Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Leslie D Dobbins

James Russell Fitts, Jr

Charles John Morell

Howard Martin Welch

Donald V Willitts

Mark Michael Mleziva

Lavada Campbell Boggs

Michael Tod Morman

Bryan David Haynes

David Michael Schertz

Stephen Michael Campbell

Jay Sheldon Shultz

Michael Charles Cook

John A Brewer

Ronald H Wideman

Marion C Morris

Todd Christopher Larson

Raymond Jeffrey May

Jason K Wehner

Adrian Roy Eggen

Kenneth Michael Salter

S Scott Friderich

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

A stretch edge elastic laminate having a plurality of elastic filaments substantially aligned in a machine direction and forming an elastic zone and at least one stretch edge positioned along a first lateral edge region of the stretch edge elastic laminate forming a first gasket zone. Desirably, an opposing second stretch edge is positioned along a second lateral edge region of the stretch edge elastic laminate to form a second gasket zone. A nonwoven facing material is bonded to at least one side of the elastic layer.

Stretch edge elastic laminate

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Marietta, GA, United States of America

Leslie D Dobbins