative to one another, is controlled by the engagement of the legs formed on the respective plate elements. Ideally, the polymer used in the rivet allows for some resilience to allow a greater lateral movement of WO 01/32404 PCT/USOO/29948 24 the plates, as explained above. The fully-formed inter-engaged non-textile fabric material is 00 shown in Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C, 3, and 5C as produced in the instant directforming process described herein.

The final product exits from between rollers3 and 4 and is subsequently used as the t3 5 outer surface of objects, such as luggage. The completed non-textile fabric shapes roll off roller 3, ready for use or final assembly. Fig. 5C shows a plan view of a small section of the completed fabric.

It is contemplated that other devices can be utilized to facilitate the manufacture of the non-textile fabric sheet material. For instance, if rollers are found to be inconvenient for any reasons, continuous belts or continuous link-belts are believed to be appropriate for such processing technique. The use of a continuous belt or link-belt has the benefit of providing more space for the striker structure if needed, and increased time during which mold halves can remain aligned for the molding operations.

It is also contemplated that the rollers used in the inventive process denoted herein do not have to be cylindrical. It may be determined that a roller made up of short fat sections extending lengthwise across the roller is beneficial, or that some other type of segmented roller structure is preferred. Thus, the use of the term "roller" herein is indicative of a structure that allows relatively continuous processing, and is inclusive of continuous belt, segmented rollers, and the like structures.

Also, the direct forming process of the present invention, including the operation of the surface stages, the roller, the striker, and any other associated parameter including roller spacing or relative movement, is controlled by a computer having a microprocessor and associated software (the "control system"). The control system is believed to be enabled by the currently available processing control systems.

Several different types of polymers can be used for the inventive direct forming process.

For instance, ABS, HDPE, PP, UHMWPE and PC are believed to be adequate polymers for use in the instant process to direct-form non.textile fabrics. During the solid-phase forming steps of the inventive process, the pellets are heated to a temperature above the softening point of the particular polymer and below its melting point. To the extent this temperature is not obtained solely by the physical deformation of the pellet during the solid phase formation process, it can be supplemented by an external heat source as described above. The article "Part performance is improved via solid-phase forming," Modern Plastics, December 1985 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Almost any polymer that meets the criteria and characteristics required of the instant inventive process is suitable.

00Another embodiment of the non-textile fabric able to be direct formed by the Cc inventive process disclosed herein is shown in Figs. 9-14. This embodiment includes a configuration of relatively rigid elements 110 and 112 that can be assembled to form a flexible non-textile fabric. There is a barbed element 110 (having a headed, barbed or 3 10 engagement end or portion along its preferably four edges) and a socket element 112 S(having a corresponding invagination, receiver or socket along at least one of its corresponding four edges). The elements mechanically link with one another in a tilelike configuration. The interconnected barbs and sockets act as mechanical connections that can pivot relative to one another and slide slightly to give an overall flexible connection between the arrayed barbed and socketed elements. The elements are generally flat, having a central web portion 114 constituting most of the surfaces of each of the elements to form an overall plate configuration. This web portion extends to the edges which are defined by either sockets or barbed edges as described above.

Unlike the non-textile fabric elements discussed above, the subject invention does not require a second headed element a rivet) to hold the elements together.

Also, unlike the above-described embodiment, the elements are directly connected to one another rather than merely resting on one another and relying on the rivet element to keep the overlapping hooked plates from separating too far and becoming disengaged.

Fig. 9 shows the general plan view of the barbed plate element 110. Figs. and 10A show a similar plan view and cross-sectional shape of the socketed element 112. Fig. 11 shows a cross-section through a linked set of two barbed plates 110 and a centrally located socketed plate 112. Fig. 12 shows an array of elements according to the instant invention with the barbed 110 and socketed 112 elements forming a checker board pattern. Fig. 13 shows this embodiment being formed at the nip between rollers 2 and 3.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the elements are generally square in shape (although other shapes such rectangular, triangular, etc. may be possible). Along each edge of these plates are H:\krystalm\keep\peci\14464-01 Divisional .doc 31/03/05 t WO 01/32404 PCTUSOO/29948 26 molded-in otherwise defined mechanical interconnections. In the barbed plate 1 10, as shown in C Fig. 9, all four edges include an elongated enlarged portion forming a barb 1 16, because this enlarged portion links to the web of the plate via a sharply defined edge. This edge, as will be 0C) detailed, prevents the barb 116 (once seated in a correspondingly shaped socket of the plate of Fig. 10, for example), from withdrawing when the plates are subjected to tensile forces or bending forces. Preferably, this barbed plate is formed at solid phase forming temperatures directly from a temperature conditioned preform, most preferably a reactor or polymer S compounded pellet. This direct forming process is described above. Thus, each plate and the details of the barb and socket portions are extremely small.

Referring to-Fig. 10, one can see that the socket 118 along each edge of this plate element 112 is formed by two symmetrically and inwardly facing hooked portions 120 that integrally connect to the central web of the plate in the solid phase forming or molding operation. Fig. I OA shows how this socket portion 118 is sized to loosely receive the barbed portion 116, yet the mutually engaging hooked portions 120 prevent withdrawal of the thus movably interconnected parts. The slight angular deflection illustrated in Fig. I OA can result in a perceptible flexibility of the overall non-textile fabric, especially when each plate element is made in relatively small scale. In particular, it is anticipated that the major dimension of each of the plate like elements could have a maximum dimension of between 3 and 5 millimeters for example.

Fig. I1I shows how a series of alternating barbed 1 10 and socketed 112 non-textile fabric elements can be assembled. Overall Fig. 12 shows how these alternative forms of plates can be assembled in a checker board pattern. Note in each of the two configurations the comner intersections of the edges are cut away in a particdar manner so that the corresponding portions of the adjacent plates do not overlap and prevent or hinder flexing of the assembled product if such flexing is desired. In particular, the barbed plate 1 10 has triangular indentations at each corner that in effect remove the barbed head from any chance of overlapping or interfering with the pivoting along the axis at right angles to that edge (refer again to Fig. I OA for this pivoting action). The socketed plate 112 shown in Fig. 10 has a diagon al triangular piece removed at* the corner eliminating most of the headed socketed or the socketed portions in that area. Fig.

12 shows how these diagonal cuts of diagonally adjacent socketed plates fit together in various -27degrees of tension and flexing. Despite these cut away portions there are very limited Sareas of the assembled non-textile fabric that would constitute an opening or passage through the plane of the non-textile fabric. For most applications the presence of any Sopenings does not constitute a performance problem since the openings are relatively small and the adjacent surfaces would tend to close up these openings unless the fabric is undergoing extreme bending or flexing.

00 Mc, In the preferred process, an array of barbed plates 110 (Fig. 9) is formed at the nip between rollers 1 and 2 as outlined above with respect to the first-described embodiment. These thus formed plates are transferred to roller 2, and pellets 122 are S 10 placed in the selected recesses 124 of roller 2 in preparation for forming the socketed plates 112. Fig. 13 shows a cross-section through rollers 2 and 3 at the nip intersection N where the mold for the socket plate 112 has been formed, just prior to initiating the actuator 124 and striker 126 to form that plate 112. Notice the main portion of the mold cavity is formed from the corresponding indentations of dimples in the aligned surfaces of the roller outer surfaces. The edges of two of the already formed barbed plates protrude into the mold cavity, so these edges themselves form a portion of the mold cavity surface. Of course not shown in this Fig. 9 is the other pair of barbed plates arrayed at right angles to the pair shown, these having a corresponding pair of barbed edges suspended in this mold cavity. Thus the four barbed edges, the mold surfaces of the rollers aligned at the nip, and to a minor degree the front face 128 of the striker, once it forces the pellet 122 to plastically conform into the mold, constitute the mold cavity for forming each socketed plate 112 and the resulting array of socketed plates. In this way, the array of overlapping (or more precisely alternately embedded and embedding) barbed 110 and socketed plates 112 form strong, tough, and relative to the rigid materials used, flexible non-textile fabric shapes. The direct forming process of the present invention for this embodiment of the non-textile fabric requires only two processing steps (three rollers and two nip areas) as compared to three processing steps for the previously described embodiment.

Another embodiment of the linkable elements for forming the non-textile fabric using the process of the present invention is shown in Figs. 14A, 14B, 15 and 16. Figs.

14A and 14B show top and bottom views of the linkable element 130 made by the solid phase forming process. The structure is similar to that of the first embodiment described herein in Figs. 1-3, H:\krystalm\keep\Speci\14464-01 Divisional .doc 31/03/05 WO 01/32404 S012404 PCT/US00/29948 28 S however, there are no cam surfaces on the edges 132 of the plate elements for counter- O engagement, and the rivet 134 is integrally formed with the plate element. The straight edges S 132 engage one another to keep the elements from moving laterally apart. In this embodiment, 00 only one shape of element 130 is required and is able to be interlinked in a "legs up" (Fig. 14B) and a "legs down" (Fig. 14A) orientation using the direct forming process as described above.

S The plate element 130 with the integrally formed rivet 132 is formed in one single phase forming process step (with the appropriate mold cavity shape and analogous to that process step CM shown in Fig. 4A, B and At the next processing step, the oppositely oriented plate element 130 is formed. Referring to Fig. 15, an array of interlinked "legs up" 130A and "legs down" o 130B plate elements are shown with the integrally formed rivet 134A extending upwardly between the interlinked plates. This array is the result of two of three total forming steps. This non-textile fabric shape is completed by a third forming step which forms the extending rivet shafts 134A and 134B into a rivet head through a subsequent solid phase forming step. This would require simple compression of the shaft under impact of the striker to form the rivet head, similar to that described above for the other solid phase forming processes.

Fig. 16 shows the completed non-textile fabric mad: up of these elements 130A and B.

Referring back to Fig. 14B, each of the four legs 136 of the plate element has an edge defining a raised step 138 for engagement with the complementarily shaped edges of the oppositely positioned plate element. The step ridges 138 along the edges create a mechanical engagement to retain the plate elements 130A and B in connection with one another when the rivets 134 are fully formed. Cut-outs 140 are formed at the corers of each of the plate elements for receiving the shaft 142 of the rivet 134 which holds the two plate elements together. The degree of flexibility of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, and is somewhat related to the length (and extendibility) of the rivet shaft.

Similar to that structure as shown in Fig. 14A and 14B, an alternative embodiment is shown in Figs. 17A, 17B, and 17C. The plate element of this embodiment is identical to that in Figs. 14A and 14B, however, the rivet shaft 144 in this embodiment forms a split retainer having sloped semi-annular detents 146 on each separate portion of the rivet shaft 144. The sloped semi-annular detents fit into a conformingly-shaped recess in the rivet head 150 to secure the rivet in an attached position on the end of the shaft. SeeFig. 17C. The rivet head is

I

b thus secured to the end of the shaft and is very difficult to remove without compressing the N sidewalls 148 of the split retainer to disengage the detents from the recess in the rivet head.

a This alternative embodiment shown in Figs. 17A and B is formed by the solid phase forming process as noted above with a specially shaped mold cavity to shape the split retainer.

O s The direct forming process can be utilized to create another type of non-textile fabric out of inter-connected plate elements formed similarly to that above. The distinction is that the oO 00 forming process is designed to fuse the separately formed elements 152 along their respective edges 154. The separately formed elements 152 are thus fused together by the forming process Sas described above, and they move with respect to one another by bending at or adjacent to the fused regions. The fused edges 154 are generally formed along the same regions as the barb- C and-socket engagement of the earlier embodiment in Figs. 9-12. In this embodiment, one set of plates are formed at the nip between the first and second rollers, and the second set of plates are formed and fused to the first set at the nip between the second and third rollers. The temperature, forming force, and other physical parameters of the direct molding process for this embodiment must be carefully coordinated to create a fused region sufficient to maintain the separately formed elements in engagement with one another, but allow them to bend with respect to one another to give a fabric-type of movement. The fused edges are preferably overlapped somewhat to form the region for fusing the elements along the respective adjacent edges. Apertures 156 can be formed at the corners between the elements to provide additional flexibility.

The direct forming process of the present application can be utilized in the production of the non-textile fabric for many different uses. The application of the direct forming process of the present invention in the manufacture of luggage, as an example, is described in Fig.] 8.

The process is shown in the form of a flow diagram having four primary sections: pellet selection 400, direct forming process 500, pellet recycle 600, and luggage case assembly 700.

While the process flow ofFig. 19 is contemplated for use with the processing equipment described above, it is contemplated that the inventive direct forming process of the flow diagram can also be utilized with other equipment capable of performing the same or similar operations.

The first step of the flow diagram of Fig. 19 is the step 402 of supplying pellets. The WO 01/32404 PCT/USOO/29948 S preferred pellet size, shape and material must be provided for the direct forming process. The 0 first decision block 404 confirms that the pellet size, shape and material are consistent with the forming process. If not, the decision box routes back to the supply pellets step to start over.

00 The pellets can also be used for normal polymer processing at this time, for instance to form other parts of the final product. If affirmative, the process continues to the beginning of the direct forming process 500.

The first step in the direct forming process 500 is the step 502 for applying pellets to the work surface. At this step, the pellets, as described above, are appliedto the work surface in preparation for the solid phase forming step. In the above examples, the work surface is the surface of the roller. At this point, the pellets are applied to the work surface in any number of ways, such as by hopper application or fluidized bed application as discussed above, and are preferably positioned in the recesses formed adjacent the mold cavities in the work surface.

The next step 504 is to adjust the pellet positioning on the work surface if necessary. This step is optional since the pellets, when applied to the work surface, may all be properly positioned in the recesses adjacent in the mold cavities formed in the work surface. If, however, there are excess pellets, or the pellets are not properly oriented in the recesses, the step of adjusting the pellet positioning is helpful to correct any problems. The step of adjusting the pellet positioning can be done, as described above, by a cushioned roller or other type of device suitable for this step. The next operation 506 is to remove the excess pellets from the work surface. After the pellets are applied to the work surface, and adjusted if necessary, the excess pellets should be removed from the work surface so that they do not interfere with the solid phase forming step. This can be done by a scraper structure, or by vacuum technique, or by any other operation that suitably removes the unwanted pellets from the work surface.

At operation 508, which is the application of heat to the pellets, the solid phase forming process actually begins. The application of heat to the pellets is only necessary if the heat generated by the solid phase transformation of the pellet into the mold cavity is not sufficient to create the desired temperature in the pellet. In other words, ifthe heat generated by the transformation from its shape to that of the mold cavity due to the impact of the striker is not sufficient, as described above, supplemental heat may be necessary. The ultimate temperature to which the pellet should be heated is above the softening point but below the melting point of r

I

the particular polymer forming the pellet. After the heat management of the pellet has been k performed, the actual solid phase transformation step is performed at operation 510. The solid S phase forming step has been described in great detail above, and to reiterate the description above, it can be performed using the rollers as described therein, or any other type of solid phase forming structure as applicable. One of the keys here is that the result of the solid phase oo forming is a linkable element for use in direct forming a non-textile fabric. This linkable element, such as the "legs up" plate, the "legs down" plate, and the rivet, are each formed consecutively so that the final product is a collection of interlinked elements forming the nontextile fabric. As described above, the first element to be formed in the exemplary process is the "legs up" plate formed at the nip between the first and second rollers. The next operation is to repeat the previous steps to form the interlinked elements in the particular order required to form the non-textile fabric panels. This operation is denoted at 512. Operation 512 requires that the formation steps previously described are repeated a sufficient number of times to form a non-textile fabric panel out of the linkable elements. In the specific process described above, this process would need to be performed three, times to form the "legs up" plate, then the "legs down," and then the rivet to hold the twoplates together. In the second embodiment described above, this process would be repeated twice to form the panel having the barbed ends and then the panel for receiving the barbed ends (no additional third piece such as the rivet is required in that embodiment as described above).

