|Publication number||US4525407 A|
|Application number||US 06/502,366|
|Publication date||Jun 25, 1985|
|Filing date||Jun 8, 1983|
|Priority date||Aug 27, 1982|
|Also published as||CA1223436A1, EP0102245A2, EP0102245A3|
|Publication number||06502366, 502366, US 4525407 A, US 4525407A, US-A-4525407, US4525407 A, US4525407A|
|Inventors||Irving S. Ness|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (3), Referenced by (164), Classifications (30), Legal Events (12) |
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
Disposable diapers, bandages
US 4525407 A
An extensible elastic composite with elastic recovery and process for making the same comprising intermittently securing an elastic member to a substrate which prior to initial stretching is easily less extensible than said elastic member.
What is claimed is:
1. A selectively stretchable elastic composite comprising an elastic member in a relaxed condition intermittently bonded to an unstretched or non-gathered substrate less extensible than said elastic member, said composite being rendered elastic by stretching, and wherein the original length of the composite is not foreshortened when said composite is rendered elastic.
2. The composite of claim 1 wherein said elastic member is a reticulated elastic.
3. The composite of claim 2 wherein said reticulated elastic comprises a mixture of thermoplastic rubber and an olefin polymer.
4. The composite of claim 1 wherein said substrate is a plastic film.
5. The composite of claim 4 wherein said film comprises a laminate comprising a low melting point component adjacent said elastic, said low melting point component having a lower melting point than said elastic member or said substrate, to effect heat sealing of the elastic member to the substrate.
6. The composite of claim 2 wherein said reticulated elastic member has a coating of a low melting point component, said low melting point component having a lower melting point than said reticulated elastic member or said substrate, to effect heat sealing of the elastic member to the substrate.
7. The composite of claim 5 or 6 wherein said low melting point component is EVA.
8. The composite of claim 5 wherein said laminate further comprises a polypropylene film and an embossed polyethylene film.
9. A gathered stretchable elastic composite comprising an elastic member in a relaxed condition intermittently bonded to a stretched, puckered substrate, wherein the original length of the composite is never foreshortened.
10. A process for making a selectively stretchable elastic composite which may be rendered elastic by stretching, but in which the original length of the composite is not foreshortened when said composite is rendered elastic comprising:
(a) intermittently bonding an unstretched elastic member to a substrate less easily extensible than said elastic member to form an elastic composite.
11. A process for making a selectively stretchable elastic composite which may be rendered elastic by stretching, but in which the original length of the composite is not foreshortened when said composite is rendered elastic comprising:
(a) intermittently bonding an unstretched elastic member to a substrate less easily extensible than said elastic member to form an elastic composite, and (b) stretching selected areas of said composite to a selected degree to effect permanent elongation of said substrate, and (c) allowing the composite to relax.
12. The process of claim 11 wherein said elastic member is a reticulated elastic.
13. A gathered stretchable elastic composite formed by the process of claim 10, 11, or 12.
14. A process for selectively enhancing the stretchability of an elastic composite comprising:
(a) intermittently bonding stretched but further stretchable elastic member to a substrate less easily extensible than said elastic member, and (b) stretching selected areas of said composite to permanently elongate said substrate to a selected degree to provide entensibility and enhance stretchability in the selected areas.
15. A process for providing an extensible waist band in a disposable diaper having a plastic backing layer and an absorbent batt, and having longitudinal side edges and end edges wherein an elastic member in an unstretched condition is intermittently bonded to the backing layer along at least one end edge, said at least one end edge being rendered extensible and elastic by the stretching, wherein said at least one end edge is not foreshortened when rendered elastic.
16. A process for providing selectively stretchable leg opening regions in a disposable diaper, said diaper having two end edges and two side edges and elastic members disposed adjacent the side edges, said side edges of the diaper being composed of a material which prior to stretching is less easily extensible than said elastic, said process comprising intermittently bonding said elastic member to the side edges in a partial stretched condition, and stretching selected areas of the side edges to permanently elongate the selected areas to a selected degree to provide extensibility and enhanced elasticity of said selected areas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 412,446, filed Aug. 27, 1982 abandoned.
Various articles, including disposable diapers, bandages, disposable examination and surgical gowns, clean room coveralls, etc., utilize elastic material to improve the conformability and fit. The improved conformability and fit enhance both the appearance and the functionality of the article. The present invention provides a new elastic composite and a new and easier method of incorporating elastic into these articles.
A preferred elastic material for use in the present invention is a reticulated elastic. Various reticulated or filamentary materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,255,065; 3,791,911; and 3,474,952. However, the reticulated or filamentary materials disclosed in these patents are not elastic and are used merely to reinforce film.
One method of incorporating elastic into disposable articles may be found in U.S. Ser. No. 60,704. In this application a stretched reticulated elastic is secured in a disposable diaper or undergarment imparting a predetermined elasticity to leg opening and/or waist portion of the diaper. In one embodiment of the elastic composite of the present invention, the elastic is secured within the composite in an unstretched condition. Unstretched elastic is easier and less expensive to handle during the manufacturing of the garment or composite. In addition, the position and degree of extensibility of the elastic composite of the present invention may be determined by the user. In a preferred method of the present invention the elastic member in a partial stretched condition is incorporated into the composite, and the composite is selectively stretched. Another method of incorporating elastic into an article involves securing an immobilized stretched elastic to a substrate as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,815. Thereafter, the means for immobilizing the elastic is removed and the elastic relaxes gathering the substrate. Still another method of incorporating elastic into articles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,917 wherein a heat recoverable elastic material is secured to a substrate while in an unstretched condition and then heated. Both of these latter two methods involve the gathering or foreshortening of the substrate material to which the elastic is attached, as opposed to the present invention in which an unstretched elastic member is bonded to a substrate where the original length of the composite is never decreased.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The elastic composite of the present invention comprises an elastic member intermittently bonded to a substrate which before stretching is less easily extensible than said elastic member, and which has a less elastic recovery than said elastic member. The elastic member may comprise a non-apertured elastic band or reticulated elastic. The composite formed and, particularly, the substrate may be initially stretched in selected regions and to a selected degree. After the initial stretching, the substrate and the composite may be retracted by the elastic member, but may be easily extended within the limits of the initial stretching of the substrate. In this embodiment of the invention the unstretched elastic is intermittently bonded to a stretched, puckered substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate comprises a plastic film and in a still preferred embodiment, the plastic film has a low melting point component such as ethylene-vinyl acetate adjacent the elastic member. The composite may comprise a second substrate "sandwiching" the elastic. The composite may be used in the waist and/or the leg opening regions of a garment or disposable diaper; or in the wrist, armhole, or waist of a conformable garment, such as an examination or surgical gown; or in a bandage.
One embodiment of the process of the present invention comprises intermittently bonding an unstretched elastic member to an unstretched non-gathered substrate having less extensibility than said elastic member and with less elastic recovery than said elastic member. This process may further comprise stretching selected areas of the composite to a selected degree to give the composite an adjustable elasticity. In another embodiment of the process of the present invention, a partially stretched elastic member is intermittently bonded to a substrate which, prior to stretching, is less easily extensible than the elastic member to form an elastic composite, and thereafter stretching selected areas of the composite to a selected degree. The composite may be incorporated into garments or bandages during manufacture and may be selectably stretched prior to wearing or while worn. Alternatively, the composite may be selectively stretched before incorporation into a garment or bandage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an elastic composite according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the elastic composite of FIG. 1 when stretched under tension;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the elastic composite of FIG. 2 when the tension is released;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred elastic member for use in the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an elastic composite according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view partially peeled away of the assembled elastic composite of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view partially cut away of the elastic composite of FIG. 6, when stretched under tension;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view partially cut away of the elastic composite of FIG. 7, when the tension is released;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the elements of a disposable diaper incorporating the elastic composite of FIG. 1 along the longitudinal side edges;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the disposable diaper assembled as in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a preferred embodiment of a disposable diaper according to the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a disposable surgical gown incorporating the elastic composite of the present invention; and
FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of the process according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates, in exploded perspective view, the elements of one embodiment of an elastic composite according to the present invention. The embodiment shown comprises a non-apertured elastic member 10 and an unstretched, non-gathered substrate 12 which before it is stretched is less easily extensible than the elastic member and has less elastic recovery than the elastic member. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate comprises a plastic film which may have a low melting point component such as ethylene vinyl acetate, to effect thermal bonding to the elastic. As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic member and substrate are intermittently bonded at 14 in a regular or irregular pattern. Bonding may be effected by any conventional means such as adhesive spot bonding, heat sealing, sonic bonding, etc. The substrate may alternatively comprise a woven, nonwoven, knitted or fusible fabric with the requisite extensibility and elastic recovery.
As shown in FIG. 2, the composite may be stretched in any direction, imparting extensibility and elasticity to the composite. The elastic must have sufficient strength to pucker or gather the substrate, as shown at 16 in FIG. 3, when the tension is released. The extensibility and recovery of the elastic composite may be incorporated into an elastic bandage or wrap that is easy to apply and fits closely. The puckering of the substrate provides bulk and softness in the bandage. The bandage may be extended and rendered elastic prior to or during bandaging, and different portions of the bandage may be given different degrees of extensibility and elasticity. The substrate used may have sufficient strength to substantially prevent extensibility of the composite during wearing, or may stretch easily allowing the bandage or composite to stretch in place, as worn, providing enhanced conformability and fit. The puckered composite, as shown in FIG. 3, may also be used to provide a "mock shirred" fabric, and if desired the final dimensions of the fabric may be the same as the starting dimensions of the substrate.
FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of an elastic member to be used in forming an elastic composite of the present invention. The elastic shown generally at 20 is a reticulated elastic element having transverse strands 22 and longitudinal strands 24. As shown in exploded view in FIG. 5, the elastic composite of the present invention may be formed of an unstretched reticulated elastic 20, a substrate 28 having less extensibility than the elastic member and less elastic recovery than the elastic member, and a second substrate 30 which "sandwiches" the elastic member and which has substantially the same physical properties as substrate 28. FIG. 6 illustrates the assembled elastic composite of FIG. 5 peeled back to show the two substrates and the elastic member. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate may comprise a plastic film. In a still preferred embodiment, the elastic film may comprise a laminate having a low melting point component such as ethylene-vinyl acetate adjacent the elastic member to effect thermal bonding thereto. Alternatively, the elastic member may incorporate a low melting point component. In a most preferred embodiment, the substrate comprises a laminate having a layer of polypropylene for strength and an inner layer of ethylenevinyl acetate for bonding to the elastic member and an outer layer of polyethylene due to its good hand and release characteristics. The polyethylene may be embossed.
FIG. 7 illustrates the composite of FIG. 6 stretched in the longitudinal direction. The substrate extends and undergoes permanent elongation but remains intermittently bonded to the elastic member. If a reticulated elastic is used, such as shown in FIG. 6 at 20, bonding of the substrates through the openings in the reticulated elastic may be delaminated in the stretching of the composite leaving the elastic and the substrates bonded at the intermediate sites of the transverse and/or longitudinal strands. The substrate may possess some elastic recovery but in general must have less elastic recovery than the elastic member bonded thereto.
FIG. 8 illustrates the composite of FIG. 7 once the tension thereon has been released and the composite has returned to its original length. As is illustrated, the substrate or substrates have been permanently elongated and are puckered at 34 by the elastic when it contracts. FIG. 9 is an expanded view of the elastic composite shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 9, the puckering 34 occurs between the intermittent bonds which remain along the transverse strands 22 of the elastic member. It should be noted that if the method of attachment of the elastic member to the substrate is not capable of elongation, some or all of the bonding of the longitudinal strands to the substrates may be disrupted by the initial stretching.
FIG. 10 illustrates an exploded view of a disposable diaper and its method of manufacture according to the present invention. The diaper includes a facing layer 126, an impervious backing sheet 128, and an absorbent panel 130, and is provided with tape tabs 132. The generally rectangular diaper may be provided with unstretched or partially stretched elastic along the longitudinal edges thereof. In a preferred embodiment as shown, the elastic 134 may comprise reticulated elastic. During the manufacturing process, the elastic is at least intermittently bonded to the plastic film backing layer of the diaper. If the facing layer overlies the elastic, it must be extensible in the region which overlies the elastic. FIG. 11 illustrates the completed diaper assembled according to FIG. 10. The elastic composite is incorporated in the diaper along the longitudinal edges to form elastic composites 136 and 137 in the leg opening regions. Prior to diapering, or while being worn, the elastic composites may be selectively stretched in selected areas to impart a greater elasticity to the leg opening regions.
FIG. 12 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a diaper according to the present invention. The leg opening regions may comprise elastic composites 136 and 137 according to the present invention. The waist-fitting portions may also comprise elastic composites 138 and 139 according to the present invention. The elastic member may be incorporated with the composite in an unstretched or partially stretched condition. The elastic composite at the waist-fitting portions provides a diaper with good fit that may be adjusted by the diaperer. In addition, if the elastic is incorporated into the diaper in an unstretched condition, it may be easily set in transversely to machine direction.
FIG. 13 illustrates a disposable gown such as a surgical or examination gown, utilizing the elastic composite of the present invention. The gown shown generally at 140 has an elastic composite incorporated into the armhole opening at 142. The elastic composite may be attached by any means such as heat sealing, gluing or stitching to both the main body 143 and sleeve 144 of the garment. If desired, the composite may strongly resist stretching, but after initial stretching provide elasticity as needed. Preferably, the composite stretches easily so that the garment grows to fit the wearer. The elastic composite may also be incorporated in the gown in other regions such as at 146 in the sleeve cuff and 148 around the waist.
FIG. 14 is a mechanical schematic of one method according to the present invention. A supply roll 212 of reticulated elastic 210 is continuously inserted between two substrate layers, preferably plastic film layers 214, 216, fed from supply rolls 218, 220, respectively. Desirably, the plastic film includes a layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, which faces toward the reticulated elastic 210, and a layer of a stretchable polymer such as polypropylene or high density polyethylene. The three layer web 222 comprising the reticulated elastic 210 contained between two plastic film substrates 214, 216 is fed into the nip of a pair of smooth, heated, counterrotating rolls 224, 226 to heat seal the reticulated elastic 210 to the two layers of film 214, 216, to form a heat sealed three layer composite 228.
In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the heat sealed composite 228 may then be fed into the nip of a second pair of counter-rotating rolls 230, 232, which may be cooled to insure that the thermal bonding is "set". The composite may be made as part of, or made and then incorporated into an article. The composite may be initially stretched by the user or applier, or may be stretched during the manufacturing process as follows. The web 234 emerging from the second pair of counter-rotating rolls 230, 232 may be fed into the nip of a third pair of counter-rotating rolls 236, 238, rotating at a faster peripheral speed than the second pair 230, 232 to effect drafting between the two pairs of rolls. This drafting stretches the films 214, 216 and ruptures the heat seal bonds between the films 214, 216. As illustrated, the composite with elastic is stretched in the longitudinal direction, which may also rupture the seal between the longitudinal strands and the film(s), leaving only the transverse strands bonded to the film layers 214, 216. As the stretched composite 244 emerges from the third pair of counter-rotating rolls 236, 238, the longitudinal or machine direction tension is relaxed, and the composite 244 is fed to a windup 246 that is rotating at a peripheral speed approximately equal to the peripheral speed of the second pair of counter-rotating rolls 230 and 232.
FIG. 14 illustrates only one method for making the elastic composite of the present invention. Alternative methods have been described with reference to the prior drawings and considerable variation is permitted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, the invention is operative when only one layer of plastic film is employed to bond to the reticulated elastic. Alternatively, only one layer of film may be used, but before it is bonded to the reticulated elastic, it is folded over the elastic to form, in effect, a three layer web. If desired, the reticulated elastic may be preheated before it reaches the heat sealing station, which in FIG. 14 is shown as a pair of counter-rotating rolls 224, 226. The preheating can be done by infrared heating, hot air heating, or other known procedures.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US3819401 *||Nov 13, 1970||Jun 25, 1974||Fmc Corp||Method of preparing shirred, elastic, flexible articles|
|US4418123 *||Dec 3, 1981||Nov 29, 1983||H. B. Fuller Company||Blocks polymers, rubbery midblocks, glassy vinylarene endblocks|
|JPS54125272A *|| ||Title not available|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US4655760 *||Jul 30, 1985||Apr 7, 1987||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Elasticized garment and method of making the same|
|US4657802 *||Jul 30, 1985||Apr 14, 1987||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Joined to nonwoven fibrous gathered web|
|US4720415 *||Jul 30, 1985||Jan 19, 1988||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Composite elastomeric material and process for making the same|
|US4823427 *||Apr 4, 1986||Apr 25, 1989||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Elastic dust mop head cover|
|US4863779 *||Mar 13, 1987||Sep 5, 1989||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Ethylene-vinyl ester web|
|US4883549 *||Dec 6, 1988||Nov 28, 1989||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Multilayer, pressure sensitive adhesives, stretching olefin homopolymers|
|US4892598 *||Dec 30, 1987||Jan 9, 1990||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Method of integrating an absorbent insert into an elastomeric outer cover of a diaper garment|
|US4908247 *||Apr 10, 1987||Mar 13, 1990||The Procter & Gamble Company||Elastomeric member capable of being elastically shirred subsequent to manufacture of article|
|US4923456 *||Dec 31, 1987||May 8, 1990||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Adjustable combination fastener for a disposable diaper|
|US4936840 *||Dec 31, 1987||Jun 26, 1990||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Method of reducing fastener irritation and waist droop in a disposable diaper|
|US5002815 *||Jan 23, 1989||Mar 26, 1991||Chisso Corporation||Bulky and reinforced non-woven fabric|
|US5032120 *||Mar 9, 1989||Jul 16, 1991||The Procter & Gamble Company||Disposable absorbent article having improved leg cuffs|
|US5037416 *||Mar 9, 1989||Aug 6, 1991||The Procter & Gamble Company||Disposable absorbent article having elastically extensible topsheet|
|US5092862 *||Mar 23, 1988||Mar 3, 1992||The Procter & Gamble Company||Elastic securement of an article with segments capable of being elastically shirred|
|US5143679 *||Feb 28, 1991||Sep 1, 1992||The Procter & Gamble Company||Method for sequentially stretching zero strain stretch laminate web to impart elasticity thereto without rupturing the web|
|US5156793 *||Feb 28, 1991||Oct 20, 1992||The Procter & Gamble Company||Feeding between pair of corrugated rolls with varying degree of meshing|
|US5167897 *||Feb 28, 1991||Dec 1, 1992||The Procter & Gamble Company||Method for incrementally stretching a zero strain stretch laminate web to impart elasticity thereto|
|US5232777 *||Sep 23, 1991||Aug 3, 1993||Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company||Elastic strand construction|
|US5292582 *||Apr 27, 1992||Mar 8, 1994||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Elastic dust cloth|
|US5330458 *||Jun 12, 1992||Jul 19, 1994||The Procter & Gamble Company||Absorbent article with elastic feature having a portion mechanically prestrained|
|US5334446 *||Jan 24, 1992||Aug 2, 1994||Fiberweb North America, Inc.||Composite elastic nonwoven fabric|
|US5354597 *||Dec 4, 1992||Oct 11, 1994||Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company||Inelastic deformation|
|US5393599 *||Jul 23, 1993||Feb 28, 1995||Fiberweb North America, Inc.||Composite nonwoven fabrics|
|US5411498 *||Jun 29, 1994||May 2, 1995||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Stretchable shaped absorbent garment|
|US5431644 *||Mar 31, 1993||Jul 11, 1995||Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company||Elastic strand construction|
|US5431991 *||Jan 22, 1993||Jul 11, 1995||Fiberweb North America, Inc.||Process stable nonwoven fabric|
|US5451219 *||Jul 28, 1993||Sep 19, 1995||Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.||Stretchable absorbent article|
|US5500063 *||Jun 28, 1994||Mar 19, 1996||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Method of joining an elastic band to a continuously moving partially elastic substrate|
|US5536555 *||Feb 1, 1995||Jul 16, 1996||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Liquid permeable, quilted film laminates|
|US5543206 *||Nov 23, 1994||Aug 6, 1996||Fiberweb North America, Inc.||Nonwoven composite fabrics|
|US5545158 *||Jun 23, 1994||Aug 13, 1996||Kimberly-Clark Corporation||Disposable absorbent garment and a continuous, selectively elasticized band joined there to|
|US5576090 *||Feb 12, 1993||Nov 19, 1996||Suzuki; Migaku||Intermittent bonding of elastic sheet and backing, waist for disposable diaper|
|US5591784 *||Jun 16, 1995||Jan 7, 1997||Three Bond Co., Ltd.||Curable (metha)cryloyl polymer for photopolymerizable carbon fiber reinforced composition|
|US5592690 *||Nov 30, 1994||Jan 14, 1997||Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc.||Elastic laminated sheet for articles of clothing|
|US5628856 *||Apr 29, 1996||May 13, 1997||The Procter & Gamble Company||Method for forming a composite elastic material|
|US5645672 *||Jun 24, 1996||Jul 8, 1997||The Proctor & Gamble Company||Method for forming a composite elastic material|
|US5669996 *||Sep 12, 1995||Sep 23, 1997||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Method of joining an elastic band to a continuously moving partially elastic substrate|
|US5702798 *||Jun 19, 1995||Dec 30, 1997||Nippon Petrochemicals Company, Limited||Composite material with controlled elasticity|
|US5724677 *||Mar 8, 1996||Mar 10, 1998||Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company||Multi-part headband and respirator mask assembly and process for making same|
|US5804021 *||May 10, 1996||Sep 8, 1998||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Slit elastic fibrous nonwoven laminates and process for forming|
|US5861074 *||Jul 26, 1996||Jan 19, 1999||Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc.||Method of making an elastic laminated sheet of an incrementally stretched nonwoven fibrous web and elastomeric film|
|US5882769 *||Mar 10, 1997||Mar 16, 1999||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Stretch-pillowed, bulked laminate|
|US5885908 *||Oct 4, 1996||Mar 23, 1999||Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Co.||Used for disposable porducts and garments; film has a f10 force ratio, which f10 ratio is of the machine direction f10 force to the cross direction f10 force, of atleast 1.5|
|US5904710 *||Aug 21, 1997||May 18, 1999||The Procter & Gamble Company||Disposable elastic thermal body wrap|
|US5906637 *||Aug 21, 1997||May 25, 1999||The Procter & Gamble Company||Disposable elastic thermal uniaxial joint wrap|
|US5910224 *||Sep 11, 1997||Jun 8, 1999||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Method for forming an elastic necked-bonded material|
|US5921973 *||Feb 17, 1997||Jul 13, 1999||Bba Nonwoven Simpsonville, Inc.||Nonwoven fabric useful for preparing elastic composite fabrics|
|US5928211 *||Feb 1, 1996||Jul 27, 1999||Sca Molnlycke Ab||Method of elastifying a substrate blank and an elastified substrate blank|
|US6022430 *||Jun 19, 1998||Feb 8, 2000||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Method of making absorbent articles having an adjustable belt|
|US6022431 *||Jun 19, 1998||Feb 8, 2000||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Method of making prefastened absorbent articles having a stretch band|
|US6022432 *||Jun 19, 1998||Feb 8, 2000||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Method of making prefastened disposable absorbent articles|
|US6034010 *||Sep 24, 1997||Mar 7, 2000||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Breathable; multilayer|
|US6036805 *||Jun 19, 1998||Mar 14, 2000||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Method of making an asborbent article with prefastened side panels|
|US6045900 *||Sep 15, 1997||Apr 4, 2000||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Breathable filled film laminate|
|US6060149 *||Jan 26, 1998||May 9, 2000||The Procter & Gamble Company||Multiple layer wiping article|
|US6064120 *||Aug 21, 1997||May 16, 2000||Micron Technology, Inc.||Apparatus and method for face-to-face connection of a die face to a substrate with polymer electrodes|
|US6070579 *||Mar 8, 1996||Jun 6, 2000||3M Innovative Properties Company||Elastomeric composite headband|
|US6074505 *||Jul 15, 1996||Jun 13, 2000||The Procter & Gamble Company||Structure and method of forming a laminate structure|
|US6075179 *||Oct 1, 1996||Jun 13, 2000||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||A thin liquid barrier comprising a core layer made from an extrudable thermoplastic polymer; personal care absorbent products, articles of clothing and health care related items such as surgical drapes and gowns|
|US6090234 *||Aug 21, 1997||Jul 18, 2000||The Procter & Gamble Company||Elastic laminates and methods for making the same|
|US6093663 *||Mar 2, 1999||Jul 25, 2000||The Procter & Gamble Company||Structure and method of forming a laminate structure|
|US6106925 *||Feb 19, 1999||Aug 22, 2000||The Procter & Gamble Company||Coversheet for an absorbent product|
|US6110479 *||Oct 23, 1997||Aug 29, 2000||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Multilayer films as adsorbent|
|US6113717 *||Dec 18, 1998||Sep 5, 2000||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Method of making refastenable, pant-like disposable absorbent articles|
|US6124001 *||Aug 5, 1997||Sep 26, 2000||Nippon Petrochemicals Company Limited||Forming flexible elastomer layer on surface of longitudinally monoaxially oriented reticular web, transversally monoaxially oriented reticular web, woven or non-woven fabric composed of monoaxially oriented tapes, and stretched long fiber web|
|US6148817 *||Jan 23, 1998||Nov 21, 2000||3M Innovative Properties Company||Multi-part headband and respirator mask assembly and process for making same|
|US6180214||Jan 14, 1999||Jan 30, 2001||The Procter & Gamble Company||Wiping article which exhibits differential wet extensibility characteristics|
|US6187425||May 13, 1997||Feb 13, 2001||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Elastic materials with improved performance at body temperature|
|US6238767||Jul 31, 1998||May 29, 2001||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Laminate having improved barrier properties|
|US6245401||Mar 12, 1999||Jun 12, 2001||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Segmented conformable breathable films|
|US6270875||Jan 14, 1999||Aug 7, 2001||The Procter & Gamble Company||Multiple layer wipe|
|US6322552||Jun 19, 1998||Nov 27, 2001||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Absorbent articles having belt loops and an adjustable belt|
|US6387471 *||Apr 15, 1999||May 14, 2002||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Creep resistant composite elastic material with improved aesthetics, dimensional stability and inherent latency and method of producing same|
|US6402731||Aug 8, 1997||Jun 11, 2002||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Multi-functional fastener for disposable absorbent articles|
|US6417121||Dec 30, 1999||Jul 9, 2002||Bba Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc.||Multicomponent fibers and fabrics made using the same|
|US6417122||Dec 30, 1999||Jul 9, 2002||Bba Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc.||Nonwoven fabrics from multicomponent fibers with two different polymers|
|US6420285||Dec 30, 1999||Jul 16, 2002||Bba Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc.||High and low melting polymer blends of propylene and polyethylene, having superior extensibility, tensile strength and wear resistance|
|US6454752||Mar 17, 2000||Sep 24, 2002||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Pre-fastened adjustable mechanical fastener garment|
|US6465073||Jun 30, 1999||Oct 15, 2002||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Variable stretch material and process to make it|
|US6476289 *||Jun 5, 1997||Nov 5, 2002||The Procter & Gamble Company||Garment having elastomeric laminate|
|US6508797||Nov 3, 2000||Jan 21, 2003||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Pant-like disposable absorbent articles with a releasable line of weakness and a fastener|
|US6524293||Dec 17, 1999||Feb 25, 2003||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Prefastened disposable absorbent articles having a stretch panel|
|US6547915 *||Feb 8, 2002||Apr 15, 2003||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Creep resistant composite elastic material with improved aesthetics, dimensional stability and inherent latency and method of producing same|
|US6551294||Dec 17, 1999||Apr 22, 2003||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide||Disposable absorbent articles having a stretch panel and an integrated waist size adjustment mechanism|
|US6572601||Jun 4, 1999||Jun 3, 2003||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Disposable absorbent articles having an adjustable, pretensioned waistband fastening system|
|US6579275||Sep 28, 2000||Jun 17, 2003||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Pant-like disposable absorbent articles with releasable seams and a folded fastening feature|
|US6610039 *||Oct 6, 2000||Aug 26, 2003||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Absorbent article|
|US6623834||Jan 14, 1999||Sep 23, 2003||The Procter & Gamble Company||Disposable wiping article with enhanced texture and method for manufacture|
|US6638605||Nov 16, 1999||Oct 28, 2003||Allegiance Corporation||Intermittently bonded nonwoven disposable surgical laminates|
|US6653523||Oct 4, 1999||Nov 25, 2003||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Low gauge films and film/nonwoven laminates|
|US6671884||Nov 1, 2002||Jan 6, 2004||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Method for defining areas of a protective garment subjected to stretching forces when worn by wearer|
|US6682514||Jun 30, 1999||Jan 27, 2004||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc.||Efficient zoned elastic laminate|
|US6712921 *||Mar 29, 2001||Mar 30, 2004||Uni-Charm Corporation||Process for making elastically stretchable composite sheet|
|US6716514||Sep 20, 2001||Apr 6, 2004||The Procter & Gamble Company||Disposable article with enhanced texture|
|US6799331||Nov 1, 2002||Oct 5, 2004||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Surgical gown with limited discrete sections of elastomeric materials|
|US6808791||Jun 21, 2001||Oct 26, 2004||The Procter & Gamble Company||Applications for laminate web|
|US6830800||Jun 21, 2001||Dec 14, 2004||The Procter & Gamble Company||Elastic laminate web|
|US6833179||May 14, 2001||Dec 21, 2004||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Targeted elastic laminate having zones of different basis weights|
|US6863960||Jun 21, 2001||Mar 8, 2005||The Procter & Gamble Company||User-activatible substance delivery system|
|US6878433||Jun 21, 2001||Apr 12, 2005||The Procter & Gamble Company||Applications for laminate web|
|US6884494||Dec 21, 1999||Apr 26, 2005||The Procter & Gamble Company||Laminate web|
|US6902796||Dec 28, 2001||Jun 7, 2005||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Elastic strand bonded laminate|
|US6909028||Jul 24, 1998||Jun 21, 2005||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Stable breathable elastic garments|
|US6939334||Dec 19, 2001||Sep 6, 2005||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||disposable absorbent garments|
|US6942748||Aug 30, 2002||Sep 13, 2005||Tredegar Film Products Corporation||Tear resistant elastic laminate and method of forming|
|US6964721 *||Aug 31, 2001||Nov 15, 2005||Uni-Charm Corporation||Process for manufacturing elastically stretchable and contractible composite sheet|
|US6967178||Dec 26, 2002||Nov 22, 2005||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Elastic strand laminate|
|US6969441||May 14, 2001||Nov 29, 2005||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Method and apparatus for producing laminated articles|
|US6972012||Nov 3, 2000||Dec 6, 2005||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Pant-like disposable absorbent articles|
|US6978486||Dec 26, 2002||Dec 27, 2005||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Garment including an elastomeric composite laminate|
|US7008685 *||May 29, 2002||Mar 7, 2006||Carl Freudenberg Kg||Laminated material and method for its production|
|US7013488||Dec 10, 2003||Mar 21, 2006||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Surgical gown with a panel section of elastomeric barrier material|
|US7015155||Jul 2, 2002||Mar 21, 2006||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Elastomeric adhesive|
|US7037300 *||Apr 1, 2003||May 2, 2006||Sca Hygiene Products Ab||Method of producing a differentially stretched member and a differentially stretched member produced thereby|
|US7037569||Dec 20, 2000||May 2, 2006||The Procter & Gamble Company||Laminate web comprising an apertured layer and method for manufacturing thereof|
|US7087289||Dec 1, 2000||Aug 8, 2006||The Procter & Gamble Company||Apertured elastic member|
|US7201816 *||Dec 16, 2002||Apr 10, 2007||Invista North America S.A.R.L.||High bulk composite sheets and method for preparing|
|US7220332 *||Jan 30, 2004||May 22, 2007||The Procter & Gamble Company||Electrical cable|
|US7316840||Jul 2, 2002||Jan 8, 2008||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Elastomeric composites and elastomeric composite laminates including reinforcement strands incorporated into an elastomeric adhesive film. The strands may vary in terms of levels of tension. Facing layers, such as nonwoven webs, can|
|US7316842||Nov 4, 2003||Jan 8, 2008||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||High-viscosity elastomeric adhesive composition|
|US7329621||Dec 17, 2003||Feb 12, 2008||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||May be incorporated into a garment in any suitable capacity, such as in side panels, ears, waistbands, leg elastics, and/or outer covers|
|US7335273||Dec 26, 2002||Feb 26, 2008||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Method of making strand-reinforced elastomeric composites|
|US7338625||Sep 18, 2002||Mar 4, 2008||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Methods of restoring elasticity after stiffening treatments|
|US7355091||Sep 18, 2002||Apr 8, 2008||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Elastomeric nonwoven with attached superabsorbent polymer|
|US7423003||Aug 14, 2001||Sep 9, 2008||The Procter & Gamble Company||Resist folding, especially refolding upon themselves even after an initial fold has been formed in the sheet.; used in dryers|
|US7601657||Dec 31, 2003||Oct 13, 2009||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Single sided stretch bonded laminates, and methods of making same|
|US7625829||Jan 27, 2000||Dec 1, 2009||Tredegar Film Products Corporation||Metallocene-based low density polyethylene film; garments|
|US7651653||Dec 22, 2004||Jan 26, 2010||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Machine and cross-machine direction elastic materials and methods of making same|
|US7763339 *||Jul 8, 2002||Jul 27, 2010||Carl Freudenberg Kg||Nonwoven fabrics with high fluid absorption capacity and a regular structure, process for their production, and their use|
|US7794819||Aug 17, 2007||Sep 14, 2010||Aplix, Inc.||Elastic composite|
|US7806883 *||Jan 17, 2006||Oct 5, 2010||The Procter & Gamble Company||Absorbent articles having a breathable stretch laminate|
|US7819853 *||May 22, 2006||Oct 26, 2010||The Procter & Gamble Company||Variable stretch composites and methods of making the composite|
|US7824514 *||Dec 1, 2005||Nov 2, 2010||The Procter & Gamble Company||Method of producing a stretch laminate|
|US7824594||Nov 19, 2008||Nov 2, 2010||The Procter & Gamble Company||Process for activating a web|
|US7855316||Dec 20, 2002||Dec 21, 2010||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Preferentially stretchable laminates with perforated layers|
|US7896641||Nov 19, 2008||Mar 1, 2011||The Procter & Gamble Company||Apparatus for activating a web|
|US7923505||Nov 13, 2007||Apr 12, 2011||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Base polymer and high softening point tackifier resin; low cost elastomeric composite laminates; reduced bulk, low add on levels|
|US8007614||Aug 27, 2010||Aug 30, 2011||The Procter & Gamble Company||Elastomeric nonwoven laminates and process for producing same|
|US8034431||Jan 25, 2006||Oct 11, 2011||3M Innovative Properties Company||Intermittently bonded fibrous web laminate|
|US8043984||Dec 14, 2004||Oct 25, 2011||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Layer array of continuous filament strands with elastic melt blown layer deposited; extensible facing layer bonded to only one side of said elastic layer; capable of being rolled for storage; diapers, sanitary napkins; low peel strength|
|US8062572||Sep 27, 2010||Nov 22, 2011||The Procter & Gamble Company||Process for activating a web|
|US8182457||May 14, 2001||May 22, 2012||Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.||Garment having an apparent elastic band|
|US8292865||Dec 2, 2002||Oct 23, 2012||Tredegar Film Products Corporation||Absorbent article with double-sided soft and elastic components|
|US8303294||Jan 24, 2011||Nov 6, 2012||The Procter & Gamble Company||Apparatus for activating a web|
|US8333748||Mar 5, 2009||Dec 18, 2012||The Procter & Gamble Company||Outer cover for a disposable absorbent article|
|US8377024||Nov 19, 2008||Feb 19, 2013||The Procter & Gamble Company||Outer cover for a disposable absorbent article|
|US8523834||Oct 22, 2010||Sep 3, 2013||The Procter & Gamble Company||Variable stretch composites and methods of making the composite|
|US8621669||Sep 23, 2011||Jan 7, 2014||Quest Environmental & Safety Products, Inc.||Disposable safety garment with improved doffing and neck closure|
|US8623256||Oct 18, 2011||Jan 7, 2014||The Procter & Gamble Company||Process for activating a web|
|US8741086||Dec 17, 2012||Jun 3, 2014||The Procter & Gamble Company||Method for maintaining a fastener in a folded configuration|
|US8753467||Jun 4, 2010||Jun 17, 2014||The Procter & Gamble Company||Method for maintaining a fastener in a folded configuration|
|US20090299314 *||May 29, 2009||Dec 3, 2009||Pliant Corporation||MD Stretch Laminate Having CD Stretch|
|DE102005048443A1 *||Oct 7, 2005||Apr 12, 2007||Linotec Development Gmbh||Spinnvlies-Filmlaminat|
|DE102007018377A1 *||Apr 17, 2007||Oct 23, 2008||Paul Hartmann Ag||Verfahren zur Herstellung eines elastischen Vliesstoffverbundmaterials|
|EP1104668A1||Dec 1, 1999||Jun 6, 2001||THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY||Apertured elastic member|
|EP1543803A1 *||Nov 27, 2004||Jun 22, 2005||Hans-Jürgen Germerodt||Support bandage or compressive bandage|
|EP1637639A2 *||Aug 25, 2005||Mar 22, 2006||Tredegar Film Products Corporation||Method of producing elastic web|
|WO1991015355A1 *||Jan 7, 1991||Oct 1, 1991||Minnesota Mining & Mfg||Composite materials and process|
|WO1993018729A1||Mar 11, 1993||Sep 30, 1993||Procter & Gamble||Elastic net-like substrate having a layer of fibers pre-bonded thereto for use in an absorbent article|
|WO1995012488A1 *||Oct 7, 1994||May 11, 1995||Peter Coles||Method of making an absorbent article using an activatable composite elastic member|
|WO1996010979A1 *||Oct 5, 1995||Apr 18, 1996||Gianfranco Palumbo||Coversheet for an absorbent product|
|WO1997032494A1 *||Feb 3, 1997||Sep 12, 1997||Minnesota Mining & Mfg||Multi-part headband and respirator mask assembly and process for making same|
|WO2009067511A1||Nov 19, 2008||May 28, 2009||Procter & Gamble||Outer cover for a disposable absorbent article|
|WO2011022344A1||Aug 17, 2010||Feb 24, 2011||The Procter & Gamble Company||Method for maintaining a fastener in a folded configuration|
| || |
|U.S. Classification||428/138, 428/172, 428/152, 428/198, 156/290, 428/212, 156/229|
|International Classification||A41D1/06, A41B9/14, A41B17/00, A41D27/00, A61F13/49, A61B19/08, A61F13/15, B32B7/02, A41D13/12, A61F13/494, A41D31/02|
|Cooperative Classification||B32B7/02, A41D31/02, A61F13/15593, A61F13/49017, A61F13/49011, A41D13/1209|
|European Classification||A61F13/49D2B, A61F13/49D2E, A41D31/02, A41D13/12B, B32B7/02, A61F13/15M2B|
|Oct 20, 1997||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, THE, NEW YORK
Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CHICOPEE, INC.;REEL/FRAME:008744/0462
Effective date: 19970703
|Sep 2, 1997||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 19970625
|Jun 22, 1997||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Jan 28, 1997||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Jun 10, 1996||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION), NEW Y
Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:POLYMER GROUP, INC.;CHICOPEE, INC.;FIBERTECH GROUP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:008376/0030
Effective date: 19960515
|Mar 21, 1996||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, THE, (THE), NEW YORK
Free format text: CORRECTIV;ASSIGNOR:CHICOPEE, INC.;REEL/FRAME:007881/0605
Effective date: 19950315
|Apr 12, 1995||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, THE, (N.A.), NEW YORK
Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CHICOPEE, INC.;REEL/FRAME:007428/0344
Effective date: 19940315
|Mar 22, 1995||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: CHICOPEE, INC., SOUTH CAROLINA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MCNEIL-PPC, INC.;REEL/FRAME:007435/0001
Effective date: 19950308
|Feb 27, 1995||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: MCNEIL-PPC, INC., NEW JERSEY
Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:CHICOPEE;REEL/FRAME:007307/0071
Effective date: 19920625
|Dec 4, 1992||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 8
|Nov 10, 1988||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Jun 8, 1983||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: CHICOPEE A NJ CORP.
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:NESS, IRVING S.;REEL/FRAME:004140/0954
Effective date: 19830603