Selectively apertured nonwoven web
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsDouglas H. Benson, John J. Curro
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for selectively aperturing a nonwoven web. A nonwoven web is weakened along a plurality of locations and then a tensioning force is applied to the nonwoven web causing the nonwoven web to rupture at the plurality of weakened location creating a plurality of apertures in the nonwoven web coincident with the weakened locations
Claims13
A nonwoven web made according to the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a nonwoven web, wherein said nonwoven web is provided with a patterned plurality of spaced apart discrete bonds to form a coherent web structure;
- b) weakening said nonwoven web at a plurality of locations to create a plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations, wherein a portion of said spaced apart descrete bonds are seperated from said melt-stabilized locations;
- and
- c) applying a tensioning force to said nonwoven web to cause said nonwoven web to rupture at said plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations so as to create a plurality of apertures in said nonwoven web coincident with said plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations, said apertures having a circumferential edge, a portion of which edge is defined by a remnant of the melt stabilized locations, without substantially rupturing any of said spaced apart discrete seperated bonds that are from said melt stabilized locations.
A fibrous nonwoven web comprising a plurality of apertures formed by application of a tensioning force, said apertures coincident with a plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations, said apertures having a circumferential edge, a portion of said circumferential edge being defined by a remnant of said melt-stabilized locations and further comprising a patterned plurality of spaced apart discrete bonds, wherein said spaced apart discrete bonds are seperated from said melt stabilized locations, and further wherein said fibers are joined by said spaced apart discrete bonds to form a coherent web structure, said spaced apart discrete bonds being substantially unruptured by said application of said tensioning force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.