3M Innovative Properties Company

Randall Lynn Alberg

Leigh E Wood

Byron M Jackson

Dennis L Becker

Roger D Pavlis

Gerhard Ludwig Richter

Jayshree Seth

Ronald Wayne Ausen

Philip G Martin

Bradley W Eaton

Janet A Venne

Katherine A S Graham

A method of making an auxetic mesh, which method includes: (a) extruding a polymeric materialonto an open casting surfacethat has an intended patterndisposed therein, the patternbeing configured to create an auxetic mesh; (b) wiping off excess extruded polymeric materialfrom the open casting surface; (c) removing the cast meshfrom the open casting surfaceafter the excess polymeric materialhas been wiped off; and (d) removing any residual polymeric material that is not of the intended mesh pattern. The method allows for the continuous production of auxetic meshes.

Method of making an auxetic mesh

Composite webs having one or more elastic composite structures located on a substrate, methods of manufacturing the composite webs, and articles including the elastic composite structures and substrates are disclosed. The elastic composite structures may preferably include one or more elastic components attached to anchors at two or more locations, wherein the anchors are themselves attached to the substrate. The anchors may preferably be constructed of inelastic polymeric material (and/or exhibit limited to no elasticity in use) and the elastic components may preferably be constructed of elastomeric polymeric material.

Composite webs with elastic composite structures

There is provided a laminate of a thermoplastic backing to a fibrous web. This laminate, for example, could be used as a loop laminate for use in a hook and loop fastening system or an intermittently bonded elastic fibrous laminate. The laminate comprises a thermoplastic backing layer, having a first face and a second face. The backing layer has a plurality of projections extending from at least the first face of the backing. A fibrous web is attached to the backing at the location of at least some of the projections. The thermoplastic material of the backing, at the location of the projections, penetrates into the fibrous web encapsulating at least in part fibers of the fibrous web. The fibrous web preferably penetrates into at least some of the projections. The fibrous web is generally not attached, or very lightly attached, to the backing layer over at least some portion of the distance between adjacent projections. This allows for a low cost fibrous web laminate that can be directly extrusion formed with a backing without compromising the fibrous web's performance between the attached projections.

Intermittently bonded fibrous web laminate

Absorbent articles with waist seals are disclosed. The seals are formed from folded stacks, discrete segments, or pleated material arranged to provide a resiliently compressible seal that can be located at one or more locations within the absorbent article, e.g., along a central portion of the rear waist region of a diaper. The seals may be constructed from relatively thin materials that (through folding, stacking, pleating, etc.) can provide a resiliently compressible seal that is thick enough and appropriately shaped to conform to the wearer's anatomy well enough to provide the desired sealing. At the same, time, the continuous web material used to form the seal is preferably thin enough to be economically delivered to the manufacturing line in roll form. The seals may be provided in the form of compressed seals that expand when one or more openings are formed in a sealed cavity containing compressed resilient material.

Absorbent article with seal and method of manufacturing

Composite webs having one or more polymeric structures located on a substrate, closure systems comprising composite webs, and methods of attaching articles are disclosed. The polymeric structures are formed using thermoplastic compositions and are attached to a surface of a substrate. The polymeric structures include an area that is attached to the substrate and a detached area that is not attached to a surface of a substrate.

Composite webs and closure systems

Composite webs having one or more polymeric structures located on a substrate, methods of manufacturing the composite webs, and systems for manufacturing the composite webs are disclosed. The polymeric structures are formed using thermoplastic compositions deposited into one or more depressions on a forming tool. The forming tool is maintained at a temperature that is below the melt processing temperature of the thermoplastic composition.

Polymer transfer apparatus, methods, and composite webs

Methods of manufacturing composite webs including a substrate with one or more reinforcing discrete polymeric regions located on or within the composite web are disclosed. Molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic material of the discrete polymeric region is forced against the substrate by a transfer roll. If the substrate is porous, fibrous, etc., a portion of the nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition may infiltrate the substrate and/or encapsulate fibers of the substrate.

Methods for producing composite webs with reinforcing discrete polymeric regions

There is provided an improved tab member for a closure system comprising a tab portion and a slot member. The slot member includes a slit or a loop, with the slot located between an inboard portion and an outboard portion. The tab portion has a tab member having a length, an inner edge, an outer edge and at least one lip portion. The tab member outer edge is passed through the slot of the slot member to engage the fastening device. Once passed through the slot, at least one lip portion of the tab member overlaps or catches the outboard portion of the slot member to prevent the tab member from disengaging from the slot member. The slot member outward portion is retained between the lip portion(s) and the underlying generally flexible tab carrier substrate.

Macro closure device for disposable articles

Hinged tab for slot and tab closure systems

There is provided a mechanical fastener tape tab laminate capable of remaining closed until needed for use on a disposable garment. A tape tab backing had at least a first distal end portion, an inner tab portion and second distal end portion. The second distal end portion is provided with a mechanical fastener material. The first distal end portion is provided with an adhesive layer for permanent attachment to the disposable absorbent article. The tape tab backing laminate further has a folded tape portion comprising a backing having an adhesive layer on an outer face and at least an inner leg portion and an outer leg portion. The outer leg portion has an exposed adhesive provided for permanent attachment to the disposable absorbent article. The inner leg portion is attached to the tape tab backing so that the folded tape portion keeps the second distal end folded onto the first distal end. The inner and outer leg portions are separated by at least one fold. The folded tape portion backing is provided with a line of weakness along the at least one fold, wherein the line of weakness is provided on a portion of the tape tab backing spaced from the first distal end portion. When the laminate is ready for use, the folded tape portion is broken at the line of weakness allowing the second distal end to be unfolded from the first distal end.

Perforated release tape

There is provided a mechanical fastener tape tab laminate comprising a tape tab backing having at least a first distal end portion, an inner tab portion and second distal end portion, the second distal end portion provided with a mechanical fastener material. The first distal end portion is provided with an adhesive layer for attachment to a disposable absorbent article. The tape tab backing further has a folded tape portion comprising a backing having an adhesive layer on an outer face and having at least an inner leg portion and an outer leg portion. The outer leg portion has an exposed adhesive provided for attachment to the disposable absorbent article. The inner and outer leg portions are separated by at least one fold. The folded tape portion backing has a line of weakness along the at least one fold. The line of weakness is provided on a portion of the tape tab backing spaced from the first distal end portion. This line of weakness keeps the tab laminate from flagging prior to use and is easily severable to allow the tab to be extended for use.

Growing community of inventors

Maplewood, MN, United States of America

Randall Lynn Alberg