US3768121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus (closed sandwich with high knee backing means foraminous throughout its area)
Assignee: Johnson and Johnson
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Filing: 1972-02-10
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1992-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for producing, from a layer of fibrous material such as a fibrous web, nonwoven fabrics that contain apertures or holes, or other areas of low fiber density, and have a plurality of patterns of yarn-like bundles of fiber segments that alternate and extend throughout the fabric. One form of the method includes the steps of positioning the starting web between apertured forming means and a foraminous backing means having a plurality of protuberances and troughs alternating across its surface, then directing fluid rearranging forces through the apertures of the forming means against the fibers of the starting web, causing some of the fluid streams to strike the protuberances referred to or other solid portions of the backing means and all of the fluid streams ultimately to pass through the backing means. The tops of the protuberances on the backing means rise above the bottoms of immediately adjacent troughs by a vertical distance equal to at least about three times the average diameter of the fibers in the layer of fibrous starting material. Each forming aperture spans a plurality of the protuberances on the backing means. The fluid rearranging forces move some of the fiber segments that are in registry with the forming apertures into surrounding areas in said fibrous layer and position those fiber segments there in yarn-like bundles of closed associated and substantially parallel fiber segments. The rearranging forces also move other fiber segments that are in registry with the forming apertures into the troughs on the backing means to position those fiber segments there in other similar yarn-like bundles of fiber segments. The resulting nonwoven fabric has a first pattern of yarn-like bundles of fiber segments arranged in accordance with the configuration of the land areas of the apertured forming means, and a second pattern of yarn-like bundles of fiber segments arranged according to the configuration of the troughs on the backing means.
Inventors
- 👤 F Kalawaites
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:09
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/70; D04H1/72; D04H1/736
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
308 words
Apparatus for producing a patterned nonwoven fabric having a plurality of patterns of yarn-like bundles of fiber segments that alternate and extend throughout said fabric, from a layer of fibrous starting material whose individual fibers are in mechanical engagement with one another but are capable of movement under applied fluid forces, which comprises: foraminous backing means for said layer of fibrous starting material, said means having a plurality of protuberances and troughs alternating across the surface thereof in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, the tops of said protuberances rising above the bottoms of the immediately adjacent troughs by a vertical distance of more than 0.005 inch, the top of each of said protuberances being spaced from the top of the immediately adjacent protuberance by a horizontal distance of more than 0.05 inch; apertured forming means spaced from said backing means to provide a zone in which fiber movement in directions parallel to said backing means is permitted in response to applied fluid forces, the apertures in said forming means being longitudinally and transversely spaced with land areas therebetween, the width of each of said forming apertures being equal to at least about the horizontal distance between the top of one of said protuberances and the top of an immediately adjacent protuberance; means for moving said backing means and apertured forming means, with a layer of fibrous starting material positioned therebetween, through a rearranging zone without any translatory movement between said two means and the fibrous layer; and means for projecting streams of rearranging fluid through said apertures in the apertured forming means and then against said fibrous layer to pass therethrough, some of said fluid streams striking said protuberances on the backing means and being deflected thereby in sidewise directions, and all of said fluid streams passing through and beyond said foraminous portions of the backing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
308 words
Apparatus for producing a patterned nonwoven fabric having a plurality of patterns of yarn-like bundles of fiber segments that alternate and extend throughout said fabric, from a layer of fibrous starting material whose individual fibers are in mechanical engagement with one another but are capable of movement under applied fluid forces, which comprises: foraminous backing means for said layer of fibrous starting material, said means having a plurality of protuberances and troughs alternating across the surface thereof in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, the tops of said protuberances rising above the bottoms of the immediately adjacent troughs by a vertical distance of more than 0.005 inch, the top of each of said protuberances being spaced from the top of the immediately adjacent protuberance by a horizontal distance of more than 0.05 inch; apertured forming means spaced from said backing means to provide a zone in which fiber movement in directions parallel to said backing means is permitted in response to applied fluid forces, the apertures in said forming means being longitudinally and transversely spaced with land areas therebetween, the width of each of said forming apertures being equal to at least about the horizontal distance between the top of one of said protuberances and the top of an immediately adjacent protuberance; means for moving said backing means and apertured forming means, with a layer of fibrous starting material positioned therebetween, through a rearranging zone without any translatory movement between said two means and the fibrous layer; and means for projecting streams of rearranging fluid through said apertures in the apertured forming means and then against said fibrous layer to pass therethrough, some of said fluid streams striking said protuberances on the backing means and being deflected thereby in sidewise directions, and all of said fluid streams passing through and beyond said foraminous portions of the backing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which each of said apertures in the apertured forming means has a width sufficient to span a plurality of said protuberances on the backing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which each of said apertures in the apertured forming means spans a plurality of said protuberances on the backing means measured in both the longitudinal and the transverse directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
356 words
Apparatus for producing a patterned nonwoven fabric having a plurality of patterns of yarn-like bundles of fiber segments that alternate and extend throughout said fabric, from a layer of fibrous starting material whose individual fibers are in mechanical engagement with one another but are capable of movement under applied liquid forces, which comprises: foraminous backing means for said layer of fibrous starting material, said means having a plurality of protuberances and troughs alternating across the surface thereof in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, the tops of said protuberances rising above the bottoms of the immediately adjacent troughs by a vertical distance of more than 0.005 inch, the top of each of said protuberances being spaced from the top of the immediately adjacent protuberAnce by a horizontal distance of more than 0.025 inch; apertured forming means spaced from said backing means to provide a zone in which fiber movement in directions parallel to said backing means is permitted in response to applied liquid forces, the apertures in said forming means being longitudinally and transversely spaced with land areas therebetween, the width of each of said forming apertures being equal to at least about the horizontal distance between the top of one of said protuberances and the top of an immediately adjacent protuberance; means for moving said backing means and apertured forming means; with a layer of fibrous starting material positioned therebetween, through a rearranging zone without any translatory movement between said two means and the fibrous layer; means for projecting streams of liquid through said apertures in the apertured forming means and then against said fibrous layer to pass therethrough, some of said liquid streams striking said protuberances on the backing means and being deflected thereby in sidewise directions, and all of said liquid streams passing through and beyond said foraminous portions of the backing means; and means for applying a vacuum to said layer of fibrous starting material on the side opposite the points of application of said streams of liquid, to assist in moving said liquid through the fibrous layer and in rearranging the fibers of said layer to form a patterned nonwoven fabric.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
356 words
Apparatus for producing a patterned nonwoven fabric having a plurality of patterns of yarn-like bundles of fiber segments that alternate and extend throughout said fabric, from a layer of fibrous starting material whose individual fibers are in mechanical engagement with one another but are capable of movement under applied liquid forces, which comprises: foraminous backing means for said layer of fibrous starting material, said means having a plurality of protuberances and troughs alternating across the surface thereof in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, the tops of said protuberances rising above the bottoms of the immediately adjacent troughs by a vertical distance of more than 0.005 inch, the top of each of said protuberances being spaced from the top of the immediately adjacent protuberAnce by a horizontal distance of more than 0.025 inch; apertured forming means spaced from said backing means to provide a zone in which fiber movement in directions parallel to said backing means is permitted in response to applied liquid forces, the apertures in said forming means being longitudinally and transversely spaced with land areas therebetween, the width of each of said forming apertures being equal to at least about the horizontal distance between the top of one of said protuberances and the top of an immediately adjacent protuberance; means for moving said backing means and apertured forming means; with a layer of fibrous starting material positioned therebetween, through a rearranging zone without any translatory movement between said two means and the fibrous layer; means for projecting streams of liquid through said apertures in the apertured forming means and then against said fibrous layer to pass therethrough, some of said liquid streams striking said protuberances on the backing means and being deflected thereby in sidewise directions, and all of said liquid streams passing through and beyond said foraminous portions of the backing means; and means for applying a vacuum to said layer of fibrous starting material on the side opposite the points of application of said streams of liquid, to assist in moving said liquid through the fibrous layer and in rearranging the fibers of said layer to form a patterned nonwoven fabric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which each of said apertures in the apertured forming means spans a plurality of said protuberances on the backing means measured in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |