Method for making a flangeless seam for use in disposable articles

• US 6,042,673 A
• Filed: 03/04/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Johnson, Larry Kenneth, Lange, Stephen Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, Michael W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tolin, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US09/034,763
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 156/73.4, 156/163, 156/164, 156/217, 156/227, 156/272.4, 156/273.7, 156/273.9, 156/274.4, 156/274.8, 156/275.1, 156/275.3, 156/275.7, 156/289 , 156/308.4, 219/633, 219/634, 604/365, 604/366, 604/385.1, 604/385.2, 604/386, 604/392, 2/402
• US Class Current: 156/227
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15699 Forming webs by bringing together several webs, e.g. by laminating or folding several webs, with or without additional treatment of the webs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15739 Sealing, e.g. involving cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/493 adjustable by adding or removing material, e.g. umbilical cord arrangements adjustable by the fastening A61F13/5638, A61F13/5655
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/496 in the form of pants or briefs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5655 adjustable pants type diapers adjustable otherwise than by the fasteners A61F13/493
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/224 being a resistive ribbon, a resistive band or a resistive strip
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/32 Induction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3612 comprising fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3644 being a ribbon, band or strip
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3676 being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/76 Making non-permanent or releasable joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/004 Preventing sticking together, e.g. of some areas of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/431 Joining the articles to themselves B29C66/4322 and B29C66/4332 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72328 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7234 comprising a barrier layer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/729 Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/4878 : Diapers, napkins
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1036 : Bending of one piece blank and joining edges to form article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1051 : by folding

Abstract

A method of making a flangeless seam for a disposable article including the following steps: A first member of the disposable article is provided. A conductive member is provided on the first member. The first member is folded about the conductive member providing opposing first proximal and first distal portions of the first member, the conductive member being disposed at least partially between the opposing first proximal and first distal portions. A second member of the disposable article is provided in a folded configuration juxtaposed at least a portion of the first member to form a laminate including the first member and the second member. An electromagnetic field is applied across at least a portion of the laminate to heat the conductive member to a temperature which joins at least a portion of the first member and at least a portion of the second member. The resulting seam can be opened to provide the article with a flangeless seam.

Claims

1. A method of making a flangeless seam by joining two members of a disposable article, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first member of the disposable article;

folding the first member of the disposable article providing opposing first proximal and first distal portions of the first member;

providing a conductive member adjacent at least a portion of the first member;

providing a second member of the disposable article juxtaposed at least a portion of the first member to form a laminate including the first member, the second member and the conductive member; and

applying an electromagnetic field across at least a portion of the laminate to heat the conductive member to a temperature which joins at least a portion of the first member and at least a portion of the second member.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive member is integral with at least a portion of the second member.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first member is folded about both the conductive member and at least a portion of the second member.

4. A method of making a flangeless seam by joining two members of a disposable article, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first member of the disposable article;

providing a conductive member adjacent at least a portion of the first member;

folding the first member of the disposable article about the conductive member providing opposing first proximal and first distal portions of the first member, the conductive member being disposed at least partially between the opposing first proximal and first distal portions;

providing a second member of the disposable article in a folded configuration juxtaposed at least a portion of the first member to form a laminate including the first member and the second member; and

applying an electromagnetic field across at least a portion of the laminate to heat the conductive member to a temperature which joins at least a portion of the first member and at least a portion of the second member.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of pulling apart the first member and the second member to form a flangeless seam.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of removing the conductive member after the first member and the second member have been joined.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of folding the first member includes folding the first member before the conductive member is interposed between the opposing first proximal and first distal portions.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the first member includes more than one fold.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the conductive member is integral with at least a portion of the first member.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the first member is folded about both the conductive member and at least a portion of the second member.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the conductive member includes a material selected from the following group:

metallic foil, metallic screen or metallic powder.

12. A method of making a flangeless seam by joining two members of a disposable article, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first member of the disposable article;

folding the first member of the disposable article providing opposing first proximal and first distal portions of the first member;

providing a heat activatable adhesive adjacent at least a portion of the first distal portion;

providing a conductive member adjacent at least a portion of the first distal portion;

providing a second member of the disposable article juxtaposed at least a portion of the first member to form a laminate including the first member, the second member, the heat activatable adhesive and the conductive member; and

applying an electromagnetic field across at least a portion of the laminate to heat the conductive member to a temperature which activates the heat activatable adhesive such that the adhesive joins at least a portion of the first member and at least a portion of the second member.

13. A method of making a flangeless seam by joining two members of a disposable article, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first member of the disposable article;

providing a conductive member adjacent at least a portion of the first member;

folding the first member of the disposable article about the conductive member providing opposing first proximal and first distal portions of the first member, the conductive member being disposed at least partially between the opposing first proximal and first distal portions;

providing a second member of the disposable article in a folded configuration having a second proximal portion and a second distal portion, the second distal portion being juxtaposed at least a portion of the first member to form a laminate including the first member, the second member and the conductive member;

providing an electromagnetic field across at least a portion of the laminate to heat the conductive member to a temperature which joins at least a portion of the first distal portion, the second distal portion and the second proximal portion, the conductive member also preventing the joining of the first proximal portion with the first distal portion;

removing the conductive means; and

pulling apart the first proximal portion and the first distal portion to form a flangeless seam.

14. The method of claim 13 further including providing a secondary joining means across at least a portion of the laminate.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the secondary joining means includes an adhesive.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the barrier member prevents the secondary joining means from joining the first proximal portion with the first distal portion.

17. A method of making a flangeless seam by joining two members of a disposable article, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first member of the disposable article;

providing a conductive member adjacent at least a portion of the first member;

folding the first member of the disposable article about the conductive member providing opposing first proximal and first distal portions of the first member, the barrier member being disposed at least partially between the opposing first proximal and first distal portions;

providing a second member of the disposable article in a folded configuration defining opposing second proximal and second distal portions, at least a portion of the second distal portion being juxtaposed at least a portion of the first member to form a laminate including the first member, the second member and the conductive member;

providing a barrier member between the second proximal portion and the second distal portion;

providing an electromagnetic field means across at least a portion of the laminate to heat the conductive member to a temperature which joins at least a portion of the first member and the second member, the conductive member preventing the joining means from joining the second proximal portion with the second distal portion;

removing the barrier member; and

pulling apart the second proximal portion and the second distal portion to form a flangeless seam.

18. The method of claim 17 further including providing a secondary joining means across at least a portion of the laminate.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the secondary joining means includes an adhesive.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the barrier member prevents the secondary joining means from joining the first proximal portion with the first distal portion.