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US 2022/0062069 A1Published application
Patterning of an elastic laminate
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsShawn E. Jenkins, David W. Primm, Chris M. Allen, Howard M. Welch, David J. Reader, Steven W. Fitting, Vikram S. Kaul
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Abstract
The present disclosure discloses an embossed patterned elastic laminate. The elastic laminate has an embossed pattern of at least three surface areas. The current disclosure also includes a process for making an embossed patterned elastic laminate. The embossed patterned elastic laminate provides a permanent change to visual aesthetic without adversely impacting the elastic film.
Claims23
An elastic embossed laminate comprising:
- an elastomeric pleated film material comprising a first, second and third surface areas comprising:
- (i) first surface area comprising a facing material that is bonded to an elastic layer;
- (ii) second surface area comprising an embossed laminate;
- and (iii) third surface area wherein the third surface area is not in the first or second surface areas and wherein the second surface area has a bulk density of less than about 10% of the bulk density of the third surface area and wherein the fibers in the second surface area have been at least temporarily melt fused together resulting in a flattened fiber cross-section wherein individual fibers and the elastomeric pleated film material remain unapertured in the second surface area.
1 more element
A process for making an elastic embossed laminate comprising:
- thermally point bonding pleated facing layers to an elastic layer with a bonding roll that imparts a first pattern while the elastic layer is in the stretched state;
- embossing an elastic laminate with embossing rolls that impart a second pattern while the elastic laminate is in the relaxed state;
- heating the bonding rolls to a temperature of at least 30 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the temperature of the embossing rolls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.