Kimberly-clark Corporation

Attila Matray

Dan D Endres

William S Pomplun

Howard A Whitehead

Mark Charles Jacobs

Rodney C Christianson

A heat-shrinkable elastomer having a first length is produced by uniaxially orienting a copolymer having hard block and elastomeric soft block polymer segments to a second length which is substantially greater than a third length at which partial permanent deformation occurs. Upon removal of the tensioning force, the stretched elastomer naturally relaxes to the third length which is substantially greater than the first length but less than the second length. Upon application of heat, the elastomer shrinks and recovers its elastic properties. The heat-shrinkable elastomer can be coextruded by conventional techniques as a core layer disposed between nonelastic outer layers or skins, and the resulting coextruded elastomer can be uniaxially tensioned as above. Articles or garments such as disposable diapers advantageously use the heat-shrinkable elastomer of the present invention as a means to shirr portions thereof, such as waistbands.

Method of producing a heat shrinkable elastomer and articles utilizing

A multi-layered absorbent tissue having a plastic inner layer is prepared by substantially overall bonding the plastic layer to no more than one of two adjacent layers.

Soft moisture resistant tissue product

A sanitary device, e.g. a sanitary napkin is provided which has an absorbent matrix and a fluid impervious baffle. Part of the fluid impervious baffle is a heat fusible sheet which is adhered to the absorbent component by fusing. The absorbent component may have heat fusible material interspersed therein and may have a fluid pervious upper layer which is essentially coterminous with or wraps about the absorbent component or the absorbent component and baffle combination. When a fluid pervious wrap is used, it is preferred that the wrap be fusible and also be fused to the baffle. The fusing is preferably accomplished in random sites across the surface of the sanitary appliance, e.g. by embossing.

Growing community of inventors

Outagamie County, WI, United States of America

Attila Matray