IP Library › Granted Patent US 12709841
Granted Patent B2
US 12709841 · App. 17/980,174 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Web material structuring belt, method for making and method for using

Inventors: Kathryn Christian Kien (Cincinnati, OH); Jeffrey Glen Sheehan (Symmes Township, OH); Ward William Ostendorf (West Chester, OH); Laurent Jose Marie Bernard Mignot (Blue Ash, OH)
Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
D21F7/083B32B3/30B32B5/022B32B5/024B32B5/073B32B5/275B32B27/12D04H1/732B32B2250/20B32B2307/748B32B2433/00D10B2505/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12709841
App. No.
17/980,174
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Web material structuring belts that impart structure to a web material during a web material structuring operation and/or structured web material forming operation, method for making same and methods for using same to make structured web materials, for example structured fibrous structures, such as structured sanitary tissue products such as structured toilet tissue, structured paper towels and structured facial tissue are provided.

Claims (29)

1 . A web material structuring belt comprising:

a. a support layer;

b. a structuring layer; and

c. an associating layer disposed between the support layer and the structuring layer,

wherein the associating layer is mechanically entangled with at least one selected from the group consisting of the support layer, the structuring layer, and combinations thereof, and

wherein at least one void volume is present between the support layer and the structuring layer.

2 . The web material structuring belt according to claim 1 wherein the support layer comprises a woven fabric.

3 . The web material structuring belt according to claim 1 wherein the structuring layer comprises a pattern.

4 . The web material structuring belt according to claim 1 wherein the structuring layer comprises a polymer.

5 . The web material structuring belt according to claim 1 wherein the structuring layer comprises a film.

6 . The web material structuring belt according to claim 1 wherein the structuring layer comprises a resin.

7 . The web material structuring belt according to claim 1 wherein the associating layer is mechanically entangled with the support layer.

8 . The web material structuring belt according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the associating layer extends into the support layer and is bonded to the support layer at one or more bond sites.

9 . The web material structuring belt according to claim 8 wherein less than the entire amount of the associating layer extends into the support layer and is bonded to the support layer.

10 . The web material structuring belt according to claim 1 wherein the web material structuring belt exhibits a Peak Peel Force of greater than 0.1 N as measured according to the 180° free Peel Test Method.

11 . The web material structuring belt according to claim 1 wherein the web material structuring belt exhibits an Energy of greater than 0.1 J/m as measured according to the 180° free Peel Test Method.

12 . A method for making a web material structuring belt, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a support layer;

b. providing a structuring layer; and

c. associating the structuring layer with the support layer via an associating layer disposed therebetween such that a web material structuring belt comprising one or more void volumes between the structuring layer and the support layer is formed, and

wherein the associating layer is mechanically entangled with at least one selected from the group consisting of the support layer, the structuring layer, and combinations thereof.

13 . A method for making a web material structuring belt, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a support layer;

b. forming a structuring layer on the support layer such that an associating layer is disposed therebetween and such that a web material structuring belt comprising the one or more void volumes between the structuring layer and the support layer is formed, and

wherein the associating layer is mechanically entangled with at least one selected from the group consisting of the support layer, the structuring layer, and combinations thereof.

14 . A method for making a web material structuring belt, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a structuring layer; and

b. forming a support layer on the structuring layer such that an associating layer is disposed therebetween and such that a web material structuring belt comprising one or more void volumes between the structuring layer and the support layer is formed, and

wherein the associating layer is mechanically entangled with at least one selected from the group consisting of the support layer, the structuring layer, and combinations thereof.