Claims
- 1. A method of recycling carpet tiles in a plurality of division areas, in each of which a plurality of carpet tiles are laid, the method comprising the steps of:
removing carpet tiles in a first division area, which are to be first reproduced; laying auxiliary carpet tiles on the first division area from which the carpet tiles have been removed; reproducing the removed carpet tiles; removing carpet tiles in a second division area, which are to be subsequently reproduced; and successively laying the first removed and reproduced carpet tiles on the second division area from which the carpet tiles were subsequently removed.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said reproducing step includes:
a washing step of jetting a fluid onto the removed carpet tiles, thereby to perform cleaning for cleaning dirt and stain on the carpet tiles and to perform retexturing, thus forming cleaned and treated carpet tiles; and a recoloring step of recoloring the cleaned and treated carpet tiles with such a design or a color, or both, as to prevent or obscure non-uniformity in color, in accordance with surface conditions of the recolored carpet tiles.
- 3. A method of reproducing/recoloring carpet tiles, characterized by comprising:
a recovery step of recovering carpet tiles in use; a first choosing step of choosing the recovered carpet tiles according to the condition of use; a washing/reproducing step of performing cleaning for cleaning stain on the chosen carpet tiles, and performing retexturing, thus forming reproduced carpet tiles; a selection step of selecting such a design or color, or both, as to prevent or obscure non-uniformity of stain and color, according to the conditions of surfaces of the chosen reproduced carpet tiles; and, a recoloring step of recoloring the reproduced carpet tiles using a coloring machine, with the selected design or color or both.
- 4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a step of decoloring the carpet tiles between the washing step and the recoloring step.
- 5. The method according to claim 2, 3, or 4, further comprising, between the washing step and the recoloring step, a step of coating or treating the reproduced carpet tiles with at least one of a chemical agent or a coloring agent diffusion with prevention effect, which enhances clearness of surfaces of the reproduced carpet tiles.
- 6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising a surface treatment step of treating surfaces of the reproduced carpet tiles with at least one of a stainproof agent for preventing the reproduced carpet tiles from being stained, an antistatic agent for suppressing static electricity and a germicidal-effect agent having a germicidal effect, the surface treatment step being carried out in the recoloring step or one of steps following the recoloroing step.
- 7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising a bending step of bending curved reproduced carpet tiles to the original shape, in the washing step or any of the steps following the washing step.
- 8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, further comprising a cutting or trimming step of cutting out or trimming edge portions of the reproduced tiles, where piles have fallen, which are left after completion of the above steps.
- 9. A multi-year or multi-cycle renewable carpet system, comprising the steps of:
installing new carpet tile at a location, removing at least a portion of the carpet tile from the location after a period of use, renewing the removed carpet tile, reinstalling the renewed carpet tile at the location, removing at least a portion of the reinstalled renewed carpet tile from the location after another period of use, renewing the removed reinstalled previously renewed carpet tile, and reinstalling the twice renewed carpet tile.
- 10. The system as recited in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
removing at least a portion of the reinstalled twice renewed carpet tile after another period of use, renewing the removed previously twice renewed carpet tile, and reinstalling the thrice-renewed carpet tile.
- 11. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein at least about 75% of the carpet tile is renewed and reinstalled at least once.
- 12. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the carpet tiles are at least one of 40″×40″, 36″×36″, 20″×20″, 18″×18″, 1 m×1 m, and 50 cm×50 cm.
- 13. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said renewing step includes a washing/reproducing step and a recoloring step.
- 14. A carpet renewal and charitable donation system, comprising the steps of:
having at least a first company or organization agree to donate their used carpet tiles to a charity, having a second company or service remove the used carpet tiles, renewing the removed tiles and installing the renewed carpet tiles at the charity or at a location selected by the charity.
- 15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said renewing step includes the steps of washing and recoloring.
- 16. A reproduced tile produced by the method of claim 1.
- 17. A reproduced/recolored carpet tile produced by the method of claim 3.
- 18. A method of accurately cutting a large carpet tile into four smaller carpet tiles, comprising the steps of:
cutting at least one carpet tile along its midline to form two carpet tile halves using an accurate cutter apparatus having a cut accuracy of at least about 1 mm, and then cutting each of the carpet tile halves in half to form four carpet tile quarters using the accurate cutter apparatus.
- 19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said accurate cutter apparatus is a mint cutter machine having a cut accuracy of at least 0.50 mm.
- 20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the cut accuracy is at least 0.005 mm.
- 21. A carpet tile quarter produced by the method of claim 18.
- 22. In a method of installing carpet tile, the improvement comprising:
cutting at least one large carpet tile into smaller carpet tiles with exacting precision using a mint cutter machine.
- 23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the mint cutter machine can cut a plurality of stacked carpet tiles.
- 24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the large tile is cut in half.
- 25. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the large carpet tile is cut into quarters.
- 26. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the large carpet tile is patterned, printed, dyed, or the like prior to being cut.
- 27. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the large carpet tile is cut and then printed, patterned, dyed, or the like.
- 28. An extended life carpet tile constructed in a manner providing for at least one renewal cycle of the carpet tile following use thereof, and renewed by cleaning, drying, and recoloring or patterning.
- 29. A renewed carpet tile having similar appearance to new carpet tile and having a modern pattern, design, and/or color thereon.
- 30. A method of renewing used extended life carpet capable of being renewed at least once, comprising the steps of:
cleaning the used extended life carpet, treating the cleaned used extended life carpet, and recoloring the cleaned and treated extended life carpet in a manner providing for at least one of a new or modern color, design, or pattern, which gives it a new carpet look.
- 31. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising at least one of the steps of:
adding cushion, adding backing, adding anti-microbial agents, adding anti-fungal agents, and combinations thereof.
- 32. Renewed by the method of claim 30.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/223,450, filed on Aug. 4, 2000, hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60223450 |
Aug 2000 |
US |