Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Cedric Arnett Dunkerly, Ii

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

James Russell Fitts, Jr

Yung Hsaing Huang

Jack Draper Taylor

Gregory K Hall

Oomman Painumoottil Thomas

Jennifer Leigh Singletary

Ty Jackson Stokes

Darryl Franklin Clark

Scot Patrick Honer

Improved fastening systems are described. More particularly, improved fastening systems for disposable absorbent articles are described.

Selective modification of a nonwoven surface

A method of producing a creep resistant composite elastic material wherein an elastic fibrous web is bonded to at least one gatherable layer to form a composite elastic material is provided. By passing the composite elastic material into a nip formed between an anvil calender roller and a point un-bonded calender roller, wherein the point un-bonded calender roller has recessed areas in the surface of said roller, a material which is creep resistant, dimensionally stable, and has inherent latency, is formed.

Creep resistant composite elastic material with improved aesthetics, dimensional stability and inherent latency and method of producing same

The present invention is directed to a pattern-unbonded nonwoven fabric having continuous bonded areas defining a plurality of discrete unbonded areas, which is suitable for use as an improved loop fastening material for hook and loop fastening systems. The fibers or filaments within the discrete unbonded areas of the present invention are dimensionally stabilized by the continuous bonded areas that encircle or surround each unbonded area. The spaces between fibers or filaments within the unbonded areas remain sufficiently open or large to receive and engage hook elements of a complementary hook material. The hook material can be any of a wide variety of commercially available hook components which, as is known in the art, typically include a base material from which a plurality of hook elements project. The present invention further is directed to a process for making such a pattern-unbonded nonwoven fabric including the steps of providing a nonwoven fabric or web, providing opposedly positioned first and second calender rolls and defining a nip therebetween, with at least one of said rolls being heated and having a bonding pattern on its outermost surface comprising a continuous pattern of land areas defining a plurality of discrete openings, apertures or holes, and passing the nonwoven fabric or web within the nip formed by said rolls.

Pattern-unbonded nonwoven web and process for making the same

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Cedric Arnett Dunkerly, Ii