Abstract:
This invention pertains to a method of improving the comfort, softness, and texture of textile products in both semi-finished and finished forms and the product of this method. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.  37  CFR  1.72 (b).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0005]    This invention pertains to a method of improving the comfort, softness, and texture of textile products in both semi-finished and finished forms and the product thereof.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention resides in a method of softening textile fibers and the softened textile fibers made by this method. The method of softening textile fibers includes the following steps: Blending an Aloe Vera solution capable of absorption directly into textile fibers. Impregnating textile fibers with said Aloe Vera solution. Drying said impregnated textile fibers.  
           [0007]    The details of the method of softening textile fibers include the following steps: Blending an Aloe Vera solution suitable for improving the comfort, softness, and texture of textile fibers, and capable of absorption directly into textile fibers. Applying a coating of the Aloe Vera solution onto the outer surface of a roller. Running textile fibers over the outer surface of the roller and through the coating of Aloe Vera solution. Impregnating the textile fibers with Aloe Vera solution. Drying the impregnated textile fibers.  
           [0008]    A variation of the method of softening textile fibers includes the further steps of: Filling a reservoir with the Aloe Vera solution. Pumping the Aloe Vera solution from the reservoir through a tube and through a means for application. Applying a coating of the Aloe Vera solution onto the outer surface of the roller using a means for application.  
           [0009]    Another variation of the method of softening textile fibers includes the further steps of: Varying the volumetric flow rate of the Aloe Vera solution passing through the means for application. Metering the volumetric application of the Aloe Vera solution so as to impregnate the textile fibers and derive consistent quality and not impair the conversion of the textile fiber into yarn. Yet another variation of the method of softening textile fibers includes the further steps of: Applying a coating of the Aloe Vera solution onto the outer surface of an upper roller using the means for application. Locating a lower roller below the upper roller to sandwich the textile fibers passing therebetween in constant contact with both rollers. Propelling the upper roller and the lower roller to drive the textile fibers forward.  
           [0010]    Still another variation of the method of softening textile fibers uses a nozzle as the means for application.  
           [0011]    A further variation of the method of softening textile fibers includes the step of: Driving the textile fibers forward between the upper and the lower roller and into a storage container.  
           [0012]    A still further variation of the method of softening textile fibers includes the step of: Incorporating the method of softening textile fibers as part of a fiber stretch break machine.  
           [0013]    Another further variation of the method of softening textile fibers includes the step of: Locating the method of softening textile fibers on a fiber stretch break machine immediately after the continuous filament textile fibers have been stretch broken into smaller, discrete fiber lengths.  
           [0014]    In still another variation of the method of softening textile fibers, the textile fibers can be made from acrylic, wool, or cotton fibers.  
           [0015]    In yet another variation of the method of softening textile fibers, the impregnated textile fibers are dried at ambient air temperature.  
           [0016]    The present invention also resides in a method of softening yarn and the product thereof. The method of softening yarn includes the following steps: Blending an Aloe Vera solution capable of absorption directly into a yarn. Impregnating yarn with said Aloe Vera solution. Drying said impregnated yarn.  
           [0017]    The details of the method of softening yarn include the following steps: Blending an Aloe Vera solution suitable for improving the comfort, softness, and texture of yarn, and capable of absorption directly into yarn. Applying a coating of the Aloe Vera solution onto the outer surface of a roller. Running the yarn over the outer surface of the roller and through the coating of the Aloe Vera solution. Impregnating the yarn with the Aloe Vera solution. Drying the impregnated yarn.  
           [0018]    A variation of the method of softening yarn includes the steps of: Filling a reservoir with the Aloe Vera solution. Placing part of the outer surface of the roller into the Aloe Vera solution in the reservoir. Revolving the roller to apply a coating of the Aloe Vera solution on the outer surface of the roller. Driving the yarn forward at a rate that promotes optimal yarn impregnation. Replenishing constantly the coating of the Aloe Vera solution on the outer surface of the roller.  
           [0019]    Another variation of the method of softening yarn includes the step of: Maintaining a constant amount of the Aloe Vera solution in the reservoir during the application procedure.  
           [0020]    Yet another variation of the method of softening yarn includes the step of: Varying the propelling speed of the roller to optimize the absorption rate of the Aloe Vera solution into each type of yarn.  
           [0021]    Yet a further variation of the method of softening yarn includes the step of: Locating the method of softening textile yarn as the last operation at the end of the continuous steam bulker machine resulting in a uniformly consistent application of the Aloe Vera solution.  
           [0022]    A further variation of the method of softening yarn includes the step of: Locating an Aloe Vera solution filled feeder bottle above the reservoir to gravity feed and consistently maintain the Aloe Vera solution level in the reservoir.  
           [0023]    In a variation of the method of softening yarn, the impregnated yarn is dried at ambient air temperature. In another variation of the method of softening yarn, the yarn is made from acrylic, wool, or cotton fibers.  
           [0024]    In yet another variation of the method of softening yarn, the yarn is made from two plies, three plies, or four plies of twisted yarn fibers.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    The invention will be more filly understood by reference to the following drawings that are for illustrative purposes only:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is an orthogonal view of the method of softening textile fibers;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is an orthogonal view of the method of softening yarn.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]    As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention resides in a method of softening textile fibers  14  and the softened textile fibers  18  made by this method. The method of softening textile fibers  14  includes the following steps: Blending an Aloe Vera solution  22  capable of absorption directly into textile fibers  14 . Impregnating textile fibers  14  with said Aloe Vera solution  22 . Drying said impregnated textile fibers  14 .  
         [0029]    The details of the method of softening textile fibers  14  include the following steps: Blending an Aloe Vera solution  22  suitable for improving the comfort, softness, and texture of textile fibers  14 , and capable of absorption directly into textile fibers  14 . Applying a coating  20  of the Aloe Vera solution  22  onto the outer surface  46  of a roller  26 . Running textile fibers  14  over the outer surface  46  of the roller  26  and through the coating  20  of Aloe Vera solution  22 . Impregnating the textile fibers  14  with Aloe Vera solution  22 . Drying the impregnated textile fibers  14 .  
         [0030]    A variation of the method of softening textile fibers  14  includes the further steps of: Filling a reservoir  30  with the Aloe Vera solution  22 . Pumping the Aloe Vera solution  22  from the reservoir  30  through a tube  38  and through a means for application  42 . Applying a coating  20  of the Aloe Vera solution  22  onto the outer surface  46  of the roller  26  using the means for application  42 .  
         [0031]    Another variation of the method of softening textile fibers  14  includes the further steps of: Varying the volumetric flow rate of the Aloe Vera solution  22  passing through the means for application  42 . Metering the volumetric application of the Aloe Vera solution  22  so as to impregnate the textile fibers  14  and derive consistent quality and not impair the conversion of the textile fibers  14  into yarn.  
         [0032]    Yet another variation of the method of softening textile fibers  14  includes the further steps of: Applying a coating  20  of the Aloe Vera solution  22  onto the outer surface  46  of an upper roller  26  using the means for application  42 . Locating a lower roller  54  below the upper roller  26  to sandwich the textile fibers  14  passing therebetween in constant contact with both rollers. Propelling the upper roller  26  and the lower roller  54  to drive the textile fibers  14  forward.  
         [0033]    Still another variation of the method of softening textile fibers  14  uses a nozzle  58  as the means for application  42 .  
         [0034]    A further variation of the method of softening textile fibers  14  includes the step of: Driving the textile fibers  14  forward between the upper  26  and the lower roller  54  and into a storage container.  
         [0035]    A still further variation of the method of softening textile fibers  14  includes the step of: Incorporating the method of softening textile fibers  14  as part of a fiber stretch break machine.  
         [0036]    Another further variation of the method of softening textile fibers  14  includes the step of: Locating the method of softening textile fibers  14  on a fiber stretch break machine immediately after the continuous filament textile fibers  14  have been stretch broken into smaller, discrete fiber lengths.  
         [0037]    In still another variation of the method of softening textile fibers  14 , the textile fibers  14  can be made from acrylic, wool, or cotton fibers.  
         [0038]    In yet another variation of the method of softening textile fibers  14 , the impregnated textile fibers  14  are dried at ambient air temperature.  
         [0039]    As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention also resides in a method of softening yarn  114  and the product thereof. The method of softening yarn  114  includes the following steps: Blending an Aloe Vera solution  118  capable of absorption directly into a yarn  114 . Impregnating yarn  114  with said Aloe Vera solution  118 . Drying said impregnated yarn  122 .  
         [0040]    The details of the method of softening yarn  114  include the following steps: Blending an Aloe Vera solution  118  suitable for improving the comfort, softness, and texture of yarn  114 , and capable of absorption directly into yarn  114 . Applying a coating  126  of the Aloe Vera solution  118  onto the outer surface  130  of a roller  134 . Running the yarn  114  over the outer surface  130  of a roller  134  and through the coating  126  of the Aloe Vera solution  118 . Impregnating the yarn  114  with the Aloe Vera solution  118 . Drying the impregnated yarn  122 .  
         [0041]    A variation of the method of softening yarn  114  includes the steps of: Filling a reservoir  138  with the Aloe Vera solution  118 . Placing part of the outer surface  130  of a roller  134  into the Aloe Vera solution  118  in the reservoir  138 . Revolving the roller  134  to apply a coating  126  of the Aloe Vera solution  118  on the outer surface  130  of a roller  134 . Driving the yarn  114  forward at a rate that promotes optimal yarn  114  impregnation. Replenishing constantly the coating  126  of the Aloe Vera solution  118  on the outer surface  130  of a roller  134 .  
         [0042]    Another variation of the method of softening yarn  114  includes the step of: Maintaining a constant amount of the Aloe Vera solution  118  in the reservoir  138  during the application procedure.  
         [0043]    Yet another variation of the method of softening yarn  114  includes the step of: Varying the propelling speed of the roller  134  to optimize the absorption rate of the Aloe Vera solution  118  into each type of yarn  114 .  
         [0044]    Yet a further variation of the method of softening yarn  114  includes the step of: Locating the method of softening textile yarn  114  as the last operation at the end of the continuous steam bulker machine resulting in a uniformly consistent application of the Aloe Vera solution  118 .  
         [0045]    A further variation of the method of softening yarn  114  includes the step of: Locating an Aloe Vera solution  118  filled feeder bottle  146  above the reservoir  138  to gravity feed and consistently maintain the Aloe Vera solution  118  level in the reservoir  138 .  
         [0046]    In a variation of the method of softening yarn  114 , the impregnated yarn  122  is dried at ambient air temperature.  
         [0047]    In another variation of the method of softening yarn  114 , the yarn  114  is made from acrylic, wool, or cotton fibers.  
         [0048]    In yet another variation of the method of softening yarn  114 , the yarn  114  is made from two plies, three plies, or four plies of twisted yarn fibers.