Pattern-unbonded nonwoven web and process for making the same
First Claim
1. A pattern-unbonded nonwoven fabric comprising:
- a first nonwoven web having a fibrous structure of individual fibers or filaments;
said nonwoven web having a bulk of at least about 10 mils and a basis weight of at least about 20 grams per square meter;
said nonwoven web having on a surface thereof a pattern of continuous bonded areas defining a plurality of discrete unbonded areas formed by application of heat and pressure;
said nonwoven web having a percent bond area of from about 25 percent to about 50 percent;
said individual fibers or filaments within said discrete unbonded areas having at least a portion thereof extending into and bonded within said continuous bonded areas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a pattern-unbonded nonwoven fabric having continuous bonded areas defining a plurality of discrete unbonded areas, which is suitable for use as an improved loop fastening material for hook and loop fastening systems. The fibers or filaments within the discrete unbonded areas of the present invention are dimensionally stabilized by the continuous bonded areas that encircle or surround each unbonded area. The spaces between fibers or filaments within the unbonded areas remain sufficiently open or large to receive and engage hook elements of a complementary hook material. The hook material can be any of a wide variety of commercially available hook components which, as is known in the art, typically include a base material from which a plurality of hook elements project. The present invention further is directed to a process for making such a pattern-unbonded nonwoven fabric including the steps of providing a nonwoven fabric or web, providing opposedly positioned first and second calender rolls and defining a nip therebetween, with at least one of said rolls being heated and having a bonding pattern on its outermost surface comprising a continuous pattern of land areas defining a plurality of discrete openings, apertures or holes, and passing the nonwoven fabric or web within the nip formed by said rolls.
631 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A pattern-unbonded nonwoven fabric comprising:
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a first nonwoven web having a fibrous structure of individual fibers or filaments; said nonwoven web having a bulk of at least about 10 mils and a basis weight of at least about 20 grams per square meter; said nonwoven web having on a surface thereof a pattern of continuous bonded areas defining a plurality of discrete unbonded areas formed by application of heat and pressure; said nonwoven web having a percent bond area of from about 25 percent to about 50 percent; said individual fibers or filaments within said discrete unbonded areas having at least a portion thereof extending into and bonded within said continuous bonded areas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A process for forming a pattern-unbonded nonwoven fabric comprising the steps of:
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forming a first nonwoven web having a fibrous structure of individual fibers or filaments; feeding said nonwoven web into a nip defined between opposedly positioned first and second rolls, said first roll having a patterned outer surface and said second roll having a smooth outer surface; rotating said first and second rolls in opposite directions; bonding said nonwoven web by application of heat and pressure to form on a surface thereof a pattern of continuous bonded areas defining a plurality of discrete unbonded areas; whereby said nonwoven web has a percent bond area of from about 25 percent to about 50 percent; and said individual fibers or filaments within said discrete unbonded areas have at least a portion thereof extending into and bonded within said continuous bonded areas. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification