Web materials exhibiting elastic-like behavior
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsCharles W. Chappell, Eugene R. Sorensen, Kenneth B. Buell, John J. Curro, Michele A. Mansfield
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Abstract
A web material which exhibits an elastic-like behavior along at least one axis when subjected to an applied and subsequently released elongation. The web material includes a strainable network having at least two visually distinct regions of the same material composition. The first region undergoes a molecular-level deformation and the second region initially undergoes a substantially geometric deformation when the web material is subjected to an applied elongation in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of elongation.
Claims1
A web material comprising:
- a pair of first regions each having a first axis in a first direction, a second axis in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, and a surface pathlength measured generally parallel to said first axis when the web material is in an untensioned condition;
- a second region disposed between said first regions, said second region having a first axis in said first direction, a second axis in said second direction perpendicular to said first direction, a plurality of raised rib-like elements having a major axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, and a surface pathlength measured generally parallel to said first axis when the web material is in an untensioned condition, the surface-pathlength of said first regions being less than the surface-pathlength of the second region;
- and
- a transitional region at the interface between each said first region and said second region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.