Web materials exhibiting elastic-like behavior

• US 5,691,035 A
• Filed: 06/25/1996
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Curro, John J., Buell, Kenneth B., Chappell, Charles W., Mansfield, Michele A., Sorensen, Eugene R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, James J.
• Application Number:
  US08/670,026
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 428/152, 428/156, 428/167, 428/910, 604/358
• US Class Current: 428/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15707 Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51104 the top sheet having a three-dimensional cross-section, e.g. corrugations, embossments, recesses or projections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/514 Backsheet, i.e. the impermeable cover or layer furthest from the skin A61F13/15211, A61F13/15252 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51466 providing stretchability without the use of elastic material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51476 being three-dimensional, e.g. embossed, textured, pleated, or with three-dimensional features, like gathers or loops
• 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 2013/51322 being elastomeric or stretchable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51429 being elastomeric or stretchable sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/18 by squeezing between surfaces, e.g. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/91 Product with molecular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• 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 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree

Abstract

A web material which exhibits an elastic-like behavior along at least one axis when subjected to an applied and subsequently released elongation. The web material includes a strainable network having at least two visually distinct regions of the same material composition. The first region undergoes a molecular-level deformation and the second region initially undergoes a substantially geometric deformation when the web material is subjected to an applied elongation in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of elongation.

Claims

1. A web material comprising:

a pair of first regions each having a first axis in a first direction, a second axis in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, and a surface pathlength measured generally parallel to said first axis when the web material is in an untensioned condition;

a second region disposed between said first regions, said second region having a first axis in said first direction, a second axis in said second direction perpendicular to said first direction, a plurality of raised rib-like elements having a major axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, and a surface pathlength measured generally parallel to said first axis when the web material is in an untensioned condition, the surface-pathlength of said first regions being less than the surface-pathlength of the second region; and

a transitional region at the interface between each said first region and said second region.