Patent US5728446A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5728446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Liquid management film for absorbent articles
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1995-10-23
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Granted: 1998-03-17
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Expires: 2015-10-23
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a liquid management film for use in rapid transport of liquid. The liquid management film is a thermoplastic film having at least one microstructured hydrophilic surface with a plurality of primary grooves. The primary grooves have at least two secondary grooves, each of said secondary grooves forming at least one notch which notches are substantially parallel and separated by a secondary peak. The notches or secondary grooves have an included angle of from about 10 DEG to about 120 DEG , the depth of one of said secondary grooves (the height of the secondary peak over the notch) being at least 5 microns and said depth being from about 0.5 to about 80 percent of the depth of the primary groove. The said notches have a radius of curvature of less than about 15 microns and the primary and/or secondary groove depth and width varies by less than 20 percent for each groove over a given length of the film.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond P. Johnston
- 👤 Robert T. Fehr
- 👤 James A. Servatius
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/53; A61F13/534; A61F13/537; A61F13/53704; A61F13/53708; A61F13/53717; A61F13/45; A61F13/47; A61F13/4702; A61F13/15203; A61F2013/15284; A61F2013/15365; A61F2013/15373; A61F13/15577; A61F2013/15821; A61F2013/4512; A61F13/51; A61F2013/51059; A61F2013/51066; A61F2013/51069; A61F2013/51078; A61F2013/51088; A61F2013/530131; A61F2013/530226; A61F2013/530299; A61F2013/53721; A61F2013/53734; A61F2013/53765; A61F2013/53778; A61F2013/53795; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/2457; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A liquid management film for use in rapid transport of liquid comprising a thermoplastic film having at least one microstructured hydrophilic surface with a plurality of primary grooves to promote the undirectional spreading of liquids, a plurality of said primary grooves having at least two secondary grooves, each of said secondary grooves having at least two sidewalls the intersection of which forms at least one notch, which secondary groove notches are substantially parallel and separated by a secondary peak and which secondary groove notches or secondary grooves have an included angle of from about 10° to about 120°, the depth of one of said secondary grooves (the height of the secondary peak over the notch being at least 5 microns and said depth being from about 0.5 to about 80 percent of the depth of the primary groove, said notches having a radius of curvature of less than about 15 microns and the primary and/or secondary groove depth and width varies by less than 20 percent for each groove over a given length of the film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A liquid management film for use in rapid transport of liquid comprising a thermoplastic film having at least one microstructured hydrophilic surface with a plurality of primary grooves to promote the undirectional spreading of liquids, a plurality of said primary grooves having at least two secondary grooves, each of said secondary grooves having at least two sidewalls the intersection of which forms at least one notch, which secondary groove notches are substantially parallel and separated by a secondary peak and which secondary groove notches or secondary grooves have an included angle of from about 10° to about 120°, the depth of one of said secondary grooves (the height of the secondary peak over the notch being at least 5 microns and said depth being from about 0.5 to about 80 percent of the depth of the primary groove, said notches having a radius of curvature of less than about 15 microns and the primary and/or secondary groove depth and width varies by less than 20 percent for each groove over a given length of the film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The liquid management film of claim 1 wherein the primary grooves have a depth of from 50 to 3000 microns and the depth of the secondary grooves is from 5 to 50 percent of the depth of the primary grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The liquid management film of claim 1 wherein the secondary grooves are V-shaped or rectangular.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein the primary grooves are V-shaped having an included angle of from about 10° to about 120°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein the primary grooves are rectangular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein the included angles of said secondary grooves or notches are between about 10° and 100°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein where the included angles of said secondary grooves or notches are between about 20° and 95°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein where the width and depth of each of said primary grooves varies by less than 10 percent over the length of said film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said primary grooves are between about 50 and about 3000 microns deep.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said primary grooves are between about 75 and about 1500 microns deep.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said primary grooves are between about 100 and about 1000 microns deep.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The liquid management film of claim 4 wherein the angular width of said primary grooves is between about 30° and about 90°.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said secondary grooves notches included angle is a secant angle taken from the notch to points halfway up the secondary groove sidewalls.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 where in said notches have a radius of curvature of about 10 microns or less.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said notches have a radius of curvature of about 5 microns or less.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said secondary grooves have a plurality of outwardly flaring walls.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said film is impermeable to aqueous liquids.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said liquid management film has an average thickness of between about 25 and 1500 microns.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The liquid management film of claim 18 wherein said liquid management film has an average thickness of between about 125 and 1000 microns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said liquid management film has one or more apertures therein.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said liquid management film is made of one or more polyolefins.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein each of said primary grooves has three or more secondary grooves defining three or more notches.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein each of said primary grooves has three or more notches.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein said film is flexible.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The liquid management film of claim 2 wherein the depth of the secondary grooves is 5 to 50 percent of the depth of the primary grooves.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The liquid management film of claim 4 wherein the primary grooves have an angular width greater than the angular width of the secondary grooves.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The liquid management film of claim 1 wherein the secondary grooves are substantially rectangular and each has two notches.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The liquid management film of claim 24 wherein the secondary grooves are substantially rectangular and each has two notches where the bottoms of the rectangular grooves are at least 3 microns wide to form parallel thin film regions.
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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) | 2001-03-16 | 2001-09-15 | 2002-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-16 | 2005-09-15 | 2006-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-16 | 2009-09-15 | 2010-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |