Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight of from about 5 to about 40 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, said sheet being characterized by having a structure which in cross-section comprises at least two superposed stratified fibrous layers in contacting relationship for a major portion of their areas, at least one of said stratified fibrous layers being partially displaced in a plane perpendicular to said sheet in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in a foraminous fabric and comprising from about 100 to about 3,600 individual deflected areas per square inch, as measured in an uncreped state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight of from about 5 to about 40 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, said sheet being characterized by having a structure which in cross-section comprises at least two superposed stratified fibrous layers in contacting relationship for a major portion of their areas, at least one of said stratified fibrous layers being partially displaced in a plane perpendicular to said sheet in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in a foraminous fabric and comprising from about 100 to about 3,600 individual deflected areas per square inch, as measured in an uncreped state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheeet of claim 1, wherein said discrete deflected areas are of lower density than the remaining portions of said paper sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 2, said sheet being further characterized by having an overall bulk density, as measured in an uncalendered state at a loading of 80 grams per square inch, of from about 0.020 to about 0.200 grams per cubic centimeter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 1, wherein said superposed stratified fibrous layers are comprised of dissimilar fiber types.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 4, said sheet comprising two stratified fibrous layers, one of said stratified fibrous layers being partially deflected in a plane perpendicular to the sheet and the other of said stratified fibrous layers being substantially planar and continuous.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 5, wherein the stratified fibrous layer which is partially deflected in a plane perpendicular to the sheet is comprised primarily of relatively short papermaking fibers having an average length between about 0.01 and about 0.06 inches and the stratified fibrous layer which is substantially planar and continuous is comprised primarily of relatively long papermaking fibers having an average length of at least about 0.08 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of said discrete deflected areas in said short-fibered layer interact with said substantially planar and continuous long-fibered layer to form structures which in cross-section have the appearance of totally-enclosed pillows.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of said discrete deflected areas in said short-fibered layer form structures which in cross-section have the appearance of volcano-like cones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 6, wherein said relatively short papermaking fibers are comprised of hardwood pulp and said relatively long papermaking fibers are comprised of softwood pulp.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 6, wherein the bone dry weight of said stratified fibrous layer comprised primarily of relatively short papermaking fibers comprises between about 20 and about 80 percent of the total bone dry weight of said paper sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 6, wherein said stratified fibrous layer comprised primarily of relatively short papermaking fibers contains not more than about 30 percent of the relatively long papermaking fibers from which said substantially planar and continuous fibrous layer is comprised.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 1, wherein said superposed stratified fibrous layers are comprised of similar fiber types.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 12, wherein each of said superposed stratified fibrous layers is displaced in small discrete deflected areas in a plane perpendicular to said sheet, said discrete deflected areas creating discontinuities extending throughout the entire thickness of said sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 12, wherein each of said superposed stratified fibrous layers is comprised of a homogeneous mixture of relatively long papermaking fibers having an average length of at least about 0.08 inches and relatively short papermaking fibers having an average length between about 0.01 and about 0.06 inches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 12, wherein each of said superposed stratified fibrous layers is comprised primarily of relatively long papermaking fibers having an average length of at least about 0.08 inches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
114 words
A soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight from about 7 to about 25 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, said sheet being characterized by having a structure which in cross-section comprises at least two superposed stratified fibrous layers in contacting relationship for a major portion of their areas, at least one of said stratified fibrous layers being partially displaced in a plane perpendicular to said sheet in a regular pattern of small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in a foraminous fabric and comprising from about 100 to about 3,600 individual deflected areas per square inch, as measured in an uncreped state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
114 words
A soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight from about 7 to about 25 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, said sheet being characterized by having a structure which in cross-section comprises at least two superposed stratified fibrous layers in contacting relationship for a major portion of their areas, at least one of said stratified fibrous layers being partially displaced in a plane perpendicular to said sheet in a regular pattern of small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in a foraminous fabric and comprising from about 100 to about 3,600 individual deflected areas per square inch, as measured in an uncreped state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 16, wherein said discrete deflected areas are of lower density than the remaining portions of said paper sheet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 17, said sheet being further characterized by having a bulk density, as measured in an uncalendered state at a loading of 80 grams per square inch, of from about 0.025 to about 0.130 grams per cubic centimeter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 17, said sheet comprising two stratified fibrous layers, one of said stratified fibrous layers being partially deflected in a plane perpendicular to the sheet and the other of said stratified fibrous layers being substantially planar and continuous.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 19, wherein the stratified fibrous layer which is partially deflected in a plane perpendicular to the sheet is comprised primarily of relatively short papermaking fibers having an average length between about 0.01 and about 0.06 inches and the stratified fibrous layer which is substantially planar and continuous is comprised primarily of relatively long papermaking fibers having an average length between about 0.08 and about 0.12 inches.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of said discrete deflected areas in said short-fibered layer interact with said substantially planar and continuous long-fibered layer to form structures which in cross-section have the appearance of totally-enclosed pillows.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of said discrete deflected areas in said short-fibered layer form structures which in cross-section have the appearance of volcano-like cone structures.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 20, wherein the bone dry weight of said stratified fibrous layer comprised primarily of relatively short hardwood fibers comprises between about 40 and about 60 percent of the total bone dry weight of said paper sheet.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 20, wherein said stratified fibrous layer comprised primarily of relatively short papermaking fibers contains not more than about 15 percent of the relatively long papermaking fibers from which said substantially planar and continuous fibrous layer is comprised.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
127 words
A soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight of from about 8 to about 40 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, said sheet being characterized by having a structure which in cross-section comprises at least three superposed stratified fibrous layers, said outermost stratified layers being in contacting relationship with said central stratified layer for a major portion of their areas, each of said outermost stratified layers being partially displaced in a plane perpendicular to said sheet in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in a foraminous fabric and comprising from about 100 to about 3,600 deflected areas per square inch, as measured in an uncreped state, said central stratified layer being substantially planar and continuous.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
127 words
A soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight of from about 8 to about 40 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, said sheet being characterized by having a structure which in cross-section comprises at least three superposed stratified fibrous layers, said outermost stratified layers being in contacting relationship with said central stratified layer for a major portion of their areas, each of said outermost stratified layers being partially displaced in a plane perpendicular to said sheet in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in a foraminous fabric and comprising from about 100 to about 3,600 deflected areas per square inch, as measured in an uncreped state, said central stratified layer being substantially planar and continuous.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 25, wherein said discrete deflected areas in said outermost stratified fibrous layers are of lower density than the remaining portions of said paper sheet.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
72 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 26, wherein each of said outermost stratified layers is comprised primarily of relatively short papermaking fibers having an average length between about 0.01 and about 0.06 inches and said central stratified layer is comprised primarily of relatively long papermaking fibers having an average length of at least about 0.08 inches, said sheet being further characterized by improved tactile impression on both surfaces thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
The soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet of claim 27, said sheet being further characterized by having a bulk density, as measured in an uncalendered state at a loading of 80 grams per square inch, of from about 0.020 to about 0.200 grams per cubic centimeter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
157 words
A process for the manufacture of a soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight between about 5 and about 40 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, which comprises the steps of: a. forming a moist paper web comprising at least two superposed stratified fibrous layers in contacting relationship; b. supporting said moist paper web on a foraminous fabric having between about 100 and about 3,600 mesh openings per square inch; c. subjecting said moist paper web to a pressure differential while on said fabric while said web is at a fiber consistency between about 5 and about 25 percent, thereby partially displacing at least one of said stratified fibrous layers in a plane perpendicular to said sheet in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in said fabric; and d. final drying said sheet without disturbing the deflected areas of said one of said stratified layers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
157 words
A process for the manufacture of a soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight between about 5 and about 40 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, which comprises the steps of: a. forming a moist paper web comprising at least two superposed stratified fibrous layers in contacting relationship; b. supporting said moist paper web on a foraminous fabric having between about 100 and about 3,600 mesh openings per square inch; c. subjecting said moist paper web to a pressure differential while on said fabric while said web is at a fiber consistency between about 5 and about 25 percent, thereby partially displacing at least one of said stratified fibrous layers in a plane perpendicular to said sheet in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in said fabric; and d. final drying said sheet without disturbing the deflected areas of said one of said stratified layers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 29, wherein the step of subjecting said moist paper web to a pressure differential is carried out by applying vacuum to the undersurface of said fabric.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
80 words
The process of claim 29, wherein the step of forming a moist paper web is carried out by combining a first stratified fibrous layer comprised primarily of relatively short papermaking fibers having an average length between about 0.01 and about 0.06 inches with a second stratified fibrous layer comprised primarily of relatively long papermaking fibers having an average length of at least about 0.08 inches while said fibrous layers are at a fiber consistency not greater than about 20 percent.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
59 words
The process of claim 31, wherein said foraminous fabric has a diagonal free span between about 0.005 and about 0.080 inches, and the step of supporting said moist paper web on said foraminous fabric is carried out by placing the surface of said web containing primarily short papermaking fibers in contact with the web supporting surface of said fabric.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 29, including the steps of thermally predrying said moist paper web to a fiber consistency of at least about 30 percent while on said fabric, and thereafter subjecting discrete portions of said thermally predried web to compaction between the knuckles of said fabric and a non-yielding surface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
69 words
The process of claim 33, including the steps of adhering said thermally predried paper web to the surface of a dryer drum at discrete locations corresponding to the areas of discrete compaction by the knuckles of said fabric, finally drying said paper web on the surface of said dryer drum, and creping said finally dried paper web during removal from said dryer drum by means of a doctor blade.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 29, including the steps of finally drying said moist paper web on said fabric and thereafter subjecting said finally dried paper web to mechanical micro-creping upon removal of said web from said fabric.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
200 words
A process for the manufacture of a soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 25 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, which comprises the steps of: a. forming a first moist fibrous web on a foraminous support medium; b. superimposing on said first fibrous web a second moist fibrous web to form a stratified moist paper web; c. transferring said stratified moist paper web from said foraminous support medium to a foraminous drying/imprinting fabric having between about 100 and about 3,600 mesh openings per square inch and a diagonal free span between about 0.009 and about 0.054 inches by applying fluid pressure to said web while said web is at a fiber consistency between about 5 and about 25 percent, thereby partially displacing said fibrous layer in contact with the web supporting surface of said drying/imprinting fabric in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in said fabric; d. thermally predrying said moist paper web to a fiber consistency of at least about 30 percent without disturbing the relationship of said web to said fabric; and e. final drying the paper sheet thus formed.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
200 words
A process for the manufacture of a soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 25 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, which comprises the steps of: a. forming a first moist fibrous web on a foraminous support medium; b. superimposing on said first fibrous web a second moist fibrous web to form a stratified moist paper web; c. transferring said stratified moist paper web from said foraminous support medium to a foraminous drying/imprinting fabric having between about 100 and about 3,600 mesh openings per square inch and a diagonal free span between about 0.009 and about 0.054 inches by applying fluid pressure to said web while said web is at a fiber consistency between about 5 and about 25 percent, thereby partially displacing said fibrous layer in contact with the web supporting surface of said drying/imprinting fabric in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in said fabric; d. thermally predrying said moist paper web to a fiber consistency of at least about 30 percent without disturbing the relationship of said web to said fabric; and e. final drying the paper sheet thus formed.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 36, including the step of subjecting discrete portions of said thermally predried paper web to compaction between the knuckles of said fabric and a non-yielding surface.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
71 words
The process of claim 37, including the steps of adhering said thermally predried paper web to the surface of a dryer drum in discrete locations corresponding to the areas of discrete compaction by the knuckles of said fabric, finally drying said thermally predried paper web on the surface of said dryer drum, and creping said finally dried paper web during removal from said dryer drum by means of a doctor blade.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 38, including the step of calendering said finally dried, creped paper sheet to impart uniform caliper thereto.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 36, including the steps of finally drying said thermally predried paper web on said fabric and thereafter subjecting said finally dried paper web to mechanical micro-creping upon removal from said fabric.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 40, including the step of calendering said finally dried, mechanically micro-creped paper sheet to impart uniform caliper thereto.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 36, wherein said stratified moist paper web is formed by superimposing a second moist fibrous web onto a first moist fibrous web of similar fiber content.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 36, wherein said stratified moist paper web is formed by superimposing a second moist fibrous web onto a first fibrous web of dissimilar fiber content.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
97 words
The process of claim 43, wherein said first fibrous web is comprised primarily of relatively long papermaking fibers having an average length between about 0.08 and about 0.12 inches, said second fibrous web is comprised primarily of relatively short papermaking fibers having an average length between about 0.01 and about 0.06 inches, and the step of transferring said stratified moist paper web from said foraminous support medium to said drying/imprinting fabric is carried out by placing the surface of said web containing primarily short papermaking fibers in contact with the web supporting surface of said drying/imprinting fabric.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
61 words
The process of claim 44, including the steps of thermally predrying said stratified moist paper web to a fiber consistency between about 30 and about 98 percent without disturbing the relationship of said web to said drying/imprinting fabric, and thereafter subjecting discrete portions of said thermally predried web to compaction between the knuckles of said drying/imprinting fabric and a non-yielding surface.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
70 words
The process of claim 45, including the steps of adhering said thermally predried paper web to the surface of a dryer drum at discrete locations corresponding to the areas of discrete compaction by the knuckles of said drying/imprinting fabric, finally drying said paper web on the surface of said dryer drum, and creping said finally dried paper web during removal from said dryer drum by means of a doctor blade.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 46, including the step of calendering said finally dried, creped paper sheet to impart uniform caliper thereto.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 44, including the steps of finally drying said thermally predried paper web on said drying/imprinting fabric and thereafter subjecting said finally dried paper sheet to mechanical micro-creping upon removal from said fabric.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
86 words
The process of claim 44, wherein the step of transferring said moist paper web from said foraminous support medium is carried out by applying vacuum to the undersurface of a foraminous drying/imprinting fabric having a diagonal free span which is greater than about one third times yet less than about 1.0 times the average fiber length in the short-fibered portion of said web, said diagonal free span also being less than about one third times the average fiber length in the long-fibered portion of said web.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
282 words
A process for the manufacture of a soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight between about 8 and about 40 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, which comprises the steps of: a. forming a moist paper web comprising at least two superposed stratified fibrous layers in contacting relationship; b. supporting said moist paper web on a first foraminous fabric having between about 100 and about 3,600 mesh openings per square inch; c. subjecting said moist paper web to a pressure differential while on said first foraminous fabric, thereby partially displacing the stratified fibrous layer in contact with said fabric in a plane perpendicular to said sheet in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in said fabric; d. superimposing a third fibrous layer on said moist paper web while said web is supported on said first foraminous fabric to form a unitary moist paper web having three stratified fibrous layers; e. transferring said moist paper web from said first foraminous fabric to a second foraminous fabric having between about 100 and about 3,600 mesh openings per square inch by applying vacuum to the undersurface of said second foraminous fabric while said web is at a fiber consistency between about 5 and about 25 percent, thereby partially displacing the fibrous layer in contact with the web supporting surface of said fabric in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in said fabric; f. thermally predrying said moist paper web to a fiber consistency of at least about 30 percent without disturbing the relationship of said web to said second foraminous fabric; and g. final drying the paper sheet thus formed.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
282 words
A process for the manufacture of a soft, bulky and absorbent unitary paper sheet having a basis weight between about 8 and about 40 pounds per 3,000 square feet, as measured in an uncreped state, which comprises the steps of: a. forming a moist paper web comprising at least two superposed stratified fibrous layers in contacting relationship; b. supporting said moist paper web on a first foraminous fabric having between about 100 and about 3,600 mesh openings per square inch; c. subjecting said moist paper web to a pressure differential while on said first foraminous fabric, thereby partially displacing the stratified fibrous layer in contact with said fabric in a plane perpendicular to said sheet in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in said fabric; d. superimposing a third fibrous layer on said moist paper web while said web is supported on said first foraminous fabric to form a unitary moist paper web having three stratified fibrous layers; e. transferring said moist paper web from said first foraminous fabric to a second foraminous fabric having between about 100 and about 3,600 mesh openings per square inch by applying vacuum to the undersurface of said second foraminous fabric while said web is at a fiber consistency between about 5 and about 25 percent, thereby partially displacing the fibrous layer in contact with the web supporting surface of said fabric in small discrete deflected areas corresponding to the mesh openings in said fabric; f. thermally predrying said moist paper web to a fiber consistency of at least about 30 percent without disturbing the relationship of said web to said second foraminous fabric; and g. final drying the paper sheet thus formed.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
82 words
The process of claim 50, wherein the outermost fibrous layers of said three-layered web are comprised primarily of relatively short papermaking fibers having an average length between about 0.01 and about 0.06 inches and the central layer of said web is comprised primarily of relatively long papermaking fibers having an average length of at least about 0.08 inches, said three-layered web being formed by combining said fibrous layers with one another while at a fiber consistency not greater than about 20 percent.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 50, including the steps of finally drying said thermally predried paper web on said second foraminous fabric and thereafter subjecting said finally dried paper web to mechanical micro-creping upon removal from said fabric.