MXPA97000936A - Female non-woven component for resujet desux device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a female component of a restraining fastening device capable of linking a complementary male fastening component, said female component comprising: a backing having an elongated orientation, a relaxed orientation and a response path along the length of wherein said backrest contracts from said elongated orientation towards said relaxed orientation, and a nonwoven web in contact with said backing, said nonwoven web comprising filaments having unsecured regions and fixed regions, said fixed regions comprising interfiber links joining said filaments and forming a nonwoven bonding pattern comprising a multiplicity of non-woven bond pattern elements, and characterized in that a bond pattern construction comprises at least one construction bond for joining said non-woven web to said backing, intersecting said construction of the link pattern with at least two points of each of said nonwoven pattern elements, wherein said unsecured regions of said filaments are gathered when said backing is motivated to return to its relaxed orientation, forming grip regions capable of entangling the male component of a restrajetab holding device

Description

NON-WOVEN FEMALE COMPONENT FOR DEVICE OF f'- ~ SUSTAINABLE RESUSCITATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a female component for securing devices of the hook-and-loop type that can be secured and, more particularly to a female component, at low cost, for a hook-and-loop-type fastening device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Retainable fastening devices of the hook and loop type are widely used in a large number of situations. Such restrainable fastening devices have been used in clothing, disposable articles, and the like. Such devices are used when it is desirable to create a resubjectible link between two or more articles or between several surfaces of the same article. In certain applications, these restrainable fastening devices have replaced the buckles, zippers, buttons, clasps, tie clips and conventional seams. A popular type of mechanical fastener currently in widespread use, which uses mechanical entanglement to create a restrainable link, is sold under the "Velero" brand. Velero fastening devices are described in greater detail in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,717,437; 3,009,235; 3,266,113; 3,550,837; 4,169,303; and 4,984,339. Velero fasteners use two components. A male component and a female component. The male and female components are often referred to as the hook and curl components, respectively. The male component contains a plurality of elastic, erect, hook-shaped elements. The female component of the fastening device consists of a fabric containing a plurality of erect curls on its surface. When the male component and the curl component are pressed together in a face-to-face relationship to close the fastening device, the hooks interlock the curls, forming a plurality of mechanical links between the individual hooks and curls. When these links have been created, the components will generally not be unlinked under normal conditions. This is because it is extremely difficult to separate the components trying to unlink all the hooks at the same time. However, when a gradual detachment force is applied to the components, detachment can be easily performed. Under a detachment force, as the hooks are made of an elastic material, they will easily open to release the curls.

This type of fastening device has been found to be especially useful in disposable articles, such as disposable garments, disposable diapers, disposable packages, boxes and the like. Such fastening devices provide secure closing means. However, the use of existing fastening devices of this type in disposable articles has been limited due to the fact that such fastening devices are relatively expensive. A major reason why such fastening devices are expensive is that they have high manufacturing costs. These high manufacturing costs are associated with both the hook and loop components of these devices. Conventional hook and loop components are typically formed by making a fabric with several woven loops that extend outward from a backing. These curls can be provided by weaving a base fabric that contains extra threads to form the curls, or by weaving the curls into a fabric. In other hook and loop components, curls can be formed by folding or corrugation processes. The male components of such fastening devices are typically formed by subsequently cutting the curls. The cut curls serve as the hooks of the male component. These processes generally produce expensive hook and loop fastening materials, because they are relatively slow. The hook and loop components of r "- such fastening devices are also usually made from the same relatively expensive material.This material is generally relatively expensive for the hook component because the material used in the male component needs to be elastic, so that the hooks can be disengaged from the curl component when the device is opened. Various attempts have been made to make alternative types of female components for fastening devices. However, such attempts have generally suffered from several disadvantages. U.S. Patent No. 3,694,867, issued to Stumpf on October 3, 1972, discloses a "detachable snap" having a female component comprising a "high bulging" nonwoven fabric and a backing layer of flexible adhesive consolidated. However, the hook component disclosed in the Stumpf patent is prepared by performing the steps of: (1) activating an open pattern adhesive into which the fibers are embedded, (2) consolidating the adhesive into a substantially continuous backing layer , and (3) simultaneously engaging the portions of the fibers such that the fibers form individual hooks extending outwardly from the backing. The female component disclosed in this patent suffers from the disadvantage that it is made by a process that involves mechanically manipulating the fibers in the shape of a curl. In this way, the female components described there do not appear to be significantly less expensive to manufacture than conventional terry components. U.S. Patent No. 3,708,833, issued to Ribich et al. On January 9, 1973, discloses a restrainable fastening device having a female component comprising cross-linked urethane foam secured to a backing layer. The female component described in the Ribich et al. Patent suffers from the disadvantage that the foams typically do not have enough openings for the hooks of conventional male components to penetrate. Furthermore, the crosslinked foam also does not have sufficient strength to maintain such hooks when forces are applied to the fastening device. In addition, making reticulated foam is a relatively expensive process. U.S. Patent No. 4,761,318, issued to Ott et al. On August 2, 1988, discloses a curl fastener which can at the same time be formed and attached to a substrate without the need for any additional passage, such as sewing or stitching. the use of pressure sensitive adhesives to fix it to the substrate. However, the Ott curl fastener comprises a fibrous structure having a multiplicity of curls that adhere to a layer of thermoplastic resin. In this way, the process described in this patent suffers from the disadvantage that heat must be applied to join the bonds of the fibrous structure to the backing. U.S. Patent No. 5,032,122, issued to Noel et al., July 16, 1991, discloses a fastening loop material having a backing of steerable material and a multiplicity of fibrous elements extending from the backing . The fibers are secured to the backrest, although the backrest is in a dimensionally unstable state. The backing is then induced to be transformed to its dimensionally stable state whereby the fibrous elements are sheared to form the gripping parts of the curl material. Although Noel's patent discloses a low-cost, acceptable fastening material, the search has continued with more economical curl fastening materials, and methods for producing such materials. U.S. Patent 5,318.55, issued to Siebers et al., On June 7, 1994, discloses an absorbent article having a fastening system comprising a plurality of hook members attached to a portion of the article, and a plurality of curl members attached to a curl panel, wherein the curl panel may be intermittently joined to the article. However, the Siebers et al. Patent focuses on the means of securing the curl panel to an absobent article, rather than an improved terry material by itself. ThereforeIt is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fastening device for disposable articles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved female component of a restrainable hook-and-loop type fastening device. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a female component for a hook-and-loop type fastening device, which can be formed by joining a plurality of filaments on an elastomeric adhesive backing without manipulating the fibers in the form of curls for form a low cost fastening material. It is another object of the present invention to provide a female component for a fastening device that can be used with both commercially available male components, having individual elastic hooks, and less expensive male components, with hooks more brittle than those currently in use. These and other objects of the present invention will be more readily apparent when considered with reference to the following description and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a curl fastening material having an elastomeric backing bonded to a nonwoven web. The backrest preferably comprises an elongated orientation, a relaxed orientation and a response path along which the backrest contracts from its elongated orientation towards its relaxed orientation. The nonwoven web preferably comprises filaments that are secured to each other, in fixed regions by the interfiber links that form a bonding pattern of the non-woven web comprising link pattern elements of the non-woven web. Among the fixed regions, the non-woven web preferably comprises uninsured regions. The nonwoven web is preferably joined with the back, while the backrest is in its elongated orientation. The construction links that form a link pattern construction link the nonwoven web with the backing. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the construction of the link pattern intersects with at least two points of each link pattern element of the nonwoven web. This In a manner, when the backrest contracts from its elongated orientation to its relaxed orientation, the unsecured regions of the nonwoven web come to gather and extend outwardly from the backrest to form regions of grip that are capable of entangling the elements. of linking a complementary female attachment component. The present invention also relates to a fastening device having a hook fastening material and a curl fastening component. The terry fastening material comprises the improved terry fastening material of the present invention. The hook fastening material comprises any of the well-known hook fastening components known in the art having a base and several linking elements extending from the base. The curl fastening material and the complementary hook fastening material provide a secure closure means that will resist the shear and shear forces encountered during use. The present invention also relates to disposable articles and more particularly to a disposable diaper having said improved fastening device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the filaments and backing used to form the present invention before the filaments are placed or installed on the backing. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the female component of the present invention when the backrest is in its elongated orientation. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the female component of the present invention when the backrest is in its relaxed orientation. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a fastening device according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the link pattern of the nonwoven web and the construction of the link pattern of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the filaments of the non-woven weft sumprimidos to show more in detail with respect to the bond patterns. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bonding pattern of the non-woven web and of the construction of the bonding pattern of another preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the filaments of the non-woven web submerged to show more in detail with respect to to the link patterns. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the bonding pattern of the non-woven web and of the construction of the bonding pattern of yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the filaments of the non-woven web submerged to show more detail with regarding the link patterns. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a disposable diaper that includes the female fastening component of the present invention. Figure 9 is a perspective view of a disposable diaper that includes the female fastening component of the present invention. Figure 10 is an enlarged side view of the female fastening component of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION GLOBAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESUJETABLE CLAMPING DEVICE A preferred embodiment of the restraining fastening device of the present invention, the fastening device 20, is shown in Figure 4. The fastening device 20 comprises the nonwoven female component 22 of the present invention, and a fastening component. of the complementary hook 24. The female portion of the device, more specifically, the nonwoven female component (or simply the "female component") 22, receives and links the hooks 28 of the male component. The female component 22 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises at least one nonwoven web 30 secured to the backrest 34. The nonwoven web 30 comprises a plurality of filament (or fiber) components 36 interlacing the hooks 28 of the male component 24 The backing has a first surface 31 and a second surface 32 opposite the first surface 31 (shown in Figure 1), and preferably comprises an elastomeric material. The male portion of the device, more specifically, the hook fastening component (or simply the "hook component") 24, comprises a base having a first surface 27 and a second surface 29. The base 26 comprises a plurality of elements of erect links or "hooks" 28 extending from the first surface 27. The term "hook" is not limited by the sense that the linking elements may be in any manner well known in the art as long as they are adapted to be coupled a complementary hook fastening component or the female component 22 of the present invention. The hooks 28 generally have heads 38 (or linking means), which are disposed on the upper part of the pins or rods 40 extending from the first surface 27 of the male component 24. ~ "The holding device 20 of the present invention works in the following manner. The holding device 20 is closed when the female component 22 and the male component are pressed face to face against each other. When this happens, the hooks 28 are interlaced by the fibers 36 of the non-woven web 30. The non-woven web 30 provides space for the hooks, particularly for the heads 38 of the hooks to occupy when the fastening device is closed. The back 34 provides a support foundation for the non-woven web 30. With the hooks 28 mechanically interlaced by , f- or "hooked" on the fibers 36 (shown in the portion of the fastening device 20 on the right side of Figure 4), the connection between the components resists the forces that can be exerted on the fastening device 20. holding device 20 is opened by detaching the male component 24 from the female component 22 (or by detaching the female component 22 from the male component 24). If the hook component 24 has elastic hooks, the detachment action may cause the hooks to bend so that they disengage from the entanglement with the fibers 36 of the nonwoven web 30. In other cases (particularly if the hooks 28 are relatively inflexible), the hooks 28 can be disengaged by breaking the fibers 36 of the female component 22. In any case, the hooks 28 are disengaged, and the male component 24 is completely separated from the female component 22. The holding device is then capable of being resubjected in the manner described above.

THE FEMALE FIXING COMPONENT The term "non-woven female component", as used herein, refers to a female component for a restrainable fastening device comprising a nonwoven web attached to a backing. (The nonwoven female component can also be referred to as a curl and -.- or simply a curl fastener). The term "nonwoven web" refers to fabrics made of fibers maintained together by interfiber or interlacing links that are not woven, felt, or similar. However, the nonwoven webs referred to herein may comprise fibers that are substantially disunited, initially, which are subsequently bonded to one another. Figure 1 shows the backing 34 and the nonwoven web 30 used to form the female component 22 prior to their association. The backing 34, preferably an elastomeric adhesive, is shown in its elongated orientation (grooved in a direction parallel to the line designated A-A). As used herein, the term "elastomeric" refers to materials that extend in at least one direction when a force is applied and return to approximately their original dimensions after the force is released. The nonwoven web 30, as shown in detail amplified in Figure 10, preferably comprises a multiplicity of filaments 36 having unsecured regions 35 and fixed regions 42. The fixed regions 42 comprise interfiber links 32. As used herein , the term "interfiber links" refers to links that join one or more filaments to one or more other filaments. The term "joined" encompasses configurations with which a - :. element to another element and configurations with which an element is indirectly secured to another element by fixing an element to a member or intermediate members, which instead are fixed to another element. Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the female component 22, where the back 34 is in its elongated orientation after the non-woven weft 30 has been placed on and attached to the first surface 31 of the back 34. Preferably, the filaments 36 of the nonwoven web 30 are aligned essentially parallel to each other and essentially parallel to a backup response path 34. ("Essentially parallel" is used herein to indicate that the filaments 36 need not extend absolutely parallel to the path of the response, while most of the filaments 36 extend parallel to or a l deviation was parallel to the response path As used herein, the term "response path" refers to the direction in which an elastomeric material in an elongated orientation it will respond when the forces that act to elongate the elastomeric material are removed co). In addition, the filaments 36 of the nonwoven web 30 are preferably in an unstressed state when they are attached to the elongated backing 34. This helps to ensure that the unsecured regions 35 of the filaments 36 will be "gathered" when the backrest 34 contracts its relaxed orientation "shown in Figure 3". As used herein, the term , and- "shirring", refers to the joining of the filaments 36 of the non-woven web 30 caused by the contraction of the backing 34 from its elongated orientation to its relaxed orientation, such that the portions of the filaments 36 that are not secured to the back 34 or other filaments 36 bend away from the first surface 31 of the backrest 34. The unsecured shirred regions 35 of the filaments 36 form unsecured grip regions 37 (crimps) capable of interlacing the hooks 28 of a fastening component. male 24 complementary. As described in more detail below, the nonwoven web 30 is attached to the back 34 with the building links 39. The building links 39 form a particular construction of the link pattern 40 which improves the effectiveness of the non-woven web 30. , as the female component of a clamping device. (As used herein, the term "construction link" refers to links joining parts of the nonwoven web 30 to the back 34). 1. THE NON-WOVEN FRAME The grip regions 37 of the present invention are preferably formed of filaments 36 comprised in a nonwoven web and secured to the back 34. As used herein the term "filament" defines a member having a high ratio of length to diameter or width. In this manner, a filament can be a fiber, a yarn, a strand, a yarn or any other member or combination of these members, including filaments that are jointly joined in nonwoven webs, as are known in the art. Suitable materials for said filaments 36 include natural fibers such as cotton, or wool; synthetic fibers of nylon, polyamides, polyesters or polyolefins; and the yarns; polyethylene fibers; polypropylene fibers; nylon fibers; non-woven wefts; or any other material or combination of materials known in the art and suitable for use herein. The filaments 36 can be manufactured using a number of fabrication techniques including those such that the filaments are spun, blown or the like. Preferably, each filament 36 comprises polypropylene fibers of between about 2 and about 15 denier. The individual filaments 36 are preferably comprised of a non-woven web 30 which, before being combined with the back 34, have a basis weight of between about 10 g / yd2 and between about 40 g / yd2 (about 12 g / m2 to about 48 g / m2) ), more preferably between about 18g / m2 and about 30g / m2). The nonwoven web 30 may comprise filaments 36 having similar or different deniers and lengths. In addition, the nonwoven web 30 may comprise a mixture of filaments 36 comprising various materials. Some non-woven webs comprising suitable filaments include the nonwoven web of carded polypropylene manufactured by Veratec Nonwoven Group of the International Paper Company, of alpole, Massachusetts, under the tradename P-ll, the non-woven web of polypropylene spun bonded. -9, and the non-woven web of polypropylene carded P-8. Other suitable nonwoven webs comprising suitable filaments include COROVON spunbonded polypropylene manufactured by Corovin GmbH of Germany and CELESTRA manufactured by James River Corporation. The lengths of the filaments 36 of the nonwoven webs 30 depend on the type of process used to make the nonwoven web 30. For example, if a carded nonwoven web is used, the filaments 36 comprising said web may have varying lengths from about 0.5 cm to about 13 cm. In preferred carded nonwoven webs, the filaments are between about 2.5 cm and about 8 cm long. Alternatively, if a non-woven web linked by spinning is used, the filaments 36 of said web will typically be of continuous length. (As used in this, the term "continuous" refers to relatively long lengths of filaments running the entire length of the nonwoven web). A preferred filament 36 has a length to make at least one full grip region 37. In this way, for example, filament 36 may have only one of fixed regions 42 placed adjacent to opposite ends of filament 36, such luckily the grip region 37 of a total filament 36 is formed. More preferably, the filament 36 has a number of fixed regions 42 positioned along its length to form a plurality of grip regions 37 along each filament 36. If the filaments 36 are short, or kinked, they can not be forming the grip regions 37"having two fixed regions 42. The resulting incomplete grip regions 37 may not be able to securely link the hooks 28 to a complementary hook fastening material 24. In this way, the of the female non-woven component 22 to