US4929303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite breathable housewrap films
Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc
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Filing: 1987-09-25
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Granted: 1990-05-29
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Expires: 2007-09-25
Abstract
Abstract Composite breathable film comprising a breathable polyolefin film heat laminated to a nonwoven HDPE fabric. Preferably, the breathable film is prepared by melt embossing a highly filled polyolefin film to impose a pattern of different film thickness therein, and stretching the embossed film. The nonwoven fabric is made by cross-laminating HDPE fibers at the crossing points to form a thin open mesh fabric, and coextruding a heat seal layer thereon. The composite is made by heat laminating the breathable film to the heat seal layer of the fabric. The resulting laminate has excellent water vapor transmissibility, air resistance and strength and is particularly adapted for use as a housewrap.
Inventors
- 👤 Paresh J. Sheth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:01
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/12; B29; B29D; B29D7/00; B29D7/01; B32B27/18; B32B27/20; B32B27/32; B32B5/00; B32B5/02; B32B5/022; C; C08; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/18; B29C; B29C55/00; B29C59/00; B29C71/00; B29C71/02; B29K; B29K2023/00; B29K2023/04; B29K2023/06; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/06; B29K2105/16; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0065; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/30; B32B2307/31; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/724; B32B2323/00; B32B2323/04; B32B2323/046; C08J2323/00; C08J2323/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/62; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1007; Y10T156/1023; Y10T156/1039
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of preparing a breathable laminate comprising a breathable polyolefin film having a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 3000 g/m 2 per day and an air resistance not less than about 200 Gurley seconds and a fabric having an elongation less than about 30%, an Elmendorf tear strength of at least about 300 g, and a breakload of at least about 15 lb/in wherein said method comprises the step of laminating said film to said fabric at a temperature and pressure sufficient to bond the fabric and film.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of preparing a breathable laminate comprising a breathable polyolefin film having a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 3000 g/m 2 per day and an air resistance not less than about 200 Gurley seconds and a fabric having an elongation less than about 30%, an Elmendorf tear strength of at least about 300 g, and a breakload of at least about 15 lb/in wherein said method comprises the step of laminating said film to said fabric at a temperature and pressure sufficient to bond the fabric and film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of preparing a laminate in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fabric further comprises a coextruded heat seal layer and said method comprises the step of heat laminating said film to said heat seal layer of said fabric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the fabric is heated and pressed to the film.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of making a housewrap, comprising the steps of: mixing a polyolefin with a filler; extruding a precursor film from the polyolefin/filler mixture; melt embossing the precursor film to impose therein a pattern of different film thicknesses; stretching the melt embossed precursor film to impart greater permeability in the areas of reduced thickness thereof in comparison to the areas of greater thickness; and heat laminating the stretched film to a nonwoven fabric comprising cross-laminated fibers at a temperature and pressure sufficient to bond the fabric and film to form a breathable laminate.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of making a housewrap, comprising the steps of: mixing a polyolefin with a filler; extruding a precursor film from the polyolefin/filler mixture; melt embossing the precursor film to impose therein a pattern of different film thicknesses; stretching the melt embossed precursor film to impart greater permeability in the areas of reduced thickness thereof in comparison to the areas of greater thickness; and heat laminating the stretched film to a nonwoven fabric comprising cross-laminated fibers at a temperature and pressure sufficient to bond the fabric and film to form a breathable laminate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of heat setting the stretched film at a temperature above the stretching temperature and below the softening temperature of the stretched film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the polyolefin is a copolymer of ethylene and a C 4 -C 10 alpha-olefin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the filler is calcium carbonate surface treated with calcium stearate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the precursor film is melt embossed with a diamond pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the polyolefin/filler mixture contains between about 15 percent to about 35 percent filler by volume.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the fabric is a nonwoven polyolefin fabric having a heat seal layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the lamination comprises heating the fabric and pressing the unheated film to the heated fabric.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of making a housewrap, comprising the steps of: mixing a polyolefin with a filler; cast extruding a precursor film of the polyolefin/filler mixture onto at least one melt embossing roller to impose therein a pattern of different film thicknesses; stretching the melt embossed precursor film in the transverse direction to impart greater permeability in the areas of reduced thickness thereof in comparison to the areas of greater thickness; heating a nonwoven fabric comprising cross-laminated polyolefin fibers and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer heat seal layer; and pressing the heated fabric to the film at a temperature and pressure sufficient to bond the fabric and film to form a breathable laminate.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of making a housewrap, comprising the steps of: mixing a polyolefin with a filler; cast extruding a precursor film of the polyolefin/filler mixture onto at least one melt embossing roller to impose therein a pattern of different film thicknesses; stretching the melt embossed precursor film in the transverse direction to impart greater permeability in the areas of reduced thickness thereof in comparison to the areas of greater thickness; heating a nonwoven fabric comprising cross-laminated polyolefin fibers and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer heat seal layer; and pressing the heated fabric to the film at a temperature and pressure sufficient to bond the fabric and film to form a breathable laminate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of heat setting the stretched film at a temperature above the stretching temperature and below the softening temperature of the stretched film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the polyolefin is a copolymer of ethylene and a C 4 -C 10 alpha-olefin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the filler is calcium carbonate surface treated with calcium stearate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the precursor film is melt embossed with a diamond pattern.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the polyolefin/filler mixture contains between about 15 percent to about 35 percent filler by volume.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-28 | 1993-11-27 | 1994-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-28 | 1997-11-27 | 1998-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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