Three-dimensional, macroscopically expanded, apertured laminate webs

• US 5,665,452 A
• Filed: 03/03/1994
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Dobrin, G. Chris, Langdon, Fred M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shelborne, Kathryne E.
• Application Number:
  US08/205,968
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 428/109, 428/131, 428/137, 428/224, 428/247, 428/284, 428/285, 428/296, 428/318.4, 428/138, 428/141, 156/62.4, 156/62.6, 156/62.8, 156/272.6, 156/272.3, 156/272.5, 156/275.5, 156/307.3, 156/307.7, 156/308.4
• US Class Current: 428/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15731 Treating webs, e.g. for giving them a fibrelike appearance, e.g. by embossing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51394 creating a visual effect, e.g. having a printed or coloured topsheet, printed or coloured sub-layer but being visible from the topsheet, other than embossing for purposes of bonding, wicking, acquisition, leakage-prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53409 having a folded core
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00182 with transparent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15926 for vacuum forming
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51078 being embossed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51147 being polymeric films
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51165 with the combination of films and nonwovens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51372 with valve or valve-like upper layer; Tapered capillary structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5149 being embossed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530459 being curled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530467 being twisted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530547 positioned in a separate layer or layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/583 with strips on several places
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2323/00 Polyalkenes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0032 increasing porosity B32B38/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1056 Perforating lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24091 with additional layer[s]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 : including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 : including nonapertured component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 : Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249987 : With nonvoid component of specified composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2025 : Coating produced by extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/676 : Vinyl polymer or copolymer sheet or film [e.g., polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/678 : Olefin polymer or copolymer sheet or film [e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene-butylene copolymer, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention provides a three-dimensional, macroscopically expanded, apertured, laminate web suitable for use as a topsheet on an absorbent article and a method for making the same. The web includes a first layer of substantially transparent, polymeric material having an inner surface and an outer surface. A nonwoven web is secured to the inner surface of the substantially transparent polymeric material and is visible through the substantially transparent polymeric material. The presence of the nonwoven web creates the appearance of a fibrous web which is perceived as soft and skin friendly while still maintaining the fluid transport benefits of prior art plastic webs.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional, macroscopically expanded, fluid previous web suitable for use as a topsheet on an absorbent article, said web having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface and said second surface being located in planes remote from one another, said web comprising:

(a) a first layer of substantially transparent, polymeric material, said first layer having an inner surface and an outer surface;

(b) a nonwoven web secured to said inner surface of said first layer of substantially transparent polymeric material, said nonwoven web being visible through said first layer of substantially transparent polymeric material; and

(c) a plurality of capillaries extending from said first surface of said web to said second surface of said web for the transmission of fluids through said web, each of said, capillaries originating-as an-aperture in said first surface of said web and having a continuously interconnected sidewall portion between said first and second surfaces, said continuously interconnected sidewall terminating to form an aperture in said second surface.

2. The web of claim 1, wherein said nonwoven web is thermally bonded to said first layer of substantially transparent, polymeric material.

3. The web of claim 1, wherein said first layer of substantially transparent, polymeric material is a co-extruded film.

4. The web of claim 1, wherein said nonwoven web comprises bi-component binder fibers.