Elastomeric nonwoven laminates and process for producing same

Abstract

An elastomeric laminate for use in an absorbent article can have a first plurality of elastomeric strands and a second plurality of elastomeric strands bonded to a first substrate. The first plurality of elastomeric strands can be bonded to the first substrate in a first orientation while the second plurality of elastomeric strands is joined to the first substrate in a second orientation. The first and second orientations can be different such that the elastomeric laminate can accommodate tension forces which act on the laminate from different axes. Optionally, a second substrate or a third plurality of elastomeric strands may be added to the elastomeric laminate.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an elastomeric laminate of a strand elastic and a substrate. The elastomeric laminate may be used in a variety of articles and is particularly useful in disposable absorbent articles such as baby diapers, adult incontinence articles, feminine hygiene articles, baby swim diapers, bibs, wound dressings, and any other articles where a cost effective stretchable material may be desirable. The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing the elastomeric laminate. BACKGROUND [0002] Elastomeric nonwoven laminates are used in a wide variety of applications including extensive use in absorbent articles. For example, such laminates have been used in the topsheet, backsheet, waistband, and fastening elements of absorbent articles. Typical elastomeric nonwoven laminates comprise a layer of nonwoven and a layer of elastic. The layer of nonwoven can provide a feel of softness to a wearer of the absorbent ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In order to solve one or more of the problems found in the art, an elastomeric laminate and a method of producing the same is provided. The elastomeric laminates discussed herein may be incorporated into many different regions of absorbent articles. An elastomeric laminate comprising an extensible intermediate laminate and a second plurality of elastomeric strands is described herein. The extensible intermediate laminate comprises a first substrate having a bonding surface and a face opposite the bonding surface. A first plurality of elastomeric strands is bonded to the bonding surface of the first substrate along a first orientation. The second plurality of elastomeric strands is bonded to the extensible intermediate laminate along a second orientation wherein the first orientation is different from and non-orthogonal to the second orientation. The second plurality of elastomeric strands is joined to the face or the bonding surface of the first substrate.

Problems solved by technology

Also, the weight of the absorbent article provides a sagging tension force which tends to pull the absorbent article downward.

However, because the elastomeric nonwoven is not necessarily intended to be extensible in the secondary direction of extensibility, the elastomeric nonwoven laminate generally has a higher modulus of elasticity (resistance to stretching) in the secondary direction of extensibility than the primary direction of extensibility.

Thus, the normal force may not be sufficient to prevent the absorbent article from sagging / slumping on the waist of the wearer.

Also exacerbating this problem is the fact that a wearer's body is contoured.

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