Abstract:
A method of making a mechanical fastener. The method includes providing a slit web having mechanical fastening elements, applying tension to the slit web in the machine direction, and spreading the slit web in the cross-machine direction by directing its side edges over two rotating diverging disks to provide a spread mechanical fastening web. The slit web includes a plurality of interrupted slits that are interrupted by intact bridging regions of the web. The two rotating diverging disks are laterally spaced and have a support surface between them that contacts the slit web during the spreading. The spread mechanical fastening web includes multiple strands of the slit web attached to each other at least at some of the intact bridging regions and separated from each other between at least some of the intact bridging regions.
Abstract:
Absorbent article including a chassis and fastening tab. The fastening tab includes a carrier, a first fastener having first male fastening elements, and a second fastener. The second fastener includes a backing with first and second opposing surfaces, with second male fastening elements on the first surface. A first portion of the second surface of the backing is connected to the carrier, and a second portion of the second surface of the backing is attached to the topsheet side of the chassis. The carrier is attached to the backsheet side of the chassis. Some fastening laminates, before attachment to the article, have the second portion of the second fastener folded over to face the first portion of the second fastener. Other laminates have the second fastener positioned with its first surface toward the carrier and attached to the carrier with a film.
Abstract:
The article includes a thermoplastic layer having opposing first and second side edges and a first surface bearing male fastening elements. The thermoplastic layer is plastically deformed and has a retardance profile having an average retardance along a line from the first edge to a location 500 micrometers from the first edge and a distance from the first edge where 75% of the average retardance is observed of at least 10 micrometers. In some cases, a distance between the first and second side edges is up to 50 millimeters. In some cases, the article is a fastening tab. The method includes providing a thermoplastic film having opposing first and second side edges, with a distance between the opposing side edges of up to 50 millimeters, and stretching the thermoplastic film to form the thermoplastic layer, which is plastically deformed. The first surface of the thermoplastic film bears male fastening elements.
Abstract:
A method of making a mechanical fastener. The method includes providing a slit web having mechanical fastening elements, applying tension to the slit web in the machine direction, and spreading the slit web in the cross-machine direction by moving the slit web over a crowned surface to provide a spread mechanical fastening web. The slit web includes a plurality of interrupted slits that are interrupted by intact bridging regions of the web. The crowned surface may be an air bearing, or at least a portion of the crowned surface is a low-friction surface, and the crowned surface and the slit web are not moving at the same speed in the same direction. The crowned surface may be provided with at least one ridge.
Abstract:
A method of making a mechanical fastener. The method includes providing a slit web having mechanical fastening elements, applying tension to the slit web in the machine direction, and spreading the slit web in the cross-machine direction by moving the slit web over a crowned surface to provide a spread mechanical fastening web. The slit web includes a plurality of interrupted slits that are interrupted by intact bridging regions of the web. The crowned surface may be an air bearing, or at least a portion of the crowned surface is a low-friction surface, and the crowned surface and the slit web are not moving at the same speed in the same direction. The crowned surface may be provided with at least one ridge.
Abstract:
A method of making a mechanical fastener. The method includes providing a slit web having mechanical fastening elements, applying tension to the slit web in the machine direction, and spreading the slit web in the cross-machine direction by directing its side edges over two rotating diverging disks to provide a spread mechanical fastening web. The slit web includes a plurality of interrupted slits that are interrupted by intact bridging regions of the web. The two rotating diverging disks are laterally spaced and have a support surface between them that contacts the slit web during the spreading. The spread mechanical fastening web includes multiple strands of the slit web attached to each other at least at some of the intact bridging regions and separated from each other between at least some of the intact bridging regions.
Abstract:
A composite fabric includes a nonwoven fabric layer having non-bonded areas and a structured film layer discontinuously bonded to the nonwoven fabric layer. The discontinuously bonded nonwoven fabric layer and the structured film layer share an overlapping area with at least one set of coincident bond sites. The discontinuously bonded nonwoven fabric does not have another bonding pattern in the overlapping area distinct from the at least one set of coincident bond sites. A method of forming a composite fabric is also described. The method includes forming a fiber layer including a mat of at least partially unconsolidated fibers, positioning a structured film layer and the fiber layer such that they overlap, and discontinuously bonding the mat into a discontinuously bonded nonwoven fabric while simultaneously bonding the structured film layer to the nonwoven fabric layer. An apparatus for forming a composite fabric is also described.
Abstract:
The method of making a laminate (100) includes stretching a thermoplastic layer (102) so that it plastically deforms, relaxing the plastically deformed thermoplastic layer (102) to reduce its tensile strain, and subsequently laminating the thermoplastic layer (102) to a substrate (104) to make the laminate (100). The stretching, relaxing, and laminating are completed in-line. The thermoplastic layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, with the first surface of the thermoplastic layer bearing a plurality of male fastening elements. The second surface of the thermoplastic layer (100) is laminated to the substrate (104).
Abstract:
The method of making a laminate (100) includes stretching a thermoplastic layer (102) so that it plastically deforms, relaxing the plastically deformed thermoplastic layer (102) to reduce its tensile strain, and subsequently laminating the thermoplastic layer (102) to a substrate (104) to make the laminate (100). The stretching, relaxing, and laminating are completed in-line. The thermoplastic layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, with the first surface of the thermoplastic layer bearing a plurality of male fastening elements. The second surface of the thermoplastic layer (100) is laminated to the substrate (104).
Abstract:
The article includes a thermoplastic layer having opposing first and second side edges and a first surface bearing male fastening elements. The thermoplastic layer is plastically deformed and has a retardance profile having an average retardance along a line from the first edge to a location 500 micrometers from the first edge and a distance from the first edge where 75% of the average retardance is observed of at least 10 micrometers. In some cases, a distance between the first and second side edges is up to 50 millimeters. In some cases, the article is a fastening tab. The method includes providing a thermoplastic film having opposing first and second side edges, with a distance between the opposing side edges of up to 50 millimeters, and stretching the thermoplastic film to form the thermoplastic layer, which is plastically deformed. The first surface of the thermoplastic film bears male fastening elements.