US4681801A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Durable melt-blown fibrous sheet material
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1986-08-22
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Granted: 1987-07-21
•
Expires: 2006-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A durable fibrous sheet material comprised of a melt-blown fiber web having a plurality of reinforcing fibers extending therethrough is provided. The reinforcing fibers are needled through the web of melt-blown fibers and are then bonded to fibers on the opposing faces of the layer of melt-blown fibers to hold the reinforcing fibers in position. Solid particles can be dispersed in the layer of melt-blown fibers. Such particles are preferably vapor-sorptive particles, e.g., activated carbon, so that the sheet material will sorb vapors passing therethrough. The sheet material is particularly useful as a component of a chemical protective garment.
Inventors
- 👤 Gilbert Eian
- 👤 Paul G. Cheney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:26
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; D04H1/56; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/903; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2929; Y10T428/30; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/608; Y10T442/614; Y10T442/621; Y10T442/637; Y10T442/641; Y10T442/659; Y10T442/668
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A durable melt-blown fibrous sheet material comprising: (a) a coherent layer of melt-blown organic polymeric fibers, and (b) a plurality of organic polymeric reinforcing fibers extending transversely through the layer of melt-blown fibers and being held in that position by bonding to fibers on the opposing faces of the layer of melt-blown fibers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A durable melt-blown fibrous sheet material comprising: (a) a coherent layer of melt-blown organic polymeric fibers, and (b) a plurality of organic polymeric reinforcing fibers extending transversely through the layer of melt-blown fibers and being held in that position by bonding to fibers on the opposing faces of the layer of melt-blown fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sheet material of claim 1 wherein said sheet material exhibits an insulation value of less than about 0.4 clo.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sheet material of claim 1 in which the reinforcing fibers are bicomponent fibers comprising a heat-fusible component and another component that is infusible at the fusing temperature of the first component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sheet material of claim 3 in which the heat-fusible component fuses at a temperature of less than 150° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sheet material of claim 1 in which the melt-blown fibers have diameters averaging less than 10 micrometers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sheet material of claim 1 in which the reinforcing fibers are needled into the layer of melt-blown fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sheet material of claim 6 in which reinforcing fibers are needled into the layer of melt-blown fibers from each side of the layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sheet material of claim 7 wherein the web is heated to thermally bond the reinforcing fibers after the fibers are needled into the layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sheet material of claim 1 wherein solid particles are uniformly dispersed in the layer of melt-blown fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sheet material of claim 9 wherein the solid particles are vapor-sorptive particles and comprise at least about 20 volume percent of the layer of melt-blown fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A sheet material of claim 9 wherein the particles comprise activated carbon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
A sheet material of claim 9 wherein the particles comprise alumina.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A sheet material of claim 9 wherein the particles comprise porous polymeric sorbents.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
A sheet material of claim 9 wherein the particles comprise hopcalite.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sheet material of claim 9 wherein the particles comprise a chemical reagent or a catalytic agent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sheet material of claim 9 wherein the particles are dispersed in the web in an amount of at least 50 gm/m 2 of the web and in an amount that comprises at least about 50 volume percent of the web.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sheet material of claim 1 having an air permeability of at least 1 ft 3 /min/ft 2 .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sheet material of claim 1 wherein the plurality of reinforcing fibers comprises an air-laid web.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sheet material of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing fibers have a denier less than about 3.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sheet material of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing fibers are staple fibers having a length of from about 25 mm to about 50 mm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sheet material of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing fiber comprises a 1.5 denier bicomponent fiber comprising polyethylene and polypropylene components and having a staple length of about 38 mm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sheet material of claim 1 having a peel strength of at least 500 gm/5 cm width.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sheet material of claim 1 having a tensile strength of at least 250 gm/cm width.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sheet material of claim 1 having a dynamic carbon tetrachloride capacity of at least 1.8 gm/cm 2 .
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A garment having as one component a sheet material which comprises a permeable support fabric attached to at least one face of the sheet material of claim 1.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A garment of claim 25 wherein said sheet material has a thickness of less than about 2 millimeters.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A garment of claim 25 further comprising a second support fabric attached to an opposing face of said sheet material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
116 words
A sheet material comprising a fibrous web that exhibits an insulation value of less than about 0.4 clo and comprises: (a) a coherent layer of melt-blown organic polymeric microfibers that average less than 10 micrometers in diameter, and (b) webs of organic polymeric bicomponent reinforcing fibers averaging less than about 3 denier disposed on opposite faces of the layer of melt-blown fibers and thermally bonded together at points of intersection by fusion of one component of the bicomponent fibers, at least some of the reinforcing fibers extending transversely through the layer of melt-blown fibers and being held in that position by thermal bonding to reinforcing fibers on the opposing faces of the layer of melt-blown fibers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
116 words
A sheet material comprising a fibrous web that exhibits an insulation value of less than about 0.4 clo and comprises: (a) a coherent layer of melt-blown organic polymeric microfibers that average less than 10 micrometers in diameter, and (b) webs of organic polymeric bicomponent reinforcing fibers averaging less than about 3 denier disposed on opposite faces of the layer of melt-blown fibers and thermally bonded together at points of intersection by fusion of one component of the bicomponent fibers, at least some of the reinforcing fibers extending transversely through the layer of melt-blown fibers and being held in that position by thermal bonding to reinforcing fibers on the opposing faces of the layer of melt-blown fibers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
A sheet material of claim 28 in which the melt-blown fibers comprise polypropylene.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sheet material of claim 28 in which the reinforcing fibers are bicomponent fibers comprising polyethylene and polypropylene.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
A sheet material of claim 30 in which the melt-blown fibers comprise polypropylene.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sheet material of claim 28 in which reinforcing fibers are needled into the layer of melt-blown fibers from each side of the layer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sheet material of claim 28 in which vapor-sorptive fibers are uniformly dispersed in the layer of melt-blown fibers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sheet material of claim 33 wherein said sheet material has a thickness of less than about 2 millimeters.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
A garment having as one component a sheet material which comprises a permeable support fabric attached to the sheet material of claim 28.
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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) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-01-19 | 1991-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-07-20 | 1995-01-19 | 1995-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-07-20 | 1999-01-19 | 1999-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |