Ronald Magee

US Patent:

6494925, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Jan 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/483480

Inventors:

Mary T. Child - LaGrange GA
Frank W. Teaster - LaGrange GA
Ronald Magee - LaGrange GA

Assignee:

Milliken Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

D06P 700

US Classification:

8485, 8478, 81146, 8497

Abstract:

The present invention provides a sculptured pile fabric having both a printed pattern and a sculpted surface of various pile heights. The fabric of the present invention has improved aesthetic qualities as compared with sculptured products of the prior art. This improved sculptured fabric is the result of a chemical sculpting method, in which the height of the pile surface is selectively reduced in a pattern configuration, and that is followed by an overall âdiluteâ dyeing process. This âdiluteâ dyeing process is similar to that used to âtea stainâ textile products, wherein an overall hue is imparted to a textile by the use of a relatively dilute (low concentration) dyestuff. The resulting sculptured product has an appearance that emphasizes the sculptured areas, making the sculptured areas appear to have greater depth, especially when viewed at a distance.

US Patent:

6792329, Sep 14, 2004

Filed:

Aug 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/934729

Inventors:

Ronald Magee - LaGrange GA

Assignee:

Milliken Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

D06B 102

US Classification:

700133, 345604, 347 15

Abstract:

A computer-assisted process for the design and placement of multi-colored patterns on absorbent substrates using a limited number of transparent process colorants is described. Through use of this system, a designer, working with a computer-aided design system, can generate and accurately represent on a computer monitor or similar display a multi-colored pattern, as that pattern would appear on a specified absorbent substrate, using coloring elements comprised of groups of multiple pixels in which process colors have been mixed in a controlled manner to expand the range of available colors, and to compensate for colorant delivery limitations that prevent the application of small, accurately metered quantities of colorant. Actuation instructions for a specific dye injection machine capable of patterning a moving textile substrate may be generated.

US Patent:

6884493, Apr 26, 2005

Filed:

Jun 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/876912

Inventors:

Ronald Magee - LaGrange GA, US
James C. Bridges - LaGrange GA, US

Assignee:

Milliken & Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

B32B005/02
D06P005/22
B41J002/01
B41J003/407

US Classification:

428175, 428174, 428196, 8445, 8929, 347106, 347101, 347105

Abstract:

Color, pattern, design, and/or the like is applied by means of a jet dye process, or any other secondary or post pattern application process, including but not exclusively, silk screen printing and rotary printing, etc. , to a carpet substrate, where the yarn in the carpet is all white (no dye applied) or where the yarn is pre-dyed with a single or multiple colors or where the yarn is treated chemically. The carpet can, for example, be made with any conventional loom weaving process or hand weaving process, for example Wilton, Axminster, spool, spool gripper, and Chenille looms, hand gun tufted, or any other conventional method.

US Patent:

6907634, Jun 21, 2005

Filed:

Apr 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/132464

Inventors:

Seiin Kobayashi - Yamagata, JP
Yoko Zaikawa - Yamagata, JP
Ronald Magee - LaGrange GA, US

Assignee:

Milliken & Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

D06B001/02

US Classification:

8148, 8149, 8151, 68205 R, 68 5 B

Abstract:

A process by which dithering techniques and in situ blending techniques may be used to reproduce a desired multi-colored dyed pattern on a substrate using precisely delivered quantities of liquid colorants that are available in only a relatively few colors. Specific preferred process colors, as well as procedures for expanding the range of reproduced colors using such process colors, are presented Optionally, specific actuation instructions for a specific dye injection machine capable of patterning a moving textile substrate may be generated.

US Patent:

7072733, Jul 4, 2006

Filed:

Jan 22, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/054425

Inventors:

Ronald Magee - LaGrange GA, US
Kevin D. West - LaGrange GA, US

Assignee:

Milliken & Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700133, 705 27, 7071041

Abstract:

A system and method for enabling customer specification of images to be used for decorating textile substrates at the economies of mass customization. An automated patterning apparatus is implemented that comprises a plurality of individual colorant substances that are directed through a set of colorant applicators in accordance with predetermined pattern data, the colorant substances capable of being selectively applied to individual pixels on the substrate in accordance with the predetermined pattern data. The system and method particularly implements a device providing an interface for enabling remote access to an image manipulation design tool that enables user customization of the digitized image to form a target image over a communications network. A digitized image of the user's choice is imported into the image manipulation design tool and that image is manipulated according the user's artistic vision. A dithering algorithm may be implemented for generating a dithered image from the digitized target image using a dithering palette of colors that are able to be generated at specified pixel locations on the textile substrate using the plurality of individual colorants.

US Patent:

7383960, Jun 10, 2008

Filed:

Jun 2, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/858750

Inventors:

Ronald Magee - LaGrange GA, US
Jennifer L. Beedy - LaGrange GA, US
J. Michael Hartley - LaGrange GA, US
Dane M. Owen - LaGrange GA, US
Debra M. Michalak - East Point GA, US
Ritchie D. Eisenhour - Catawba NC, US
Shandra L. Shermerhorn - LaGrange GA, US
Marilyn F. McClanahan - LaGrange GA, US
Ellen E. Olsen - LaGrange GA, US

Assignee:

Milliken & Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

A47F 7/00
B32B 3/02

US Classification:

211 491, 428 85, 428 92, 428 95

Abstract:

Surface covering display elements, systems and/or methods are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a multi-patterned rug display sample, element or unit has at least two different geometric designs and/or coloration schemes across a common surface for simultaneous comparative evaluation by a potential purchaser. The rug display sample may be patterned to include two or more geometric or solid patterns corresponding to patterns available on floor covering products independent of the display sample. Also, the display unit may include a feature rug, color runner, color rug, and/or hang tag.

US Patent:

7448503, Nov 11, 2008

Filed:

May 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/150442

Inventors:

Ronald Magee - LaGrange GA, US
Jennifer L. Beedy - LaGrange GA, US
J. Michael Hartley - LaGrange GA, US
Dane M. Owen - LaGrange GA, US
Debra M. Michalak - East Point GA, US
Ritchie D. Eisenhour - Catawba NC, US
Shandra L. Shermerhorn - LaGrange GA, US
Marilyn F. McClanahan - LaGrange GA, US
Ellen E. Olsen - LaGrange GA, US

Assignee:

Milliken & Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

A47F 7/00
B32B 3/02

US Classification:

211 491, 428 85, 428 95, 428 92

Abstract:

Surface covering display elements, systems and/or methods are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a multi-patterned rug display sample, element or unit has at least two different geometric designs and/or coloration schemes across a common surface for simultaneous comparative evaluation by a potential purchaser. The rug display sample may be patterned to include two or more geometric or solid patterns corresponding to patterns available on floor covering products independent of the display sample. Also, the display unit may include a feature rug, color runner, color rug, and/or hang tag.

US Patent:

8145345, Mar 27, 2012

Filed:

Apr 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/410605

Inventors:

Ronald Magee - LaGrange GA, US
Jonathan C. McCay - LaGrange GA, US
Steven W. Cox - Chesnee SC, US

Assignee:

Milliken & Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700131, 700130

Abstract:

An automated system for generating large numbers of digitally-defined patterns suitable for printing on textiles wherein each pattern is individually different but shares one or more unifying design motifs with all other patterns. In the general case, each pattern is comprised of at least two components in the form of separately configurable pattern layers that are digitally superimposed to form a composite pattern that is unique but visually related to all other unique patterns that use pattern layers taken from the same pattern sources.