Tredegar Industries, Inc.

Tredegar Film Products Corporation

Gregory M Rieker

Rickey J Seyler

Robert K McBride

Paul Eugene Thomas

Andrew James Peacock

Stephen G Junker

Edward R Cook

Charles A Kendall

A film particularly suited for use as a transfer layer in an absorbent article has a plurality of capillaries and a plurality of drains, said capillaries comprising side walls depending from a female side of the film and terminating in an aperture on a male side of the film; said drains comprising side walls that depending from the female side of the film and terminating in an aperture on the male side of the film, wherein the drains are disposed at an obtuse angle relative to a base plane of the film.

Transfer layer for absorbent article

Three-dimensional formed films particularly useful as transfer layers in absorbent articles comprise a base plane having land areas defining a plurality of protuberances having sidewalls and a bottom wall, a plurality of the protuberances having an aperture in substantially at least one sidewall. In preferred embodiment, the film further comprises a plurality of capillaries, which can originate in the base plane or in a secondary plane spaced from the base plane. In preferred embodiments, the capillaries terminate in a common plane with the bottom surfaces of the protrusions.

A method for the manufacture of a screen useful for forming three-dimensional films, the screens and the three-dimensional films produced using those screens are disclosed. In forming a screen, a substrate material is applied to a base. A predetermined amount of portions of the substrate are removed to form a predetermined pattern in the substrate. A screen material is applied to the patterned substrate material. A predetermined amount of portions of the screen material are removed to form a predetermined pattern in the screen material. The predetermined pattern in the screen defines a plurality of first perforations in the screen material. The substrate material is removed from the screen material, such that second perforations are formed in the screen, whereby each first perforation is in communication with an adjacent second perforation.

Method of manufacturing screen and films produced therewith

Portion of a patterned film

A cylindrical screen for perforating a thermoplastic film or sheets has an outer surface and an inner surface. A plurality of outer apertures extend from the outer surface and terminate at a corresponding inner aperture on the inner surface of the screen. The apertures in the outer surface can have the same or a different geometrical shape as the apertures in the inner surface. The apertures form a passageway through the screen. The passageways are disposed at least one angle from about 5.degree. to about 60.degree. with respect to a plane that is disposed substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the screen to prevent a direct line of sight through the screen.

Screen for producing a perforated film

The invention is directed to a layered fabric material that is breathable and has resistance to fluid penetration. The fabric has a lightweight, breathable outer layer and a layer of non-woven material. The non-woven material is breathable and fluid resistant. The fabric also includes a thermoplastic film having a plurality of perforations. The perforations form capillaries that extend from a surface of said film. The capillaries are disposed at an angle from about 5.degree. to about 60.degree. with respect to the surface of said film. The capillaries formed by the perforations allow the film layer to be breathable while resisting direct flow of liquid through the film.

Layered fabric material having angled capillaries

A cylindrical screen for perforating a thermoplastic film or sheets. The screen is formed from a relatively thin sheet that is secured together to form a cylindrical shape. A plurality of apertures are positioned in the sheet and the apertures in the sheets forms a passageway through the screen. The passageways are disposed at an angle from about 5.degree. to about 60.degree. with respect to a plane that is disposed substantially perpendicular to the surface of the screen.

Growing community of inventors

Clinton, IN, United States of America

Gregory M Rieker