Web materials exhibiting elastic-like behavior

• US 5,723,087 A
• Filed: 08/07/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• 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:
  US08/692,986
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 264/239, 264/280, 264/282, 264/283, 264/284
• US Class Current: 264/284
• 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 method for forming a web material into a web material exhibiting an elastic-like behavior in response to an applied elongation along at least one axis thereof, said web material comprising a strainable network having first and second regions, said first region providing a first, elastic-like resistive force to the applied elongation, and the second region providing a second resistive force to further applied elongation, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a web material; and

b) feeding said web material between a first roll and a second roll, said first roll comprising a plurality of toothed regions spaced apart by a plurality of grooved regions, said toothed regions comprising a plurality of teeth, said second roll comprising a plurality of teeth which mesh with said teeth on said first roll, as said web material is fed between said first roll and said second roll the portion of said web material passing between the teeth on said first roll and the teeth on said second roll being formed into said second regions of said web material while the portion of said web material passing between the grooves on said first roll and the teeth on said second roll being formed into said first regions of said web material.