Trilobal filaments and spinnerets for producing the same
AssigneeAladdin Manufacturing Corporation
InventorsMaarten Meinders, Paul Pustolski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various implementations include a spinneret plate defining a plurality of capillaries, including a first, second, and third capillary portions with a substantially hexagonal central area therebetween. The substantially hexagonal central area is joined to the spinneret plate by first and second legs being radially spaced apart and separate by a first apex of the substantially hexagonal area. A filament is formed by a polymer exiting the end of the capillary in three separate strands having the shape of the openings, and each strand bulges radially outwardly such that the strands merge together.
Claims21
-18. (canceled)
A filament formed from a thermoplastic polymer, the filament comprising:
- three lobes that extend from a central portion of the filament, each respective lobe comprising:
- a proximal end radially spaced around and adjacent a central portion,
- a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end, and
- first and second surfaces;
- wherein:
- a width of each respective lobe between the first and second surfaces is greatest at the proximal end of each respective lobe and decreases along a continuous concave curve along each of the first and second surfaces,
- a distance from an axial center of the filament to the distal end of each respective lobe defines a first radius (R1),
- a distance from the axial center of the filament to the proximal end of each respective lobe defines a second radius (R2),
- distal ends of the surfaces of each respective lobe intersect at the distal end of each respective lobe,
- the distal end of each respective lobe defines a first tip radius R3 such that a ratio of the first tip radius to the first radius (R3/R1) is between 0.17 and 0.27;
- and
- the central portion defines an axial void, wherein the void is triangular and has three sides that intersect at adjacent ends thereof, and an entire length of each side of the void is arcuate and concave shaped as viewed from the axial center extending axially through the void.
A filament formed from a thermoplastic polymer, the filament comprising:
- three lobes that extend from a central portion of the filament, each respective lobe comprising:
- a proximal end radially spaced around and adjacent a central portion,
- a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end, and
- first and second surfaces;
- wherein:
- a width of each respective lobe between the first and second surfaces is greatest at the proximal end of each respective lobe and decreases along a continuous concave curve along each of the first and second surfaces,
- a distance from an axial center of the filament to the distal end of a first lobe defines a first radius (R1),
- a distance from the axial center of the filament to the proximal end of the first lobe defines a second radius (R2),
- distal ends of the surfaces the first lobe intersect at the distal end of the first lobe,
- the distal end of the first lobe defines a first tip radius R3 such that a ratio of the first tip radius to the second radius (R3/R2) is between 0.4 and 0.6;
- and
- the central portion defines an axial void, wherein the void is triangular and has three sides that intersect at adjacent ends thereof, and an entire length of each side of the void is arcuate and concave shaped as viewed from a central axis extending axially through the void.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.