Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Charles John Morell

Michael Tod Morman

Howard Martin Welch

Lavada Campbell Boggs

Sonya Nicholson Bourne

James Russell Fitts, Jr

Bryan David Haynes

Audrie Tomoko Ono

Patricia Hsiaoyin Hwang

Mark Michael Mleziva

Prasad Shrikrishna Potnis

Peiguang Zhou

Michael Allen Daley

Thomas Gregory Triebes

Randall James Palmer

Thomas Harold Roessler

Ann Louise McCormack

David Michael Schertz

Cristian M Neculescu

Duane Girard Uitenbroek

Susan Elaine Shawver

Jark Chong Lau

Oomman Painummoottil Thomas

Wing-Chak Ng

Stephen Michael Campbell

Kevin George Hetzler

Jeffrey Lawrence McManus

Jay Sheldon Shultz

Samuel Edward Marmon

Michael Charles Cook

John A Brewer

Bryon Paul Day

Matthew Boyd Lake

David Michael Matela

Gregory K Hall

Glynis Allicia Walton

Gregory Todd Sudduth

Steven R Stopper

Nelson McRay

William Ralph Neff

Marsha Lottie Vaughn

Sjon-Paul Lee Conyer

Donald V Willitts

Raymond Jeffrey May

Leslie D Dobbins

Lesley L Gibbs

Robert David Wright

Ronald H Wideman

Leslie Warren Collier, Iv

Karen Lynn English

Jon Edward Tinsley

Simon K Poruthoor

Marion C Morris

Lance James Garrett, Jr

Braulio Arturo Polanco

Faris Ohan

Todd Christopher Larson

Monica Graciela Varriale

Mark D Strickland

Stephen Harding Primm

Rebecca Willey Griffin

Billy Ray Jones, Jr

Jason K Wehner

Adrian Roy Eggen

Joerg Hendrix

Bryan James Stadelman

Peter Michelovich Kobylivker

Kenneth Michael Salter

Kevin James Kastner

Silverio Donato De La Cruz, Jr

Wiliam Bela Haffner

Greg Nicholas Geiser

Jessica M Rawls

Bryon P Day

Charles H Ellison

Rasha Wafik Zaki Guirguis

Jr James R Fitts

Michael C Cook

Kenneth M Salter

James Russell Fitts Jr

Jr James Russell Fitts

An aesthetically pleasing elastic film with three-dimensional characteristics is provided. In one embodiment, a two-dimensional ink structure is printed onto an elastic film, which is then activated, for example, by heat, which transforms the two-dimensional ink structure into a three-dimensional ink structure on one or more outer surfaces of the film. The location and amount of ink applied can be selectively controlled so that the film has the desired hand feel without sacrificing the elastic properties of the film. Further the printing and activating of the ink can be controlled to increase the tear resistance of the film or to conversely allow the film to tear or rip at desired locations on demand. In another embodiment, the elastic film can be laminated to a facing to form a laminate, where the outer surface of the film that is not in contact with the facing contains the three-dimensional ink structures.

Printed 3D-elastic laminates

An elastic laminate capable of being rolled for storage and unwound from a roll when needed for use, includes an elastic layer selected from the group consisting of an array of continuous filament strands, an array of continuous filament strands with meltblown deposited on the continuous filament strands, and a film; a gatherable facing layer bonded to only one side of the elastic layer; and either an adhesive that demonstrates a relatively short open time deposited between the elastic layer and facing layer, or such adhesive and a postbonding adhesive or nonblocking agent, or a nonblocking agent layer deposited on the elastic layer on a side opposite to the facing layer.

Single sided stretch bonded laminates, and methods of making same

Disclosed herein is a single step sterilization wrapping material suitable for use, as an example, in wrapping surgical instruments and supplies for sterilization, transportation and storage. The material includes separate inner and outer wraps which, unlike previous wraps, are joined to one another. Common wrapping techniques involve wrapping items to be sterilized with two separate sheets of wrap. The present invention provides separate wraps which can be specially engineered to deliver specific properties for each sheet and then joined to one another so as to permit wrapping and opening in a neat single step process which increases efficiency and saves time and money. In special situations the outer wrap can be engineered with increased strength, the inner wrap with increased barrier properties and the inner and outer wraps can be made visually distinct from one another so that improper wrapping or opening is not a problem.

Single step sterilization wrap system

Stretchable film laminates including a layer of elastomeric openwork, such as a plurality of elastic strands or an elastomeric mesh structure. The stretchable film laminates may include a film layer bonded to the layer of elastomeric openwork, with the film layer having cross-directional stretch and the laminate having a multi-phase stretchability profile. The stretchable film laminates may be made by extruding a film from a die, stretching the film, forming and stretching a layer of elastomeric openwork, conveying the stretched elastomeric openwork onto the film while the film is stretched, and passing the film and the elastomeric openwork through a nip. The invention also includes a machine capable of producing machine-direction, cross-direction, and biaxial stretch materials. The machine includes at least one extruder, at least one filament die and at least one film die both attached to the extruder(s), and at least one nip downstream of the extruder(s).

Stretchable film laminates and methods and apparatus for making stretchable film laminates

In the invention, a method is provided for producing a composite nonwoven fabric. A polymer is extruded into heated continuous filaments, possibly elastic, from the die head to a first chilled roller, wherein the extruder is configured to provide the continuous filaments to the chilled roller in a canted direction that is at a tangent or angle to the surface of the first chilled roller. The filaments are conveyed in a downward direction by way of chilled rollers to a nip. In a next step, the nonwoven web is sprayed with an adhesive and is laminated on the continuous filaments in the nip to form a composite nonwoven fabric. The continuous filaments move vertically downward approximately in line with the lamination process, facilitating automatic re-threading of filaments when they are broken or interrupted in their travel downward onto the chilled rolls.

Method and apparatus for producing laminated articles

A simplified elastic laminate is made from nonwovens and is especially suitable for side panels of training pant garments or the like. A plurality of thermoplastic adhesive elastomeric fibers are located between first and second facing webs. The fibers have an elastic core and adhesive surfaces. The facing webs, with the elastomeric fibers between them, are calendered together thus adhering the facing webs together via contact adhesion with the elastomeric fibers.

Elastic strand bonded laminate

A neckable nonwoven web is provided with a central region and two edge regions, the central region being selectively easier to neck than the two edge regions. The nonwoven fibers in the central region have a polymer composition and/or physical properties which differ from the nonwoven fibers in the two edge regions. The selectively easier necking in the central region causes the central region to neck to about the same extent as the two edge regions, which otherwise would experience greater necking than the central region if the starting nonwoven web were completely uniform. Necked nonwoven webs and neck-bonded laminates made using the improved neckable nonwoven web, are also provided.

Nonwoven webs having improved necking uniformity

New methods for and patterns of applying meltsprayed materials in single-layer web and laminate constructions so as to control various characteristics in the webs and laminates is provided. The patterns of adhesive produce scrim or cell-like patterns that allow for control of desirable characteristics. For example, the loft of a laminate may be enhanced, as well as strength properties.

Laminate and web characteristic control by varying bonding patterns

A breathable, substantially liquid impermeable film and laminate are provided for use in a wide variety of personal care garments and protective garments. The film, and laminate containing the film, are extendible in a cross-direction to a stretched width which is at least 25% greater than an original, unstretched width. The film and laminate have a first water vapor transmission rate of at least about 500 grams/m -24 hours coinciding with the unstretched width. The film and laminate have a much higher second water vapor transmission rate which is at least about 225% of the first water vapor transmission rate, and not less than about 4000 grams/m -24 hours, coinciding with a stretched width that is only 25% greater than the stretched width.

Film having high breathability induced by low cross-directional stretch

A process for making a necked nonwoven web having improved cross directional uniformity includes the steps of passing a nonwoven web between a first nip having a first surface velocity and a second nip having a second surface velocity, necking the nonwoven web between the first and second nips, and selectively increasing the necking of a central region of the nonwoven web relative to two edge regions or selectively decreasing the necking in the edge regions. The selective increase in necking in the central region or selective decrease in necking in the edge regions offsets the relatively higher necking in the edge regions which is inherent in conventional necking processes. A process for making a laminate having improved cross-directional uniformity is also provided.

Process for making necked nonwoven webs and laminates having cross-directional uniformity

A breathable, substantially liquid impermeable laminate is provided that is permanently conformable to the contours of a wearer's body when used in a personal care absorbent article or a medical article. The laminate includes a breathable (preferably microporous) film and a fibrous nonwoven web. Both the film and the web are extendible in a cross direction to a width at least 25% greater than an original, unstretched width upon application of a stretching force. The web and the film, and the overall laminate, exhibit little or no retractive force once they have been stretched. A diaper or other garment can be constructed in undersized fashion using the laminate, permitting material savings. When the garment is worn, the laminate stretches only where needed to provide a substantially perfect fit on the wearer. The minimal retractive force avoids the skin marks, rashes, etc. that can result from elastic garments.

Breathable laminate permanently conformable to the contours of a wearer

A polymeric film extrusion die having a die body with a molten polymer inlet, a molten polymer exit, and forming a molten polymer conduit providing a fluid communication between the molten polymer inlet and the molten polymer exit. The die body includes a peripheral edge at a periphery of the molten polymer exit, which peripheral edge has a thickness less than or equal to about 0.005 inches. The apparatus further includes a molten polymer exit heated gaseous fluid supply adapted to provide heated gaseous fluid proximate the molten polymer exit so as to maintain the die temperature at the molten polymer exit as low as possible without affecting the processability/integrity of the product film.

Apparatus and method for reducing die accumulation

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Roswell, GA, United States of America

Charles John Morell