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Design Awards & Patents

The ColorTron technology won the Innovation of the Year award granted by the American Floorcovering Alliance in 2009.







Patents


New ideas and innovations have been key to Tuftco’s success for more than 50 years.  Tuftco engineers are constantly working on better ways to produce carpet, rugs, carpet tile, and artificial turf.

Research and development is a vital part of Tuftco’s ongoing investment in capital and people to generate new types of machinery and methods for both tufting and finishing.  We protect our customers’ investments by acquiring patents and trademarks for these inventions, both in the U.S. and abroad, where applicable.

Following is a list published by the U. S. Patent Office of patents issued to Tuftco companies since 1976.  Currently, patent applications for several other new inventions have been filed with the patent office and are under review.



Tuftco Patents

Tuftco Corporation Patents

PAT. NO. TITLE  
8,082,861 Apparatus and method for forming level cut and loop pile tufts and related fabric
7,905,187 Yarn feed system for tufting machines
7,685,952 Capstan rollers for tufting machine yarn feed
7,634,326 System and method for forming tufted patterns
7,578,249 Tufting machine head shaker
7,481,172 Variably spaced tufting needle assembly
7,431,974 Tufted fabric with embedded stitches
7,426,895 Tufting machine and process for variable stitch rate tufting
7,318,383 Narrow gauge hollow needle tufting apparatus
7,222,576 Gate apparatus for tufting loop and cut pile stitches
7,191,717 Modular gauge block assembly with secure lateral pins
7,107,918 Needle plate modules
7,096,806 Yarn feed system for tufting machines
7,089,874 Servo motor driven scroll pattern attachments for tufting machine with computerized design system and methods
6,971,326 Method for running a tufting machine
6,945,184 Double end servo scroll pattern attachment with single end repeat capability for tufting machine
6,945,183 Yarn feed system for tufting machines
6,886,477 Tufting needle assembly
6,877,449 Servo motor driven scroll pattern attachments for tufting machine with computerized design system and methods of tufting
6,877,447 Double end servo scroll and direct scroll driver pattern attachment for tufting machine
6,834,601 Yarn feed system for tufting machines
6,827,030 Magnetically driven tufting machines and methods
6,807,917 Yarn feed system for tufting machines
6,675,729 Modular block assembly for tufting machine
6,672,230 Modular block assembly for tufting machine
6,629,662 Method and apparatus for rolling carpet
6,550,407 Double end servo scroll pattern attachment for tufting machine
6,516,734 Independent servo motor controlled scroll-type pattern attachment for tufting machine and computerized design system
6,508,185 Single end servo motor driven scroll pattern attachment for tufting machine and computerized design system for tufting carpet
6,502,521 Independent single end servo scroll pattern attachment for tufting machine and computerized design system
6,439,141 Independent single end servo scroll pattern attachment for tufting machine and computerized design system
6,283,053 Independent single end servo motor driven scroll-type pattern attachment for tufting machine
6,279,497 Method of manufacturing textured carpet patterns and improved tufting machine configuration
6,244,203 Independent servo motor controlled scroll-type pattern attachment for tufting machine and computerized design system
6,228,460 Tufted articles and related processes
6,205,940 System and method for controlling the stopping point of a tufting machine at a preset stop step in a carpet stitch pattern
6,014,937 Fine gauge tufting machine with staggered needle bar
5,979,344 Tufting machine with precision drive system
5,769,012 System and method for controlling the stopping point of a tufting machine at a preset stop step in a carpet stitch pattern
5,706,744 Method and apparatus for producing tufts from different yarns in longitudinal lines
5,645,001 Linear motion looper apparatus for tufting machine
5,575,228 Variable gauge tufting apparatus
5,544,605 Auxiliary yarn feed module for tufting machine with pattern control yarn feed mechanism
5,526,760 Tufting machine needle bar shifter
5,320,053 Demountable rotary cam for tufting machine
5,235,516 Electronic creel mapping
5,186,113 Inverted tufting machine needle drive and stroke adjustment
5,094,178 Method and apparatus for tufting accent yarns in patterned pile fabric
5,055,333 Tufted carpet
4,980,943 Cleaning glove
4,961,243 Carpet cleaning pad
4,864,946 Yarn feed split roll apparatus for tufting machine
4,841,886 Needle plate for double needle bar loop pile tufting apparatus
4,840,133 Needle plate for hook bar of cut pile tufting machine
4,829,917 Control system for hydraulic needle bar positioning apparatus for a tufting machine
4,820,566 Tufted carpet with tufts of fine fibers and tufts of crimped coarse fibers
4,817,541 Knife holder clamp apparatus for cut pile tufting machine
4,800,828 Double needle bar loop pile tufting apparatus
4,793,271 Knife holder apparatus for cut pile tufting machine
4,759,199 Linear motion looper apparatus for tufting machine
4,754,718 Double needle bar tufting apparatus for the formation of loop pile and cut pile
4,705,231 Yarn carrier holder
4,671,194 Looper apparatus for equalizing the legs of cut pile tufts
4,658,739 Needle plate member for a staggered needle tufting machine
4,562,781 Hook bar clamp assembly for tufting machine
4,557,209 Sculptured high-low cut pile tufting method and apparatus
4,519,326 Segmental needle bar for multiple needle tufting machine
4,509,439 Clamp insert for tufting elements in narrow gauge tufting machine
4,503,787 Low pile needle plate for a tufting machine
4,483,261 Segmental needle bar for multiple needle tufting machine
4,469,037 Method of producing for review a tufted fabric pattern
4,448,137 Modular hook bar with gauge insert for tufting machine
4,445,446 Knife holder module for cut pile tufting machine
4,393,793 Tufting machine with adjustable yarn guide tube bank
4,375,196 Cutting mechanism for cut pile tufting machine
4,372,001 Carpet dyeing system with movable squeegee roll
4,369,720 Tufting looper apparatus with opposed clip support
4,366,761 Dual shiftable needle bars for tufting machine
4,294,876 Tufted material having a laminated film primary tufting substrate
4,217,837 Fine gauge looper apparatus for in-line tufting machine
4,193,359 Low pile forming apparatus for tufting machine
4,173,192 Electrohydraulic needle bar positioning apparatus for tufting machines
4,158,339 Narrow gauge cut pile looper apparatus
4,155,319 Looper apparatus for forming cut pile and loop pile in the same row of stitching
4,067,270 Narrow gauge cut pile tufting apparatus