US5366793A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Anisotropic nonwoven fibrous web
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1992-04-07
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Granted: 1994-11-22
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Expires: 2012-04-07
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven fibrous web composed of a substantially homogeneous distribution of elastomeric meltblown fibers that are physically aligned along one of the planar dimensions of the web. The anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven web of meltblown fibers has a strength index of at least about 2. Also disclosed is process of making such an anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven web of meltblown fibers as well as a composite elastic material which contains an anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven web of meltblown fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Fitts, Jr.
- 👤 William D. Musselwhite
- 👤 Eugenio G. Varona
- 👤 Robert D. Wright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:39
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; D04H1/56; D04H1/70; D04H1/74; D04H13/00; D04H3/00; D04H3/02; D04H3/04; D04H3/08; D04H3/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/903; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24132; Y10T428/24355; Y10T428/24446; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24826; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/253; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
24 words
An anisotropic nonwoven fibrous web comprising a substantially homogenous arrangement of meltblown fibers generally aligned along one of the planar dimensions of the web.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
An anisotropic nonwoven fibrous web comprising a substantially homogenous arrangement of meltblown fibers generally aligned along one of the planar dimensions of the web.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The anisotropic web of claim 1 wherein the meltblown fibers comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of elastomeric and non-elastomeric thermoplastic polymers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The anisotropic web of claim 2 wherein the non-elastomeric polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, non-elastomeric polyesters, non-elastomeric polyamides, cellulosic derived polymers, vinyl chloride polymers and vinyl alcohol polymers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The anisotropic web of claim 2 wherein the elastomeric polymer is selected from the group consisting of elastomeric polyesters, elastomeric polyurethanes, elastomeric polyamides, elastomeric copolymers of ethylene and at least one vinyl monomer, and elastomeric A-B-A' block copolymers wherein A and A' are the same or different thermoplastic polymer, and wherein B is an elastomeric polymer block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The anisotropic web of claim 1 wherein the web has a strength index of more than 2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The anisotropic web of claim 1 wherein the web has a strength index of more than about 3.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The anisotropic web of claim 1 wherein the meltblown fibers include meltblown microfibers
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The anisotropic web of claim 1 having a basis weight ranging from about 10 to about 400 gsm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The anisotropic web of claim 4 wherein the elastomeric polymer is blended with a processing aid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The anisotropic web of claim 4 wherein the elastomeric polymer is blended with a tackifying resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The anisotropic web of claim 10 wherein the blend further includes a processing aid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The anisotropic web of claim 1 wherein the meltblown fibers further comprises a mixture of meltblown fibers and one or more other materials selected from the group consisting of wood pulp, staple-type fibers, particulates and super-absorbent materials.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The anisotropic web of claim 12, wherein the staple-type fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, glass fibers, polyolefin fibers, cellulosic derived fibers, multi-component fibers, natural fibers, absorbent fibers, electrically conductive fibers or blends of two or more of said fibers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The anisotropic web of claim 12, wherein said particulate materials are selected from the group consisting of activated charcoal, clays, starches and metal oxides.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A multi-layer material comprising at least one layer of the anisotropic web of claim 1 and at least one other layer of material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
A composite elastic material adapted to provide improved tenacity in one direction, the composite material comprising: an anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven web comprising a substantially homogenous arrangement of elastomeric meltblown fibers generally aligned along one of the planar dimensions of the web, and at least one gatherable layer joined at spaced apart locations to the anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven fibrous web so that the gatherable layer is gathered between the spaced-apart locations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
A composite elastic material adapted to provide improved tenacity in one direction, the composite material comprising: an anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven web comprising a substantially homogenous arrangement of elastomeric meltblown fibers generally aligned along one of the planar dimensions of the web, and at least one gatherable layer joined at spaced apart locations to the anisotropic elastomeric nonwoven fibrous web so that the gatherable layer is gathered between the spaced-apart locations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composite elastic material of claim 16 wherein the gatherable layer is a nonwoven web of fibers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The composite elastic material of claim 16 wherein the gatherable layer is selected from the group consisting of a web of spunbonded fibers, a web of meltblown fibers, a bonded carded web of fibers, a multi-layer material including at least one of the webs of spunbonded fibers, meltblown fibers, and a bonded carded web of fibers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The composite elastic material of claim 16, wherein the gatherable layer is a composite material comprising a mixture of fibers and one or more other materials selected from the group consisting of wood pulp, staple fibers, particulates and super-absorbent materials.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The composite elastic material of claim 16 wherein the nonwoven web elastomeric meltblown fibers has a machine direction tenacity for a 1 inch wide strip of at least about 15 grams force /grams per square meter at about the composite elastic material's stretch-to-stop elongation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The composite elastic material of claim 16 wherein the nonwoven web of elastomeric meltblown fibers has a machine direction tenacity for a 1 inch wide strip of from about 15 to about 25 grams force /grams per square meter at about the composite elastic material's stretch-to-stop elongation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-21 | 1998-05-23 | 1998-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-21 | 2002-05-23 | 2002-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-21 | 2006-05-23 | 2006-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |