Method for making a seam for use in disposable articles

• US 6,726,792 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1999
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Walsh, Bradley E., Johnson, Larry K., Gibson, Fredrick W., Lange, Stephen J., Angstadt, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aftergut, Jeff H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haran, John T.
• Application Number:
  US09/459,138
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 156/217, 156/227, 156/272.4, 156/273.9, 156/274.4, 156/274.8, 156/275.3, 156/275.7, 156/289, 156/308.4, 219/633, 219/634, 219/765, 604/365, 604/366, 604/385.1, 604/385.2, 604/386, 604/392, 240/2
• US Class Current: 156/217
• 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. An electromagnetic field responsive member is provided on the first member. The first member is folded about the electromagnetic field responsive member providing opposing first proximal and first distal portions of the first member, the electromagnetic field responsive 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 electromagnetic field responsive 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 without a barrier member, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first member of the disposable article;

providing an electromagnetic field responsive 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 electromagnetic field responsive number;

folding the first member of the disposable article about both the electromagnetic field responsive member and at least a portion of the second member providing opposing first proximal and first distal portions of the first member; and

applying an electromagnetic field across at least a portion of the laminate to heat the electromagnetic field responsive 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 electromagnetic field responsive member is integral with at least a portion of the second member.

3. A method of making a flangeless seam by joining two members of a disposable article without a barrier member, 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 an electromagnetic field responsive member disposed at least partially between the opposing first proximal and first distal portions of the first member;

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, the second member, and the electromagnetic field responsive member;

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

removing the electromagnetic field responsive member after the first member and the second member have been joined.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of pulling apart the first member and the second member to form the flangeless seam.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the first member is folded before the electromagnetic field responsive member is interposed between the opposing first proximal and first distal portions.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the first member includes more than one fold.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the electromagnetic field responsive member is integral with at least a portion of the first member.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the first member is folded about both the electromagnetic field responsive member and at least a portion of the second member.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the electromagnetic field responsive member includes a material selected from the following group:

metallic foil, metallic screen or metallic powder.

10. 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 an electromagnetic field responsive member adjacent at least a portion of the first member;

folding the first member of the disposable article about the electromagnetic field responsive member providing opposing first proximal and first distal portions of the first member, the

electromagnetic field responsive 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 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 electromagnetic field responsive member;

applying an electromagnetic field across at least a portion of the laminate to heat the electromagnetic field responsive 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 electromagnetic field responsive member preventing the joining of the first proximal portion with the first distal portion; and

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

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of providing a secondary joining means across at least a portion of the laminate.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the secondary joining means includes an adhesive.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the electromagnetic field responsive member prevents the secondary joining means from joining the first proximal portion with the first distal portion.