# US 5,350,625 A · Absorbent acrylic spunlaced fabric

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- Number: US 5,350,625 A
- Document ID: US5350625A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/089,871
- Filed: 1993-07-09
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1993-07-09
- Assignees: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
- Inventors: Robert H. Peterson; James T. Summers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350625A

## CPC

- A61F 13/531: having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad (A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence)
- A61F 5/485: {Absorbent protective pads (mattress underlays A47C21/06; bed linen A47G9/02)}
- A61F 13/15268: {reusable (with separable parts A61F13/505)}
- A61L 15/24: Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)}
- A61L 15/28: Polysaccharides or their derivatives {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)}
- B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)}
- D04H 1/4374: using different kinds of webs, e.g. by layering webs
- D04H 1/44: the fleeces or layers being consolidated by mechanical means, e.g. by rolling
- D04H 1/492: by fluid jet (D04H1/49 takes precedence)
- D04H 1/498: entanglement of layered webs
- A61F 2013/15447: {Fibre dimension, e.g. denier or tex}
- A61F 2013/51066: {for rendering the surface hydrophilic}
- A61F 2013/530036: {being made in chemically-modified cellulosic material, e.g. Rayon}
- A61F 2013/530138: {characterized by the fibre length}
- A61F 2013/530167: {being crimped}
- A61F 2013/53035: {of cotton}
- A61F 2013/8414: {with anti-microbic}
- Y10S 428/913: Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
- Y10T 428/24322: Composite web or sheet
- Y10T 442/608: Including strand or fiber material which is of specific structural definition
- Y10T 442/635: Synthetic polymeric strand or fiber material
- Y10T 442/666: Mechanically interengaged by needling or impingement of fluid [e.g., gas or liquid stream, etc.]
- Y10T 442/686: Containing polymeric and natural strand or fiber materials
- Y10T 442/689: Hydroentangled nonwoven fabric
- Y10T 442/696: Including strand or fiber material which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous compositions, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Spunlaced fabric having improved water absorbency containing a blend of certain hydrophilic cellulosic and acrylic fibers and layered absorbent materials made therefrom.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An improved spunlaced water-absorbent reusable fabric suitable for use to absorb fluid, be laundered and reused to absorb fluid again, wherein the improved fabric comprises a mixture of acrylic and synthetic cellulosic fibers and more particularly wherein the improved fabric consists essentially of
about 25 to less than 50 percent, by weight, of crimped acrylic fibers having a dpf of about 0.75 to about 3.0 and a length from about 0.75 to about 3.0 inches, and
about 75 to together than 50 percent of crimped, synthetic, hydrophilic cellulosic fibers having a dpf of about 0.75 to about 3.0 and a length from about 0.75 to about 3.0 inches.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fabric of claim 1 having a basis weight of from about 3.0 to 5.0 ounces per square yard.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fabric of claim 1 in which the fibers have a substantially round cross-section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fabric of claim 1 consisting essentially of 30 to 40% acrylic fibers and correspondingly 70 to 60% solvent-spun cellulosic fibers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fabric of claim 4 wherein both types of fibers have a dpf within the range of about 1.0 to 3.0.

### Claim 6

An absorbent, composite, multilayered, reusable sheet material suitable for use to absorb fluid, then be cleaned such as by laundering, and then be reused again to absorb fluids, wherein the reusable sheet material is comprised of first and second outer layers and a water absorbent inner layer positioned between said two outer layers, wherein said first outer layer is comprised of a liquid water-permeable fabric of hydrophobic synthetic fibers, and the second outer layer is comprised of a flexible, liquid water-impermeable plastic sheet material, and the water-absorbent inner layer is comprised of a spunlaced, water absorbent fabric consisting essentially of a mixture of acrylic and synthetic cellulosic fibers wherein about 25 to less than 50 percent, by weight, are crimped acrylic fibers having a dpf of about 0.75 to about 3.0 and a length from about 0.75 to about 3.0 inches, and about 75 to greater than 50 percent of crimped, synthetic, hydrophilic cellulosic fibers having a dpf of about 0.75 to about 3.0 and a length from about 0.75 to about 3.0 inches.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 6)

The sheet material of claim 6 wherein the water-absorbent inner layer is comprised of at least two layers of a fabric of claim 1.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The sheet material of claim 7 in the form of a bed pad for protecting bedding from urinary soiling by a bed occupant, and keeping the patient dry to promote healthy skin.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The fabric of claim 1 wherein at least some of the acrylic fibers contain an effective amount of an antimicrobial agent.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The layered sheet material of claim 6, wherein the inner layer consists essentially of two layers of said fabric of 30 to 70% acrylic fibers and correspondingly 70 to 30% cellulosic fibers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

The use of a fabric of claims 1-5 as an absorbent layer in a bedpad.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

A layered sheet material of claim 6 wherein the liquid water permeable first outer layer is chemically of physically treated to enhance its liquid water permeability.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The fabric according to claim 9, wherein said antimicrobial agent is introduced into the acrylic polymer solution during spinning said acrylic fibers.