US3922329A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of making network structures
Assignee: Perpetual Savings Bank FSB
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Filing: 1973-01-16
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1993-01-16
Abstract
Abstract Methods of making network structures include forming on one side of a sheet of thermoplastic polymer a plurality of parallel continuous main ribs and forming on the other side of the sheet in a different direction a plurality of parallel discontinuous tie ribs. The tie ribs are discontinuous in the areas where they cross over the main ribs to substantially increased thickness at the cross-over points of the main ribs and tie ribs. The ribbed sheet thus formed is drawn in either one direction or in two preferably perpendicular directions to open the sheet into a network structure and to orient the main ribs and preferably also to orient the tie ribs.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W Kim
- 👤 Chia-Seng Liu
- 👤 Richard Macduff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:15
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B38/00; B32B38/06; B29; B29D; B29D28/00; B29D28/005; D; D01; D01D; D01D5/00; D01D5/42; D01D5/423; B29C; B29C59/00; B29C59/02; B29C59/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/47; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/108
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A METHOD OF MAKING A NETWORK STRUCTURE COMPRISING: FORMING ON ONE SIDE OF A SHEET OF THERMOPLASTIC POLYMER MATERIAL A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL CONTINUOUS MAIN RIBS INTERCONNECTED BY WEBS OF REDUCED THICKNESS EXTENDING IN A FIRST DIRECTION; FORMING ON THE OTHER SAID SHEET A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL ROWS OF DISCONTINUOUS TIE RIBS EXTENDING IN A SECOND DIRECTION DIFFERENT THAN FIRST DIRECTION, SAID TIE RIBS BEING FORMED OPPOSITE THE WEBS INTERCONNECTING SAID MAIN RIBS AND HAVING NO SUBSTANTIAL PORTION THEREOF CROSSING OVER A MAIN RIB; AND
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A METHOD OF MAKING A NETWORK STRUCTURE COMPRISING: FORMING ON ONE SIDE OF A SHEET OF THERMOPLASTIC POLYMER MATERIAL A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL CONTINUOUS MAIN RIBS INTERCONNECTED BY WEBS OF REDUCED THICKNESS EXTENDING IN A FIRST DIRECTION; FORMING ON THE OTHER SAID SHEET A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL ROWS OF DISCONTINUOUS TIE RIBS EXTENDING IN A SECOND DIRECTION DIFFERENT THAN FIRST DIRECTION, SAID TIE RIBS BEING FORMED OPPOSITE THE WEBS INTERCONNECTING SAID MAIN RIBS AND HAVING NO SUBSTANTIAL PORTION THEREOF CROSSING OVER A MAIN RIB; AND
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheet is drawn in two different directions to orient both said main filaments and said tie filaments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sheet is drawn in both said first and second directions to uniaxially orient said main and tie filaments
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sheet is drawn in said first direction at least about 1.5X and wherein said sheet is drawn in said second direction at least about 1.5X.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main ribs and said tie ribs are formed substantially perpendicular to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said main ribs are formed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sheet and said tie ribs are formed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said main ribs are formed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sheet and said tie ribs are formed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main ribs are formed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main ribs are formed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 9 wherein said tie ribs are formed subStantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sheet is first drawn at least 1.5X in a direction between 15*and 90*to said first direction and wherein said sheet is subsequently drawn at least about 1.5X in a direction perpendicular to said first draw direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sheet is first drawn at least 1.5 times its width in the cross-machine direction and wherein said sheet is subsequently drawn in the machine direction at least 1.5 times its length.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sheet is first drawn at least 1.5 times its length in the machine direction and wherein said sheet is subsequently drawn at least 1.5 times it width in the cross-machine direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 9 wherein said main ribs are formed at an angle of 75*or less to the longitudinal axis of said sheet and wherein said sheet is first drawn transverse to the longitudinal axis of said sheet at least 1.5 times and wherein said sheet is subsequently drawn in the machine direction at least 1.5 times.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 including separating said network structure into a plurality of longitudinal strips each having two or more main filaments therein interconnected by tie filaments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 including breaking the tie filaments interconnecting the main filaments of said network structure to form a plurality of individual main filaments, each having portions of tie filaments protruding therefrom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 16 including cutting said individual main filaments into staple length fibers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 15 including fibrillating said strips to break at least some of said tie filaments, and subsequently forming one or more of said fibrillated strips into a multi-filament yarn.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional area of said main ribs to said tie ribs is at least 1.5:1, and the ratio of the height of the main ribs to the thickness of the webs between the main ribs is at least 3:1.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of making a network structure comprising: providing a first embossing roll having a plurality of parallel continuous main grooves formed therein in one direction; providing a second embossing roll positioned opposite said first roll and having a plurality of continuous parallel tie grooves formed therein in a second direction different than said first direction; extruding a sheet of thermoplastic polymer and advancing it while hot into the nip of said first and second embossing rolls; controlling the embossing of said sheet to form a plurality of parallel main ribs interconnected by webs of reduced thickness on one side of said sheet in said first direction and a plurality of discontinuous tie ribs on the other side of said sheet in said second direction; and drawing said sheet in at least one direction to separate the main ribs into continuous main filaments and to separate the tie ribs into tie filaments thereby opening the sheet into a uniform network structure, and to substantially uniformly and continuously orient the main filaments.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of making a network structure comprising: providing a first embossing roll having a plurality of parallel continuous main grooves formed therein in one direction; providing a second embossing roll positioned opposite said first roll and having a plurality of continuous parallel tie grooves formed therein in a second direction different than said first direction; extruding a sheet of thermoplastic polymer and advancing it while hot into the nip of said first and second embossing rolls; controlling the embossing of said sheet to form a plurality of parallel main ribs interconnected by webs of reduced thickness on one side of said sheet in said first direction and a plurality of discontinuous tie ribs on the other side of said sheet in said second direction; and drawing said sheet in at least one direction to separate the main ribs into continuous main filaments and to separate the tie ribs into tie filaments thereby opening the sheet into a uniform network structure, and to substantially uniformly and continuously orient the main filaments.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 20 wherein said sheet is drawn in both said first and second directions to substantially uniformly and continuously orient said main filaments along their longitudinal axes and to uniaxially orient said tie filaments.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 20 wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional area of said main ribs to said tie ribs is at least 1.5:1 and the ratio of the height of the main ribs to the thickness of the webs between the ribs is at least 3:1.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 20 wherein said sheet of plastic material is advanced through the nip of said first and second embossing rolls and is advanced around one of said embossing rolls so that it is in contact therewith at least for an angle of 90* .
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first embossing roll rotates at a speed different than said second embossing roll to cause incipient cracking of the embossed sheet in the thin areas thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of making a network structure as set forth in claim 24 wherein the speed of said first embossing roll varies from within approximately 5-50 percent of the speed of said second embossing roll.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 including separating said network structure into a plurality of longitudinal strips each having two or more main filaments interconnected by tie filaments.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 including breaking the tie filaments interconnecting the main filaments of said network structure to form a plurality of individual main filaments, each having portions of tie filaments protruding therefrom.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 26 including weaving the tapes into a woven fabric.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 26 including knitting the tapes into a knit fabric.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |