Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Phil Penaia

Andrew Thomas Hammond

Sarah A Kleuskens

Kroy Donald Johnson

Mark John Beitz

Niall Finn

Stacy Elaine Evenson

Andy R Butler

Robert Michael Hill, Jr

Patrick Dean Abney

Kevin Gerald Dolan

Amy Q Feng

Danielle Kirby

The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for formation of a fluid-entangled laminate web. The laminate web includes a support layer and a nonwoven projection web having a plurality of projections which are preferably hollow. The laminate web also includes a plurality of apertures interspersed with the projections. As a result of the fluid-entangling process, entangling fluid is directed through the support layer and into the projection web which is situated on a forming surface. The force of the entangling fluid causes the two layers to be joined to one another and the fluid causes a portion of the fibers in the projection web to be forced into openings present in a forming surface thereby forming the hollow projections. The force of the entangling fluid also causes the fibers of the two layers to be moved around protrusions present in the forming surface thereby forming the apertures.

Process for making fluid-entangled laminate webs with hollow projections and apertures

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Altona, Australia

Phil Penaia