Composite webs and closure systems

• US 7,390,451 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Wood, Leigh E., Pavlis, Roger D., Jackson, Byron M., Alberg, Randall L., Becker, Dennis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson; Monica A
• Application Number:
  US11/426,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 264/214
• US Class Current: 264/214
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0049 obtained by moulding processes compression moulding or articles of indefinite length characterised by the shape of the surface B29C43/222; screen moulding B29C67/08
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0061 Male or hook elements A44B18/0053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/222 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/28 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. compression moulding around inserts or for coating articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/729 Hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/27 including readily dissociable fastener having numerous, protruding, unitary filaments randomly interlocking with, and simultaneously moving towards, mating structure [e.g., hook-loop type fastener]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/275 with feature facilitating or causing attachment of filaments to mounting surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2758 Thermal or adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45984 Cavity having specific shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

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.

Claims

1. A method for producing a composite web, the method comprising:

delivering a molten thermoplastic composition onto an exterior surface of a forming tool that comprises one or more depressions formed in the exterior surface;

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 some of the molten thermoplastic composition enters the one or more depressions to form polymeric structures therein and the wiping leaves at least some of the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool outside of the one or more depressions forming a base film connecting the polymeric structures on the exterior surface of the forming tool;

contacting a first major surface of a substrate to the base film on the exterior surface of the forming tool, wherein the first major surface of the substrate comprises adhesive located thereon, and wherein the base film is adhesively attached to the substrate; and

separating the substrate and the base film from the forming tool after the base film is adhesively attached to the substrate, wherein a composite web is formed that comprises the polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition and the base film, wherein the base film is adhesively attached to the first major surface of the substrate, and wherein the base film comprises a maximum thickness that is less than a maximum thickness of the polymeric structures.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises pressure sensitive adhesive.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises hot melt adhesive.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises heat activated adhesive.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises curable adhesive.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first major surface of the substrate comprises a porous surface, and wherein a portion of the thermoplastic composition of the polymeric structures infiltrates the porous surface of the substrate.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises one or more elastomeric polyincric components such that the polymeric structures on the substrate exhibit elastic behavior.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises one or more elastmeric polymeric components such that the polymeric structures on the substrate exhibit ejastic behavior, and wherein the method further comprises stretching the composite web with the polymeric structures located thereon such that the substrate exhibits permanent elongation after the stretching.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein depositing the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool comprises depositing two or more different molten thermoplastic compositions on the exterior surface of the forming tool.

10. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising attaching a cover substrate to the substrate, wherein the cover substrate faces the first major surface of the substrate such that the polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition are located between the first major surface of the substrate and the cover substrate.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cover substrate is adhesively attached to the substrate.

12. A method for producing a composite web, the method comprising:

delivering a molten thermoplastic composition onto an exterior surface of a forming tool that comprises one or more depressions formed in the exterior surface;

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 some of the molten thermoplastic composition enters the one or more depressions to form polymeric structures therein and some of the molten thermoplastic composition forms a base film connecting the polymeric structures on the exterior surface of the forming tool;

contacting a first major surface of a substrate to the base film on the exterior surface of the forming tool, wherein the first major surface of the substrate comprises pressure sensitive adhesive located thereon, and wherein the base film is adhesively attached to the substrate; and

separating the substrate and the base film from the forming tool after the base film is adhesively attached to the substrate, wherein a composite web is formed that comprises the polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition and the base film, wherein the base film is adhesively attached to the first major surface of the substrate;

wherein the base film comprises a maximum thickness that is less than a maximum thickness of the one or more polymeric structures;

and wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises one or more elastomeric polymeric components such that the polymeric structures on the substrate exhibit elastic behavior.

13. A method for producing a composite web, the method comprising:

delivering a molten thermoplastic composition onto an exterior surface of a forming tool that comprises one or more depressions formed in the exterior surface;

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 some of the molten thermoplastic composition enters the one or more depressions to form polymeric structures therein, and the wiping leaves at least some of the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool outside of the one or more depressions forming a base film connecting the polymeric structures on the exterior surface of the forming tool;

contacting a first major surface of a substrate to the base film on the exterior surface of the forming tool, wherein the first major surface of the substrate comprises pressure sensitive adhesive located thereon, and wherein the base film is adhesively attached to the substrate; and

separating the substrate and the base film from the forming tool after the base film is adhesively attached to the substrate, wherein a composite web is formed that comprises the polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition and the base film, wherein the base film is adhesively attached to the first major surface of the substrate;

wherein the base film comprises a maximum thickness that is less than a maximum thickness of the one or more polymeric structures;

and wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises one or more elastomeric polymeric components such that the polymeric structures on the substrate exhibit elastic behavior.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive comprises pressure sensitive adhesive.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive comprises hot melt adhesive.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive comprises heat activated adhesive.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive comprises curable adhesive.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein the first major surface of the substrate comprises a porous surface, and wherein a portion of the thermoplastic composition of the polymeric structures infiltrates the porous surface of the substrate.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the thermoplastic composition in 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 adhesive on the first major surface of the substrate.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises one or more elastomeric polymeric components such that the polymeric structures on the substrate exhibit elastic behavior.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises one or more elastomeric polymeric components such that the polymeric structures on the substrate exhibit elastic behavior, and wherein the method further comprises stretching the composite web with the polymeric structures located thereon such that the substrate exhibits permanent elongation after the stretching.

22. A method according to claim 13, wherein depositing the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool comprises depositing two or more different molten thermoplastic compositions on the exterior surface of the forming tool.

23. A method according to claim 13, the method further comprising attaching a cover substrate to the substrate, wherein the cover substrate faces the first major surface of the substrate such that the polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition are located between the first major surface of the substrate and the cover substrate.

24. A method according to claim 13, wherein the cover substrate is adhesively attached to the substrate.

25. A method for producing a composite web, the method comprising:

delivering a molten thermoplastic composition onto an exterior surface of a forming tool that comprises one or more depressions formed in the exterior surface;

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 some of the molten thermoplastic composition enters the one or more depressions to form polymeric structures therein and some of the molten thermoplastic composition forms a base film connecting the polymeric structures on the exterior surface of the forming tool;

contacting a first major surface of a substrate to the base film on the exterior surface of the forming tool, wherein the first major surface of the substrate comprises adhesive located thereon, and wherein the base film is adhesively attached to the substrate, wherein at least a portion of the thermoplastic composition in 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 adhesive on the first major surface of the substrate; and

separating the substrate and the base film from the forming tool after the base film is adhesively attached to the substrate, wherein a composite web is formed that comprises the polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition and the base film, wherein the base film is adhesively attached to the first major surface of the substrate, and wherein the base film comprises a maximum thickness that is less than a maximum thickness of the polymeric structures.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the adhesive comprises pressure sensitive adhesive.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the adhesive comprises hot melt adhesive.

28. A method according to claim 25, wherein the adhesive comprises heat activated adhesive.

29. A method according to claim 25, wherein the adhesive comprises curable adhesive.

30. A method according to claim 25, wherein the first major surface of the substrate comprises a porous surface, and wherein a portion of the thermoplastic composition of the polymeric structures infiltrates the porous surface of the substrate.

31. A method according to claim 25, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises one or more elastomeric polymeric components such that the polymeric structures on the substrate exhibit elastic behavior.

32. A method according to claim 25, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises one or mare elastomeric polymeric components such that the polymeric structures on the substrate exhibit elastic behavior, and wherein the method further comprises stretching the composite web with the polymeric structures located thereon such that the substrate exhibits permanent elongation after the stretching.

33. A method according to claim 25, wherein depositing the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool comprises depositing two or more different molten thermoplastic compositions on the exterior surface of the forming tool.

34. A method according to claim 25, the method further comprising attaching a cover substrate to the substrate, wherein the cover substrate faces the first major surface of the substrate such that the polymeric structures of the thermoplastic composition are located between the first major surface of the substrate and the cover substrate.

35. A method according to claim 25, wherein the cover substrate is adhesively attached to the substrate.

36. A method for producing a composite web, the method comprising:

delivering a molten thermoplastic composition onto an exterior surface of a forming tool that comprises one or more depressions formed in the exterior surface;

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 to form polymeric structures in the one or more depressions;

contacting a first major surface of a substrate to the thermoplastic composition in the one or more depressions to the exterior surface of the forming tool, wherein the first major surface of the substrate comprises adhesive located thereon, wherein at least a portion of the thermoplastic composition is adhesively attached to the substrate, and wherein at least a portion of the thermoplastic composition in 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 adhesive on the first major surface of the substrate; and

separating the substrate and the thermoplastic composition from the forming tool after adhesively attaching at least a portion of the thermoplastic composition to the substrate, wherein a composite web is formed that comprises at least a portion of the thermoplastic composition adhesively attached to the first major surface of the substrate.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the adhesive comprises pressure sensitive adhesive.

38. A method according to claim 36, wherein the adhesive comprises hot melt adhesive.

39. A method according to claim 36, wherein the adhesive comprises heat activated adhesive.

40. A method according to claim 36, wherein the adhesive comprises curable adhesive.

41. A method according to claim 36, wherein the first major surface of the substrate comprises a porous surface, and wherein a portion of the thermoplastic composition of the polymeric structures infiltrates the porous surface of the substrate.

42. A method according to claim 36, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises one or more elastomeric polymeric components such that the polymeric structures on the substrate exhibit elastic behavior.

43. A method according to claim 36, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises one or more elastomeric polymeric components such that the polymeric structures on the substrate exhibit elastic behavior, and wherein the method further comprises stretching the composite web with the polymeric structures located thereon such that the substrate exhibits permanent elongation after the stretching.

44. A method according to claim 36, wherein the wiping loaves at least some of the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool outside of the one or more depressions.

45. A method according to claim 36, wherein depositing the molten thermoplastic composition on the exterior surface of the forming tool comprises depositing two or more different molten thermoplastic compositions on the exterior surface of the forming tool.

46. A method according to claim 36, the method further comprising attaching a cover substrate to the substrate, wherein the cover substrate faces the first major surface of the substrate such that the polymeric structures are located between the first major surface of the substrate and the cover substrate.

47. A method according to claim 36, wherein the cover substrate is adhesively attached to the substrate.