IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,371,828
Granted Patent B2
US 12,371,828 · App. 18/394,340 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

CD extensible nonwoven composite

Inventors: John H. Conrad (Alpharetta, GA); James R. Fitts, Jr. (Gainesville, GA)
Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
D04H1/4291A61F13/15699A61F13/49019A61L15/24B32B5/022B32B5/08B32B7/12B32B7/14B32B27/00B32B27/12B32B27/32D04H1/593D04H3/04A61F2013/49022A61F13/51B32B2262/0253B32B2262/12B32B2307/51B32B2307/54B32B2555/00B32B2555/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,371,828
App. No.
18/394,340
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A nonwoven composite that has a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction is provided. The composite comprises a nonwoven facing positioned adjacent to an elastic film. The nonwoven facing contains a spunbond web that is formed by necking a base spunbond web. The base spunbond web includes a plurality of fibers generally oriented in the machine direction and exhibiting a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength. The ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength is about 4:1 or more.

Claims (15)

1. A nonwoven facing having a dimension in a machine direction and a cross-machine direction the nonwoven facing comprising a base necked spunbond web, wherein the base necked spunbond web comprises a reduced cross-machine direction, wherein the base spunbond web has a machine direction tensile strength and cross-machine direction tensile strength, the ratio of the machine direction tensile strength to the cross-machine direction tensile strength being 4:1 or more.

2. The nonwoven facing of claim 1 , wherein the facing exhibits a load loss of 60% or less in the cross-machine direction.

3. The nonwoven facing of claim 1 , wherein the base necked spunbond web is formed from a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers contain a polymer composition that includes a ductile polymer having a modulus of elasticity of 800 MPa or less as determined in accordance with ASTM D638-10, and optionally a fatty acid derivative.

4. The nonwoven facing of claim 3 , wherein the fibers are bicomponent fibers containing a low modulus component that includes the ductile polymer.

5. The nonwoven facing of claim 3 , wherein the fibers are monocomponent fibers.

6. The nonwoven facing of claim 3 , wherein the ductile polymer is an ethylene polymer.

7. The nonwoven facing of claim 3 , wherein the ductile polymer is a propylene homopolymer.

8. The nonwoven facing of claim 3 , wherein the ductile polymer is a copolymer of propylene and an α-olefin.

9. The nonwoven facing of claim 3 , wherein the polymer composition further contains a propylene homopolymer having a modulus of elasticity of from 800 MPa to 4,000 MPa as determined in accordance with ASTM D638-10.

10. The nonwoven facing of claim 1 , wherein the base necked spunbond web is formed from a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers are bonded together at multiple bond regions, wherein at least a portion of the bond regions are generally oriented in the machine direction.

11. The nonwoven facing of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the bond regions have an aspect ratio of from 2 to 100.

12. The nonwoven facing of claim 1 , wherein an elastic film is positioned adjacent the nonwoven facing, wherein the elastic film contains a semi-crystalline polyolefin, a substantially amorphous block copolymer, or a combination thereof.

13. The nonwoven facing of claim 1 , wherein an elastic film is laminated to the spunbond web at multiple bond regions, wherein at least a portion of the bond regions are generally oriented in the machine direction.

14. The nonwoven facing of claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the bond regions have an aspect ratio of from 2 to 100.

15. An absorbent article comprising the nonwoven facing of claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2023
From: CONRAD, JOHN H.; FITTS, JAMES R., JR.
To: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 065942/0642 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 18183408 · Mar 14, 2023
Division 15517543
Provisional Application 62094378 · Dec 19, 2014
Related Publication 20240133091A1 · Apr 25, 2024
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