Elastic film laminate

• US 5,462,708 A
• Filed: 12/16/1994
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Krueger, Dennis L., Swenson, Douglas A., Fox, Herbert J., Lockridge, Rochelle L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, James J.
• Application Number:
  US08/358,206
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 264/171, 264/235.6, 428/213
• US Class Current: 264/174.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15252 compostable or biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49009 with elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49015 the elastic means being elastic panels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4902 characterised by the elastic material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51464 being stretchable or elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5148 having an impervious inner layer and a cloth-like outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51484 being inhomogeneous in the plane of the sheet, i.e. having zones of different properties or structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49023 being textured, e.g. corrugated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49044 being stretchable non-elastic panels, A61F13/4902 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51071 with anti-static agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51073 with lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/023 using multilayered plates or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 61/0608 characterised by the configuration or structure of the preforms
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 61/0616 layered or partially layered preforms, e.g. preforms with layers of adhesive or sealing compositions B29C61/0625 and B29C61/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2016/00 Articles with corrugations or pleats B29L2023/18, B29L2024/003 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/51 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/516 mono-axially
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2555/02 Diapers or napkins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/302 comprising aromatic vinyl (co)polymers, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 : comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/022 : Mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/91 : Product with molecular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24446 : Wrinkled, creased, crinkled or creped
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 : including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24562 : Interlaminar spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 : Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24686 : Pleats or otherwise parallel adjacent folds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24826 : Spot bonds connect components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 : Thickness [relative or absolute]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 : Three or more layers

Abstract

An elastic film is provided with non-elastic regions and elastic regions formed from a multi-layer film of an elastomeric layer and a relatively inelastic layer(s).

Claims

1. A method for forming an elastic film laminate comprising a continuous elastomeric core layer of at least a first thickness and at least one continuous inelastic skin outer layer of oriented plastic having a second thickness less than the first thickness, where the film laminate is divided into at least on elastic region and at least one non-elastic region, the elastomeric core layer in the non-elastic region having a thickness less than said first thickness when the elastomer is in the relaxed state and in substantially continuous planar contact with the at least one outer skin layer, the elastomeric core layer in the at least one elastic region having said first thickness and having an overlying skin layer having an outer surface area greater than the planar surface area of the elastomeric layer in the elastic region in the relaxed state, the method characterized by:

providing a multi-layer laminate of the at least one skin layer and the at least on elastomeric core layer,

stretching the multi-layer laminate past the elastic limit of the at least one skin layer causing it to deform,

heating the stretched multi-layer laminate in pre-selected regions randomizing the elastic in these regions, and

recovering the stretched multi-layer laminate in the non-heat treated regions to form the elastic regions of the elastic film laminate.

2. The method of claim 1 further characterized by cooling the stretched laminate prior to recovery forming a heat-shrinkable laminate.

3. The method of claim 1 further characterized by cooling the stretched laminate prior to recovery forming a heat-shrinkable laminate.