Patent US4783231A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4783231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making a fibrous web comprising differentially cooled/thermally relaxed fibers
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1987-04-23
•
Granted: 1988-11-08
•
Expires: 2007-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A fibrous web comprising fibers which have been differentially cooled to provide a crimped fiber conformation thereto and then thermally relaxed to a sufficient degree to at least partially decrimp the fibers and increase the loft and decrease the density of the web. Also disclosed is a process for forming a web of such type, comprising the steps of forming a web of fibers, bonding the fibers to form a bonded web, differentially cooling the fibers to provide a crimped fiber conformation thereto, and thermally relaxing the fibers to a sufficient degree to at least partially decrimp the fibers and increase the loft and decrease the density of the web, wherein the differential cooling step preferably is carried out prior to bonding of the fibers to form the bonded web and the thermal relaxing step is carried out after bonding of the fibers to form such web.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Raley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:57
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H3/00; D04H3/08; D04H3/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A process for forming a fibrous web, comprising the steps of: (a) differentially cooling said fibers to produce an asymmetric, differential contraction and thermal set therein, whereby said fibers are provided with a crimped conformation; (c) bonding said fibers to form a bonded web; and (d) heating said crimped fibers to thermally relax the fibers to a degree sufficient to at least partially decrimp said fibers, thereby increasing the loft and decreasing the density of said web.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for forming a fibrous web, comprising the steps of: (a) differentially cooling said fibers to produce an asymmetric, differential contraction and thermal set therein, whereby said fibers are provided with a crimped conformation; (c) bonding said fibers to form a bonded web; and (d) heating said crimped fibers to thermally relax the fibers to a degree sufficient to at least partially decrimp said fibers, thereby increasing the loft and decreasing the density of said web.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said forming step (a) comprises the step of forming a web composed of fibers having a noncircular cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as recited in claim 2, wherein said forming step (a) includes forming said web with meltblown fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as recited in claim 2, wherein said forming step (a) includes forming said web with spunbond fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said heating step (d) decreases the density of said web by a factor of at least 1.2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said heating step (d) decreases the density of said web by a factor of at least 1.5.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of bonding and laminating to said fibrous web, a fibrous layer which has a higher density than said web.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said differential cooling of said fibers is carried out prior to said bonding thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the fibers are differentially cooled after bonding thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the fibers are decrimped subsequent to bonding thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the fibers are decrimped prior to bonding thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2979883A
Cited
US3347036A
Cited
US3577498A
Cited
US3480709A
Cited
US3621092A
Cited
US3920784A
Cited
US4280860A
Cited
US4496508A
Cited
US4643940A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-08 | 1992-05-09 | 1992-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-08 | 1996-05-09 | 1996-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-08 | 2000-05-09 | 2000-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |