D04H - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres;
Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length;
Non-woven fabrics formed of mixtures of relatively-short fibres and yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length;
Non-woven pile fabrics;
Other non-woven fabrics;
Felting apparatus;
Needling machines.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
Some of the non-woven fabrics can also be regarded as "layered products" within the meaning of subclass B32B, and further classification in that subclass should be considered in accordance with the notes thereto.
In cases where the making of non-woven fabrics involves the use of particular chemical compounds or compositions, e.g. for treating or bonding fibres, filaments, or yarns, further classification in other appropriate subclasses should also be considered.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric | B32B |
Filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids | B01D 39/00 |
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Formation of filaments, threads, or the like | D01D 5/00 |
Carding | D01G |
Lap-forming devices | D01G 25/00 |
Curling or crimpling of fibres, filaments, or yarns | D02G 1/00 |
Weaving | D03 |
Knitting | D04B |
Braiding | D04C |
Net-making | D04G |
Sewing | D05B |
Tufting | D05C |
Finishing non-woven fabrics | D06 |
Paper web-making by wet methods | D21F, D21H |
Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
| Non-woven fabrics | Fabrics formed wholly or partly of textile material by processes comprising operations other than the weaving, knitting, braiding, lacing, or knotting of yarns, threads, or filaments for which provision is made in other subclasses of section D. This expression includes felts, cotton-wool and wadding. |
| Composite fibres | Conjugated fibres that are manufactured by composite spinning of two or more kinds of immiscible resins, of which the resins form such phase structures as side-by-side, sheath-core, sea-island, wood grain pattern, multi-layered, radial or mosaic in the cross section surface vertical to the fibre axis. |
| Mixed fibres | Mixture of two or more kinds of fibres made of different substances. |
| Fleece | Fabric composed of a foundation layer with a thick, soft nap or pile, in which any type of fabric, including a knit or a woven fabric, can be incorporated as a foundation layer. A fleece should be treated as a single layer, not as a layered product. |
| Pile | Upright loop or nap raised from the surface of fabrics. |