After operation 512, the flow diagram starts the pellet recycle operation 600. The first operation is a decisional block 602 inquiring whether or not the non-textile fabric panel is satisfactory. If no, at operation 604 the failed non-textile fabric panel is converted to virgin regrind for use in either forming normally molded parts for the final product, or to be reformed into pellets for application at step 402. If the non-textile fabric panel is acceptable, the next operation is at 606 where post processing of the non-textile fabric panel occurs. This post processing can include polishing, cutting, bending, or other acts that are required to be taken to prepare the non-textile fabric panel for use in the final product. After operation 606, the decisional block 608 inquires whether the non-textile fabric panel is still okay after the initial post process. If for any reason the non-textile fabric panel has been irreparably damaged at operation 606, the answer to the decisional 608 is no and the damaged but partially processed t -32- O non-textile fabric panel is again used to make virgin regrind at step 604. If the non- Stextile fabric panel is satisfactory after the initial post process operation 606, the nontextile fabric panel is taken to the final processing of the non-textile fabric panel operation at 702. The final two steps are in the luggage case assembly operation 700.

After the final processing of the non-textile fabric panels, which can include further 00refinement of the surface, and further processing to make the non-textile fabric ready cc for final assembly, the flow diagram moves to operation 704. At operation 704, the assembly of the non-textile fabric panels with the final product is performed. For instance, the non-textile fabric panels would be attached to other luggage case parts S 10 using conventional sewing or riveting techniques to become at least part of the outer Ssurface of a luggage case such as that shown in Fig. 20. The luggage case could be formed of the virgin regrind from the waste pellets regenerated at steps 404 and 604.

The above flow diagram is an example of one type of specific product processing that can be performed with the direct forming process of the present invention. Primarily, the flow diagram can be particularized to a specific product type by modifying the last two steps 702, 704 in the fourth generic operation region 700.

For instance, the use of the non-textile fabrics could be joined to one another at their edges using sewing or other bonding techniques, and the resulting three dimensional shape could be attached to a frame or wheel assembly to make a luggage chassis.

Alternatively, the non-textile fabric can be used for automobile interior accessories, or other products.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example, and changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

In this specification, except where the context requires otherwise, the words "comprise", "comprises", and "comprising" mean "include", "includes" and "including", respectively. That is, when the invention is described or defined as comprising specified features, various embodiments of the same invention may also include additional features.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

H:\krystalm\keep\Speci\14464-01 Divisional .doc 31/03/05

Claims (17)

