US5158557A — Refastenable adhesive tape closure

Claim 1

Independent Claim 103 words

A refastenable closure comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening tab and a target portion having a working face for contact with said adhesive-bearing fastening tab, wherein said working face of said target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, the height of said peaks above said valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 μm, the back face of said target portion is substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of said tab is no more than about 90% of the height of said peaks above said valleys.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 103 words

A refastenable closure comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening tab and a target portion having a working face for contact with said adhesive-bearing fastening tab, wherein said working face of said target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, the height of said peaks above said valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 μm, the back face of said target portion is substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of said tab is no more than about 90% of the height of said peaks above said valleys.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 13 words

The refastenable closure of claim 1 wherein said target portion is thermoplastic material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 12 words

The refastenable closure of claim 2 wherein said target portion is polyolefin.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The refastenable closure of claim 3 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene, polyethylene, copolymers thereof or blends thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The refastenable closure of claim 4 wherein said polyolefin is a blend of an ethylene/propylene copolymer and low density polyethylene.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

The refastenable closure of claim 5 wherein said blend comprises about 50 to 80 weight percent ethylene/propylene copolymer having a melt flow index of about 10 to 100 g/10 min and 20 to 50 weight percent low density polyethylene having a melt index of about 1 to 50 g/10 min.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 14 words

The refastenable closure of claim 1 wherein the crowns of said peaks are sharp.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

The refastenable closure of claim 1 wherein the surface area of said peaks and valleys is at least 35% more than that of a flat surface, disregarding asperities less than 10 μm in height.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The refastenable closure of claim 1 wherein said target portion is permanently adhered to the body of an envelope and the fastening tab is permanently adhered to the flap of the envelope.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 43 words

The refastenable closure of claim 1 wherein said target portion is permanently adhered to the front of the cover sheet of a diaper and said fastening tab is permanently adhered to each ear of the cover sheet at the back of the diaper.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 55 words

The refastenable closure of claim 1 wherein said face of said target portion has a rough microstructure comprising closely spaced asperities that have a jagged appearance when viewed at a magnification of about 500 X and are about 2 to 30 μm in height and no more than 20% of the height of the peaks.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

The refastenable closure of claim 1 wherein said target portion is a film strip sufficient in size that said portion covers said fastening tab and said back face of said target portion bears an adhesive.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

The refastenable closure of claim 12 wherein said adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive or a hot melt adhesive.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The refastenable closure of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is at least about 25% of the height of the peaks.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

The refastenable closure of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is between about 50% to 80% of the height of the peaks.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 114 words

A roll of tape useful for preparing the target portion of the closure of claim 1, said tape comprising a flexible polymeric substrate having a working face and an adhesive-bearing face, said working face having saw-toothed ridges, the height of said ridges above said substrate being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent ridges being from about 50 to 500 μm, said ridges having first and second faces transverse to the direction in which the tape is rolled or parallel to the direction in which the tape is rolled, said first transverse face being substantially orthogonal to said substrate, and the face bearing said adhesive being substantially flat.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 124 words

A refastenable closure comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening tab and a target portion having a working face for contact with said adhesive-bearing fastening tab, wherein said working face of said target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, the height of said peaks above said valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 μm, said peaks have first and second faces transverse to the direction of removal of said fastening tab from said target portion, the back face of said target portion is substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of said tab is no more than about 90% of the height of said peaks above said valleys.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 124 words

A refastenable closure comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening tab and a target portion having a working face for contact with said adhesive-bearing fastening tab, wherein said working face of said target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, the height of said peaks above said valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 μm, said peaks have first and second faces transverse to the direction of removal of said fastening tab from said target portion, the back face of said target portion is substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of said tab is no more than about 90% of the height of said peaks above said valleys.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 19 words

The refastenable closure of claim 17 wherein said first transverse face is substantially orthogonal to said direction of removal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

The refastenable closure of claim 18 wherein said first transverse face faces away from said direction of removal.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The refastenable closure of claim 17 wherein said second face slopes downward from said peak.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

The refastenable closure of claim 17 wherein said faces form angles of less than 90° at said peak.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

The refastenable closure of claim 17 wherein said peaks form saw-toothed ridges, each extending across substantially the full width of the strip transversely to the direction of removal of the fastener tab from the target portion.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 32 words

The refastenable closure of claim 22 having protrusions in the valleys that extend from 30 to 100% of the height of the peaks and are spaced apart from 0.2 to 6 mm.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 24 words

The refastenable closure of claim 17 wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is at least about 25% of the height of the peaks.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

The refastenable closure of claim 17 wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is between about 50% to 80% of the height of the peaks.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 154 words

A disposable diaper comprising a water-impermeable cover sheet and a water-permeable inner sheet and absorbent layer between said cover sheet and said inner sheet, said diaper having front and back end portions with said back portion having ears protruding therefrom, target portions on said front portion of said cover sheet, and attached to each said ear a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening tab, said target portions having a working face for contact with said adhesive-bearing fastening tab, wherein said working face of said target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, the height of said peaks above said valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 μm, the back face of said target portion is substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of said tab is no more than about 90% of the height of said peaks above said valleys.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 154 words

A disposable diaper comprising a water-impermeable cover sheet and a water-permeable inner sheet and absorbent layer between said cover sheet and said inner sheet, said diaper having front and back end portions with said back portion having ears protruding therefrom, target portions on said front portion of said cover sheet, and attached to each said ear a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening tab, said target portions having a working face for contact with said adhesive-bearing fastening tab, wherein said working face of said target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, the height of said peaks above said valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 μm, the back face of said target portion is substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of said tab is no more than about 90% of the height of said peaks above said valleys.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 203 words

A disposable diaper comprising a water-impermeable cover sheet and a water-permeable inner sheet and absorbent layer between said cover sheet and said inner sheet, said diaper having front and back end portions with said back portion having ears protruding therefrom, target portions on said front portion of said cover sheet, and attached to each said ear a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening lab, said target portions having a working face for contact with said adhesive-bearing fastening tab, wherein said target portions are provided as a unitary strip. said working face of said target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, said peaks forming saw-toothed ridges, said ridges being oriented oppositely at the ends of the strip and extending across substantially the full width of the strip transversely to the direction of removal of the fastener tabs from the target portions, the height of said peaks above said valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 μm, the back face of said target portion is substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of said tab is no more than about 90% of the height of said peaks above said valleys.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 203 words

A disposable diaper comprising a water-impermeable cover sheet and a water-permeable inner sheet and absorbent layer between said cover sheet and said inner sheet, said diaper having front and back end portions with said back portion having ears protruding therefrom, target portions on said front portion of said cover sheet, and attached to each said ear a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening lab, said target portions having a working face for contact with said adhesive-bearing fastening tab, wherein said target portions are provided as a unitary strip. said working face of said target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, said peaks forming saw-toothed ridges, said ridges being oriented oppositely at the ends of the strip and extending across substantially the full width of the strip transversely to the direction of removal of the fastener tabs from the target portions, the height of said peaks above said valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 μm, the back face of said target portion is substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of said tab is no more than about 90% of the height of said peaks above said valleys.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 113 words

An envelope comprising a body and a flap, said flap bearing a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening tab and said body bearing a target portion having a working face for contact with said adhesive-bearing fastening tab, wherein said working face of said target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, the height of said peaks above said valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 μm, the back face of said target portion is substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of said tab is no more than about 90% of the height of said peaks above said valleys.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 113 words

An envelope comprising a body and a flap, said flap bearing a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening tab and said body bearing a target portion having a working face for contact with said adhesive-bearing fastening tab, wherein said working face of said target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, the height of said peaks above said valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 μm, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 μm, the back face of said target portion is substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of said tab is no more than about 90% of the height of said peaks above said valleys.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-10-27	1996-04-27	1996-10-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-10-27	2000-04-27	2000-10-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-10-27	2004-04-27	2004-10-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Refastenable adhesive tape closure

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