US4786346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for applying contoured elastic to a substrate
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
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Filing: 1987-10-22
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Granted: 1988-11-22
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Expires: 2007-10-22
Abstract
Abstract This invention is generally accomplished by providing continuous self-adhesive strands of elastic to a substrate having retractable supports extending therefrom. The retractable supports in a convex pattern are contracted with the self-adhering elastic and the substrate bearing the elastic and supports is brought into contact with the web to which the elastic is to be transferred. The series of supports around which the elastic contacts are forced to retract as the self-adhering elastic is pressed against the web causing the elastic to transfer to the substrate thereby creating an elastic band on the substrate. In a preferred form the substrate is fed two strips of self-adhering elastic that are applied on each side of a series of a convex pattern of pins and then pressed together around opposing sides of the convex pattern of pins to seal the elastic to itself and sever the elastic, creating a contoured closed loop around the pins.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Ales
- 👤 Jeffrey J. Samida
- 👤 Donald F. Arthur
- 👤 Ronald H. Wideman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:25
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C69/00; B29C69/005; B29C69/006; A; A42; A42C; A42C1/00; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/15577; A61F13/15585; A61F13/15593; A61F13/15609; B29C65/00; B29C65/78; B29C65/7841; B29C65/7847; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/40; B29C66/47; B29C66/474; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8145; B29C66/81457; B29C66/004; B29C66/0042; B29C66/0046; B29C66/00461; B29C66/472; B29C66/4722; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/712; B29C66/812; B29C66/8122; B29C66/8126; B29C66/81264; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/007; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/044; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1054; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/1075; Y10T156/1077; Y10T156/12; Y10T156/1317; Y10T156/1322; Y10T156/1326; Y10T156/133; Y10T156/1339; Y10T156/1378; Y10T156/17; Y10T156/1702; Y10T156/1712; Y10T156/1734; Y10T156/1744; Y10T156/1751; Y10T156/1754
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of applying elastic to a web comprising providing at least one strand of self-adhering elastic material, stretching said at least one strand of elastic, forming said elastic strand into a contoured loop by applying said at least one strand against a convex pattern of retractable supports, bringing said supports bearing the contoured elastic strand into contact with a web, causing said supports to retract, and transferring said self-adhering elastic to said web.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of applying elastic to a web comprising providing at least one strand of self-adhering elastic material, stretching said at least one strand of elastic, forming said elastic strand into a contoured loop by applying said at least one strand against a convex pattern of retractable supports, bringing said supports bearing the contoured elastic strand into contact with a web, causing said supports to retract, and transferring said self-adhering elastic to said web.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said web is carried on the surface of a rotating rigid forming drum, and that contact with said forming drum causes said supports to retract.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said supports are pins of generally circular cross section in a convex polygonal pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the substrate into which said pins retract comprises a release material for self-adhering elastics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one strand comprises two strands and said two strands are intermittently joined and then severed to form loops around a series of patterns of said supports.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said rotating forming drum is brought into contact with a web at the nip of a corotating roll on which the pattern of retractable supports are arranged.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said supports are in a convex polygonal pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said supports are caused to retract by pressure of the supports against the web.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said supports have a generally circular cross section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said supports are caused to retract by positive retraction as the supports contact the web.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said elastic is placed onto a forming surface in a generally straight line and movement of a movable post member brings said elastic into contact with said convex pattern of supports.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of forming elasticized areas comprising applying stretched self-adhering elastic strands to form loops around a pattern of supports, bringing said elastic into contact with a deformable web, retracting said supports as said elastic contacts said web and transferring said self-adhering elastic to said web.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of forming elasticized areas comprising applying stretched self-adhering elastic strands to form loops around a pattern of supports, bringing said elastic into contact with a deformable web, retracting said supports as said elastic contacts said web and transferring said self-adhering elastic to said web.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the pattern of said supports for said loops is a convex polygonal shape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said loops are formed by bringing at least one strand of self-adhering elastic on each side of a convex polygonal pattern of said supports, joining and bonding together the strands in areas to the front and back of said polygonal pattern to form a closed loop of stretched elastic around said supports.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the bonded strands are severed in the bonded area and after severing spring back elastically to form the loops that grip said supports.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said supports are pins of generally circular cross section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said deformable web rests on a rigid base and is brought into contact with said elastic by pressure of said web on said base against said supports causing said supports to retract and the said elastic to be pressed in bonding contact against said web.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said supports protrude from a substrate and may retract to a position such that said supports do not extend above the substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 wherein a second elastic loop is formed and transferred onto said web so as to form a concentric loop with said first loop.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising adhering a straight line elastic to said web.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising holding said web to said base by vacuum.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said support comprises a deformable mold.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said mold is inflatable.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of applying elastic to a substrate comprising providing at least one strand of elastic shaping said strand against a holding means in the shape of a loop, retaining said strand in contact with said holding means, bringing said strand into contact with a substrate, providing means for relative movement of said holding means and said substrate to allow adhering contact of said elastic to said substrate.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of applying elastic to a substrate comprising providing at least one strand of elastic shaping said strand against a holding means in the shape of a loop, retaining said strand in contact with said holding means, bringing said strand into contact with a substrate, providing means for relative movement of said holding means and said substrate to allow adhering contact of said elastic to said substrate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said holding means comprises an inflatable bladder.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said holding means comprises a series of pins and the relative movement of said holding means and said substrate is accomplished by the withdrawal of said pins into the base from which they extend.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said strand of elastic is self-adhering.
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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) | 1991-11-22 | 1992-05-23 | 1992-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-22 | 1996-05-23 | 1996-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-22 | 2000-05-23 | 2000-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |