US4753834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nonwoven web with improved softness
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1987-04-02
•
Granted: 1988-06-28
•
Expires: 2007-04-02
Abstract
Abstract Nonwoven webs are disclosed which comprise monofilaments or fibers of a thermoplastic material. Basically, the improvement comprises the use of monofilaments or fibers which have a bilobal shaped cross-section. Nonwoven webs made according to this invention are particularly suited to be used for liners for disposable diapers as well as wraps for catamenial devices. Methods are also disclosed for producing such nonwoven webs.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph V. Braun
- 👤 Jon R. Butt
- 👤 Henry L. Griesbach, III
- 👤 Robert J. Phelan
- 👤 Edward H. Ruscher
- 👤 Lin-Sun Woon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:58
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H3/00; D04H3/08; D04H3/16; A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/51; A61F13/15577; A61F2013/15821; A61F2013/51002; A61F2013/51009; A61F2013/51038; A61F2013/51042; A61F13/53; A61F2013/530131; A61F2013/530138; A61F2013/530153; A61F2013/53016; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/75; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/237; Y10T428/239; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24826; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/249991; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/268; Y10T428/269; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2973; Y10T428/298; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/637; Y10T442/69
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
20 words
A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of fibers or monofilaments of a thermoplastic material, said monofilaments having a bilobal cross-section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of fibers or monofilaments of a thermoplastic material, said monofilaments having a bilobal cross-section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic material is a polyolefin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven web of claim 2 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven web of claim 2 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nonwoven web of claim 2 wherein said polyolefin is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nonwoven web of claim 2 wherein said monofilaments or fibers are wettable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nonwoven web of claim 1 wherein said monofilaments or fibers are wettable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of substantially identically prepared continuous and substantially randomly deposited monofilaments of a thermoplastic polymer, said filaments having a bilobal cross-section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A nonwoven web comprising a plurality of substantially identically prepared continuous and substantially randomly deposited monofilaments of a thermoplastic polymer, said filaments having a bilobal cross-section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The nonwoven web of claim 8 further comprising a degree of interfilament bonding whereby said web is stabilized.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The nonwoven web of claim 9 wherein said interfilament bonding comprises a plurality of discrete compacted areas of thermally induced filament bonds extending through a major portion of the thickness of the article, said compacted areas being distributed in an intermittent regular pattern and providing unbonded filament spans therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The nonwoven web of claim 10 wherein the compacted areas constitute from about 10 to about 30 percent of the area of the web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The nonwoven web of claim 10 wherein the compacted areas constitute from about 12 to about 20 percent of the area of the web.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nonwoven web of claim 9 wherein said thermoplastic material is a polyolefin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven web of claim 13 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven web of claim 13 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nonwoven web of claim 13 wherein said polyolefin is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven web of claim 9 wherein said monofilaments are wettable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The nonwoven web of claim 9 wherein the length of said cross-section is between about 30 and about 60 microns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nonwoven web of claim 9 wherein the length of said cross-section is about 40 microns.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
68 words
A nonwoven diaper liner which comprises a plurality of substantially identically prepared continuous and substantially randomly deposited wettable monofilaments of a thermoplastic polymer, said monofilaments having a bilobal cross-section, said liner having a plurality of discrete compacted areas of thermally induced filament bonds extending through a major portion of the thickness of the liner, said compacted areas being distributed in an intermittent pattern providing unbonded filament spans therebetween.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
A nonwoven diaper liner which comprises a plurality of substantially identically prepared continuous and substantially randomly deposited wettable monofilaments of a thermoplastic polymer, said monofilaments having a bilobal cross-section, said liner having a plurality of discrete compacted areas of thermally induced filament bonds extending through a major portion of the thickness of the liner, said compacted areas being distributed in an intermittent pattern providing unbonded filament spans therebetween.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The nonwoven diaper liner of claim 20 wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a polyolefin.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The nonwoven diaper liner of claim 21 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The nonwoven diaper liner of claim 21 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The nonwoven diaper liner of claim 21 wherein said polyolefin is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The nonwoven diaper liner of claim 20 wherein the compacted areas constitute from about 10 to about 30 percent of the area of the diaper liner.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
71 words
A nonwoven wrap for a catamenial device which comprises a plurality of substantially identically prepared continuous and substantially randomly deposited wettable monofilaments of a thermoplastic polymer, said monofilaments having a bilobal cross-section, said liner having a plurality of discrete compacted areas of thermally induced filament bonds extending through a major portion of the thickness of the liner, said compacted areas being distributed in an intermittent pattern providing unbonded filament spans therebetween.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
71 words
A nonwoven wrap for a catamenial device which comprises a plurality of substantially identically prepared continuous and substantially randomly deposited wettable monofilaments of a thermoplastic polymer, said monofilaments having a bilobal cross-section, said liner having a plurality of discrete compacted areas of thermally induced filament bonds extending through a major portion of the thickness of the liner, said compacted areas being distributed in an intermittent pattern providing unbonded filament spans therebetween.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nonwoven wrap of claim 26 wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a polyolefin.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven wrap of claim 26 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nonwoven wrap of claim 26 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nonwoven wrap of claim 26 wherein said polyolefin is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The nonwoven wrap of claim 26 wherein the compacted areas constitute from about 10 to about 30 percent of the area of the wrap.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a multilayer absorbent article which comprises a liner, a fluid-impermeable backing sheet, and an absorbent batt sandwiched therebetween, the improvement comprising employing as the liner a nonwoven web consisting essentially of a plurality of substantially identically prepared continuous and substantially randomly deposited monofilaments of a thermoplastic polymer, said monofilaments having a bilobal cross-section.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a multilayer absorbent article which comprises a liner, a fluid-impermeable backing sheet, and an absorbent batt sandwiched therebetween, the improvement comprising employing as the liner a nonwoven web consisting essentially of a plurality of substantially identically prepared continuous and substantially randomly deposited monofilaments of a thermoplastic polymer, said monofilaments having a bilobal cross-section.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 30 wherein said nonwoven web further comprises a degree of interfilament bonding whereby said web is stabilized.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
The improvement of claim 33 wherein said interfilament bonding comprises a plurality of discrete compacted areas of thermally induced filament bonds extending through a major portion of the thickness of the article, said compacted areas being distributed in an intermittent pattern and providing unbonded filament spans therebetween.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 34 wherein the compacted areas constitute from about 10 to about 30 percent of the area of the web.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 34 wherein the compacted areas constitute from about 12 to about 20 percent of the area of the web.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement of claim 32 wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a polyolefin.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
10 words
The improvement of claim 37 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
10 words
The improvement of claim 37 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement of claim 37 wherein said polyolefin is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
10 words
The improvement of claim 32 wherein said monofilaments are wettable.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a process for forming a nonwoven article which comprises: continuously extruding a thermoplastic polymer through a spinneret having a plurality of orifices to form discrete monofilaments; drawing the monofilaments; depositing the monofilaments in a substantially random manner onto a moving carrier to form a web; and stabilizing the web by interfilament bonding; the improvement comprising the use of a spinneret having bilobal shaped orifices to thereby form monofilaments with a bilobal cross-section.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a process for forming a nonwoven article which comprises: continuously extruding a thermoplastic polymer through a spinneret having a plurality of orifices to form discrete monofilaments; drawing the monofilaments; depositing the monofilaments in a substantially random manner onto a moving carrier to form a web; and stabilizing the web by interfilament bonding; the improvement comprising the use of a spinneret having bilobal shaped orifices to thereby form monofilaments with a bilobal cross-section.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
92 words
The improvement of claim 40 wherein said interfilament bonding is accomplished by passing said web between a two oppositely rotating rolls, at least one of which is heated, and at least one of which has a raised pattern to thereby form a plurality of discrete compacted areas of thermally induced filament bonds extending through a major portion of the thickness of the web, said compacted areas being distributed in an intermittent pattern corresponding to the raided pattern of the at least one roll and said intermittent pattern providing unbonded filament spans therebetween.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 43 wherein the compacted areas constitute from about 10 to about 30 percent of the area of the web.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 43 wherein the compacted areas constitute from about 12 to about 20 percent of the area of the web.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement of claim 42 wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a polyolefin.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
10 words
The improvement of claim 46 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
10 words
The improvement of claim 46 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement of claim 46 wherein said polyolefin is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement of claim 42 wherein said monofilaments are made wettable by addition of a wetting agent.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement of claim 50 wherein said wetting agent is added to the thermoplastic polymer before extruding.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement of claim 51 wherein said wetting agent is a nonionic surfactant.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 51 wherein after stabilizing, the web is heated to cause migration of the wetting agent to the surfaces of the monofilaments.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 50 wherein said wetting agent is applied to the web after stabilizing.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement of claim 54 wherein said wetting agent is a nonionic surfactant.
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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) | 1991-06-28 | 1991-12-28 | 1992-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-06-28 | 1995-12-28 | 1996-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-06-28 | 1999-12-28 | 2000-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |