US2997074A - Variant-height-loop terry fabric - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 22, 1961 M. A. LAW

VARIANT-HEIGHT-LOOP TERRY FABRIC 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16. 1959 T m V m MAQvlN A. LAW

w w R m A Aug. 22, 1961 M. A. LAW

VARIANT-HEIGHT-LOOP TERRY FABRIC 3 Q 3 3 mm 5 mm E mm Nm 6 8 QQ Filed April 16, 1959 Aug. 22, 1961 M. A. LAW 2,997,074

VARIANT-HEIGHT-LOOP TERRY FABRIC Filed April 16, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PATTERN CONTROL 31L s5 g I4 I [5 lb 5 5 24 F J L L W la 15 )7 a INVENTORZ MARVIN A. LAW

BY iluz 12 )5 k J1 57-11 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,997,074 VARIANT-HEIGHT-L'OOP TERRY FABRIC Marvin A. Law, Leaksville,'N.C., assignor to Fieldcres't Mills,-Inc., Spray, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 16, 1959, 'Ser. No, 806,826

15 Claims. ,(Cl. 139-396) v This invention relates 'to a novel terry fabric and method of making the same, whichfabric may be in the form of closely woven piles toform towels, wash cloths, floor mats and the like or in the form of substantially spaced piles forming so-called chenille fabrics, such as bedspreads, drapery cloth, upholstery "and thelike. This application is a continuation-in-part of my-copending application Serial Number 791,716, .filed February 6, 1959 and entitledMethod and Apparatus for Weaving Variant- .Height-Loop Terry Fabrics.

The manufacture of ,rug and carpet fabrics on looms utilizing variant-height pile wires, and reeds which beat-up to the same position with each stroke thereof for-producing .randomly positioned loops of many different heights on the base fabric, is well established .in the art. How ever, randomly positioned, vaI-iant height-terryloopscam not be produced by means ofpile wires on a terry loom,

because the weaving of .terryfabrics involves the use of relatively tight ground warps and relatively loose terry warps with a variable beat-Lupmechanisrnfor :the reed of the loom. The variable beat-up mechanism .is operable at certain intervals to advance terry warps relative to the ground warps, in a so-called fast pick, to 'bunch up the terry warps at the fell of the cloth to form a row of loops in front of the reed throughout the width of the fabric at those points where terry warps are present.

For many years, terry looms have been capable of forming piles of one height in any given weftwiise row, or the terry warps were not overfed at certain intervals so they were merely woven into 'thebase fabric. Various attachments have'been constructed for varying the height of certain'weftwise rows of terry piles, but all the piles in each weftwise row were still of the same height. It is also common practice to'weave terry fabrics having piles on both sides. However, in instances in which a solid pattern was 'to be formed on one side of the fabric, the pattern on the other side may also "be solid, but .the patterns on both sides of the fabric would have to extend, of uniform height, throughout the width of the fabric or certain areas were entirely devoid of loops.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved terry fabric and method of making the same,

which fabric .is provided with terry loops or piles which vary in height in certain selected longitudinal or warp- Wise rows and which also vary in height in certain selected weftvvise rows which intersect :said warpwise rows.

It is still another object of .this invention to provide an improved terry fabric and method of making the same in which either or both "faces .of the terry fabric are provided with randomly positioned loops of two or more different'heights.

' It is still another object of thisinvention-to,provide a method and fabric of the character described in which some or all of the loops are'cut'to form tufts.

' 'Some of the objects of the inventionghaving been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- FIGURE 1 is anisometric v'iewof one-form of the improved terry fabric showing different ,heights ,of terry loops somewhat schematically;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view flocking warpwise of the fabric and being taken substantially along line"2--2in"FIGURE'1;

2,997,074 Patented Aug. .22, .1961

2 FIGURE 3 is another form of terry fabric embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a weftwise sectional view taken substan 'tially along line 4-.,4 in FIGURE 3; I,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and .2, but showing still another form of terry fabric embodying variant-height loop formations according to the rpresent invention;

FIGURE 6 is a weftwise sectional view taken substan-- 'tially along line 6-6 in FIGURE 5; 1

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view showing examples of many different heights of terry loops which may be combined in any desired manner, with the weftwiserows thereof being shown in perspective;

FIGURE 8 is a somewhat schematic isometric View of apiece of fabric having variant-height loops appearing on opposite faces thereof; a FIGURE 9 is a plan view of apiece of fabric embody ing a typical design arrangement which may be produced in a towel, for example, inpracticing the present invert 'tion;

FIGURE 10 'is a schematic elevation, partially insee= tion, showing essential characteristics of a loom, such as that disclosed in said copending application, for producing fabric according to the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is an isometric view of a piece of fabric having piles originally woven as'loops of two heights with the high loops 'being sheared.

The various forms of terry fabrics disclosed herein are illustrative of only a few of many different fabrics which may be made according to the basic principles of the present invention. While all the forms of fabric disclosed herein differ in :some respects, they are all con- :structed according to the basic principle of this method,

;-stood, the ,parts of the loom disclosed in FIGURE 10 will .now be described. In order to simplify the description, many of the parts of the loom are omitted in FIGURE 10. However, reference is made to my copending application, Serial Number 791,7.l6, for a more detailed description ofthe loom.

In FIGURE 10, fabric -F is woven from tensioned ground warps W and terry warps T. The ground warps W are drawn from a warp beam 10over a roll 11-and then forwardly through heddles or harnesses, of which four are shown indicated at 12 *through 15. Ground warps W then pass forwardly through a reed 16carried by an oscillating lay 17. Reed 16 beats up weft yarns, .not shown in FIGURE 10, to form the fabric F. The ree d 16 is of a type which moves -back.-and forth wither given range of movement .during the weaving of plain fabric and which is periodically shifted rearwardly and then forwardly relatively to the lay 17 to form socalled respective loose and fast picks. The means for shifting reed 16 relative to lay 17 iscommonly known as ayariable beat-up mechanism which operates in conjunction with a terry-warp-overfeed mechanism generally "designated at 20.

Overfeed mechanism 20 comprises a .pair of intermittently driven let-oft or feed rolls 21, .22. The terry warps T pass downwardly from a terry warp beam 213 beneath the feed .roll 21, then between feed rolls .21, 22 and over and downwardly from feed roll 22. Feed rolls 21, 22 may be driven byanysuitable means to intermittently draw terry warps T from .beam 23 predetermined amounts. The means for driving rolls 21, :22 and in!- parting varying amounts of rotative movement thereto warps T leave feedv roll 22, they are split into a plurality of sheets; i.e., three in this instance, indicated at S, S V

and S" (FIGURE Each sheet of terry warps S, S, S" may'include individually spaced yarns or spaced groups of yarns. alternating with individual yarns or 'with groups of yarns in theother sheets. Of course, any

one of the sheets may include a single group of yarns disposed in offset relation with respect to groups of yarn in the other sheets.

The two sheets S, S are maintained separate between formed from those terry warps in transpositional sheet '8 and relatively short loops would be formed from those feed roll 22 andlateral guide or idler roll 24 by a laterally extending slacking bar 31 supported in eccentric relation'to a rock shaft 32 by means of rocker arms 33, only one of which is shown. By means not shown in the ,present application but being fully disclosed in said copending application, the slacking bar 31 is oscillated backward and forward predetermined amounts in timed relation to operation of the overfeed mechanism and variable beat-up mechanism 16. In this instance, the third sheet of terry warps S" is maintained intact; i.e.,

out of engagement with the first and secondsheets, S,

s to permit the same to he slackened or fed with the sheets S, .S', by means of an additional lateral guide'or idler roll 35. It will be noted that sheet S" passes downwardly andrearwardly, at an angle, from feed roll 22,

{idler roll 35. The three sheets S, S, S"- are thus gathered into a single sheet at idler roll 24, where all three sheets are advanced to the reed 16.

I From the foregoing, it is apparent that feed roll 21 draws a given length of terry warps T from beam 23 .with'each intermittent rotational movement thereof. If slacking bar 31 remains stationary between the time that feed rolls 21, 22 are operated and the next succeeding beat-up stroke of lay 16 in the forming of a fast .pick, all three sheets of terry warps S, S, S" will have ;been slackened equal amounts and all terry loops formed ,therefrom with the next fast pick will be of the same ;height throughout the width of the fabric F. At this in- .stant, feed rolls 21, 22 may move a normal, medium,

partially around roll 35, and then forwardly beneath amount; or they may move a reduced or substantially I increased amount; depending upon whether loops of imedium, relative short or relatively long length are to she formed in the respective weftwise row.

iHowe'ver, as disclosed in said copending application, slacking bar 31 is alternately moved forwardly and rearlwardly at certain predetermined intervals and for certain .predetermined distances. Thus, depending upon the ,lengthof stroke imparted to slacking bar 31, as slacking bar 31 moves away'from either sheet S, S, the amount :of slack in this sheet is increased. Also with movement {of slacking bar 31 away from the latter sheet and into engagement with the other sheet, some or all of the slack in the other sheet may be removed. It follows,

;therefore, that the immediately succeeding active or beat- 11p stroke of lay 17 will form loops of intermediate height from those yarns in medium sheet S", relatively long loops will be formed from those yarns in the transpositional sheet which was additionally slackened by 'fnovement of the slacking bar 31 away from the same,

"and relatively short loops, or no loops at all '(grounclengaging loops), may be formed from the yarns in the transpositional sheet which was tightened by slacking bar 31. Accordingly, sheets S, S may be termed as Jtranspositional sheets or transpo sitionally tensioned sheets, and sheets may ;be'ter med as an intact or "-medium tensioned sheet."-'

ferent height loop formations are shown.

.-certain amount of slack in the sheets of terry warps S, S,

S. If slacking bar 31 remains stationary, the subsequent fast pick stroke of reed 16 produces loops of a medium height or length from all of the terry warps.

If slacking bar 31 moves from left to right in FIG- URE 10, away from sheet S and into engagement with sheet S, withthe next fast pick beat-up stroke of reed 16, medium height loops would be formed from those terry warps in sheet 8', relatively long loops would be terry-warps in transpositional sheet S. Of course, the extent of movement of slacking bar 31 away from sheet S and toward sheet S would determine how much additional slack would be effected in sheet S and how much slack would be removed from sheet S. The slacking bar 31 need not move all the way out of engagement with the terry warps in sheet S and need only barely press against sheet S so that the heights of loops formed from the terry warps in the sheets S, S would be relatively slight as shown in the right-hand portion of FIGURE 7.

With a relatively long stroke of slacking bar 31, extra long loops would be formed from the terry warps in sheet S and extra short or ground-engaging loops would be formed from the terry warps in the sheet S. The

reverse movement of the slacking bar 31; that is, from right to left in FIGURE 10 would also have a similar effect on the size of loops. formed, but in opposition to the effect produced in the sheets S, S when slacking bar 31 moves from left to right. In all instances, regardless .of the extent of'movement of slacking bar 31, those loops formed from terry warps in sheet S will be of the same height. However, in instances in which the amount of movement of feed rolls 21, 22 is varied, it is apparent that corresponding variations will take place in the length of all of the loops formed from all three sheets of terry warps S, S, S.

From the foregoing description, the manner in which the various loops are formed in the different forms of fabric disclosed herein may be readily understood.

In FIGURES 7 and 8, various combinations of dif- A particular fabric may or may not include the specific combinations of loops shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. However, these views are provided to illustrate many of the loop height combinations which may be produced according to the present invention. The base or ground fabric in FIGURE 7 is indicated at F1, the warpwise rows of loops are indicated at T1, T2, T3, T4 and TS, and the weftwise rows of loops are indicated at 41 through 64. For purposes of clarity, only a relatively narrow portion of fabric is shown, and since the terry warps are continuous throughout the length of the fabric, it is apparent that the portions of terry warps connecting adjacent warpwise loops are sheet S of FIGURE 10; the loops in warpwise row T2 may be formed of terry warps in transpositional sheet S and the'loops in warpwise rows T3, T5 are formed from the terrywarps in medium sheet S of FIGURE 10.

.In forming weftwise row 41 of FIGURE 7, slacking bar 31 (FIGURE 10) occupies a position against sheet S as terry warps T are fed medium amounts by variable pVerfeed mechanism 20, and slacking bar 31 moves, in

a medium stroke, from right toleft to substantially the position'shown in FIGURE 10 before, or at the same time as, reed 16 moves forwardly in a fast beat-up stroke. Accordingly, high loops H are formed in warpwise rows T1, T4 from the terry warps in sheet S; low loops L are formed from respective terry warps in sheet S; and medium height loops M areformed in rows such as T3, T from the terry warps in sheet S.

In forming the next succeeding weftwise row 42, slacking bar 31 remains stationary so that medium height loops M, M, M (all of the same height) are formed in all rows T1 through T5 from terry warps in the respective sheets S, S, S". Since slacking bar 31 is stationary when weftwise row 42 is formed, overfeed mechanism may or may not feed a greater or lesser amount of terry warps T. Thus, loops M, M, M in row 42 may or may not be of greater or lesser height than adjacent so-called high and low loops H, H, L, L.

- Now, in forming weftwise row 43, slacking bar 31 moves in the reverse direction, in a medium length stroke, so that low loops L are formed from terry warps in sheet S and in respective warpwise rows T 1, T4; high loops H are formed in warpwise row T2 and any corresponding rows, not shown, from terry warps in sheet S and medium height loops M" are again formed in warpwise rows T3, T5 from terry warps in sheet 8'. In forming the next weftwise row 44, slacking bar 31 again remains stationary so that all the lops in row 44 are of medium height and correspond to the loops in weftwise row 42. Weftwise row 45 is also identical to weftwise row 41.

With respect to the portion of the fabric including weftwise rows 41 through 45, it is apparent that high and low loops are formed in alternating sequence in those warpwise rows T1, T2, T4 whose loops are formed of'terry warps in sheets S, S, although any number of medium height loops vM, M may be formed between adjacent high and low loops in any given warpwise row. It should also be noted that the high and low loops in warpwise rows formed from the terry warps in one of the transpositional sheets S, S (FIGURE 10) are formed in opposite relation to the high and low loops formed of the terry warps in the other of the two transpositional sheets; that is, whenever high loops H are formed from terry warps in sheet S, low loops L are formed from terry warps in sheet S, and whenever low loops L are formed from warps in sheet S, high loops H are formed from warps in sheet S. This is true although selected warpwise rows may include loops of infinitely varying heights.

In forming the weftwise rows of loops 46, 47, 48 in FIGURE 7, medium lengths of terry warp. T are fed or let off by feed rolls 21, 22, as is the case in the form- 'ing of the loops in weftwise rows 41 through 45. However, the slacking bar 31 has a greater or extra range of movement in forming the loops in weftwise rows 46, 4'7, 48 than it does in forming loops in rows 41 through 45. It is thus seen that, although the medium loops M2" in warpwise rows T3, T5 are of the same height in rows 46, 47 and 48 as they are in the preceding rows 41 through 45, the high loops H2, H2 are somewhat higher than the high loops H and the low loops L2, L2 are somewhat lower in weftwise rows 46, 47, 48 than the low loops L, L in weftwise rows 41, 43, 45. In all other respects, weftwise rows 46, 48 are for-med in the same manner as weftwise row 43- and the weftwise row 47 is formed in the same manner as weftwise rows 41, 45.

In forming the rows 49 through 53 in the central portion of FIGURE 7, the range of'movement of slacking bar 31 may be medium; that is, it may be the same as it was in the formation of the loops in weftwise rows 41 through 45. However, the overfeed rolls 21, 22 advance the terry warps T to a greater extent in the forming of weftwise rows 49 through 53 than they do in the forming of the preceding rows 41 through 48. It is apparent, therefore, that the high loops H3, H3 in weftwise rows 49'through 52 may be slightly longer or higher than the high loops H, H, H2, H2 in the preceding weftwise rows 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48. Also, the low loops L3, L3 in weftwise rows 49 through 52 may be relatively longer or higher than the low loops L in weftwise row 43 and, as a matter of fact, they may even be as high as the medium length or height loops M, M, M", M2" inweftwise rows 41 through 48.

Since the overfeed mechanism 20 feeds a greater amount of terry warps in the forming of weftwise rows 49 through 53 than it does in the forming of weftwise rows 41 through 48, its follows that'medium height or length loops M3, M3, M3" in weftwise rows 49 through 53 are of substantially greater length or height than are the medium height loops in rows 41 through 48. In all other respects, the high and low loops H3, L3 and L3, H3 and the medium loops M3, M3, M3" in rows 49 through 53 are formed in the same manner as corresponding loops in the respective weftwise rows 41, 43 and 44. Groundengaging loops G in weftwise rows 54, 63, 64 may be formed by letting ofi a very small amount of the terry warps through the medium of the overfeed mechanism 20 while slacking bar 31 remains stationary, or these ground-engaging loops may be formed by merely inserting a few loose picks and then inserting a fast pick in the fabric.

In forming the group of weftwise rows 55 through 58, the strokes of the slacking bar 31 may be medium; that is, substantially the same as the strokes of the slacking bar 31 in forming the rows 41 through 45 and 49 through 54. However, the amount of overfeedof the terry warps, effected by the overfeeding mchanism 211, is reduced as compared to the amount fed in the forming of each of the rows 41 through 53. The slacking bar 31 remains stationary in the forming of row- 55 and, therefore, all of the loops M4, M4 and M4" in weftwise row 55 are of the same height, but are of lesser height than the medium height loops formed in any of the preceding weftwise rows 41 through 53. Further, it will be noted that all or the loops M4" appearing in those portions of warpwise rows T3, T5, which correspond to weftwise rows 56 through 58 are of the same medium height.

Weftwise row 58 is formed in the same manner as weftwise row 55. Since the slack bar 31 moves in a medium stroke in each direction in the forming of rows 56, 57, and the amount of terry warps T fed by the overfeed mechanism 21 is relatively reduced, it should be noted that the high loops H4 and H4 in the respective rows 56, 57 are relatively shorter than the high loops H, H in the respective rows 41 through 43, for example.

Also, low loops L4, L4 in the respective weftwise rows 57, 56 are relatively shorter than low loops L, L in the respective weftwise rows 43, 41, for example. It will be noted that the low loops L4, L4 in weftwise rows 57, 56 are substantially the same size as the ground-engaging loops in row 54. While the loops L4, L4 may be of substantially greater height than the ground-engaging loops G, they are shown at the same height as the groundengaging loops G in order to point up the fact that groundengaging loops can be provided in alternation with high loops in any given warpwise row, and in opposition to ground-engaging loops and high loops in certain other warpwise rows, in producing certain patterns.

In forming the weftwise rows of loops 59 through 62, medium amounts of terry warps T are fed by the overfeeding mechanism 20, but the extent of movement of slacking bar 31 (FIGURE 10) is relatively reduced. This results in high loops H5, H5 being formed in weftwise rows 59, 61? which are substantially the same height as, or slightly lower than, high loops H, H in respective weftwise rows 41, 43. Since slacking bar 31 then moves only a relatively small amount in each direction in FIG- URE 10, it is apparent that slacking bar 31 may actually remain in engagement with that sheet of transpositional terry strands S or S away from which it is last moved so that the heights of the high loops H5, H5 and low loops L5, L5 is relatively slight. In other words, the low loops the upper face of the fabric. medium loops M611 project from the lower face of the base fabric F2 between the two groups of medium loops L5, L5 are substantially higher than the low loops L, L in respective rows 41, 43, for example. Also, it will be noted that the medium height loops M4, M4, M4" in weftwise rows 59 through 62 are of substantially the same height as the medium height loops M, M, M in Weftwise rows 41 through 48.

- In all other respects, weftwise rows 59, 60 and 61 are formed in substantially the same manner as the respective weftwise rows 41, 43 and 45. Weftwise row 62 is formed in the same manner as weftwise row 42. As heretofore stated, the last two weftwise rows 63, 64 are in the form of ground-engaging loops G and may be formed in the same manner as weftwise row 54.

In FIGURE 8, high, low and medium loops are provided, some of which project from one face of a base fabric F2 and others of which project from the other face of the base fabric. The warpwise rows are indicated at T6, T7, T8 and the weftwise rows are indicated at 65 through 75. Since the portion of fabric shown in FIG- URE 8 is illustrated schematically and isometrically, adjacent loops in the various weftwise and warpwise rows of loops are interconnected by dash-dot lines in order that the exact relationship of the various loops may be clearly understood.

Generally, the warpwise rows of loops T6, T7, T8, shown in FIGURE 8, may be formed in the same manner as loops in warpwise rows T1, T2, T3 in FIGURE 7. In other words, the loops in warpwise row T6 may be formed from the sheet of terry warp S, those loops in warpwise row T7 may be formed from terry warps in sheet S and those loops in warpwise row T8 may be formed from terry warps in sheet S" (FIGURE 10). The primary purpose of the illustration of FIGURE 8 is to point up the fact that various pattern effects can be produced in which loops of one or more sizes may appear in different zones or in opposition on either face of a base fabric.

Reading from left to right in FIGURE 8, it will be noted that those loops in row T6 projecting from the upper face of base fabric F2 include two high loops H6, then three medium height loops M6 and then two low loops L6. Warpwise row T7 also includes two high loops H6, three medium height loops M6 and two low loops L6 in succession, although high loops H6 and low loops L6 are disposed in warpwise staggered relationship to high loops H6 and low loops L6. In warpwise row T8, it will be noted that three medium height loops M6 appear on the upper face of base F2 in immediate succession and then five more medium height loops M6 are spaced to the right of the first-mentioned three medium height loops M6.

Now, since high and low loops are formed in alternation, it willbe noted that two low loops L6a are formed in row T6 to the right of the respective high loops H6 and which extend from the lower face of the base fabric F2. A high loop H6a, projecting from the lower face of base fabric F2 is also formed in advance of each low loop L6 projecting from the upper face of the base fab- 'in advance of each high loop H6 and, in the right-hand or upper portion of warpwise row T7, a high loop H6a projects from the lower face of the base fabric F2 subsequent to each respective low loop L6 projecting from In warpwise row T8,

M6 projecting from the upper face of the base fabric F2 in warpwise row T8.

From the description just given with respect to FIG- URE 8, it is apparent that many different embossed effects may be produced such as that illustrated in the towel fabric shown in FIGURE 9. Let it be assumed that towel fabric 80 of FIGURE 9 is woven from left to right and opposed sides of the fabric are identical, with the exception that circular or design areas 81 are raised on the top face of the fabric and are recessed on the opposite face of the fabric. It may then be preferred, but not necessary, that the base P2 of the fabric is made from the same or larger size yarns than those forming the pile.

Accordingly, a narrow end edge or header portion 82 may be formed with the terry warps T (FIGURE 10) maintained taut along with the ground warps W. In other words, the narrow end edge area 82 would be in the form of a fiat fabric weave. A transverse border band 83 would then be woven in which the slacking bar 31 of FIGURE 10 would remain stationary and terry warps T would be fed constant predetermined amounts by the overfeeding mechanism 20. Thus, loops formed from alternate yarns may appear on the lower face of the fabric and loops formed from intervening yarns may appear on the upper face of the fabric to form the border band 83. Thereafter, a narrow recessed transverse margin 84 may be formed by reducing the extent to which the terry warps T are fed by the overfeeding mechanism 20 so that relatively low or ground-engaging loops would be formed with alternate and intervening terry warps on opposite faces of the fabric 80. Of course, the marginal band 84 may be formed by maintaining taut the terry warps T so it would be in the form of a flat woven fabric.

After the narrow marginal band 34 is woven in the manner described, the patterned body 85 of the fabric is woven throughout by alternately forming high and low loops, such as loops H, L in FIGURE 7 from each alternate yarn and while forming low and high loops, such as loops L, H in FIGURE 7 from each intervening terry warp. It is apparent that manipulation of the heddles 12 through 15 may be such as to cause all low loops to appear on the upper face of the extreme left-hand portion of the patterned body while all high loops will appear on the lower face of the patterned body 85 until the designs 81 in the first row in the left-hand portion of the patterned body 85 are to be woven. At that time, heddles 12 through 15 are so operated as to cause all the relatively long loops formed from the terry warps to appear on the top face of the fabric in those areas indicated at 81 while the remaining portions of the top face of the fabric have relatively low loops appearing thereon. On the other hand, on the opposite face of the fabric 80 from that shown in FIGURE 9, all areas 81 would be formed from low or short loops only and all the remaining portions of the patterned body 85 would be formed from relatively long loops.

The right-hand portion of the patterned area 85 is woven in the same manner as the extreme left-hand portion thereof and, also, the narrow transverse marginal area 84, the transverse border area 83 and the righthand end edge area 82 may all be woven in the same manner as the respective areas 84, 83, 82 in the left-hand portion of FIGURE 9.

It is thus seen that all the designs 81 are raised slightly with respect to the surrounding portions of the patterned body 85 on the top face of the fabric so that the designs 81 on the top face of the fabric form embossed effect areas and, on the reverse or bottom face of the fabric 80, the main portions of the patterned body 85 will include relatively long loops while the design portions 81 include relatively short loops so the areas 81 are recessed with respect to the remaining portions of the patterned body 85 and thus form recessed effect areas on the bottom face of the fabric which complement or coincide with the l .tured or colored yarns.

'9 such fabric, "with sheared 'high loops, is shown in 'FIG- ;URE 11.

In FIGURES l'through 6 and 1;1,"various other types .of-fabric are shown which may be woven according'to the principles of this invention. The illustrations of FIGURES 1 through ,6 and 11 are also exemplary, although novel. Each of the forms of :fabric shown in FIGURES 1, -3 and '5 is illustrated in-the form of -a bedspread fabric. However, the same character of loop formation may be embodied in other terry fabrics, such as towels and the like, wherein relatively :few .yarns ,(usually three to six) are provided between adjacent loops both weftwise and warpwise of the fabric.

.The fabric of FIGURE 1 includes a base F3 whichgmay .be woven from relatively fine or small warp and weft yarns as compared to the yarns employed in forming terry loops. Thebase F3 may be .in the form of a plain .or .fancy Weave, as desired. In this instance, the base F3 is provided with spaced weftwise extending relatively heavy yarns 86 preferably inserted immediately prior to each fast pick and up to fifteen or more picks apart. Thus, the rows of loops are spaced apart both warpwise and Weftwise of the base, and the number 'of ground warps between adjacent rows of loops is sufficient so that the base F3 is readily visible between adjacent warpwise rows of terry loops and contrasts therewith to'produce the desired pattern effect in the fabric. The loops are. also shown spaced apart in-asimilar manner in FIG- URES 3, 4, 5, 6 and 11.

-It should be noted that the warpwise distance between adjacent Weftwise rows of terry loops in FIGURES 1, .3 .and ,is substantially equal to or greater than the .weftwise distance between adjacent warpwise rows of terry loops, and the weftwise distance between adjacent warpwise rows of terry loops is equal to ,or greater thanat least three-fourths of the height of the longest loops in each row.

One purpose of the illustration of FIGURE .1 is to may alternate in hiding portions of other .difierent tex- In weaving the fabric ofFIG- DRE 1, it may be assumed that the terry warp T comprises one color or texture of relatively .large terry warps alternating with another color or texture of large terry warps. .The strands in the sheets S, S, S" are also indicated by these same reference characters, in FIGURE 1.

.The warpwise rows of terry loops are generally designated at T10 through T14 in FIGURE 1. Weftwise rows are generally designated-at W1 through W6. In weaving the loops in weftwise row'Wl, slacking ,bar31 .(FIGURE 10) remains stationary so that all loops :are .of a given height or length.

In forming loops 'in weftwise row W2 (FIGURES ,1 and 2) as terry warps T are fed by overfeedingxrolls 21, 22, slacking bar 31 moves forwardly in FIGURE 10 against sheet S to draw substantially all v.of the-slack out .of these strands while moving away from sheet S. Thus, the subsequent fast pick beat-up stroke of reed 16; forms relatively short or ground-engagingloops from all the terry warps in sheet .8 (warpwise rows T10, T12, 14) while forming relatively high or long loops. from all'the terry warps in sheet S, and while forming loops of..intermediate height of all the terry warpsinsheeLS (warp wise rows T11, T13).

.It is thus seen .thatrelatively short or groundrengaging loops of one color of terry warp'in' Weftwise. row W2 and warpwise rows T10, T12, "T14 are concealed or hidden by the relativelyhi'gh'loops of the immediately adjacent strand. The intermediate loops formed of terry warps in sheet S" in 'weftwise row"W2 present loops of both colors with equal intensity.

In the weaving of the'next succeeding weftwise row of loops W3, slacking bar'31 again remains'stationary so that all loops are of the samehei'ght. On'the'other Ihand, inweaving weftwiserow W4, :slackingibar .131

movesrearwardly as terry warps'T are fed'by feed rolls 21,22, so that additionalslack is formed'in sheet S while substantial slack is removed from sheet S. Thus, with the next fast pick beat-up stroke of reed 16, the loops formed from strands in sheet S of FIGURE 1 are relatively high, the loops formed from strands S' are relatively low or ground-engaging loops, and the loops formed from strands S are all of intermediate height. This completes a cycle in the forming of the fabric shown in FIGURE 1, it being noted that weftwise rows W5 and W6 are identical to respective rows W1, W2.

The fabric of FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrates another arrangement of loops in which all the terry warps may be of the same or different colors and/or textures. Weft wise rows of loops W7 through W15 and warpwise rows of loops T15 through T23 are included, in FIGURE 3, with a base fabric F4. All the loops in warpwise rows T15, T21, T22, T23 may be of the same, intermediate,

height or length and are, accordingly, formed from strands in sheet S" of FIGURE 10, for example. The loops in warpwise rows T16, T18, T20, may be formed from strands in sheet S, while the loops in intervening warpwise rows T17 and T19 may be formed from strands in sheet S.

It will be noted that, in weaving the first two weftwise rows W7, W8 in FIGURE 3, slacking bar 31 may remain stationary. In Weaving the remaining Weftwise rows W9 through W15, slacking bar 31 moves to and fro, in the manner heretofore described, to form high and ground-engaging loops in alternation, but in opposed relationship, from respective transpositional terry strands S, -S'. The relativesize of loops in FIGURE 3 is'further illustrated in FIGURE 4.

"The fabric of FIGURES 5 and 6 is'also constructed in much the same manner as the fabrics of FIGURES 1 and 3, with the exception that the shedding of the ground warps is such that loops are formed on both faces of the base fabric F5, as heretofore described with respect to FIGURES 8 and 9. The base fabric F5 carries weftwise rows of loops W16 through W21 and warpwise rows of loops T24 through T31. Each warpwise row of loops T24 through T31 is formed from two terry warps.

All the loops in warpwise rows T25, T27, T29, T31 are of intermediate or medium length, although they appear on opposed faces of the base fabric F5 in alternation. Accordingly, these particular loops are formed from strands in sheet S" of FIGURE 10 and, thus, bear the same reference character. The high loops in warpwise rows T24, T28 all appear on the back or lower face of the base fabric F5, but these loops may alternate with "short or ground-engaging loops on the top of the base fabric FS as will be presently described with respect to the loops formed from terry warps S in warpwise rows T26 and T30.

In the latter rows T26, T30, it will be noted that alternate loops made from one of the strands are, in each instance, relatively high loops and corresponding intervening loops made from the other of the strands are 'also'relatively high loops. However, each of the strands alternates in the forming of high and low loops.

Very pleasing eifects are also produced by forming alternate high and low loops from selected terry warps and wherein portions of the fabric would have the high loops formed on'only one side thereof while the low loops are formed on the other side thereof, as hereto- .fore described with respect to thetfabn'c in FIGURE 9. As heretofore stated, with respect to the fabric shown in 'FIGURE7, all loops may vary as to length, although some immediately adjacent loops may be alter nating' high and low relative to each other.

Referring to FIGURE 11, a'portion of-terry fabric 'is'shown which is Woven according'to the present invention. However, the fabric 90 includes relatively short loops 91 alternating-With'tufts 92, both warpwise and'weftwise of a base F6. These piles 91, 92 are amass formed from terry warps interwoven with the base F6. Fabric 90 may originally be formed in the manner of any of the fabrics heretofore described and is shown only to illustrate the fabric after relatively high loops have been severed or sheared.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

Iclaim:

l. A woven terry fabric comprising a base having a plurality of warpwise rows of loops formed of respective terry warps, the loops in each of certain selected rows being of varying heights with relatively high and relatively low loops being disposed in alternating sequence, the relatively high and relatively low loops in at least one row being in the weftwise planes of respective relatively low and relatively high loops in at least one other of said selected rows, some of said loops projecting from one face of the base, and others of said loops projecting from the other face of said base.

2. A terry fabric according to claim'l including other warpwise rows of loops of substantially uniform height throughout at least a substantial portion thereof.

3. A woven terry fabric comprising a woven base, terry warps forming a plurality of warpwise rows of loops projecting from opposite faces of said base, certain of said rows each including alternating long and short loops, certain others of said rows each including alternating short and long loops in which the short and long loops of said certain other warpwise'rows are disposed in the same weftwise planes as respective long and short loops of the first-mentioned certain warpwise rows whereby intersecting weftwise and warpwise rows of loops of at least two different lengths project from the base fabric, all the long loops in certain substantial portions of at least some of said rows protruding from one face of said base, and all the short loops in said certain portions of said some of the rows protruding from the opposite face of said base.

4. A woven terry fabric comprising at least one warpwise row of alternating high and low pile loops formed from a single strand of terry warp, at least one other warpwise row of high and low pile loops also formed from a single strand of terry warp, the high and low loops in the first-mentioned row being disposed in the same weftwise plane as the respective low and high loops of the other warpwise row, each of said warpwise rows of pile loops including at least one loop of another given height disposed warpwise between certain adjacent pairs of high and low loops, at least some of the loops'in said one warpwise row projecting from one face of the fabric and at least some of the loops in said other warpwise row projecting from the opposite face of the fabric.

5. A woven terry fabric comprising a base, terry warps forming a plurality of warpwise rows of loops projecting from said base, certain of said rows each including alternating high and low loops, certain others of said rows each including alternating low and high loops in which the low and high loops of said certain other warpwise rows are disposed in the same weftwise planes as the respective high and low loops of the first-mentioned certain warpwise rows, whereby intersecting weftwise and warpwise rows of loops of at least two different lengths project from the base, all of said warpwise rows of loops also including some loops of uniform height which form weftwise rows of uniform-height loops, at least some of said loops projecting from one face of the base, and others of said loops projecting from the opposite face of the base.

6. A woven terry fabric comprising a base of interwoven waips and wefts, first and second terry warps interwoven with'sa'id base in the form of warpwise rows of alternating high and low piles, the high piles formed of said first terry warps being in weftwise alinement with the low piles formedof said second terry warps and vice 'versa, some of said piles projecting from one face of said base, and others of said piles projecting from the other face of said' base to form a pattern.

7. A woven terry fabric comprising a base having a plurality of warpwise rows of terry pile loops, each warpwise row including loops of at least two diiferentheights interwoven with'said base, said warpwise rows of loops also forming weftwise rows of loops wherein the loops of each weftwise row are of at least two different heights, some of the loops in certain warpwise rows projecting from one face'of the base, and other loops in said certain rows projecting from the other face of the base. 8. A woven. terry fabric comprising a base having -a plurality of warpwise rows of terry pile loops, each warp wise row including loops of at least two different heights interwoven with said base, said warpwise rows of loops also forming weftwise rows of loops wherein the loops of each weftwise row are of at least two different heights, each of said warpwise rows including relatively long and relatively short loops, relatively long loops in portions of said rows projecting from one face of the base, and relatively short loops in said portions of said rows projecting from the other face of said base.

9. A woven terry fabric having a plurality of warpwise rows of loops, each row including loops of at least three diflerent lengths, said warpwise rows of loops also forming weftwise rows of loops, each weftwise row including loops of at least two different lengths, said loops projecting from opposite faces of the fabric, and the loops of one length, when taken with the loops of another length on the same face of the fabric, forming a pattern in relief on said same face. I

10. A woven terry fabric comprising a woven base, at least one first warpwise row of alternating high and low pile loops formed from a single strand of terry warp interwoven with said base, at least one other warpwise row of high and low pile loops also formed from a single strand of terry warp interwoven with said base, the high and low loops in said first row being disposed in the same weftwise planes as respective low and high loops of the other warpwise row, a plurality of adjacent high loops in portions of said rows projecting from one face of the base, and the low loops in said portions projecting from the other face of said base.

11. A woven terry fabric comprising a woven base, a first plurality of spaced terry warps alternately arranged with respect to a second plurality of terry warps, said first and second terry warps forming respective first and second warpwise rows of loops projecting from said base, said first rows including alternating long and short loops, said second rows including alternating short and long loops in which the short and long loops of said second warpwise rows are disposed in the same weftwise planes as respective long and short loops of the first warpwise rows whereby intersecting weftwise and warpwise rows of loops each of at least two different lengths project from the base fabric, embossed efiect areas formed only by the long loops projecting from one face of the fabric in adjacent portions of some of said first and sec ond warpwise rows, portions of the fabric surrounding said areas being formed only with corresponding short loops projecting from said one face in said some of said rows and in other rows adjacent said some of the rows, and recessed efliect areas being formed on the opposite face of the fabric, said recessed effect areas coinciding with said embossed effect areas and being formed with corresponding short loops projecting from said opposite face of the fabric in said portions of some of said rows, and wherein those portions of the fabric surrounding said recessed effect areas are formed only with corresponding 13 long loops projecting from said opposite face in said some of the rows and in said other rows adjacent said some of the rows.

12. A woven terry fabric comprising a base of interwoven ground warps and wefts, a plurality of first and second relatively large continuous terry warps interwoven with said base each in the form of warpwise rows of alternately arranged warpwise spaced relatively long loops with relatively short loops spaced between adjacent long loops, certain of said long loops of the first terry warps being in weftwise alinement with certain of said short loops of the second terry warps and certain of said long loops of the second terry warps being in weftwise alinement with certain of said short loops of said first terry warps, a plurality of said ground warps being positioned between adjacent terry warps through the length of the fabric, said plurality of ground warps being sufiicient in number so that a substantial portion of the base is readily visible between adjacent warpwise rows of terry loops and contrasts therewith to produce the desired pattern efiect, and adjacent long and short loops being spaced apart warpwise a distance substantially equal to the weftwise distance between adjacent terry warps.

13. A terry fabric according to claim 12 wherein some of the loops project from one face of the base and other loops project from the other face of the base.

14. A woven terry fabric comprising a base of interwoven 1ground warps and wefts, a plurality of first and second continuous terry warps interwoven with said base each in the form of warpwise rows of warpwise spaced relatively long loops interspersed with short ground-engaging loops, certain of said long loops of the first terry warps being in weftwise alinement with certain of said ground-engaging loops of the second terry warps and certain of said long loops of the second terry warps being in weftwise alinement with certain of said short loops of said first terry warps, a plurality of said ground warps being positioned between adjacent terry warps throughout the length of the fabric, said plurality of ground warps being sufiicient in number so that adjacent warpwise rows of terry loops are spaced apart a distance at least equal to three-fourths the length of said long loops and so that the base is readily visible between adjacent warpwise rows of terry loops and contrasts therewith to produce the desired pattern eifect, and warpwise adjacent loops being spaced apart a distance at least equal to the distance between adjacent warpwise extending rows of terry loops.

15. A terry fabric according to claim 14 wherein some of the loops project from one face of the base and other loops project from the other face of the base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 483,078 Morton Sept. 20, 1892 1,766,805 Wakefield June 24, 1930 2,087,770 Goulet July 20, 1937 2,318,080 Keen May 4, 1943 2,709,461 Groat May 31, 1955 2,714,399 Hoeselbarth Aug. 2, 1955 2,809,669 Morgan et al. Oct. 15, 1957 2,834,806 Jamrogowicz May 13, 1958 2,860,669 Moberg Nov. 18, 1958 2,932,327 Frauwirth Apr. 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 273,409 Great Britain July 6, 1927 547,864 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1942

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