Apertured polymeric film webs and absorbent articles using such webs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9700463-B2
Application number	US-13087705-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2005
Priority date	Apr 7, 2000
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A method for making an apertured polymeric film web, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a polymeric film web; b. providing a first process selected from the group consisting of, hydroforming, vacuum forming, needle punching, mechanical embossing, flocking, ultrasonics, printed hair, brushing, and combinations thereof; c. providing a second process, different from the first process, the second process selected from the group consisting of, hydroforming, vacuum forming, needle punching, mechanical embossing, ultrasonics, stretch rupturing, hydrocutting, hydrosonics, slitting, ring-rolling, and combinations thereof; d. forming three dimensional surface structures in the polymeric film web by the first process; and e. forming fluid transport apertures in the polymeric film web by the second process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for making an apertured polymeric film-based web for use as an absorbent article topsheet, said method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a vacuum forming structure comprising a plurality of perforations, a first side and an opposing second side;
b. extruding a resinous melt onto the first side of the perforated vacuum forming structure;
c. providing a vacuum on the second side of the perforated vacuum forming structure so that portions of the resinous melt are drawn into the plurality of perforations to form a film having a first plurality of apertures having a first diameter and a height extending from a first surface of the film;
d. thereafter contacting the film having a first plurality of apertures with needles or heatable pins to define a second plurality of apertures having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, wherein discrete needles or pins associated with this step enables the first plurality of apertures in areas not impacted by the discrete needles/pins to remain substantially unaltered relative to their as-made state;
e. wherein the first surface of the film defines a wearer-contacting surface of the web, and wherein the first surface of the film is hydrophilic;
f. wherein sidewalls of the second plurality of apertures extend in a direction away from the wearer-contacting surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein heated pins are used in step (d).

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising the further step of contacting the film having a first plurality of apertures with a chill apparatus.

Assignees

• Lee Yann-Per
• Fereshtehkhou Saeed
• Stone Keith J
• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Lee Yann-Per
• Fereshtehkhou Saeed
• Stone Keith J

Classifications

• A61F2013/51338

  having improved touch or feeling, e.g. smooth film · CPC title

• Y10T428/24273

  including aperture · CPC title

• B29L2031/4878

  Diapers, napkins · CPC title

• B32B5/24

  one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer · CPC title

• Y10T428/249953

  Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.] · CPC title