Multi-layer female component for refastenable fastening device and method of making the same

• US 6,637,079 B1
• Filed: 05/15/1995
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Goulait, David J. K., Thomas, Dennis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAKRAN, VICTOR N
• Application Number:
  US08/441,503
• Time in Patent Office: 3,088 Days
• Field of Search: 244/50, 244/51, 244/52, 244/42, 243/06, 244/43, 244/44, 244/45, 244/46, 244/47, 244/48, 244/49
• US Class Current: 24/450
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0011 Female or loop elements A44B18/0007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0061 Male or hook elements A44B18/0053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/627 characterised by the loop
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/222 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/729 Hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/225 by means of thermocouples or other heat sensitive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/505 Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1008 Longitudinal bending
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/101 Prior to or during assembly with additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1011 Overedge bending or overedge folding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1023 Surface deformation only [e.g., embossing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1039 Surface deformation only of sandwich or lamina [e.g., embossed panels]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1043 Subsequent to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1044 of parallel stacked sheets only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1046 Bending of one lamina only
• 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 24/2708 : Combined with diverse fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2758 : Thermal or adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2775 : having opposed structure formed from distinct filaments of diverse shape to those mating therewith
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2792 : having mounting surface and filaments constructed from common piece of material
• 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 428/24322 : Composite web or sheet

Abstract

The present invention provides a female component for engaging a complementary hook component in a refastenable fastening device. The female component of the present invention is capable of engaging a hook component that has flexible, resilient individual hook elements. The female component comprises at least two, and preferably three zones or layers. Each zone has certain of the desired individual characteristics for entangling and holding the hooks of the mating hook component. These include a first zone for admitting and engaging at least some of the hooks of the complementary hook component (the “entanglement” zone), a second zone for providing space for the hooks to occupy after they have been admitted by the entanglement zone (referred to as the “spacing” zone), and a backing adjacent to the spacing zone for providing a foundation for the entanglement and spacing zones. The present invention also provides a fastening device having a hook fastening component and a female component that comprises the multi-layer female component of the present invention. The present invention also relates to disposable articles and more particularly to a disposable diaper having such an improved fastening device.

Claims

1. A multi-layer female component for a refastenable mechanical fastening device, said multi-layer female component comprising:

a first layer comprising a first nonwoven web having a basis weight of between about 8.5 and about 18 g/meter² comprised of fibers with a denier of between about 2 and about 15;

a second layer comprising a second nonwoven web having a basis weight of between about 8.5 and about 36 g meter² comprised of fibers with a denier of between about 2 and about 15; and

a backing adjacent said second nonwoven web, wherein said first nonwoven web and said second nonwoven web are held in place with respect to said backing with said second nonwoven web in between said first nonwoven web and said backing, wherein said multi-layer female component is capable of engaging a hook component comprising a plurality of hooks, said hooks extending from a common integral planar base and having;

a base;

a stem supported at one end by the base;

a head having a beginning and a lowermost point, the beginning connected to the stem, the head projecting upwards from the stem and then downwards towards the base terminating at the lowermost point;

the head of the hook having a width (W), a height (h¹), a length (L) and a displacement volume, wherein the displacement volume is the volume of a rectangular parallelepiped having a bottom plane, first and second side planes, first and second end planes and a top plane;

the bottom plane oriented parallel to the base and tangent to the lowermost point of the head, the top plane parallel to the apex of the hook, the side planes laying in the plane of the sides of the hook;

the first end plane perpendicular to the bottom plane at a point where the bottom plane intersects the stem opposite from the lowermost point of the head, the second end plane perpendicular to the bottom plane and tangent to the portion of the head that is disposed farthest from the stem, wherein the displacement volume is less than or equal to about 0.03 mm³.

2. The hook of claim 1 wherein the height (h¹) is less than or equal to about 0.3 mm.

3. The hook of claim 1 wherein the width (W) is less than or equal to about 0.2 mm.

4. The hook of claim 1 wherein the length (L) is less than or equal to about 0.5 mm.

5. The hook of claim 1 having a cross-section, wherein the hook tapers to decrease in cross-section from the base to the lowermost point.