Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A method for forming a bulky, flexible, stretchable, nonwoven fibrous sheet, said method comprising the steps of: A. dry-forming a low integrity, fibrous web having a basis weight of from about 5 to about 100 lbs. per ream of 2,880 square feet; B. applying a temporary binder uniformly and continuously over the planar extent of a surface of the web; C. setting the binder to form brittle, fragile, interfiber bonds which establish sufficient web integrity for subsequent processing, said fragile bonds being brittle enough to be broken during a subsequent creping operation; thereafter D. applying a permanent binder to a surface of the web which is stabilized by said temporary binder, said permanent binder being applied in a solids weight percent of from about 5 to about 30, based on the dry weight of the temporarily bonded web, said permanent binder being applied in a spaced-apart pattern covering from about 5 to about 60% of the surface area of the web and extending at least 10% through the thickness of said web; E. adhering to a creping surface, by use of the permanent binder, the areas of a surface of the web in which the permanent binder has been applied; F. creping said web from the creping surface for breaking temporary brittle bonds in said web to enhance the bulk, flexibility and extensibility characteristics of said web; and G. setting said permanent binder to complete the formation of the nonwoven sheet which is stabilized by said permanent binder.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
248 words
A method for forming a bulky, flexible, stretchable, nonwoven fibrous sheet, said method comprising the steps of: A. dry-forming a low integrity, fibrous web having a basis weight of from about 5 to about 100 lbs. per ream of 2,880 square feet; B. applying a temporary binder uniformly and continuously over the planar extent of a surface of the web; C. setting the binder to form brittle, fragile, interfiber bonds which establish sufficient web integrity for subsequent processing, said fragile bonds being brittle enough to be broken during a subsequent creping operation; thereafter D. applying a permanent binder to a surface of the web which is stabilized by said temporary binder, said permanent binder being applied in a solids weight percent of from about 5 to about 30, based on the dry weight of the temporarily bonded web, said permanent binder being applied in a spaced-apart pattern covering from about 5 to about 60% of the surface area of the web and extending at least 10% through the thickness of said web; E. adhering to a creping surface, by use of the permanent binder, the areas of a surface of the web in which the permanent binder has been applied; F. creping said web from the creping surface for breaking temporary brittle bonds in said web to enhance the bulk, flexibility and extensibility characteristics of said web; and G. setting said permanent binder to complete the formation of the nonwoven sheet which is stabilized by said permanent binder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said permanent binder is applied to the surface of said web in a spaced-apart pattern covering no more than about 35% of the area of said surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 2, including applying the permanent binder in an interconnected, reticular pattern to define a discontinuous, intermittent pattern of discrete areas that are free of permanent binder, said discrete areas including temporary brittle bonds therein prior to the creping step said creping step foreshortening the machine dimension of said web and breaking the brittle bonds in the discrete areas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 2, including forming said sheet with a basis weight of from about 5 lbs. to about 30 lbs. per ream of 2,880 square feet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 4, including forming the web of over 50% stable-length fibers having a length in excess of 1/4 inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 5, including forming the web from 100% stable fibers having a length in excess of 1/4 inch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 6, including forming said web with the fibers predominantly aligned substantially in the machine-direction of web formation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the creping of the web establishes a crepe ratio in the sheet of from about 5 to about 50% in the machine direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein the creping of the web establishes a crepe ratio in the sheet of from about 10 to about 20%, in the machine direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said web is formed in a dry condition by conveying substantially individualized fibers in a gaseous medium onto a foraminous surface upon which the fibers are deposited in web form, and through which the gaseous medium passes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein said web is formed in a dry condition from over 50% short cellulosic fibers of a papermaking length less than 1/4 inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein said web is formed ina dry condition from a blend of substantially individualized fibers of a papermaking length less than 1/4 inch and substantially individualized staple-length fibers in excess of 1/4 inch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven sheet made according to the method of claim 1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven sheet made according to the method of claim 2.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven sheet made according to the method of claim 3.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven sheet made according to the method of claim 4.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven sheet made according to the method of claim 5.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven sheet made according to the method of claim 6.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven sheet made according to the method of claim 7.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven sheet made according to the method of claim 8.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven sheet made according to the method of claim 9.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven sheet made according to the method of claim 11.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary binder is applied so that it completely penetrates through the thickness of the web.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 23, including forming said sheet with a basis weight of from about 5 lbs. to about 30 lbs. per ream of 2,880 square feet.