Patent US5855784A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5855784A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High density nonwoven filter media
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1997-06-20
•
Granted: 1999-01-05
•
Expires: 2017-06-20
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a sheet filter medium having autogenously bonded uncrimped conjugate fibers which contain a polyolefin and another thermoplastic polymer that have different melting points. The filter medium has a density between about 0.07 g/cm 3 and about 0.2 g/cm 3 . The invention additionally provides a three-dimensionally thermoformed filter medium that has a density between about 0.07 g/cm 3 and about 0.5 g/cm 3 .
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Daniel Pike
- 👤 Kurtis Lee Brown
- 👤 Peter Wyndham Shipp, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:09
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; B; B01; B01D; B01D39/00; B01D39/08; B01D39/14; B01D39/16; B01D39/1607; B01D39/1623; B01D39/163; D04H1/558; D04H3/00; D04H3/005; D04H3/007; D04H3/08; D04H3/14; D04H3/147; B01D2239/00; B01D2239/02; B01D2239/0216; B01D2239/0233; B01D2239/04; B01D2239/0435; B01D2239/06; B01D2239/0604; B01D2239/0622; B01D2239/0627; B01D2239/064; B01D2239/069; B01D2239/08; B01D2239/086; B01D2239/12; B01D2239/1291; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2929; Y10T428/2931; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/30; Y10T442/3325; Y10T442/335; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/608; Y10T442/614; Y10T442/626; Y10T442/637; Y10T442/638; Y10T442/641; Y10T442/659; Y10T442/66; Y10T442/681; Y10T442/69; Y10T442/692
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A sheet filter medium comprising autogenously bonded continuous uncrimped conjugate spunbond fibers having less than two crimps per extended inch, said medium having a density between about 0.07 g/cm 3 and about 0.2 g/cm 3 and a Frazier permeability of at least 15 m 3 /min/m 2 , said conjugate fibers comprising a polyolefin and a second thermoplastic polymer that has a melting point higher than said polyolefin, wherein said medium has a Mullen Burst strength of at least about 3.5 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A sheet filter medium comprising autogenously bonded continuous uncrimped conjugate spunbond fibers having less than two crimps per extended inch, said medium having a density between about 0.07 g/cm 3 and about 0.2 g/cm 3 and a Frazier permeability of at least 15 m 3 /min/m 2 , said conjugate fibers comprising a polyolefin and a second thermoplastic polymer that has a melting point higher than said polyolefin, wherein said medium has a Mullen Burst strength of at least about 3.5 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said second thermoplastic polymer has a higher temperature differential scanning calorimetry melting curve than said polyolefin so that an exposure to a temperature that melts about 50% of said polyolefin melts equal to or less than about 10% of said thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 2 wherein said polyolefin and said second thermoplastic polymer have completely separated differential scanning calorimetry melting curves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin is selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polypentene, and blends and copolymers thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said second thermoplastic polymer is selected from polyolefins, polycarbonate, polyamides, polyesters, acrylic copolymers, and blends and copolymers thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin is linear low density polyethylene and said second thermoplastic is polypropylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin is linear low density polyethylene and said thermoplastic is nylon 6.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin is linear low density polyethylene and said second thermoplastic is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said medium is through-air bonded and is without mechanically compacted regions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said medium has a density between about 0.08 g/cm 3 and about 0.19 g/cm 3 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said medium has a Mullen Burst strength of at least about 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said medium is three dimensionally shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin and said second thermoplastic polymer have different differential scanning calorimetry melting curves such that an exposure to a temperature that melts about 50% of said polyolefin melts equal to or less than about 10% of said thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 1 wherein said medium is electret treated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
A face mask comprising the sheet filter medium of claim 14.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
A filter medium comprising autogenously bonded continuous uncrimped conjugate spunbond fibers having less than two crimps per extended inch, said filter medium having a density between 0.1 g/cm 3 and about 0.5 g/cm 3 and being three dimensionally thermoformed, said conjugate fibers comprising a lower melting polyolefin and a higher melting polymer as defined by scanning calorimetry melting curves, wherein an exposure to a temperature that melts about 50% of said lower melting polyolefin melts equal to or less than about 10% of said higher melting polymer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
87 words
A filter medium comprising autogenously bonded continuous uncrimped conjugate spunbond fibers having less than two crimps per extended inch, said filter medium having a density between 0.1 g/cm 3 and about 0.5 g/cm 3 and being three dimensionally thermoformed, said conjugate fibers comprising a lower melting polyolefin and a higher melting polymer as defined by scanning calorimetry melting curves, wherein an exposure to a temperature that melts about 50% of said lower melting polyolefin melts equal to or less than about 10% of said higher melting polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 16 wherein said polyolefin is selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polypentene, and blends and copolymers thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The filter medium of claim 16 wherein said higher melting polymer is selected from polyolefins, polycarbonate, polyamides, polyesters, acrylic copolymers, and blends and copolymers thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The filter medium of claim 16 wherein said polyolefin is linear low density polyethylene and said higher melting polymer is polypropylene.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The filter medium of claim 16 wherein said medium has a density between 0.12 g/cm 3 and 0.4 q/cm 3 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 16 wherein said medium is electret treated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
A face mask comprising the sheet filter medium of claim 21.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
84 words
A sheet filter medium comprising autogenously bonded continuous uncrimped conjugate spunbond fibers having less than two crimps per extended inch, said medium having a density between about 0.07 g/cm 3 and about 0.5 g/cm 3 and a Frazier permeability of at least 15 m 3 /min/m 2 , said conjugate fibers comprising a polyolefin and a second thermoplastic polymer that has a melting point higher than said polyolefin, wherein said medium has a Mullen Burst strength of at least about 3.5 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
A sheet filter medium comprising autogenously bonded continuous uncrimped conjugate spunbond fibers having less than two crimps per extended inch, said medium having a density between about 0.07 g/cm 3 and about 0.5 g/cm 3 and a Frazier permeability of at least 15 m 3 /min/m 2 , said conjugate fibers comprising a polyolefin and a second thermoplastic polymer that has a melting point higher than said polyolefin, wherein said medium has a Mullen Burst strength of at least about 3.5 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 23 wherein said second thermoplastic polymer has a higher temperature differential scanning calorimetry melting curve than said polyolefin so that an exposure to a temperature that melts about 50% of said polyolefin melts equal to or less than about 10% of said thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 23 wherein said polyolefin and said second thermoplastic polymer have completely separated differential scanning calorimetry melting curves.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 23 wherein said medium is through-air bonded and is without mechanically compacted regions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 26 wherein said medium has a density between about 0.12 g/cm 3 and about 0.4 g/cm 3 .
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 23 wherein said medium has a Mullen Burst strength of at least about 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sheet filter medium of claim 23 wherein said medium has an electrostatic charge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3595731A
Cited
US3423266A
Cited
GB1094420A
Cited
US3399259A
Cited
US3780149A
Cited
US3849241A
Cited
US3802817A
Cited
US3692618A
Cited
US4269888A
Cited
US4189338A
Cited
US4068036A
Cited
US4215682A
Cited
US4315881A
Cited
US4211661A
Cited
US4280860A
Cited
US4340563A
Cited
US4414276A
Cited
US4375718A
Cited
US4469540A
Cited
US4774124A
Cited
US4749348A
Cited
US4592815A
Cited
US4508113A
Cited
US4589894A
Cited
US4551378A
Cited
US4663220A
Cited
US4657804A
Cited
US4981749A
Cited
US5133917A
Cited
US4818587A
Cited
US4814032A
Cited
US4874666A
Cited
US4839228A
Cited
DE3824983A1
Cited
US4842739A
Cited
US4830904A
Cited
US4948515A
Cited
US5106552A
Cited
US4883707A
Cited
WO1989010989A1
Cited
US5082720A
Cited
US4973382A
Cited
US4980215A
Cited
US5198057A
Cited
US5108820A
Cited
US5130196A
Cited
US5167765A
Cited
EP0466381A1
Cited
US5225014A
Cited
WO1993001334A1
Cited
US5418045A
Cited
US5401446A
Cited
US5273565A
Cited
US5482772A
Cited
WO1995013856A1
Cited
US5597645A
Cited
US5609947A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-04 | 2002-07-06 | 2003-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-04 | 2006-07-06 | 2007-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-04 | 2010-07-06 | 2011-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |