Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Donald V Willitts

James Russell Fitts, Jr

Mark Michael Mleziva

Charles John Morell

Howard Martin Welch

Leslie D Dobbins

David Craige Strack

Marion C Morris

Richard Macferran Shane

Tracy Neal Wilson

Michael Tod Morman

Bryan David Haynes

David Michael Schertz

Oomman Painummoottil Thomas

Stephen Michael Campbell

Jay Sheldon Shultz

Michael Charles Cook

John A Brewer

Lavada Campbell Boggs

Ronald H Wideman

Todd Christopher Larson

Oomman Painumoottil Thomas

Raymond Jeffrey May

Jason K Wehner

Adrian Roy Eggen

Kenneth Michael Salter

Jessica M Rawls

Jr James R Fitts

Michael C Cook

Kenneth M Salter

Jr James Russell Fitts

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

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

Single and multicomponent polymeric strands including a blend of a melt-extrudable polyolefin and a heterophasic polypropylene composition. The heterophasic polypropylene composition includes three polymers and is normally not melt-spinable into strands by itself. In the multicomponent strands, the blend is in one side or the sheath. Fabric made with such strands is also disclosed and has improved combinations of strength, abrasion resistance, and softness properties. Composite materials including the foregoing fabric bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed. In addition, garments made with the fabric are disclosed.

Polymeric strands including a propylene polymer composition and nonwoven fabric and articles made therewith

The present invention comprises a continuous feed spun bonded laminate having improved elastic properties measured at body temperature. The laminate comprises at least one first and second nonelastic layers between which is sandwiched at least one elastic layer, the elastic layer being comprised of a triblock polystyrene-poly(ethylene/propylene)-polystyrene (&ldquo;SEPS&rdquo;) copolymer having a number average molecular weight of about 81,000 g/mol. The weight percent of styrene is approximately 18% and the weight percent of ethylene/propylene is approximately 82%. The molecular weight increase in the EP block, while holding the molecular weight of the styrene block constant, increases the entanglement density, polymer chain persistence length and the relaxation time. The resulting laminate load decay rate and load loss measurements over a period of 12 hours at body temperature showed marked improvement over known CFSBL product. The laminate is particularly useful as side panel material in training pants because of the resistance to sagging at body temperature.

High performance elastic composite materials made from high molecular weight thermoplastic triblock elastomers

A composite elastic material includes a layer of ribbon-shaped elastomeric elements disposed in machine direction alignment and point bonded to an extensible layer which may be a gatherable layer or a stretchable layer. A layer of meltblown elastomeric fibers may be bonded to the layer of elastomeric ribbon-shaped elements before bonding to the extensible layer. The elastic composite has excellent cohesion, controlled breathability to air and water vapor, an opaque appearance, and is easy to cut and convert to end use products such as garments, pads, diapers, and personal care products where elasticity is desired.

Composite elastic material with ribbon-shaped filaments

Polymeric strands including a propylene polymer composition and nonwoven

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Douglasville, GA, United States of America

Donald V Willitts