Process for nonmelt forming webs op thermoplastic resin and article formed thereby

Abstract

Abstract THERMOPLASTIC RESIN IS FORMED INTO A CONTINUOUS PATTERNED WEB WHICH REMAINS INTACT WHILE PASSING THROUGH ONE OR MORE STATONS WHERE WORK, INCLUDING NONMELT FORMING, IS DONE ON THE WEB. FOR EXAMPLE, THE WEB FORMED COMPRISES A STRIP OF FILM HAVING SPACED PREFORMS INTEGRALLY MOLDED TO ONE SURFACE THEREOF. AT THE FIRST STATION, THE WEB IS LONGITUDINALLY NONMELT DRAWN WHICH INCREASES THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PREFORMS BUT DOES NOT CHANGE THEIR CONFIGURATION BECAUSE OF THEIR GREATER THICKNESS. AT THE NEXT STATION, THE PREFORMS ARE NONMELT FORMED INTO A RIVET, AND THE FILM BETWEEN RIVETS IS TRIMMED IN WIDTH IF DESIRED. AT THE FINAL STATION, THE WEB IS BROKEN DOWN INTO DISCRETE RIVETS WHICH ARE NONMELT FORMED IN FASTENING DISPOSITION THROUGH APERTURED SHEET MEMBERS. IF THE FILM OF THE WEB IS RETAINED BETWEEN ONE OR MORE PAIRS OF RIVETS, THE PREVIOUSLY DISCRIBED NONMELT DRAWING OF THE WEB STRENGTHENS THE FILM SO THAT IT CAN SERVE AS A HIGH STRENGTH TYING ELEMENT BETWEEN RIVETS. INSTEAD OF RIVETS, THE PREFORMS CAN BE UTILIZED AS-MOLD OR AS THEREAFTER NONMELT FORMED OR DRAWN TO FORM OTHER USEFUL ARTICLES TOGETHER WITH OR APART FROM THE AS-MOLDED OR THEREAFTER NONMELT DRAWN FILM PORTION OF THE WEB.

Inventors

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