provide a secure closure. The amount of interfiber links between the filaments 36 and the nonwoven web 30 is also an important factor that raises the capacity of the female component 22 of the present invention to interlock the complementary hook fastening component 24. An excessive number of binding sites created between the filaments 36 and in the non-woven web 30 will tend to interfere with the entry of the hooks 28 towards the non-woven web 30, thereby reducing the shear of the fastening device. (In general, the strength of the clamping device will increase as more hooks are able to enter and link the nonwoven web). Alternatively, too few interfiber links 32 can increase the number of filaments 36 that have lost (unbonded) ends, thereby reducing the ability of the female component 22 to interlock the hooks 28 of the complementary hook fastening component 24. In an embodiment Preferred of the present invention, the total area of the plan view of the interfiber links 32 is between about 1% and about 35% of the total area of the woven web 30. More particularly, the total plan view area of the Interfiber links are between r- approximately 5% and approximately 25% of the total area of the non-woven web. The percentage of inter-fiber links is preferably measured by examining a representative sample of the non-woven web under a microscope. The sample is viewed from directly above the surface of the nonwoven web 30. The plan view area of each inter fiber link 32 is measured. The sum of the areas of the links is divided by the area of the sample. The result is the percentage of the area occupied by the inter-fiber links. The pattern of the inter-fiber links within the nonwoven web is another important factor related to the resistance and total efficiency of the female component. The inter-fiber links 32 may comprise solid lines or intermittent link failures. Preferably the interfiber links 32 are sufficiently close together that the filaments 36 of the nonwoven web 30 have relatively unbonded detached ends. In this way, the distance between the interfiber links 32 is preferably less than the average length of the filaments 36 in the nonwoven web 30, more preferably, less than about half the average length of the filaments 36 in the nonwoven web 30. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interfiber links 32 are arranged in a regular pattern, hereinafter referred to as the "link pattern 41 of the nonwoven web". (As used herein, the term f, "regular" refers to bond patterns that are similar throughout the area of the nonwoven web 30, when viewed from directly above the surface of the web. non-woven weft 30). Suitable non-woven weft bond patterns include a series of straight or curved lines, or intermittent links defining "non-woven web link pattern elements" 44. As used herein, the term "non-woven web link pattern elements" refers to areas or geometric shapes, such as squares, rectangles, hexagons, diamonds, circles, ovals, ellipses and the like, "which are defined by one or more interfiber links 32 comprised in a nonwoven web link pattern. The regular bond patterns of the non-woven tarma 41 complement the construction of the link patterns 40, as described below, to provide a female component 22 with relatively uniform handling characteristics. However, it should be noted that neither the link pattern of the nonwoven web 41 nor the link pattern elements of the nonwoven web 44 should be regular. In fact, embodiments of the present invention are contemplated where the non-woven web link pattern 41 and / or the link pattern elements of the non-woven web 44 are irregular or random. In addition, the bond pattern of the non-woven web can be continuous or intermittent. (As used herein, the term "continuous" refers to link patterns that are substantially unbroken or uninterrupted.) The term "intermittent" refers to link patterns that comprise a series of individual, discrete links that do not they are united together or continuous). A bond pattern of the nonwoven web 41 which has been found to work especially well in the female component 22 of the present invention, is the intermittent diamond pattern shown in Figures 1 and 2. The "diamonds" in the The diamond-shaped pattern comprises a number of intermittent 32 intermittent links regularly arranged in lines defining the edges of the regions in a generally square shape. (A preferred arrangement of the bonding pattern of the nonwoven web 41 before the filaments 36 are gathered, shown on the left side of Figure 2. A preferred arrangement of the bonding pattern of the nonwoven web 41 after the filaments 36 have puckered, shown on the left side of figure 3.) The pattern is rotated f ~ approximately 45 ° to give them the appearance of diamonds. Preferably, the dimensions of the bond pattern of the nonwoven web 41 should be such that the distance between the interfiber links 32, in at least some portion of the area between the sides of the diamond-shaped areas, is greater than the projected dimensions in plan view of the hooks 28 of the complementary male component 24. (The dimensions of the plan view of the complementary male components are discussed in more detail below.) Non-limiting examples of diamond-shaped bonding patterns that are suitable for use with the female component 22 of the present invention, include patterns having sides measuring about 1.3 x 1.3 cm and about 0.3 x 0.3 cm; more preferably between about 0.6 x 0.6 cm and about 1 x 1 cm; and most preferably around 0.6 x 0.6 cm. A suitable non-woven web comprising inter-fiber links arranged in a diamond-shaped pattern is available from Veratec Nonwoven Group of International Paper Company, of alpole, Massachusetts under the trade name P-11. Inter-fiber links 32 which originate the bonding pattern of the nonwoven web 41, can be produced by any method known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the inter-fiber links 32 are produced by passing a non-woven web 30 through a pair of rollers that have H- were heated close to the melting point of the filaments 36 comprised in the nonwoven web 30. One of the rolls preferably has a smooth surface; of complementary roller has a pattern of "spikes" that extend from its surface into the diamond-shaped pattern described above. When the non-woven web 30 passes between the rollers, the heat and pressure of the rollers cause f precise regions of the filaments 36, melting the interfiber links 32 in the preferred diamond pattern. The nonwoven web 30 is preferably placed over and attached to the back 34, while the back 34 is in an elongated orientation and while the filaments 36 are in an unstressed condition. Although the filaments 36 could be placed on the back 34 in a non-state - stable or stressed, one is not preferred to provide the maximum gathering of the filaments 36. In addition, although the backing 34 could be in a relaxed orientation when the filaments 36 are placed in the backing 34, this is not preferred because it originates the backing 34 becomes elongated, the elements 36 may be misaligned, untidy, biased or linked to the backrest 34 such that the fibrous grip regions 37 would not be as effective in interlocking the hook fastening component.

The configuration in which the filaments 36 are placed or seated on the backrest 34 determine the size and capacity of the curl fastening component 22 to provide an effective fastening device. Although the filaments may be placed at random on the back 34 such that the filaments 36 overlap or extend in many different directions, it has been found that the filaments 36 should preferably be placed as parallel to each other as possible to provide grip regions. 37 set in a uniform direction. In addition, although the elements 36 may be positioned longitudinally on the backrest 34 in either direction, in order to take advantage of the maximum backfroning effect 34 to form grip regions 37 of maximum height, the filaments 36 are preferably placed on the backrest 34. in a direction essentially parallel to the backup response path 34. (It has been found, however, that the filaments 36 placed essentially perpendicular to the path of the response, also provide adequate interlacing capability). The filaments 36 may be placed or seated on the backrest 34 by any method or means that is known in the art. 2. BACKING The backing 34 of the present invention is that part of the female fastening component 22 to which the non-woven web 30 is secured. The backing 34 is preferably comprised of an elastomeric material. As used herein, the term "elastomeric" refers to materials that extend in at least one direction when a force is applied and returns to approximately its original dimensions after the force is removed. In that way, the elastomeric materials have an elongated orientation (when force is applied) and a relaxed orientation (when the force is removed), and a response path along which the backrest 34 contracts from its elongated orientation to your relaxed orientation. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the backrest 34 will be elongated in the machine direction prior to its association with the nonwoven web 30.

(As used herein, the term "machine direction" refers to the direction in which the materials move as the materials move through any of the process steps. of the machine "refers to the direction perpendicular to the direction of the machine). The backrest 34 of the present invention can take a number of different configurations. For example, the backing 34 may comprise a thin film having uniform or variant thickness, crevices, pits, deformations or the like; a laminar unit of 2 or more movies; a single or multiple strand of elastomeric adhesive; or any combination of the above. In a preferred embodiment, the / - "backing 34 comprises a thin film of about 0.013 mm to about 1.0 mm In a particularly preferred embodiment, the elastomeric film has a thickness of between about 0.013 mm to about 0.38 mm The backing 34 can comprise any of a number of Different elastomeric materials as known in the art The backing 34 preferably has a modulus of elasticity of between about 1 to about 30 PSI and more preferably between about 5 and about 15 PSI (The calculation of the modulus of elasticity is preferably determined in a stretch range from about 50% to about 50% elongation of any convenient standard length using the original cross-sectional area of the sample before straining the sample to determine the elastic modulus.) In addition, the backrest 34 should be capable of an elongation of approximately 10 to approximately 500% in at least one direction without rupture. More preferably, the backing 34 should be capable of between about 10% and about 500% elongation without rupture, exhibiting no throat cutting or excessive thinning when lengthened, or exhibiting hysteresis or excessive delamination upon elongation. Examples of suitable backing materials include but are not limited to butadiene / acrylonitrile copolymers, f-styrene / butadiene / styrene block copolymers, polyurethane elastomers, natural rubber, ethylene propylene dimers, polypropylene films, as well as polyethylene available from Clopay Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio (e.g., Clopay 1401), and Tredegar Film Products, Inc. of Terre Haute, Indiana, and the styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer film EXX500 available from Exxon Chemical Company of Lake Zurich, Illinois. 3. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LINK AND THE LINK PATTERNS The present invention comprises a construction of the link pattern 40, comprising at least one construction link 39. The construction link 39 is that part of the female fastening component 22 that joins the frame non-woven 30 with the back 34. It has been found that the construction of particular bond patterns 40 unexpectedly increase the effectiveness of certain combinations of non-woven fabric 30 and back 34, as female fastening components 22. In particular, it has been found that the construction of bonding patterns 40 intersecting at least two points of each of the elements of the bonding pattern of the non-woven web 44, as described above, provides the resulting female fastening component 22 with the capacity of receive and secure more strongly the linking elements of the complementary male fastening components 24. The constr Section 39 can comprise a number of different types of bonds as are known in the art. For example, construction bonds 39 may comprise adhesives, including pressure sensitive adhesives, hot melt adhesives that are extruded, slot coated, stamped or engraved, ultrasonic bonds, heat bonds, pressure bonds, friction bonds , autogenous bonds or any combination thereof or any other methods as are known in the art.

Some examples of building bond adhesives 39 comprise hot melt adhesives manufactured by Findley Adhesives Corporation of auwatosa, Wl, under the trade names H2031, H2085 and H2305. The construction of the link pattern 40 comprises at least one construction link 39, as described above. However, the construction of the link pattern can comprise any number of building links 39 and can be regular or irregular. In addition, the construction of the link pattern 40 may comprise a series of curved or straight lines, or continuous or intermittent links defining at least one "linking pattern construction element" 45. (Shown in Figures 5 to 7). As used herein, the term "link pattern building element" refers to the areas or geometric shapes that are defined by one or more of the building links 39, comprised in the construction of the link pattern 40. The appropriate link pattern building elements can take any number of different configurations, including diamonds, ovals, squares, circles, ellipses, lines, spirals, dots or any other of regular or irregular polygons, shapes or patterns. However, the benefits of the present invention are best achieved when the construction of the link pattern 40 intersects with at least two points of each of the link pattern elements of the nonwoven web 44. As used herein, the term "intersects" refers to distinct points where at least a portion of a construction link 39 touches, overlaps or coincides with at least a portion of a link pattern element of the nonwoven web 44 such that, the construction link 39 and the link element of the nonwoven web 44 are joined at that point. (Some points of intersection between the construction link (s) 39 and the elements of the link pattern of the nonwoven web 44 are shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, and designated "I"). As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the mum distance in the transverse direction of the machine between two points of any construction element of the link pattern 45 is designated "C", and the mum distance in the direction of the machine between two points of any construction element of the link pattern 45 is designated "M". (in the case of construction links 39 that are parallel to each other, as shown in Figure 5, "M" will be equal to infinity). Further, "c" is denoted by the mum distance in the transverse direction of the machine between two points of any of the link pattern element of the non-woven web 44, and is denoted by "m" mum distance in the machine direction between two points of any of the link pattern element of the nonwoven web 44. In this manner, a linkage relationship in the transverse direction, hereinafter referred to as the "link relationship" DT ", can be represented by the formula c / C, and a linkage relationship in the machine direction, hereinafter referred to as the" DM linkage relationship ", can be represented by the m / M equation. It has been found that the linkage ratio DT and the linkage ratio DM have an impact on the ability of the female fastening component 22 to link the hooks 22 of a complementary male fastening component 24. In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the linkage ratio DT and the linkage ratio DM is equal to 1, and the construction of the link pattern 40 is coincident with the link pattern of the nonwoven web 41. (As used herein, the term "coincident" it refers to links or portions of the link «that overlap or occupy in general the same space). In other preferred embodiments, the linkage ratio DT is as large as possible, up to the point where the frequency of the building links 39 interfere with the ability of the linking elements of the complementary male fastening component 24, to enter "K - appropriately in the grip regions 37 of the female fastening component 22. A bonding ratio DT greater than or equal to one or less than 3 is preferred. More preferably, a bonding ratio DT of between 1 and 2 is preferred, and particularly preferred is a DT link ratio of 1.67.

(Of course, the preferred DT linkage relationship can vary with the exact link pattern of the nonwoven web 41 that is used). Preferably, the DM linkage ratio is less than or equal to one. If the construction of the link pattern 40 is not coincident with the link pattern of the nonwoven web 41, it is preferred that the linkage relationship DM approaches zero (ie, the building links 39 are parallel to each other). A low DM link ratio coupled with a preferred DT link relationship, as discussed above, helps ensure that an adequate number of unsecured regions 35 will be available to become entangled, when backup 34 contracts such that a sufficient number of gripping regions may be formed to link a complementary male component 24. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bonding pattern of the non-woven web 41 comprises a multiplicity of elements of the bonding pattern of the non-woven web 44, diamond-shaped, regularly separated, as described above with respect to the non-woven web, and as shown in Fig. 5. (A suitable non-woven web 30 with said bonding pattern of the non-woven web 41 is commercially available of Veratec Nonwoven Group of the International Paper Company of Walpole, MA, under the trade name P-ll). In addition, the construction of the link pattern 40 preferably comprises a multiplicity of substantially parallel construction links 39. (As used herein, the term "substantially parallel" is used to indicate that the building links 39 need not be absolutely parallel to each other, while the links are no more than a small deviation of the whole parallel to each other). Preferably, the construction bonds 39 run substantially parallel to the response path of the backrest 34. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 6, the bond pattern of the non-woven web 41 again comprises elements of the bonding pattern of the non-woven web 44, diamond-shaped, while the construction of the bonding pattern 40 comprises a series of essentially circular building links 39. (As used herein, the term "essentially circular" includes but is not limited to the following closed curves: circles, ellipses, ovals, spirals, and the like.) Again, as shown in Figure 6, the construction of the link pattern 40 intersects with at least two points in each of the elements of the link pattern of the nonwoven web 44. In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 7, the link pattern of the non-woven web 41 comprises elements of the bonding pattern of the non-woven web 44, diamond-shaped, while the construction of the bonding pattern 40 comprises a multiplicity of construction links 39 in the form of parallel and non-parallel lines. The building links 39"" * "form a link pattern construction comprising shapes of" diamonds "similar to those of the link pattern of the nonwoven web 41. As with the other preferred exemplary embodiments, the construction of the link pattern 40 intersects with at least two points in each of the elements of the linking pattern of the nonwoven web 44.

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE FEMALE FIXING COMPONENT The female fastening component 22 of the present invention can be manufactured by any means as is known in the art. (Figures 1 to 3 are illustrative of the preferred steps involved in the process for making the female fastening component 22). As shown in Figure 1, a non-woven web 30 is preferably provided comprising inter-fiber links 32 to form a bond pattern of the non-woven web 41 comprising link pattern elements 44 of the non-woven web. An elastomeric backing 34 is provided in an elongated orientation (preferably the elongation is in the machine direction as shown in Figures 1 and 3). The construction link (s) 39 forming the construction of the link pattern 40 may be provided before or after the backing 34 has been lengthened. Further, • "" the building link (s) 39 may be provided on the first surface 31 of the backrest 34, before the nonwoven web 30 is placed in contact with the backing 34, as preferred in the case of adhesive links, it can be introduced after the non-woven web 30 has been placed in contact with the back 34, or it can be provided on the surface of the non-woven web 30 which is in contact with the back 34. In preferred embodiments, the non-woven web 30 is attached to the first surface 31 of the backrest 34, while the backrest 34 is in its elongated orientation. Then the backrest 34 contracts to its relaxed condition. This causes the portions of the filaments 36 of the nonwoven web 30 that are not secured to the backing 34 or other filaments 36, to bend away from the O. first surface 31 of the backrest 34. The unsecured, shirred regions 35 form the gripping regions 37 which are capable of entangling the coupling elements of a complementary female fastening component. In especially preferred embodiments of the present invention, the filaments 36 of the non-woven web 30 are aligned essentially parallel to each other, and essentially parallel to the response path of the backrest 34. In addition, the non-woven web 30 is preferably placed in contact with the backing, while the nonwoven web 30 is in an unstressed state. These measures help to ensure that the unsecured regions 35 of the filaments 36 that form the grip regions 37, become entangled when the backing 34 contracts and that the grip regions 37 formed, are effective in linking the components of female attachment complementary, desired.

THE COMPLEMENTARY MALE COMPONENT As used herein, the term "male component" is used to designate the portion of the fastening device 20 having attachment elements, such as hooks 28. The male components 24 used with the non-woven female component 22 of the present invention can be conventional, commercially available hook materials. However, the male component 24 is not limited to conventional materials with elastic, flexible hooks 28. Suitable male components may have less expensive, relatively inflexible, more brittle hooks. In addition, the linking elements can have any shape known in the art, such as hooks, "T", mushrooms or any other form. A suitable male component 24 may comprise several shaped linking elements projecting from a woven backing, such as commercially available material designated as "SCOTCHMATE" No. FJ3402, available from the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, of St. Paul, Minnesota. Other preferred male components 24 are available from Aplix, Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., under the trade names 957c or 957d. U.S. Patent No. 4,846,815, entitled "Disposable diaper having an improved fastening device", which was granted to C.L. Scripps on July 11, 1989, discloses another preferred male component suitable for use with the present invention. Other particularly preferred male components and methods for making them are the tines described in U.S. Patent 5,058,247, entitled "Mechanical Holding Pile," issued to Thomas et al. On October 22, 1991; U.S. Patent 5,116,563 entitled "Method for producing mechanical fasteners", issued to Thomas et al. on May 26, 1992; U.S. Patent 5,180,534 entitled "Process for Fabricating a Resonable Mechanical Fastening System", issued to Thomas et al. on January 19, 1993; and U.S. Patent 5,230,851 entitled "Process for Making a Resubstable Subjection System", issued to Thomas et al., July 27, 1993. Each of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The male component 24 can be manufactured from a wide range of materials. Such suitable materials include, but are not limited to, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, or any combination of these or other materials.

EXAMPLES OF USES OF THE RESUJETABLE CLAMPING DEVICE The restractable fastening device of the present invention is especially useful as a fastening device for disposable absorbent articles. The term "disposable absorbent article", as used herein, refers to articles that absorb and contain body exudates. More particularly, the term refers to articles that are placed against or in proximity to the user's body for < "To absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body." The term "disposable" means that such articles are intended to be discarded after a single use (ie, they are not intended to be washed or reused in any other way). Examples of disposable absorbent articles include diapers, incontinent garments, sanitary napkins, bandages and the like, Figures 8 and 9 show an exemplary disposable diaper 50 '"comprising a fastening system 72 which includes the female nonwoven fastening component 22 of the present invention. The diaper 50 preferably comprises a body portion 51 and two waist regions, a first waist region 56 and a second waist region 58. The body portion 51 preferably comprises a liquid-permeable upper sheet 64, a waterproof back sheet to liquids 68 and an absorbent core 66. As shown in Figure 8, the fastening system 72 of diaper 50 comprises the female fastening component 22 of the present invention, among other elements. The fastening system 72 can take a number of configurations and constructions. In a preferred embodiment, the first clamping member 72a comprises a male component 24. The male component 24 provides hooks 28 that extend from the tongue 74 disposed in the second waist region 58. The non-woven female component 22 of the present invention comprises the second clamping element 72b disposed in the first waist region 56. However, the positions of the components of the clamping device 20 of the present invention can be reversed in such a way that the first clamping element 72a comprises the component non-woven female 22 and second holding element 72b comprises the male element 24. In a particularly preferred embodiment of disposable diaper 50, the filaments 36 in the nonwoven web 30 of the female component 22 are aligned in a single direction. The female component 22 is oriented in such a way that the filaments 36 in the nonwoven web 30 extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges 60 of the diaper 50. This orientation aligns the filaments 36 generally perpendicular to the direction of the shear force applied to the holding device 20 during use. In this configuration, the filaments 36 provide maximum strength of the sliding and detachment force. Several examples of well-known diaper configurations to which the present invention can be readily adapted are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,151,092 and 5,221,274 both entitled "Absorbent article with dynamic elastic waist feature having a predisposed flexible hinge", granted to Kenneth B. Buell et al. on September 29, 1992 and July 22, 1993, respectively; co-pending United States Patent Application Serial No. 08/155048 entitled "Absorbing article with extensible, multi-directional side panels", filed on November 19, 1993; and the co-pending United States patent application Serial no. 08/203456 entitled "Absorbent article with characteristic of stretchable waist of film web in the form of multiple-zone structural elastic" presented on February 28, 1994. Each of the above mentioned "" "" "'mentioned patents and co-pending patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference. It must be understood however, that the fastening device of the present invention is not limited to be used with any specific diaper configuration or structure. The female fastening component 22 of the present invention can also be used to provide a cheap waistband, or any other elastomeric element (or a portion thereof) of an absorbent article, capable of linking the hooks 28 of a complementary male fastening component 24. (As used herein, the term "waistband" refers to "that portion of an absorbent article that partially or completely surrounds the wearer's waist). Figure 8 shows a diaper 50 having a waistband 62 comprising the female fastening component 22 of the present invention. Additional examples of diapers suitable for use with the present invention are described in U.S. Patent 4,699,622 entitled "Disposable diaper having an improved side closure" which was granted to J. W. Toussant, et al., On October 13, 1987.; U.S. Patent 5,019,065 entitled "Disposable absorbent article with a combination of tape and mechanical tongue fastener system" issued to Scripps on May 28, 1991; and U.S. Patent 5,242,436 entitled "Absorbent article with fastening system providing dynamic elasticated waistband fit", issued to Weil et al. on September 7, 1993; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended to protect all of the said changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention in the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A female component of a restraining fastening device capable of linking a complementary male fastening component, said female component comprises: a backing having an elongated orientation, a relaxed orientation, and a response path along which said backrest contracts from said elongated orientation towards said relaxed orientation, and a nonwoven web in contact with said backing, said nonwoven web comprising filaments having unsecured regions and fixed regions, said fixed regions comprising interfiber links joining said filaments and forming a pattern of nonwoven link comprised of a multiplicity of nonwoven link pattern elements; and characterized in that a construction of the link pattern comprises at least one construction link for joining said nonwoven web with said backing, intersects with at least two points of each of said link pattern elements of the nonwoven web, wherein said unsecured regions of said filaments are shirred when said backrest is motivated to return to its relaxed orientation, forming gripping regions capable of entangling the male component of a restrainable clamping device. The female fastening component, according to claim 1, further characterized in that said backrest comprises an elastomeric film selected from the following group: polyethylene film, polypropylene film, ethylvinyl acetate film, styrene block copolymer film isoprene-styrene or styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer film; and a nonwoven web in contact with said backing, said nonwoven web comprising filaments having unsecured regions and fixed regions, said fixed regions comprising interfiber links joining said webs and forming a nonwoven web pattern comprising a multiplicity of webs. elements of the non-woven bond pattern; and a link pattern construction comprising at least one construction link for joining said nonwoven web to said backing, said link or construction links selected from the following group: pressure sensitive adhesive bonds, bonding adhesives hot melt, ultrasonic bonds, heat bonds, pressure bonds, friction bonds or autogenous bonds, where said link construction patterns intersect at least two points of each of said nonwoven pattern elements, such that said uninsured regions of said elements are shirred when said backrest is motivated to return to its relaxed orientation, forming gripping regions capable of entangling the male component of a restrainable clamping device. The female fastening component according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that said construction of the bonding pattern comprises (a) a multiplicity of substantially parallel construction bonds, preferably where said construction bonds are substantially parallel to said path of response of said support; (b) at least one construction link in a diamond shape; or (c) at least one essentially circular construction link. The female fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said linkage ratio DT is greater than or equal to 1, preferably wherein said link pattern ratio DT is between 1 and 2, and more preferably where said relation of the link pattern DT is 1.67. 5. The female fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said linkage ratio DM is less than or equal to 1. 6. The female fastening component in accordance with any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said bonding pattern of the non-woven web comprises a regular pattern of bond pattern elements of the non-woven web in the form of diamonds. 7. The female fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said construction of the bonding pattern is generally coincident with said bonding pattern of the non-woven web. The female fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said filaments are placed in said backrest substantially parallel to said response path of said backrest. 9. A disposable absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet attached to said topsheet, an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, and a fastening system for securing the absorbent article. disposable around a user, wherein said fastening system comprises the female fastening component according to any of the preceding claims. SUMMARY A curl fastening material (22) having an elastomeric backing (34) joined with a nonwoven web (30). The backrest (34) preferably comprises an elongated orientation, a relaxed orientation and a response path along which the backrest contracts from its elongated orientation towards its relaxed orientation. The nonwoven web (30) preferably comprises filaments (36) which are secured to each other, in fixed regions by the interfiber links that form a bonding pattern of the non-woven web comprising link pattern elements of the non-woven web. Between the fixed regions (42), the nonwoven web (30) preferably comprises unsecured regions (35). The non-woven web (30) is preferably joined to the backrest (34), while the backrest is in its elongated orientation. The construction links (39) forming a construction of the link pattern (40) connect the nonwoven web with the backing. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the construction of the link pattern (40) intersects at least two points of each link pattern element of the nonwoven web. In this way, when the backrest (34) contracts from its elongated orientation to its relaxed orientation, the unsecured regions of the nonwoven web come to gather and extend outwardly from the backrest (34) to form grip regions (37) which are capable of entangling the linking elements (28) of a complementary female holding component (24).