# US 9,517,165 B2 · Method and apparatus to temporarily restrain stretchable non-woven fabric

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- Number: US 9,517,165 B2
- Document ID: US9517165B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/546,538
- Filed: 2012-07-11
- Published: 2013-01-17
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-15
- Assignees: TamiCare Ltd.
- Applicants: Ehud Giloh
- Inventors: Ehud Giloh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517165B2

## CPC

- A61F 13/15707: {Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping}
- A61F 13/49009: {with elastic means}
- D04H 5/08: characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres or yarns
- Y10T 442/602: Nonwoven fabric comprises an elastic strand or fiber material
- 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)
- 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 for obtaining temporary non-stretchability characteristics, mainly in a machine direction, in a non-woven fabric having any level of stretchability, in order to ease converting is disclosed. The non-stretchability characteristics can be then eliminated in order to restore the original characteristics of the non-woven fabric. This technique allows the formation of final products comprising stretchable non-woven fabrics by converting machines.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method to temporarily restrain stretchability of a stretchable non-woven fabric during a converting process, said method comprising:
(a) providing a stretchable non-woven fabric;
(b) modifying the stretchable non-woven fabric by inserting non-stretchable elements, the non-stretchable elements consisting of a continuous string or fiber, into the stretchable non-woven fabric to provide non-stretchability characteristics to the stretchable non-woven fabric so as to temporarily restrain stretchability of the non-woven fabric at least in the machine direction; and
(c) restoring the stretchability of the stretchable non-woven fabric by subsequently eliminating the non-stretchability characteristics previously acquired by the non-woven fabric by eliminating continuity of the non-stretchable elements by disconnecting, cutting, or melting the non-stretchable elements into short segments during or after a converting process, wherein the short segments are not bonded to the non-woven fabric and move freely within the non-woven fabric, and wherein the short segments do not restrain the stretchability of the non-woven fabric.

### Claim 2

A method to temporarily restrain stretchability of a stretchable non-woven fabric during a converting process, said method comprising:
(a) providing a stretchable non-woven fabric;
(b) modifying the stretchable non-woven fabric by temporarily creating non-stretchable elements in the stretchable non-woven fabric to provide non-stretchability characteristics in the stretchable non-woven fabric so as to temporarily restrain stretchability of the non-woven fabric at least in the machine direction, wherein the non-stretchable elements are created by melting or thermo-bonding the non-woven fabric to create a dense area of fibers within the non-woven fabric; and
(c) restoring the stretchability of the stretchable non-woven fabric by subsequently eliminating the non-stretchability characteristics previously acquired by the non-woven fabric by eliminating the non-stretchable elements during or after a converting process.