Patent US4112153A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4112153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of controlling water repellency in non-woven fabric
Assignee: Johnson and Johnson
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Filing: 1977-04-04
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Granted: 1978-09-05
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Expires: 1997-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for increasing the water-repellency of a normally water-wettable, bonded, non-woven fabric bearing a surfactant selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants and anionic surfactants. The method comprises heating a selected region of the fabric to an elevated temperature at which the surfactant is unstable, and maintaining the region at the elevated temperature for a time period sufficient to denature the surfactant without damaging the fabric.
Inventors
- 👤 George A. M. Butterworth
- 👤 Frank Fillwalk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/00987; A61F13/00991
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of increasing water-repellency of a selected region of a normally water-wettable, bonded, non-woven fabric bearing a heat-unstable surfactant selected from the group consisting of a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant and mixtures thereof which comprises heating the selected region of the fabric to an elevated temperature at which the surfactant is unstable, and maintaining the selected fabric region at the elevated temperature for a time period sufficient to denature the surfactant thereon without damaging the fabric.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of increasing water-repellency of a selected region of a normally water-wettable, bonded, non-woven fabric bearing a heat-unstable surfactant selected from the group consisting of a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant and mixtures thereof which comprises heating the selected region of the fabric to an elevated temperature at which the surfactant is unstable, and maintaining the selected fabric region at the elevated temperature for a time period sufficient to denature the surfactant thereon without damaging the fabric.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant is a water-soluble salt of an ester of an alkane dicarboxy sulfonate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the non-ionic surfactant is polyoxyalkylene derivative of a partial long chain fatty acid ester.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a sodium salt of dioctylsulfosuccinate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a polyoxyalkylene derivative of sorbitan monolaurate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the selected region of the surfactant-bearing fabric is heated to a temperature of about 240° F. to about 600° F.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the selected region is maintained at said elevated temperature for about 10 to about 100 seconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the selected region is maintained at said elevated temperature for about 20 to about 60 seconds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the selected region of the surfactant-bearing fabric is heated to an elevated temperature in the range of about 280° F. to about 400° F.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the selected region is maintained at said elevated temperature for about 10 to about 100 seconds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the selected region is maintained at said elevated temperature for about 20 to about 60 seconds.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of preparing a bonded, non-woven fabric having a controlled degree of wettability comprising; forming a web of randomly laid dry fibers, impregnating the web with a liquid binder composition which includes a heat-unstable surfactant which is a member of the group consisting of a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof, drying the web to form a water-wettable, bonded, non-woven fabric, heating a selected region of the fabric to an elevated temperature at which the surfactant is unstable, and maintaining the fabric at the elevated temperature for a time period sufficient to denature the surfactant without damaging the fabric, thereby increasing the water repellency of the selected fabric region.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of preparing a bonded, non-woven fabric having a controlled degree of wettability comprising; forming a web of randomly laid dry fibers, impregnating the web with a liquid binder composition which includes a heat-unstable surfactant which is a member of the group consisting of a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof, drying the web to form a water-wettable, bonded, non-woven fabric, heating a selected region of the fabric to an elevated temperature at which the surfactant is unstable, and maintaining the fabric at the elevated temperature for a time period sufficient to denature the surfactant without damaging the fabric, thereby increasing the water repellency of the selected fabric region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 13 wherein at least 75 percent of the fibers are less than 1/4 inch in length.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 13 wherein from about 75 percent to about 98 percent of the fibers are less than 1/4 inch in length.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the binder composition has a viscosity of less than about 5 centipoises.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of an ester of an alkane dicarboxysulfonate and a non-ionic polyoxyalkylene derivative of a partial long chain fatty acid ester.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 13 wherein at least one portion of the surfactant-bearing fabric is placed in a hot environment maintained at a temperature of about 240° F. to about 600° F. for a time of about 10 to about 100 seconds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 wherein at least one portion of the surfactant-bearing fabric is placed in a hot environment maintained at a temperature of about 280° F. to about 400° F.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said heat-unstable surfactant is contacted with an oxidizing agent before said selected region of the fabric is heated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said heat-unstable surfactant is a non-ionic polyoxyalkylene derivative of a partial long chain fatty acid ester and wherein the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-04 | 1982-03-06 | 1982-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-04 | 1986-03-06 | 1986-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-04 | 1990-03-06 | 1990-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |