Wearable article comprising a laminate
Inventors
Rosati, Rodrigo • Bao, Zheng • Morimoto, Koichi • Ye, Lu • MYERS, Nancy Melinda Messer • Erdem, Gueltekin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12589037-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
Wearable article comprising a laminate with excellent sweat management properties. The laminate comprises a first web and a second web. The second web is formed of a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer, which are integrally combined with each other. The second fibrous layer may be more hydrophilic than the first fibrous layer; and/or the second fibrous layer may have higher average surface area per volume than the first fibrous layer.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a wearable article comprising a laminate with a first web and a second web. The second web is comprised by less than the complete surface area of the first web, and the first and second webs are partially or completely in a face to face relationship. The second web is a nonwoven web that includes a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer, where the first surface and second surface of the second web are defined by the respective fibrous layers.
The invention makes the first fibrous layer and second fibrous layer integrally combined so that at least some of the fibers of the second fibrous layer interpenetrate the fibers of the first fibrous layer. The second fibrous layer is more hydrophilic than the first fibrous layer and/or the second fibrous layer has higher average surface area per volume than the first fibrous layer. This produces a capillary-pressure gradient to wick sweat away from the skin toward the laminate interior, supporting a drier garment-facing touch.
The wearable article configuration includes a second web arranged with the first surface facing the skin of the wearer when in use. The laminate can include an optional third outer web, and the construction can further include a central chassis with an elastic belt and seam-defined waist and leg openings. The patent also describes characterization approaches linking wetting and structure to performance, including contact angle θ, capillary indicator terms based on cosθ×average surface area/volume, and liquid distribution and absorption capacity testing.
Claims Coverage
The claims set includes one independent claim. The independent claim requires a laminate wearable article with a smaller skin-facing nonwoven second web integrally combined with a first web, with hydrophilicity and/or surface-area-per-volume differences between first and second fibrous layers in the second web, and with interpenetrating fibers forming two surfaces for skin-facing placement.
Smaller second nonwoven patch in face-to-face laminate
A wearable article comprising a laminate including a first web and a second web, where the second web is comprised by less than the complete surface area of the first web and the first and second webs are partially or completely in a face to face relationship, with the second web configured as a nonwoven web having first and second fibrous layers that form the first surface and second surface.
Interpenetrating integrally combined fibrous layers forming skin-facing surface
The first and second fibrous layers in the second web are integrally combined so that at least some fibers of the second fibrous layer interpenetrate fibers of the first fibrous layer, with the first surface facing towards the skin of the wearer when the wearable article is in use.
Hydrophilicity and/or surface-area-per-volume enhancement in second fibrous layer
The second fibrous layer is more hydrophilic than the first fibrous layer and/or the second fibrous layer has higher average surface area per volume than the first fibrous layer.
Spunlaced integrally combining of first and second fibrous layers
The wearable article includes first and second fibrous layers that are integrally combined by spunlacing.
Integrally combined fibrous layers without adhesive or binder
The wearable article is formed by combining the first and second fibrous layers without using any adhesive and/or any binder.
Thickness-wise gradient of hydrophilic fibers through second web
The second web has a thickness-wise distribution that gradually increases the amount of natural hydrophilic fibers and/or man-modified hydrophilic fibers from the first surface toward the second surface.
Basis weight ratio range between hydrophilic and less hydrophilic fibrous layers
In the second web, the basis weight ratio between a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer is within the range of 0.2 to 3.
Wearable article with central chassis and ring-like elastic belt with seam-defined openings
The wearable article includes a central chassis and a ring-like elastic belt made from a laminate, where front and back portions are joined to waist panels on the chassis, leaving a crotch region and forming a waist opening and two leg openings via seams.
Overall, the independent claim centers on a wearable laminate where a smaller skin-facing nonwoven second web is in face-to-face relation with a first web, while the second web contains integrally combined, interpenetrating first and second fibrous layers whose second fibrous layer is more hydrophilic and/or has higher average surface area per volume. Dependent claims further narrow the interlayer combination mechanism, introduce hydrophilic fiber structural gradients and basis-weight ratio limits, and add optional structural features such as a central chassis with a ring-like elastic belt and seam-defined waist and leg openings.
Stated Advantages
Wicks sweat away from the skin toward the laminate interior for a drier garment-facing touch.
Documented Applications
Absorbent wearable article use as an absorbent pant belt/absorbent pant laminate structure with a central chassis, elastic belt, and seam-defined waist and leg openings.
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