3m Innovative Properties Company

Byron M Jackson

Leigh E Wood

Randall Lynn Alberg

Dennis L Becker

Roger D Pavlis

Ronald Wayne Ausen

Donald R Battles

Stuart L Eynon

Dyfrig E Clement

Jayshree Seth

Scott J Tuman

Bradley W Eaton

Janet A Venne

Timothy P Pariseau

Katherine A S Graham

Mark S Behrens

Roderick L Storey

James V Metz

The present invention relates to a closure tape tab for an absorbent article, particularly for a disposable diaper, for fastening the article on the body of a person. The closure tape tab comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion being connected by an inner tab portion, wherein the inner tab portion has a first major surface and a second major surface. The proximal and distal end portions are connected to the inner tab portion and the first major surface thereof such that opposing ends of the proximal and distal end portions are spaced apart from each other. The distal end portion is folded over toward the proximal end portion such that at least a part of the first major surface of the inner tab portion in the space is covered. The proximal end portion is preferably not folded. The present invention furthermore relates to a prelaminated closure tape, preferably in a stable roll, from which such closure tape tabs can be cut. The closure tape of the present invention is adapted to be level-wound on a roll so that an increased amount of tape can be stored on the roll.

Closure tape tab for absorbent article, prelaminated closure tape, and method of manufacturing a closure tape

Composite webs having one or more elastic composite structures located on a substrate, methods of manufacturing the composite webs, and articles including the elastic composite structures and substrates are disclosed. The elastic composite structures may preferably include one or more elastic components attached to anchors at two or more locations, wherein the anchors are themselves attached to the substrate. The anchors may preferably be constructed of inelastic polymeric material (and/or exhibit limited to no elasticity in use) and the elastic components may preferably be constructed of elastomeric polymeric material.

Composite webs with elastic composite structures

There is provided a laminate of a thermoplastic backing to a fibrous web. This laminate, for example, could be used as a loop laminate for use in a hook and loop fastening system or an intermittently bonded elastic fibrous laminate. The laminate comprises a thermoplastic backing layer, having a first face and a second face. The backing layer has a plurality of projections extending from at least the first face of the backing. A fibrous web is attached to the backing at the location of at least some of the projections. The thermoplastic material of the backing, at the location of the projections, penetrates into the fibrous web encapsulating at least in part fibers of the fibrous web. The fibrous web preferably penetrates into at least some of the projections. The fibrous web is generally not attached, or very lightly attached, to the backing layer over at least some portion of the distance between adjacent projections. This allows for a low cost fibrous web laminate that can be directly extrusion formed with a backing without compromising the fibrous web's performance between the attached projections.

Intermittently bonded fibrous web laminate

Composite webs having one or more polymeric structures located on a substrate, closure systems comprising composite webs, and methods of attaching articles are disclosed. The polymeric structures are formed using thermoplastic compositions and are attached to a surface of a substrate. The polymeric structures include an area that is attached to the substrate and a detached area that is not attached to a surface of a substrate.

Composite webs and closure systems

There is provided a tool roll with a cylindrical base and a first ribbon having an inner face, an outer face, and first and second major sides located therebetween. The outer face of the first ribbon includes a plurality of depressions or holes formed therein and the first ribbon is wound in helical coils around the base roll such that the inner face is proximate the base roll. The plurality of depressions or holes in the outer face of the first ribbon form a plurality of discrete mold cavities with each of the discrete mold cavities including a mold opening at the outer face of the first ribbon.

Ribbon wound roll

Composite webs having one or more polymeric structures located on a substrate, methods of manufacturing the composite webs, and systems for manufacturing the composite webs are disclosed. The polymeric structures are formed using thermoplastic compositions deposited into one or more depressions on a forming tool. The forming tool is maintained at a temperature that is below the melt processing temperature of the thermoplastic composition.

Polymer transfer apparatus, methods, and composite webs

An apparatus and method of converting a web of indefinite length into a plurality of web portions by slitting the web at a transverse point prior to processing the web portions into a plurality of use supply forms (such as rolls), wherein the plurality of web portions are separated by a two-stage process. A first stage of the process is a partial separation operation that almost entirely separates the web portions, but leaves the web portions connected, such as by a slitting operation that leaves a series of connected zones. The second stage includes the complete separation, such as by breaking of the connected zones. The complete separation of the web portions preferably occurs near the station at which the use supply forms are created, such as a winding station. Thus, the web portions, after substantial separation at the first stage can be handled (for example, guided and tensioned) as if the plurality of web portions were a full width web. But, after handling and transporting of the web portions to the use supply form station, the web portions are completely split so that the plural web portions can be wound or otherwise converted into a plurality of use supply forms.

Method and apparatus for slitting and processing a web into plural use supply forms

There is provided a nonwoven elastic laminate closure tab of the invention comprising adjacent first and second nonwoven closure elements each having a first face and a second face and a coextruded film elastic attached to each closure element first face. The first face of each closure element has a first area coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive and a second area adjacent the first area free of pressure-sensitive adhesive at terminal ends of the nonwoven closure elements. The coextruded film elastic has two first regions each having at least one inelastic zone and a second region between the two first regions having at least one elastic zone. The two opposing first regions are attached to the two pressure-sensitive adhesive areas of the two closure elements respectively such that the second adhesive free areas of the two adjacent closure elements are in face to face contact with at least a portion of the coextruded elastic film elastic second region. The layers are all of a thickness such that the thickness variation across the closure tab is less than 50%.

Elastic closure tab

Bundling strap

There is provided an improved tab member for a closure system comprising a tab portion and a slot member. The slot member includes a slit or a loop, with the slot located between an inboard portion and an outboard portion. The tab portion has a tab member having a length, an inner edge, an outer edge and at least one lip portion. The tab member outer edge is passed through the slot of the slot member to engage the fastening device. Once passed through the slot, at least one lip portion of the tab member overlaps or catches the outboard portion of the slot member to prevent the tab member from disengaging from the slot member. The slot member outward portion is retained between the lip portion(s) and the underlying generally flexible tab carrier substrate.

Macro closure device for disposable articles

Methods of manufacturing composite webs including a substrate with one or more reinforcing discrete polymeric regions located on or within the composite web are disclosed. Molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic material of the discrete polymeric region is forced against the substrate by a transfer roll. If the substrate is porous, fibrous, etc., a portion of the nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition may infiltrate the substrate and/or encapsulate fibers of the substrate. The composite webs also include elastomeric thermoplastic material in discrete polymeric regions on or within the composite web.

Growing community of inventors

Forest Lake, MN, United States of America

Byron M Jackson