Stabilization of slit absorbent fabric edges
AssigneeXymid, L.L.C.
InventorsDimitri Zafiroglu, Jason Billups
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are the cut edges of an absorbent fabric comprising at least 45% and less than about 90% cellulosic or natural fibers, and a fusible component being stabilized by fusing the fusible component with an arrangement of spaced lines or spaced areas extending from the cut edges, and optionally over the entire absorbent fabric.
Claims23
A process for stabilizing the cut edges of an absorbent fabric containing at least about 45%, preferably at least about 55%, preferably at least about 70% and less than about 90% cellulosic or natural component, and a fusible component present or added at least within a margin along the cut edges, comprising the steps of
- intermittently fusing said margin by applying heat and pressure to said margin to melt the fusible component in discrete fused areas extending at least along, across or at angle to the cut edges, and
- maintaining free areas between the discrete fused areas substantially free of fusing,
- wherein the fused areas transition in a sloping and progressively less fused periphery toward the free areas,
- wherein said margin optionally extend over substantially the entire surface of the fabric,
- wherein the discrete fused areas comprise less than about 33%, preferably less than about 30%, preferably less than about 25%, preferably less than about 20% of said margin,
- wherein the free areas comprise at least about 50%, preferably at least about 75% of their original thickness, and
- wherein the fabric maintains greater than 50%, preferably at least about 75%, preferably at least about 90% of its overall original thickness.
1 The process of claim 1, wherein the fused areas protrude through an opposite surface to create a three-dimensional effect in said margin.
A fabric comprising containing at least about 45%, preferably at least about 55%, preferably at least about 70% and less than about 90% cellulosic or natural component, and a fusible component, wherein the fusible component is located at least within a stabilizing zone extending proximately from a portion of a periphery of the fabric inward, preferably extending proximately from substantially all of the periphery inward,
- wherein the fusible component is activatable by heat and/or pressure and wherein a plurality of discrete, compacted segments of the fusible component is activated within said segments,
- wherein the fused areas transition in a sloping and progressively less fused periphery toward free areas located between the fused areas,
- wherein the discrete, compacted segments are substantially parallel or substantially orthogonal to the periphery or making an angle with the periphery,
- wherein the fusible component is a heat activated material applied at least to the stabilizing zone or a thermoplastic yarn stitched at least to the stabilizing zone,
- wherein the stabilizing zone optionally extends over substantially the entire surface of the fabric,
- wherein the discrete compact segments comprise less than about 33%, preferably less than about 30%, preferably less than about 25%, preferably less than about 20% of a surface area of said stabilizing zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.