US5614306A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conductive fabric and method of producing same
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
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Filing: 1995-05-17
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Granted: 1997-03-25
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Expires: 2015-05-17
Abstract
Abstract Conductive meltblown fabrics are disclosed which have improved strength and hand over conventional conductive meltblown fabrics. Also disclosed is a process for spraying a solution containing a conductive agent into a molten stream of meltblown fibers before they are deposited onto a forming wire. By applying the solution onto the fibers before they are deposited onto the forming wire, the heat of the molten stream vaporizes the solvent carrying the conductive agent and thereby eliminates the need to subsequently dry the formed material. By eliminating the drying step, degradation of the strength and hardening of the hand of the material normally resulting from the wetting and drying of meltblown fabrics are avoided. There is also disclosed a conductive SMS laminate having a conductive meltblown layer sandwiched between two untreated and nonconductive spunbond layers.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Jobe
- 👤 Cheryl A. Perkins
- 👤 Michael D. Powers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:44
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H3/00; D04H3/08; D04H3/16; D06; D06M; D06M10/00; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/407; D04H1/54; D04H1/56; D04H1/58; D04H1/64; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/659; Y10T442/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for producing a conductive meltblown web, said method comprising the steps of: (a) meltblowing a molten thermoplastic polymer to form fibers; (b) introducing a conductive agent onto said fibers while said fibers are molten; and (c) depositing said fibers onto a traveling forming wire to form the conductive meltblown web having a static decay value of less than 0.50 seconds and surface resistivity less than 10 14 ohms/cm.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for producing a conductive meltblown web, said method comprising the steps of: (a) meltblowing a molten thermoplastic polymer to form fibers; (b) introducing a conductive agent onto said fibers while said fibers are molten; and (c) depositing said fibers onto a traveling forming wire to form the conductive meltblown web having a static decay value of less than 0.50 seconds and surface resistivity less than 10 14 ohms/cm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said conductive agent is introduced by spraying a solution containing said conductive agent onto said fibers before they are deposited onto said forming wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said solution comprises an aqueous solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said conductive agent is present in said solution in an amount of greater than 1.5 percent by weight of said solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said conductive agent consists essentially of an alcohol phosphate salt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said salt comprises potassium butyl phosphate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for producing a conductive laminate, said method comprising the steps of: (a) meltblowing a molten thermoplastic polymer to form fibers; (b) introducing a conductive agent onto said fibers while said fibers are molten; (c) depositing said fibers onto a traveling forming wire to form a conductive meltblown web; and (d) laminating the conductive meltblown web to at least one untreated nonwoven web of thermoplastic fibers to form a conductive laminate having a static decay value less than 0.50 seconds and surface resistivity less than 10 14 ohms/cm.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for producing a conductive laminate, said method comprising the steps of: (a) meltblowing a molten thermoplastic polymer to form fibers; (b) introducing a conductive agent onto said fibers while said fibers are molten; (c) depositing said fibers onto a traveling forming wire to form a conductive meltblown web; and (d) laminating the conductive meltblown web to at least one untreated nonwoven web of thermoplastic fibers to form a conductive laminate having a static decay value less than 0.50 seconds and surface resistivity less than 10 14 ohms/cm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said conductive agent is introduced by spraying a solution containing said conductive agent onto said fibers of the meltblown web before the fibers are deposited onto said forming wire.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said solution comprises an aqueous solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said conductive agent is present in said solution in an amount of greater than 1.5 percent by weight of said solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said conductive agent consists essentially of an alcohol phosphate salt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said salt comprises potassium butyl phosphate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A conductive meltblown web made in accordance with the method of claim 1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
A conductive meltblown web made in accordance with the method of claim 2.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A conductive meltblown web made in accordance with the method of claim 3.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A conductive meltblown web made in accordance with the method of claim 4.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
A conductive meltblown web made in accordance with the method of claim 5.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A conductive meltblown web made in accordance with the method of claim 6.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A conductive meltblown laminate made in accordance with the method of claim 7.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
A conductive laminate made in accordance with the method of claim 8.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
A conductive laminate made in accordance with the method of claim 9.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
A conductive laminate made in accordance with the method of claim 10.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
A conductive laminate made in accordance with the method of claim 11.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
A conductive laminate made in accordance with the method of claim 12.
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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) | 2000-03-24 | 2000-09-23 | 2001-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-24 | 2004-09-23 | 2005-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-24 | 2008-09-23 | 2009-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |