Kimberly-clark Corporation

Ralph V Braun

Robert J Phelan

Lin-Sun Woon

Jon R Butt, Sr

Howard A Whitehead

Robert E Weber

Richard S Yeo

Steven Wayne Fitting

Henry L Griesbach

Lance James Garrett, Jr

Edward Herman Ruscher

Daniel H Keck

Mark B Majors

Lance Garrett

David C Law

Christine H Brown

A breathable, multilayer, clothlike barrier especially suitable for use as an outer cover or baffle in such disposable absorbent articles as diapers, sanitary napkins, and incontinent pads, which barrier has at least three layers:

Breathable, multilayered, clothlike barrier

Latex coated breathable barrier

A multilayer nonwoven fabric is disclosed which comprises at least two layers of nonwoven web. Each nonwoven web comprises a plurality of monofilaments of a thermoplastic material. In at least one of the webs the monofilaments have a bilobal cross-section. Preferably, the fabric includes two layers of nonwoven web with the monofilaments of the first web having the bilobal cross-section and the monofilaments of the second web having a trilobal or branched cross-section.

Multilayer nonwoven fabric

Nonwoven webs are disclosed which comprise monofilaments or fibers of a thermoplastic material. Basically, the improvement comprises the use of monofilaments or fibers which have a bilobal shaped cross-section. Nonwoven webs made according to this invention are particularly suited to be used for liners for disposable diapers as well as wraps for catamenial devices. Methods are also disclosed for producing such nonwoven webs.

Nonwoven web with improved softness

A nonwoven fabric is disclosed which comprises at least two layers of nonwoven web adjacent to and bonded to each other. Each web comprises a plurality of monofilaments of a thermoplastic material. In one of the webs, the thermoplastic material is polypropylene. In another of the layers, the thermoplastic material is polyethylene. Advantages of this combination of nonwoven webs comprising these polymers in layers in a multilayer nonwoven fabric are disclosed which include increased softness and tensile strength.

Multilayer nonwoven fabric made with poly-propylene and polyethylene

A sanitary napkin having a gas permeable nonwoven baffle is provided in which a composite baffle is formed by joining webs of a meltblown polyolefin and a spunbonded polyolefin with the spunbonded polyolefin web providing a surface for garment attachment adhesive reception.

Breathable baffle composite

Improved nonwoven fabric laminate including one or more tissue plies as an outside layer, a middle layer as a primary strength bearing member comprising a scrim carrying a heat reactable plastisol adhesive and, on the side of the scrim opposite from the tissue, a layer of meltblown microfibers. The resulting combination, when bonded by means of the adhesive on the scrim, provides windows of relatively unbonded fibers reinforced with bonded scrim threads. Preferably, the microfiber web is substantially unbonded prior to combining with the other components so that a bulky and soft material results in the window areas between the scrim threads. Also preferably the tissue is low porosity formed from essentially unrefined or only slightly refined pulp. Such laminates find ideal applications as substitutes for cloth, particularly in disposable garments and other fabrics for medical use. For these purposes and others, various treatments may be applied to achieve properties such as water repellency, fire retardency, alcohol repellency, and the combination may be physically compacted for even further softness. The combination exhibits improved water repellency, tactile and strength properties.

Soft nonwoven laminate bonded by adhesive on reinforcing scrim

Growing community of inventors

Roswell, GA, United States of America

Ralph V Braun