Composite webs and closure systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for producing a composite web, the method comprising:
- providing a forming tool comprising an exterior surface that comprises one or more depressions formed therein;
delivering a molten thermoplastic composition onto the exterior surface of the forming tool;
maintaining the exterior surface of the forming tool at a roll temperature that is below a melt processing temperature of the thermoplastic composition;
wiping the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool, wherein at least some of the molten thermoplastic composition enters the one or more depressions;
transferring the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions to a substrate by contacting a first major surface of the substrate to the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions, wherein a portion of the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions that is proximate surfaces of the one or more depressions falls below the melt processing temperature of the thermoplastic composition after the depositing and before the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions contacts the first major surface of the substrate; and
separating the substrate and the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions from the forming tool after the transferring, wherein a composite web is formed that comprises one or more polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition located on the first major surface of the substrate, wherein the area occupied by at least one polymeric structure of the one or more polymeric structures comprises a bonded area in which the thermoplastic composition of the polymeric structure is attached to the first major surface of the substrate and at least one detached area in which the polymeric structure is not attached to the first major surface of the substrate.
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Abstract
Composite webs having one or more polymeric structures located on a substrate, closure systems comprising composite webs, and methods of attaching articles are disclosed. The polymeric structures are formed using thermoplastic compositions and are attached to a surface of a substrate. The polymeric structures include an area that is attached to the substrate and a detached area that is not attached to a surface of a substrate.
155 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for producing a composite web, the method comprising:
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providing a forming tool comprising an exterior surface that comprises one or more depressions formed therein; delivering a molten thermoplastic composition onto the exterior surface of the forming tool; maintaining the exterior surface of the forming tool at a roll temperature that is below a melt processing temperature of the thermoplastic composition; wiping the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool, wherein at least some of the molten thermoplastic composition enters the one or more depressions; transferring the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions to a substrate by contacting a first major surface of the substrate to the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions, wherein a portion of the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions that is proximate surfaces of the one or more depressions falls below the melt processing temperature of the thermoplastic composition after the depositing and before the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions contacts the first major surface of the substrate; and separating the substrate and the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions from the forming tool after the transferring, wherein a composite web is formed that comprises one or more polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition located on the first major surface of the substrate, wherein the area occupied by at least one polymeric structure of the one or more polymeric structures comprises a bonded area in which the thermoplastic composition of the polymeric structure is attached to the first major surface of the substrate and at least one detached area in which the polymeric structure is not attached to the first major surface of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for producing a composite web, the method comprising:
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providing a forming tool comprising an exterior surface that comprises one or more depressions formed therein; delivering a molten thermoplastic composition onto the exterior surface of the forming tool; maintaining the exterior surface of the forming tool at a roll temperature that is below a melt processing temperature of the thermoplastic composition; wiping the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool, wherein at least some of the molten thermoplastic composition enters the one or more depressions; transferring the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions to a substrate by contacting a first major surface of the substrate to the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions; and separating the substrate and the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions from the forming tool after the transferring, wherein a first portion of the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions that is distal from the surfaces of the one or more depressions remains at or above the melt processing temperature of the thermoplastic composition at least until the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions contacts the first major surface of the substrate, and wherein a second portion of the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions that is distal from surfaces of the one or more depressions falls below the melt processing temperature after the depositing and before contacting the first major surface of the substrate, and further wherein a composite web is formed tat comprises one or more polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition located on the first major surface of the substrate, wherein the area occupied by at least one polymeric structure of the one or more polymeric structures comprises a bonded area attached to the first major surface of the substrate and a detached area that is not bonded to the first major surface of the substrate, wherein the bonded area comprises the first portion of the thermoplastic composition and the detached area comprises the second portion of the thermoplastic composition, and wherein the detached area comprises a stem comprising a free end supported above the first major surface of the substrate, wherein the free end is adapted to engage fibers of a loop material.
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19. A method for producing a composite web, the method comprising:
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providing a forming tool comprising an exterior surface that comprises one or more depressions formed therein; delivering a molten thermoplastic composition onto the exterior surface of the forming tool; maintaining the exterior surface of the forming tool at a roll temperature that is below a melt processing temperature of the thermoplastic composition; wiping the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool, wherein at least some of the molten thermoplastic composition enters the one or more depressions; transferring the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions to a substrate by contacting a first major surface of the substrate to the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions, wherein a portion of the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions that is distal from surfaces of the one or more depressions remains at or above the melt processing temperature at least until the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions contacts the first major surface of the substrate, and wherein a portion of the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions that is distal from surfaces of the one or more depressions falls below the melt processing temperature after the depositing and before contacting the first major surface of the substrate; and separating the substrate and the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions from the forming tool after the transferring, wherein a composite web is formed that comprises one or more polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition located on the first major surface of the substrate, wherein the area occupied by at least one polymeric structure of the one or more polymeric structures comprises a bonded area in which the thermoplastic composition of the polymeric structure is attached to the first major surface of the substrate and at least one detached area in which the polymeric structure is not attached to the first major surface of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification