US4606964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bulked web composite and method of making the same
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
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Filing: 1985-11-22
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Granted: 1986-08-19
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Expires: 2005-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A bulked web composite comprises a differentially tensioned reticulated web of elastic material bonded to at least one gatherable web whereby, upon release of the tensioning forces, the gatherable web or webs are gathered by the reticulated web with different degrees of bulking in different areas due to the different tension levels of the reticulated web. Also disclosed is a method of making a bulked web composite by the steps of: forming a reticulated web of elastic material and elongating at least portions of the web by differentially tensioning it, and bonding the differentially tensioned web to at least one gatherable web to form a composite. The composite is then relaxed whereby portions of the gatherable web are gathered by the contracted reticulated web with different degrees of bulking in different areas. Bulked web composites of such type may be employed to form disposable swim wear, towels, wash cloths, and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald H. Wideman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:58
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41D; A41D31/00; A41D31/04; A41D31/18; A41D31/185; B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/40; B32B5/00; B32B5/02; B32B5/022; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; B32B7/14; D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/70; D06; D06M; D06M17/00; D06M17/04; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/50; B32B2307/51; B32B2437/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24355; Y10T428/24446; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24521; Y10T428/24562; Y10T428/24612
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A bulked composite material comprising a reticulated web of elastic material bonded while held under differential tensioning forces to at least one gatherable web, the composite material having gathers formed therein by contraction of differentially tensioned portions of said reticulated web upon release of the tension forces whereby the composite is more bulked in some areas than in others.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A bulked composite material comprising a reticulated web of elastic material bonded while held under differential tensioning forces to at least one gatherable web, the composite material having gathers formed therein by contraction of differentially tensioned portions of said reticulated web upon release of the tension forces whereby the composite is more bulked in some areas than in others.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The material of claim 1 wherein the reticulated web is bonded between two gatherable webs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The material of claim 1 wherein the reticulated web comprises strands of different elastic characteristics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The material of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said gatherable web is a nonwoven material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The material of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said gatherable web is a polymeric film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The material of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the elastic material of the reticulated web comprises a polyurethane resin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The material of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the elastic material of the reticulated web comprises hot-melt extruded strands of elastic self-adherent material bonded under tension to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The material of claim 7, wherein the hot-melt extruded strands of elastic self-adherent material are formed of a thermoplastic synthetic resin and rubber block copolymer composition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The material of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 comprising a discrete web of said material having an hourglass-like configuration including a medial portion narrower and more highly bulked in its end portion, the higher bulk being obtained by placing the medial portion of said reticulated web under greater tension than the end portions while bonding the reticulated web to the gatherable web.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The material of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the reticulated web comprises individual strands joined together at their cross-over points.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of making a bulked web composite, comprising: forming a reticulated web of elastic material; elongating at least portions of the web by differentially tensioning different portions of the reticulated web; bonding the differentially tensioned web to at least one gatherable web to form a composite material; and relaxing the composite to gather portions of the gatherable web.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of making a bulked web composite, comprising: forming a reticulated web of elastic material; elongating at least portions of the web by differentially tensioning different portions of the reticulated web; bonding the differentially tensioned web to at least one gatherable web to form a composite material; and relaxing the composite to gather portions of the gatherable web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 including bonding the reticulated web between two gatherable webs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 or claim 12 including forming the reticulated web from elastic materials having different elastic characteristics.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 11 or claim 12 including forming the composite web in an hourglass-like configuration having a medial portion which is narrower than its end portion and tensioning the medial portion of the reticulated web of a discrete web of the composite material to a greater extent than its end portions whereby, upon release of the tensioning forces, the composite contracts into a higher bulked configuration in the medial than in the end portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 including forming the reticulated web by tensioning strands of elastic material and bonding the strands together to form said web.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-18 | 1990-02-17 | 1990-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-18 | 1994-02-17 | 1994-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-18 | 1998-02-17 | 1998-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |