Abstract A longitudinally stretchable, nonwoven material and the method of making same are disclosed. A plurality of spaced-apart, substantially parallel warp threads are drawn from their respective supply cans and over an adhesive applicator. The warp threads are laterally oscillated and deposited on the surface of a carrier sheet moving into a thread cross-laying apparatus to produce a generally sinusoidal pattern of threads on the carrier sheet. A plurality of spaced-apart, substantially parallel cross threads are then laid generally straight across the carrier sheet in a transverse direction as it moves through the cross layer and the cross threads are adhesively bonded to the warp threads where they cross one another. Provision is also made for introducing and laminating top and bottom layers of sheet material to the longitudinally stretchable, nonwoven material.
A nonwoven material as defined in claim 1 wherein said warp threads have an overall denier in the range of between about 15 and 150 and a twist ratio of not more than 6 turns per inch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
A nonwoven material as defined in claim 1 wherein said cross threads have an overall denier in the range of between about 30 and 100 and a twist ratio of not more than 2 turns per inch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A nonwoven material as defined in claim 1 wherein said top and bottom layers are each formed of at least one ply of creped cellulosic wadding having a residual stretch ratio of between about 1.2 and 1.5.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A nonwoven material as defined in claim 4 wherein said plies of wadding each have a basis weight before creping of between about 4 and 12 pounds per 2,880-square-foot ream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A nonwoven material as defined in claim 1 wherein said warp threads are spaced apart between 2 and 12 threads per inch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A nonwoven material as defined in claim 1 wherein said cross threads are spaced apart between 2 and 12 threads per inch.