US5369858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for forming apertured nonwoven fabric prepared from melt blown microfibers
Assignee: Fitesa Simpsonville Inc
•
Filing: 1992-08-19
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Granted: 1994-12-06
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Expires: 2012-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A nonwoven fabric comprising at least one layer of textile fibers or net of polymeric filaments and at least one web of melt blown microfibers, bonded together by hydroentangling. The nonwoven fabric may be apertured by hydroentangling or may have areas of higher density and areas of lower density. The fabric has a favorable combination of softness, dryness, tensile strength and hand. Several processes are provided for producing the nonwoven fabric of the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Gilmore
- 👤 David Newkirk
- 👤 Jared Austin
- 👤 Guy S. Zimmerman, Jr.
- 👤 Milo Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:39
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/15577; A61F13/51; A61F13/511; A61F13/51121; A61F13/512; A61F13/5121; A61F13/5122; A61F13/513; A61F13/51305; B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; D04H1/44; D04H1/46; D04H1/492; D04H1/495; D04H1/498; D04H1/56; D04H3/00; D04H3/02; D04H3/04; D04H3/045; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/10; Y10T442/102; Y10T442/159
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A process for producing a nonwoven composite fabric having apertures of two different sizes, comprising: supporting a first layer selected from a web of textile fibers and a net of polymeric filaments and a second layer of a web of melt blown microfibers on a first aperturing member having aperturing means of a first size sufficient for forming apertures; impinging streams of high pressure liquid onto the fiber layers for a time sufficient to entangle said fibers with one another such that the fibers interlock to form a fabric and to create apertures of a first size; transferring said fabric to a second aperturing member having aperturing means of a second size sufficient for forming apertures; and impinging streams of high pressure liquid onto the fabric for a time sufficient to form apertures of a second size in said fabric.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A process for producing a nonwoven composite fabric having apertures of two different sizes, comprising: supporting a first layer selected from a web of textile fibers and a net of polymeric filaments and a second layer of a web of melt blown microfibers on a first aperturing member having aperturing means of a first size sufficient for forming apertures; impinging streams of high pressure liquid onto the fiber layers for a time sufficient to entangle said fibers with one another such that the fibers interlock to form a fabric and to create apertures of a first size; transferring said fabric to a second aperturing member having aperturing means of a second size sufficient for forming apertures; and impinging streams of high pressure liquid onto the fabric for a time sufficient to form apertures of a second size in said fabric.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1, further comprising supporting a third layer of a web of textile fibers on said second layer on said first aperturing member prior to impinging streams of high pressure liquid onto the fiber webs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: extruding a web of drawn continuous filament textile fibers onto a continuous belt; extruding a web of melt blown microfibers onto said web of drawn continuous filament textile fibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 3, further comprising extruding a second web of drawn continuous filament textile fibers onto said melt blown microfiber web prior to said transferring step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: supplying a bonded web of drawn continuous filament textile fibers to a continuous belt; extruding a web of melt blown microfibers onto said web of drawn continuous filament textile fibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 5, further comprising supplying a second web of bonded drawn continuous filament textile fibers onto said melt blown microfiber web prior to said transferring step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: supplying a bonded web of drawn continuous filament textile fibers to a continuous belt; supplying a bonded web of melt blown microfibers onto said web of drawn continuous filament textile fibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said web to said first aperturing member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 7, further comprising supplying a second bonded web of drawn continuous filament textile fibers onto said melt blown microfiber web prior to said transferring step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: carding a web of staple textile fibers onto a continuous belt; extruding a web of melt blown microfibers onto said web of carded staple textile fibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 9, further comprising carding a second web of staple textile fibers onto said melt blown microfiber web prior to said transferring step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: carding a web of staple textile fibers onto a continuous belt; supplying a bonded web of melt blown microfibers onto said web of carded staple textile fibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 11, further comprising carding a second web of staple textile fibers onto said melt blown microfiber web prior to said transferring step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: supplying a bonded web of carded staple textile fibers onto a continuous belt; supplying a bonded web of melt blown microfibers onto said bonded web of carded staple textile fibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 13, further comprising supplying a second bonded carded web of staple textile fibers onto said melt blown microfiber web prior to said transferring step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: supplying a bonded web of carded staple textile fibers onto a continuous belt; extruding a web of melt blown microfibers onto said web of bonded cable staple textile fibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 15, further comprising supplying a second bonded web of carded staple textile fibers onto said melt blown microfiber web prior to said transferring step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: extruding a web of melt blown microfibers onto a continuous belt; carding a web of staple textile fibers onto said web of melt blown microfibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: supplying a bonded web of melt blown microfibers onto a continuous belt; carding a web of staple textile fibers onto said web of melt blown microfibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: extruding a web of melt blown microfibers onto a continuous belt; supplying a bonded web of carded staple textile fibers onto said web of melt blown microfibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: supplying a bonded web of melt blown microfibers onto a continuous belt; supplying a bonded web of carded staple textile fibers onto said web of melt blown microfibers on said continuous belt; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: extruding a web of drawn continuous filament textile fibers onto a continuous belt; supplying a bonded web of melt blown microfibers onto said web of drawn continuous filament textile fibers; and transferring said webs to said first aperturing member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: supplying a net of polymeric filaments onto a continuous belt; extruding a web of meltblown microfibers onto the net on the continuous belt; and transferring said net and web to said first aperturing member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said supporting step is preceded by the additional steps of: supplying a net of polymeric filaments onto a continuous belt; supplying a bonded web of melt blown microfibers onto the net of the continuous belt; and transferring said net and web to said first aperturing member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process for producing a nonwoven fabric comprising: supporting a net of polymeric filaments and a web of melt blown microfibers on an aperturing member; and impinging streams of high pressure liquid onto the webs for a time sufficient to entangle the webs with one another such that the webs interlock to form a fabric.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process for producing a nonwoven fabric comprising: supporting a net of polymeric filaments and a web of melt blown microfibers on an aperturing member; and impinging streams of high pressure liquid onto the webs for a time sufficient to entangle the webs with one another such that the webs interlock to form a fabric.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process of claim 24, further comprising before said supporting step, the steps of: supplying said net of polymeric filaments onto a continuous belt; extruding said web of melt blown microfibers onto the net on the continuous belt; and transferring said net and said web to said aperturing member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 25, further comprising before said supporting step, the steps of: supplying said net of polymeric filaments onto a continuous belt; supplying a bonded web of melt blown microfibers onto the net on the continuous belt; and transferring said net and said web to said aperturing member.
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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) | 1997-12-05 | 1998-06-06 | 1998-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-05 | 2002-06-06 | 2002-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-05 | 2006-06-06 | 2006-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |