Method for deforming a web
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsRichard George Coe, Kevin Gerard Muhs, Robert Karl Isburgh, Rong Deng, Amit Kumar Kaushik, Mathias Johannes Hilpert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to methods for deforming a web comprising the steps of supplying a first layer of a web; weakening the first layer at a plurality of locations to create a plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations in the first layer; supplying a second layer of the web onto at least part of the first layer; and forming a plurality of first features in the first layer and a plurality of second features throughout the first and second layers of the web in the z-direction, wherein the plurality of first and second features are formed simultaneously.
Claims20
A process for deforming a multilayer web, the process comprising the steps of
- a) supplying a first layer of a precursor web;
- b) weakening the first layer at a plurality of locations to create a plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations in a first area of the first layer;
- c) supplying a second layer of the precursor web onto at least the first area of the first layer;
- d) forming a plurality of first features and a plurality of second features in the precursor web,
- wherein the first area of the first layer confines a first area of the precursor web,
- wherein the plurality of first features are apertures formed in the first area of the precursor web coincident with the plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations throughout the first layer but not the second layer,
- wherein the plurality of second features are formed throughout the first and second layers in a second area of the precursor web in the z-direction, and
- wherein the plurality of first features and the plurality of second features are formed simultaneously.
A process for fabricating an absorbent article, the absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable topsheet and a liquid impermeable backsheet, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) supplying a first layer of a precursor topsheet;
- b) weakening the first layer at a plurality of locations to create a plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations in a first area of the first layer;
- c) supplying a second layer of the precursor topsheet onto at least the first area of the first layer;
- d) forming a plurality of first features and a plurality of second features in the precursor topsheet;
- e) supplying a precursor backsheet onto the second layer of the precursor topsheet and integrating the precursor topsheet and the precursor backsheet to form an absorbent article assembly;
- and
- f) severing the absorbent article assembly into individual absorbent articles,
- wherein the first area of the first layer confines a first area of the precursor topsheet,
- wherein the plurality of first features are apertures formed in the first area of the precursor topsheet coincident with the plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations throughout the first layer but not the second layer,
- wherein the plurality of second features are formed throughout the first and second layers in a second area of the precursor topsheet in the z-direction, and
- wherein the plurality of first features and the plurality of second features are formed simultaneously.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.