# US 5,707,735 A · Multilobal conjugate fibers and fabrics

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- Number: US 5,707,735 A
- Document ID: US5707735A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/617,005
- Filed: 1996-03-18
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1996-03-18
- Inventors: David Grant Midkiff; Samuel Edward Marmon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707735A

## CPC

- D01F 8/06: with at least one polyolefin as constituent
- D01D 5/253: with a non-circular cross section; Spinnerette packs therefor (D01D5/38 takes precedence)
- D04H 1/54: by welding together the fibres, e.g. by partially melting or dissolving (in combination with needling D04H1/485)
- Y10T 428/2929: Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type]
- Y10T 428/2973: Particular cross section
- D01F: CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
- D01D: MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A conjugate multilobal fiber and a fabric made therefrom is provided. The fiber comprises at least two polymers arranged with at least one polymer occupying a portion of the fiber and at least one other polymer having a lower melting point than the first portion polymer occupying an outer portion of the fiber. The polymers can be arranged in a number of configurations depending on the planned use of the web.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A conjugate multilobal fiber having an average diameter larger than 7 microns, where said fiber has a cross-section comprised of a central core having lobes projecting therefrom each of said lobes having a leg and a cap, the legs of each of said lobes intersecting at the center of said core, said fiber further comprising at least two polymers wherein said polymers are arranged with a first polymer occupying s portion of said fiber and at least one second polymer having a lower melting point than said first polymer occupying an outer portion of said fiber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1 wherein said first polymer is polypropylene and said second polymer is a polyolefin having a lower melting point than polypropylene and wherein said fiber can hold liquid adjacent said lobes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1 wherein said first polymer is polypropylene and said second polymer is an adhesive polymer having a lower melting point than polypropylene and wherein said fiber can hold liquid adjacent said lobes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1 wherein said cap has an outer edge and said second polymer occupies said outer edge of said caps.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The conjugate multilobal spunbond fiber of claim 1 said first and second polymers each occupy caps and legs in approximately a mirror image of each other.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The conjugate multilobal spunbond fiber of claim 1 wherein said fibers have three lobes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The conjugate multilobal spunbond fiber of claim 1 wherein said fibers have four lobes.