Creased nonwoven web with stretch and recovery
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsTy Jackson Stokes, Jon Richard Butt, Sr., Alan Edward Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Nonwoven fabrics having a desirable level of bulk, elasticity and low permanent set are produced by creasing a precursor web and heat setting the creases. Such webs may have varying basis weights and compositions depending on the intended end use. Applications disclosed include components for personal care products such as disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products, for example, as well as garment applications such as training pants, surgical gowns and the like. Also, absorbent products such as wipers are disclosed. Methods for forming the creased nonwoven fabric are disclosed using interdigitated rolls for creasing in the machine direction or in the cross-machine direction.
Claims26
Nonwoven fabric having heat set creases of at least 2 per centimeter measured orthogonal to the creases lines and a bulk of at least 1.5 times the thickness of the base web, said nonwoven fabric having a recovery of at least 35% when subjected to 300 g stretch test in a direction orthogonal to the crease lines, said nonwoven fabric having been formed from a nonelastic olefin polymer based thermoplastic fiber-comprising precursor web.
A nonwoven fabric having heat set creases of at least 2 per centimeter measured orthogonal to the creases lines and a bulk of at least 1.5 times the thickness of the base web, said nonwoven fabric having a recovery of at least 35% when subjected to 300 g stretch test in a direction orthogonal to the crease lines, said nonwoven fabric having been formed from a nonelastic precursor web comprising multicomponent fibers.
A method of forming a nonwoven fabric having a recovery of at least 35% when subjected to a 300 g stretch test by:
- a. forming a nonelastic olefin polymer based thermoplastic fiber-comprising precursor web;
- b. creasing said precursor web to form at least two creases per centimeter;
- and
- c. heat setting said creases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.