Patent US5425987A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5425987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands including a blend of polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1994-10-06
•
Granted: 1995-06-20
•
Expires: 2014-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands includes a blend of a polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material in one side or the sheath of the multicomponent polymeric strands. The fabric has improved abrasion resistance and comparable strength and softness properties. The thermoplastic elastomeric copolymer is preferably A-B-A' block copolymer wherein A and A' are each a thermoplastic endblock which includes a styrenic moiety and wherein B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) mid block. Composite materials including such multicomponent material bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Susan E. Shawver
- 👤 Linda A. Connor
- 👤 Paul W. Estey
- 👤 Jay S. Shultz
- 👤 David C. Strack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:57
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H3/00; D04H3/005; D04H3/007; D01; D01F; D01F8/00; D01F8/04; D01F8/06; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; D04H1/559; D04H1/56; D04H3/08; D04H3/14; D04H3/147; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/903; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24826; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2929; Y10T428/2931; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/608; Y10T442/637; Y10T442/641; Y10T442/659; Y10T442/66; Y10T442/674; Y10T442/68; Y10T442/696
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A nonwoven fabric comprising: a first web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a first blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer; and a second web of extruded single component polymeric strands wherein the single polymeric component comprises a second blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer, the first and second webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship and bonded together to form an integrated fabric.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A nonwoven fabric comprising: a first web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a first blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer; and a second web of extruded single component polymeric strands wherein the single polymeric component comprises a second blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer, the first and second webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship and bonded together to form an integrated fabric.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the strands of the second web are made by meltblowing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
125 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 comprising a third web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a third blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer, the first web being bonded to one side of the second web and the third web being bonded to an opposite side of the second web.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 3 wherein the strands of the second web are made by meltblowing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric polymer is present in the first and second blends in an amount from about 5 to about 20% by weight and the polyolefin is present in the first and second blends in an amount from about 80 to about 95% by weight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric polymer comprises an A-B-A' triblock copolymer wherein A and A' are each a thermoplastic endblock comprising a styrenic moiety and B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) midblock.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the blend further comprises a tackifying resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 7 wherein the tackifying resin is selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins and terpene hydrocarbon resins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 8 wherein the tackifying resin is alpha methyl styrene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 7 wherein the blend further comprises a viscosity reducing polyolefin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 10 wherein the viscosity reducing polyolefin is a polyethylene wax.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric polymer further comprises an A-B diblock copolymer wherein A is a thermoplastic endblock comprising a styrenic moiety and B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) block.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 12 wherein the blend further comprises a tackifying resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 13 wherein the tackifying resin is selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins and terpene hydrocarbon resins.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 13 wherein the tackifying resin is alpha methyl styrene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 13 wherein the blend further comprises a viscosity reducing polyolefin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 16 wherein the viscosity reducing polyolefin is a polyethylene wax.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the strands of the first web are continuous filaments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the polyolefin of the second component of the first web and the polyolefin of the second web are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and copolymers of ethylene and propylene.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the polyolefin of the second component of the first web and the polyolefin of the second web comprise linear low density polyethylene.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the first component has a first melting point and the second component has a second melting point less than the first melting point.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the first component has a first melting point and the second component has a second melting point less than the first melting point, the second component comprising polyethylene.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the first component has a first melting point and the second component has a second melting point less than the first melting point, the second component comprising linear low density polyethylene.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the first component has a first melting point and the second component has a second melting point less than the first melting point, the first component comprising a polyolefin.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the first component has a first melting point and the second component has a second melting point less than the first melting point, the first component being selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and copolymers of propylene and ethylene, and the second component comprising polyethylene.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the first component has a first melting point and the second component has a second melting point less than the first melting point, the first component being selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and copolymers of propylene and ethylene, and the second component comprising linear low density polyethylene.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the first component has a first melting point and the second component has a second melting point less than the first melting point, the first component comprising polypropylene and the second component comprising random copolymers of propylene and ethylene.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
120 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein: the first polymeric component is present in an amount from about 20 to about 80% by weight of the strands and the second polymeric component is present in an amount from about 80 to about 20% by weight of the strands; the thermoplastic elastomeric polymer is present in an amount from about 5 to about 20% by weight of the second component and the polyolefin is present in an amount from about 80 to about 95% by weight of the second component; and the thermoplastic elastomeric polymer comprises an A-B-A' triblock copolymer wherein A and A' are each a thermoplastic endblock comprising a styrenic moiety and B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) midblock.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 28 wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric polymer comprises from about 40 to about 95% by weight of the A-B-A' triblock copolymer, and from about 5 to about 60% by weight of an A-B diblock copolymer wherein A is a thermoplastic endblock comprising a styrenic moiety and B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) block.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 29 wherein the blend further comprises from greater than 0 to about 10% by weight a tackifying resin.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 29 wherein the blend further comprises from greater than 0 to about 10% by weight of a viscosity reducing polyolefin.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 29 wherein the blend further comprises from greater than 0 to about 10% by weight a tackifying resin and from greater than 0 to about 10% by weight of a viscosity reducing polyolefin.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 29 wherein the first component comprises polypropylene and the second component comprises ethylene.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 29 wherein the first component comprises polypropylene and the second component comprises random copolymer of propylene and ethylene.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
258 words
A nonwoven fabric web comprising: a first web of continuous multicomponent polymeric filaments including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent filaments having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent filaments and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent filaments continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments and including a first blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer; and a second web of extruded single component polymeric strands wherein the single polymeric component comprises a second blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer; and a third web of continuous multicomponent polymeric filaments including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent filaments having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent filaments and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent filaments continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments and including a third blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer, the first, second, and third webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship, the first web being bonded to one side of the second web and the third web being bonded to an opposite side of the second web to form an integrated fabric.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
258 words
A nonwoven fabric web comprising: a first web of continuous multicomponent polymeric filaments including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent filaments having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent filaments and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent filaments continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments and including a first blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer; and a second web of extruded single component polymeric strands wherein the single polymeric component comprises a second blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer; and a third web of continuous multicomponent polymeric filaments including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent filaments having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent filaments and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent filaments continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments and including a third blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer, the first, second, and third webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship, the first web being bonded to one side of the second web and the third web being bonded to an opposite side of the second web to form an integrated fabric.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 35 wherein the strands of the second web are made by meltblowing.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
124 words
A nonwoven fabric comprising: a first web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a first blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer; and a second web of extruded single component polymeric strands, the first and second webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship and bonded together to form an integrated fabric.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
124 words
A nonwoven fabric comprising: a first web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a first blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer; and a second web of extruded single component polymeric strands, the first and second webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship and bonded together to form an integrated fabric.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
146 words
A garment comprising a layer of nonwoven fabric comprising: a first web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a first blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer; and a second web of extruded single component polymeric strands wherein the single polymeric component comprises a second blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer, the first and second webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship and bonded together to form an integrated fabric.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
146 words
A garment comprising a layer of nonwoven fabric comprising: a first web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a first blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer; and a second web of extruded single component polymeric strands wherein the single polymeric component comprises a second blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer, the first and second webs being positioned in laminar surface-to-surface relationship and bonded together to form an integrated fabric.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
A garment as in claim 38 wherein the strands of the second web are made by meltblowing.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
131 words
A garment as in claim 38 wherein the layer of nonwoven fabric further comprises a third web of extruded multicomponent polymeric strands including first and second polymeric components, the multicomponent strands having a cross-section, a length, and a peripheral surface, the first and second components being arranged in substantially distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent strands and extending continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands, the second component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the multicomponent strands continuously along the length of the multicomponent strands and including a third blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer, the first web being bonded to one side of the second web and the third web being bonded to an opposite side of the second web.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
A garment as in claim 40 wherein the strands of the second web are made by meltblowing.
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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) | 1998-06-19 | 1998-12-19 | 1999-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-19 | 2002-12-19 | 2003-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-19 | 2006-12-19 | 2007-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |