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AssigneeHills, Inc.
InventorsArnold E. Wilkie, Ben F. Shuler, Tony Owen, Brian C. Johnston
Estimating the term…
The dissolution of dissolvable components in plural component polymer fibers is achieved by providing a polymer fiber including at least two sections, where at least one fiber section includes a dissolvable component. The rate at which at least part of the fiber dissolves is controlled by at least one of a fiber section having a non-round cross-sectional geometry, and at least two fiber sections including two different dissolvable components. In an exemplary embodiment, island-in-the-sea fibers are formed with non-round and elongated cross-sectional geometries. In another embodiment, sheath-core fibers are formed in which the sheath and core include different dissolvable components.
A polymer fiber comprising at least two dissolvable sections, wherein the rate at which at least part of the fiber dissolves is controlled at least in part by providing different dissolvable components in the at least two dissolvable sections that are at least partially soluble in the same dissolving medium.
A polymer fiber comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending and successively nested sections, wherein at least two nested sections are dissolvable and include at least one of a plurality of longitudinally extending island sections and a dispersed agent material.
A polymer fiber comprising at least two dissolvable sections including different dissolvable components, the different dissolvable components being at least partially soluble in the same dissolving medium, wherein the rate at which at least part of the fiber dissolves is controlled at least in part by a dissolvable section having a non-round cross-sectional geometry.
A polymer fiber comprising at least two sections, wherein at least one fiber section includes a dissolvable component, and the rate at which at least part of the fiber dissolves is controlled at least in part by providing a fiber section including the dissolvable component with an elongated cross-sectional geometry that has an aspect ratio greater than about 2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.