US5482772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polymeric strands including a propylene polymer composition and nonwoven fabric and articles made therewith
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1992-12-28
•
Granted: 1996-01-09
•
Expires: 2012-12-28
Abstract
Abstract Single and multicomponent polymeric strands including a blend of a melt-extrudable polyolefin and a heterophasic polypropylene composition. The heterophasic polypropylene composition includes three polymers and is normally not melt-spinable into strands by itself. In the multicomponent strands, the blend is in one side or the sheath. Fabric made with such strands is also disclosed and has improved combinations of strength, abrasion resistance, and softness properties. Composite materials including the foregoing fabric bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed. In addition, garments made with the fabric are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. Strack
- 👤 Tracy N. Wilson
- 👤 Donald V. Willitts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:43
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; D; D01; D01F; D01F6/00; D01F6/44; D01F6/46; A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/01; A61F13/01008; A61F13/15; A61F13/53; A61F13/539; B32B5/02; B32B5/022; B32B5/08; D01F8/00; D01F8/04; D01F8/06; D04; D04H; D04H3/00; D04H3/005; D04H3/007; D04H3/08; D04H3/14; D04H3/147; D04H3/16; A41; A41B; A41B2400/00; A41B2400/60; A41B2400/62; A61F13/51; A61F13/514; A61F2013/00361; A61F2013/00727; A61F2013/00731; A61F2013/00744; A61F13/15203; A61F2013/15284; A61F2013/51002; A61F13/51401; A61F2013/51441; A61F2013/51452; A61F2013/530131; A61F2013/530226; A61F13/534; A61F13/537; A61F13/53708; A61F2013/53721; B32B2262/00; B32B2262/02; B32B2262/0253; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/718; B32B2437/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2922; Y10T428/2924; Y10T428/2929; Y10T428/2931; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/637; Y10T442/638; Y10T442/641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A nonwoven fabric comprising polymeric strands, said polymeric strands comprising a first polymeric component which comprises a blend of: (a) a melt-extrudable polyolefin, and (b) a polypropylene composition comprising: (i) a first polymer which is a propylene polymer comprising greater than 85% by weight of propylene and having an isotactic index greater than 85; (ii) a second polymer which is a polymer comprising ethylene and being insoluble in xylene at about 23° C.; and (iii) a third polymer which is an amorphous copolymer of ethylene and propylene, the amorphous copolymer being soluble in xylene at about 23° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A nonwoven fabric comprising polymeric strands, said polymeric strands comprising a first polymeric component which comprises a blend of: (a) a melt-extrudable polyolefin, and (b) a polypropylene composition comprising: (i) a first polymer which is a propylene polymer comprising greater than 85% by weight of propylene and having an isotactic index greater than 85; (ii) a second polymer which is a polymer comprising ethylene and being insoluble in xylene at about 23° C.; and (iii) a third polymer which is an amorphous copolymer of ethylene and propylene, the amorphous copolymer being soluble in xylene at about 23° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the polypropylene composition is present in the first polymeric component in an amount up to about 40% by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the first polymer is present in the polypropylene composition in an amount from about 10 to about 60 parts by weight, the second polymer is present in the polypropylene composition in an amount from about 10 to about 40 parts by weight, and the third polymer is present in the polypropylene composition in an amount from about 30 to about 60 parts by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the third polymer comprises ethylene in an amount from about 40 to about 70% by weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the melt-extrudable polyolefin of the first polymeric component is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, random copolymers of propylene and ethylene, and poly(4-methyl-1-pentene).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 1 wherein the strands are multicomponent strands and further include a second melt-extrudable polymeric component, the 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 strands and extending continuously along the length of the strands, the first component constituting at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the strands continuously along the length of the strands.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the polypropylene composition is present in the first polymeric component in an amount: up to about 40% by weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the first polymer is present in the polypropylene composition in an amount from about 10 to about 60 parts by weight, the second polymer is present in the polypropylene composition in an amount from about 10 to about 40 parts by weight, and the third polymer is present in the polypropylene composition in an amount from about 30 to about 60 parts by weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the third polymer comprises ethylene in an amount from about 40 to about 70% by weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the melt-extrudable polyolefin of the first component is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, random copolymers of propylene and ethylene, and poly(4-methyl-1-pentene).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the second component comprises a crystalline polyolefin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the second component comprises a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, random copolymers of propylene and ethylene, and poly(4-methyl-1-pentene).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the first and second components are arranged in a side-by-side configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the first and second components are arranged in a sheath/core configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the nonwoven fabric has a surface and projected portions extending from the surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A nonwoven fabric as in claim 6 wherein the nonwoven fabric has an array of apertures separated by land areas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3595731A
Cited
US4041203A
Cited
US4068036A
Cited
US4211819A
Cited
US4523336A
Cited
US4551378A
Cited
US4741941A
Cited
US4691081A
Cited
US4808662A
Cited
US4759986A
Cited
US4808176A
Cited
US4770656A
Cited
US4834738A
Cited
US4842596A
Cited
US5057361A
Cited
WO1995004182A1
Cited
WO1994009193A1
Cited
US5346756A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-08 | 1999-07-10 | 2000-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-08 | 2003-07-10 | 2004-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-08 | 2007-07-10 | 2008-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |