Methods to modify the fibrous landing layer of a foam based fastener and products made from the same

• US 7,640,637 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Steindorf, Eric, Yu, Lisha, Efremova, Nadezhda V.
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/264,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20070119032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 24442-452, 281/59, 281/61, 281/62, 281/65, 281/66, 162/109, 162/113, 162/116, 428/85, 428/91, 428/95, 428/99, 428/100, 428/192, 442/361, 442/364, 442/365, 451/28
• US Class Current: 24/442
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0003 Fastener constructions A44B18/0023, A44B18/0046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0011 Female or loop elements A44B18/0007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/627 characterised by the loop
• 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 24/34 Combined diverse multipart fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2395 Nap type surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature

Abstract

Methods to modify an engaging surface of a fibrous landing layer of a mechanical fastener are generally disclosed, along with products made from the same. For instance, the engaging surface of the landing layer can be mechanically modified to increase the fuzziness of the layer, which allows more fibers to engage the other surface of the mechanical fastener. For example, the improved engaging surface of the landing layer can increase the shear resistance of a mechanical fastener comprising a foam layer and a landing layer.

Claims

1. A method of increasing a perimeter/edge-length ratio of a landing layer of a mechanical fastener, comprising:

providing a mechanical fastener comprising a foam layer and a landing layer, wherein the landing layer comprises a fibrous web defining an engaging surface, wherein said engaging surface of the fibrous web landing layer has an original perimeter/edge-length ratio; and

mechanically modifying the engaging surface of the landing layer such that the engaging surface has an improved perimeter/edge-length ratio that is at least about 50% higher than the original perimeter/edge-length ratio.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the improved perimeter/edge-length ratio is at least about 75% higher than the original perimeter/edge-length ratio.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the improved perimeter/edge-length ratio is at least about 100% greater than the original perimeter/edge-length ratio.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the landing layer comprises a nonwoven fibrous web.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the landing layer comprises a spunbond web.

6. A method as in claim 4, wherein the landing layer comprises a bonded carded web.

7. A method as in claim 4, wherein the landing layer comprises a meltblown web.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the perimeter/edge-length ratio of the engaging surface is increased by a process selected from the group consisting of brushing, napping, necking in the cross-machine direction, stretching in the machine direction, needle punching, hydroentangling, dragging over an edge, and dragging over an ultrasonic horn.