The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 12, 2005
Filed:
May. 20, 2002
Michael R. Berrigan, Oakdale, MN (US);
Anne N. DE Rovere, Woodbury, MN (US);
William T. Fay, Woodbury, MN (US);
Jill R. Munro, St. Paul, MN (US);
Pamela A. Percha, Woodbury, MN (US);
Michael R. Berrigan, Oakdale, MN (US);
Anne N. De Rovere, Woodbury, MN (US);
William T. Fay, Woodbury, MN (US);
Jill R. Munro, St. Paul, MN (US);
Pamela A. Percha, Woodbury, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
Nonwoven fibrous webs comprise fibers of uniform diameter that vary in morphology along their length. The variation provides longitudinal segments that exhibit distinctive softening characteristics during a bonding operation. Some segments soften under the conditions of the bonding operation and bond to other fibers of the web, and other segments are passive during the bonding operation. Webs as described can be formed by a method that comprises a) extruding filaments of fiber-forming material; b) directing the filaments through a processing chamber in which the filaments are subjected to longitudinal stress; c) subjecting the filaments to turbulent flow conditions after they exit the processing chamber; and d) collecting the processed filaments; the temperature of the filaments being controlled so that at least some of the filaments solidify while in the turbulent field.