Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A microapertured polymeric web exhibiting a soft and silky tactile impression on at ieast one surface thereof, said silky feeling surface of said web exhibiting a pattern of discrete surface aberrations which are not individually discernible to the normal naked eye when the perpendicular distance between said web and the observer's eye is at least 30 cm each of said surface aberrations having its amplitude oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface in which said surface aberration originates, the end of each of said surface aberrations further including at least one microaperture substantially coincidental with its point of maximum amplitude, said microaperture creating a discontinuity which reduces the resistance to compression and shear of each of said surface aberrations as well as the degree of contact with the observer's skin, whereby the tactile impression of said web is perceived as generally soft and silky.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A microapertured polymeric web exhibiting a soft and silky tactile impression on at ieast one surface thereof, said silky feeling surface of said web exhibiting a pattern of discrete surface aberrations which are not individually discernible to the normal naked eye when the perpendicular distance between said web and the observer's eye is at least 30 cm each of said surface aberrations having its amplitude oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface in which said surface aberration originates, the end of each of said surface aberrations further including at least one microaperture substantially coincidental with its point of maximum amplitude, said microaperture creating a discontinuity which reduces the resistance to compression and shear of each of said surface aberrations as well as the degree of contact with the observer's skin, whereby the tactile impression of said web is perceived as generally soft and silky.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A web according to Claim 1, wherein the density of said pattern of microapertured surface aberrations is at least 558 microapertured surface aberrations per square centimetre.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A web according to either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the center-to-center distance between any given microapertured surface aberration and any adjacent microapertured surface aberration does not exceed 0.635 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A web according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein said pattern of microapertured surface aberrations comprises a regulated pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A web according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein said microapertured surface aberrations correspond to the interstices formed between the intersecting filaments of a woven wire mesh support structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A web according to Claim 5, wherein said woven wire mesh support structure exhibits a mesh count of at least 23.5 preferably at least 31.5 filaments per lineal cm by 23.5 preferably at least 31.5 per lineal cm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A web according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the microapertures in said surface aberrations exhibit a multiplicity of thinned petals about their periphery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A web according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein there are substantially no planar areas large enough to inscribe a 0.1 mm diameter circle on the surface of said web exhibiting said microapertured surface aberrations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A web according to any one of claims 1-8, said web further exhibiting a macroscopically expanded, three-dimensional pattern of macroscopic cross-section surface aberrations superposed thereon, said macroscopic cross-section surface aberrations being oppositely oriented from said microapertured surface aberrations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A web according to Claim 9, wherein the end of each of said macroscopic cross-section surface aberrations includes a macroscopic cross-section aperture substantially coincidental with the point of maximum amplitude of said macroscopic cross-section surface aberration.