1. 3. A method as defined in one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said engagement portion of said first element forms a portion of said second mold cavity.
2. 4. A non-textile fabric of individual elements made by solid phase forming. A non-textile fabric made according to claim 4, wherein each of said elements is sized to be made from a single polymer pellet.
3. 6. A non-textile fabric made according to claim 4, wherein each of said elements is sized to be made from at least a single pellet.
4. 7. A non-textile fabric made according to claim 4, wherein each of said elements made by solid phase forming is sized to be made from a plurality of pellets.
5. 8. A non-textile fabric according to claim 7, wherein the individual, solid phase formed elements comprising: a first type of solid phase formed element having at least one separate receiver; a second type of solid phase formed element; and wherein said first and second element types are attached to one another by the second element type engaging at least one of said separate receivers to allow relative movement of each element with respect to the other. N:\Mclboume\Cases\Patent\45000 -45999\P45629AU I\Spccis\P45629 AU I Spccification 2007.10-I7.doc I7/10/07 -34- O 9. A non-textile fabric as defined in claim 8, wherein: Ssaid first element type defines a main body forming at least one socket; 0 C said second element type defines a main body forming at least one engagement end; and wherein said engagement end is received in said socket to attach said first and second element types together. 00 A non-textile fabric as defined in claim 9, wherein: said at least one socket defines inwardly protruding portions to receive said at S 10o least one engagement end.
6. 11. A non-textile fabric as defined in claim 9, wherein: said at least one engagement end is barbed to be securely received in said at least one socket end.
7. 12. A non-textile fabric as defined in claim 9, wherein: said at least one socket defines inwardly protruding portions; said at least one engagement end is barbed; and said inwardly protruding portions securely engage said barbed end to attach said first and second elements together.
8. 13. A non-textile fabric as defined in claim 9, wherein: said first element type has a plurality of edges, each edge forming a socket; said second element type has a plurality of edges, each edge forming an engagement end; and wherein an array is formed of alternating first and second element types attached by the receipt of said engagement end of an edge of the second element type in the socket end of an edge of an adjacent said first element type.
9. 14. A non-textile fabric as defined in claim 13, wherein said first and second element types are rectilinear. A non-textile fabric as defined in claim 14, wherein a angle is formed between adjacent edges of each of said first and second element types to allow more relative movement therebetween.
10. 16. A method of making a non-textile fabric according to claim 1 comprising the acts N:\Mciboume\Caes\PatenI\4500045999\P45629AU I \SpcciS\P45629.AU I Specificaion 2007-10-17.doc 17/10107 O of: providing a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, and a first nip region O between said first and second nip rollers, and a second nip region between said second and third nip rollers, at least one of said rollers having a partial mold cavity formed in an outer surface thereof; solid phase forming at least a first element at said first nip region; 00 Cc solid phase forming at least a second element at said second nip region, said second element being formed in an interconnected manner with said first element. t 10 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the acts of: Sapplying a first polymer pellet to a partial mold cavity formed on said first roller; aligning a partial mold cavity on said second roller with said partial mold cavity on said first roller in said first nip region to form a first complete mold cavity; solid phase forming said polymer pellet in said complete mold cavity in said first nip region to form said first element; applying a second polymer pellet to a partial mold cavity formed on said second roller; aligning a partial mold cavity on said third roller with said partial mold cavity on said second roller in said second nip region to form a second complete mold cavity; solid phase forming said second polymer pellet in said complete mold cavity in said second nip region to form said second element in an interconnected manner with said first element.
11. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein a part of said first element forms part of said second complete mold cavity.
12. 19. A method of making a non-textile fabric according to claim 1 comprising the acts of: providing a first roller, a second roller, third roller, and a fourth roller, and a first nip region between said first and second nip rollers, a second nip region between said second and third nip rollers, and a third nip region between said third and fourth rollers, at least one of said rollers having a partial mold cavity formed in an outer surface thereof; solid phase forming at least a first element at said first nip region; solid phase forming at least a second element at said second nip regions, said second element being formed in an inter-engaging manner with said first element; N \Melboume\Cascs\Pacent\4S000-45999\P45629 AU I\Specis\P45629AU I Spccification 2007.10-17.doc17/101'07 -36- O solid phase forming at least a third element at said third nip region; said third Selement being formed so as to interconnect said inter-engaging first and second O elements.
13. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the acts of: applying a first polymer pellet to a partial mold cavity formed on said first Cc roller; aligning a partial mold cavity on said second roller with said partial mold cavity Son said first roller in said first nip region to form a first complete mold cavity; S 10 solid phase forming said polymer pellet in said complete mold cavity in said first nip region to form said first element; applying a second polymer pellet to a partial mold cavity formed on said second roller; aligning a partial mold cavity on said third roller with said partial mold cavity on said second roller in said second nip region to form a second complete mold cavity; solid phase forming said second polymer pellet in said complete mold cavity in said second nip region to form said second element in an inter-engaged manner with said first element; applying a third polymer pellet to a partial mold cavity formed on said third roller; aligning a partial mold cavity on said fourth roller with said partial mold cavity on said third roller in said third nip region to form a third complete mold cavity; solid phase forming said third polymer pellet in said complete mold cavity in said third nip region to form said third element to interconnect said first and second elements.
14. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said first element forms part of said second complete mold cavity.
15. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said first and second elements form part of said third complete mold cavity.
16. 23. A method for manufacturing a non-textile fabric substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. 24. A non-textile fabric of individual elements, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. N\Mclboumc\Cases\Paten1\45000-45999\P45629.AU I\Specis\P45629AU.I Spccificnlon 2007-0-17.doc 7I 0/07