Absorbent structure having three-dimensional topography and method of making same
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Thomas Baker, Theresa Michelle McCoy, Stephen Avedis Baratian, Charles Wilson Colman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of making an absorbent structure having a three-dimensional topography includes placing at least a portion of the absorbent structure between opposed mold surfaces. At least one of the mold surfaces has a three-dimensional topography. The three-dimensional topography of the mold surface is imparted onto the absorbent structure so that the absorbent structure has a three-dimensional topography corresponding to the three-dimensional topography of the mold surface.
Claims11
A method of making an absorbent structure having a three-dimensional topography comprises:
- passing the absorbent structure through a nip defined by opposed rolls, at least one of the rolls having a mold surface with a three-dimensional topography;
- and
- imparting the three-dimensional topography of the mold surface onto the absorbent structure so that the absorbent structure has a three-dimensional topography corresponding to the three-dimensional topography of the mold surface, the three-dimensional topography imparted onto the absorbent structure comprising a plurality of discrete peaks surrounded by interconnected valleys.
An absorbent structure having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a z-direction axis normal to the longitudinal and lateral axes, the absorbent structure comprising longitudinally opposite ends, laterally opposite side edges, an upper surface, and a lower surface, the upper surface having a three-dimensional topography relative to the longitudinal and lateral axes and defining a plurality of discrete peaks and interconnected valleys of the upper surface relative to the z-direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.