Patent ID: 7146693

Claim:
A method of shearing selected portions of carpet pile extending from backing of pile fabric to cut at least one levels of pile height relative to uncut pile, comprising the steps of: a. providing a shearing apparatus positioned for shearing tips of carpet pile extending from a pile fabric tufted through a backing with at least one blade, the greater a distance that said tips extend from said backing, the greater an amount is sheared; b. feeding said pile fabric to said shearing apparatus; c. while shearing said pile fabric, selectively elevating portions of the pile fabric with an embossed surface positioned opposite the pile fabric from the shearing apparatus; and d. shearing said elevated pile portions with said shearing apparatus, such that elevated pile is cut to at least one different height shorter than unelevated pile, said unelevated pile containing loops which remain uncut and extend an elevation above the cut pile.