Method for Recycling Textile Material

Abstract

A method for recycling fiber from textile material by: forming textile material from fibers; distributing the textile material to a closed group of users wherein the users comprise a common attribute to define homogeneous textile material; collecting the homogeneous textile material wherein the homogeneous textile material comprises used fibers; recovering the used fibers from the homogeneous textile material to generate recovered fibers; and reforming the textile material using the recovered fibers. An article of clothing stitched with sacrificial sewing thread that is capable of being eliminated from the clothing is also disclosed.

1 . A method for recycling fiber from textile material comprising:
 forming textile material from fibers;   distributing said textile material in a closed-loop to a closed group of users wherein said users comprise a common attribute to generate sorted homogenous textile material;   collecting said homogeneous textile material wherein said homogeneous textile material comprises used fibers;   recovering said used fibers from said homogeneous textile material to generate recovered fibers comprising said used fibers; and   reforming said homogeneous textile material using said recovered fibers.   
     
     
         2 . The method for recycling fiber from textile material of  claim 1 , wherein said textile material is selected from the group consisting of yarns, sewing threads, fabrics, nonwoven materials, products manufactured from fibrous materials, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method for recycling fiber from textile material of  claim 2 , further comprising removing non-fabric elements from said homogeneous textile material prior to said recovering. 
     
     
         4 . The method for recycling fiber from textile material of  claim 3 , wherein said removing of non-fabric elements comprises eliminating a sacrificial sewing thread configured for attaching at least one of non-fabric elements and dissimilar discrete panels to said homogenous textile material. 
     
     
         5 . The method for recycling fiber from textile material of  claim 4 , wherein said eliminating of said sacrificial sewing thread is selected from the group consisting of dissolution, melting, sublimation, photo-degradation, tandem catalytic cross alkane metathesis, biodegradation and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method for recycling fiber from textile material of  claim 5 , wherein said eliminating said sacrificial sewing thread includes treatment by a medium. 
     
     
         7 . The method for recycling fiber from textile material of  claim 6 , wherein said medium is selected from a gas, a liquid and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method for recycling fiber from textile material of  claim 6 , wherein said medium is selected from a static medium, a flowing medium, an active medium, a passive medium and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method for recycling fiber from textile material of  claim 1 , wherein the closed group of users is selected from the group consisting of employees of the same company, members of the same sports league, members of the same sports team, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . An article of recycled clothing prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 forming textile material from fibers;   distributing said textile material in a closed-loop to a closed group of users wherein said users comprise a common attribute to generate sorted homogenous textile material;   collecting said homogeneous textile material wherein said homogeneous textile material comprises used fibers;   recovering said used fibers from said homogeneous textile material to generate recovered fibers comprising said used fibers; and   reforming said homogeneous textile material using said recovered fibers.   
     
     
         11 . The article of clothing of  claim 10 , further comprising sacrificial sewing thread. 
     
     
         12 . The article of clothing of  claim 11 , wherein said sacrificial sewing thread is capable of being eliminated from said clothing by a method selected from the group consisting of dissolution, melting, sublimation, photo-degradation, tandem catalytic cross alkane metathesis, biodegradation and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . An article of clothing of  claim 11 , wherein said sacrificial sewing thread attaches non-fabric elements to the article of clothing. 
     
     
         14 . An article of clothing of  claim 11 , wherein said sacrificial sewing thread attaches dissimilar discrete panels of homogenous textile material to each other. 
     
     
         15 . An article of clothing of  claim 11 , wherein said sacrificial sewing thread comprises polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic, polyester, cotton, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . An article of clothing of  claim 15 , wherein said polyvinyl alcohol is stabilized. 
     
     
         17 . An article of clothing of  claim 15 , wherein said acrylic comprises a fluid configured to lower the dissolving point of the sacrificial sewing thread below the dissolving point of the homogeneous textile material. 
     
     
         18 . An article of clothing of  claim 17 , wherein the dissolving point of the sacrificial thread is in the range of about 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         19 . An article of clothing of  claim 15 , wherein said polyester comprises modified polymers configured to raise the melting point of the sacrificial sewing thread above the melting point of the homogeneous textile material. 
     
     
         20 . An article of clothing of  claim 19 , wherein the melting point of the sacrificial thread is in the range of about 160 to 395 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)