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US 4,342,314 AGranted
Resilient plastic web exhibiting fiber-like properties
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsClifford J. Radel, Hugh A. Thompson
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AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsClifford J. Radel, Hugh A. Thompson
Estimating the term…
A resilient plastic web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression and method and apparatus for its manufacture. In a preferred embodiment, the web exhibits a three-dimensional microstructure comprising a regulated continuum of debossed areas of non-uniform cross-section along their length. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the debossed areas comprise capillary networks interconnecting the first and second surfaces of the web, said networks being of decreasing size in the direction of said second surface to promote fluid transport from the first surface of the web to the second surface and inhibit the flow of fluid in the reverse direction. Forming surfaces utilized to produce said webs are constructed by laminating a multiplicity of thin plates having patterns of apertures therein to form an integral structure exhibiting properties and characteristics unachievable by prior art machining and weaving techniques. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the individual lamina from which the laminate forming structure is comprised are produced utilizing photoetching techniques, thus making it feasible to produce nearly any desired level of intricacy in the resultant laminate structure. Preferred means for interconnecting said laminate structures with one another without disrupting the three-dimensional pattern in the area of joinder are also disclosed.
A resilient three-dimensional web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression and comprised of fluid-impervious plastic material, said web having first and second surfaces, said first surface having a multiplicity of apertures therein, each of said apertures being defined by a multiplicity of intersecting fiber-like elements interconnected to one another in the plane of said first surface, each of said fiber-like elements further exhibiting a substantially uniform U-shaped cross-section along its length, said cross-section comprising a base portion in said plane of said first surface and a sidewall portion joined to each edge of said base portion, said sidewall portions extending generally in the direction of said second surface of said web, said intersecting sidewall portions being interconnected to one another intermediate said first and said second surfaces of said web, said interconnected sidewall portions terminating substantially concurrently with one another in the plane of said second surface.
A resilient three-dimensional web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression and comprised of fluid-impervious plastic material, said web having first and second surfaces, said first surface having a multiplicity of apertures therein, each of said apertures being defined by a multiplicity of intersecting primary fiber-like elements interconnected to one another in the plane of said first surface, each of said primary fiber-like elements exhibiting a substantially uniform U-shaped cross-section along its length, said cross-section comprising a primary base portion in said plane of said first surface and a primary sidewall portion joined to each edge of said primary base portion, said primary sidewall portions extending generally in the direction of said second surface of said web, said intersecting primary sidewall portions being interconnected to one another intermediate said first and said second surfaces of said web, said interconnected primary sidewall portions being further connected to at least one intersecting secondary fiber-like element exhibiting a substantially uniform U-shaped cross-section along its length, said cross-section of said secondary element comprising a secondary base portion located in a plane intermediate said first and second surfaces of said web and a secondary sidewall portion joined to each edge of said secondary base portion, said secondary sidewall portions also extending generally in the direction of said second surface of said web, said secondary sidewall portions being interconnected to said intersecting primary sidewall portions intermediate the plane of said secondary base portion and the plane of said second surface of said web, said interconnected primary and secondary sidewall portions terminating substantially concurrently with one another in the plane of said second surface.
An absorbent bandage comprising a wearer-contacting topsheet and an absorbent element for absorbing body fluids, said topsheet comprising a resilient three-dimensional web having a first surface for contacting the wearer and a second surface having a multiplicity of apertures therein contacting said absorbent element, said web being comprised of fluid-impervious plastic material, said web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression, said first surface of said web also having a multiplicity of apertures therein, each of said apertures being defined by a multiplicity of intersecting fiber-like elements interconnected to one another in the plane of said first surface, each of said fiber-like elements further exhibiting a substantially uniform U-shaped cross-section along its length, said cross-section comprising a base portion in said plane of said first surface and a sidewall portion joined to each edge of said base portion, said sidewall portions extending generally in the direction of said second surface of said web, said intersecting sidewall portions being interconnected to one another intermediate said first and said second surfaces of said web, said interconnected sidewall portions terminating substantially concurrently with one another in said apertures in the plane of said second surface.
An absorbent bandage comprising a wearer-contacting topsheet and an absorbent element for absorbing body fluids, said topsheet comprising a resilient three-dimensional web having a first surface for contacting the wearer and a second surface having a multiplicity of apertures therein contacting said absorbent element, said web being comprised of fluid-impervious plastic material, said web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression, said first surface of said web also having a multiplicity of apertures therein, each of said apertures being defined by a multiplicity of intersecting primary fiber-like elements interconnected to one another in the plane of said first surface, each of said primary fiber-like elements exhibiting a substantially uniform U-shaped cross-section along its length, said cross-section comprising a primary base portion in said plane of said first surface and a primary sidewall portion joined to each edge of said primary base portion, said primary side-wall portions extending generally in the direction of said second surface of said web, said intersecting primary sidewall portions being interconnected to one another intermediate said first and said second surfaces of said web, said interconnected primary sidewall portions being further connected to at least one intersecting secondary fiber-like element exhibiting a substantially uniform U-shaped cross-section along its length, said cross-section of said secondary element comprising a secondary base portion located in a plane intermediate said first and second surfaces of said web and a secondary sidewall portion joined to each edge of said secondary base portion, said secondary sidewall portions also extending generally in the direction of said second surface of said web, said secondary sidewall portions being interconnected to said intersecting primary sidewall portions intermediate the plane of said secondary base portion and the plane of said second surface of said web, said interconnected primary and secondary sidewall portions terminating substantially concurrently with one another in said apertures in the plane of said second surface.
An absorbent bandage comprising an absorbent element for absorbing body fluids and a breatheable backsheet resistant to aqueous fluid passage secured adjacent said absorbent element opposite the wearer contacting surface of said absorbent element, said backsheet comprising a resilient three-dimensional web having a first surface opposite the wearer-contacting surface of said absorbent bandage and a second surface having a multiplicity of apertures therein contacting said absorbent element, said web being comprised of fluid-impervious plastic material, said web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression, said first surface of said web having a multiplicity of apertures therein, each of said apertures being defined by a multiplicity of intersecting fiber-like elements interconnected to one another in the plane of said first surface, each of said fiber-like elements exhibiting a substantially uniform U-shaped cross-section along its length, said cross-section comprising a base portion in said plane of said first surface and a sidewall portion joined to each edge of said base portion, said sidewall portions extending generally in the direction of said second surface of said web, said intersecting sidewall portions being interconnected to one another intermediate said first and said second surfaces of said web, said interconnected sidewall portions thereby forming a discrete capillary network connecting each of said apertures defined by said multiplicity of intersecting fiber-like elements in the plane of said first surface of said web exclusively with an aperture formed in said second surface of said web by said interconnected sidewall portions of said fiber-like elements, said capillary network being of decreasing cross-section in the direction of said second surface, whereby said capillary network resists aqueous fluid transport from said second surface to said first surface while permitting vapors to pass readily through said backsheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.