# US 8,541,642 B2 · Breathable and liquid impermeable web and method of making the web > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,642 B2 - Document ID: US8541642B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/446,243 - Filed: 2012-04-13 - Published: 2012-08-02 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 1999-09-30 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: Barry Jay Anderson; Todd Leon Mansfield; George Christopher Dobrin; Suna Polat - Inventors: Barry Jay Anderson; Todd Leon Mansfield; George Christopher Dobrin; Suna Polat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541642B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/51478: {being a laminate, e.g. multi-layered or with several layers} - B29C 55/18: by squeezing between surfaces, e.g. rollers - B32B 27/12: next to a fibrous or filamentary layer - D04H 13/002: {characterised by the disposition or nature of their elements} - D04H 13/007: {strengthened or consolidated by welding together the various components} - B32B 2262/02: Synthetic macromolecular fibres - B32B 2305/026: Porous - B32B 2307/726: Permeability to liquids, absorption - B32B 2555/00: Personal care - Y10T 156/1007: Running or continuous length work - Y10T 442/3854: Woven fabric with a preformed polymeric film or sheet - Y10T 442/674: Nonwoven fabric with a preformed polymeric film or sheet - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - 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 method is disclosed for modifying the physical characteristics of a web which involves passing the web between at least one pair of interengaged rolls to incrementally stretch the web, and then withdrawing the incrementally stretched web from between the rolls under tension. A web modified according to the disclosed method has desirable breathability and liquid impermeability, as well as extensibility and a soft, cloth-like textured surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A disposable absorbent article comprising: a) a vapor permeable, liquid impervious, backsheet laminate; b) a liquid pervious topsheet which is positioned in facing relation with said backsheet; c) an absorbent core located between the backsheet laminate and the topsheet; wherein a backsheet film is joined to a nonwoven to form the vapor permeable, liquid impermeable, microporous backsheet laminate; wherein the vapor permeable, liquid impermeable, microporous backsheet laminate has a dynamic fluid impact value of less than about 10 g/m2; wherein the vapor permeable, liquid impervious, backsheet laminate is modified such that it comprises a pattern of deformed areas, wherein the pattern of deformed areas comprise alternating rows of peaks and valleys; wherein the peaks and the valleys of the deformed areas are thicker than intermediate portions disposed between the peaks and the valleys; wherein the intermediate portions are more breathable versus other portions of the backsheet film; and wherein the modified backsheet film is from about 0.25 mils to about 2.5 mils. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the vapor permeable, liquid impermeable, microporous backsheet laminate has an air flow rate of at least about 2 liters/m2/s. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the backsheet film further comprises a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions adjacent to said first regions, wherein the second regions comprise raised rib-like elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The disposable absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the backsheet film has a percent set of at least about 40 percent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The disposable absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the backsheet film has a percent set ranging from about 40 percent to about 120 percent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the backsheet film comprises pore forming agents and has a mean pore size less than about 0.3 microns. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the backsheet film comprises a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins and copolymers, polyesters and copolymers, polyurethanes and copolymers, polyamides and copolymers and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the vapor permeable, liquid impermeable, microporous backsheet laminate comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of polyolefins and copolymers, polyesters and copolymers, polyamide and copolymers, cellulose derivatives, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the backsheet film comprises pore forming agents selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, clays, silicas, zeolites, kaolin, mica, carbon, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein a plurality of micropores of the backsheet film are elongated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The disposable absorbent article of claim 10, wherein the plurality of micropores are elongated in the machine direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The disposable absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the pore forming agents are from about 1 to about 5 microns. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The disposable absorbent article of claim 12, wherein the pore forming agents are calcium carbonate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the backsheet film comprises a plurality of capillaries which are less than 0.2 microns. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the backsheet film comprises a plurality of capillaries which are less than 0.1 micron. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein micropores of backsheet film are generally uniform in size. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the backsheet film is modified by being incrementally stretched. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein a plurality of capillaries of the backsheet film are hydrophobic. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the vapor permeable, liquid impervious microporous backsheet laminate comprises a dynamic fluid impact value of less than about 7 g/m2. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the backsheet film comprises a plurality of capillaries which are less than 0.3 microns.