US 12,232,939 B2
Three-dimensional nonwoven materials and methods of manufacturing thereof
Antonio J. Carrillo Ojeda, Appleton, WI (US); Davis Dang H. Nhan, Menasha, WI (US); Neil T. Scholl, Neenah, WI (US); Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Appleton, WI (US); David G. Biggs, New London, WI (US); Mark M. Mleziva, Appleton, WI (US); Steven J. Roffers, Neenah, WI (US); and Dustin J. Smith, Green Bay, WI (US)
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
Appl. No. 17/295,565
Filed by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 27, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/063545
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 20, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/112959, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/773,529, filed on Nov. 30, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0015960 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. A61F 13/511 (2006.01); A61F 13/15 (2006.01); A61F 13/475 (2006.01); A61F 13/49 (2006.01); A61F 13/494 (2006.01); A61F 13/512 (2006.01); A61F 13/513 (2006.01); B32B 3/26 (2006.01); B32B 3/30 (2006.01); B32B 5/02 (2006.01); B32B 5/12 (2006.01); B32B 5/24 (2006.01); D04H 1/495 (2012.01)
CPC A61F 13/51104 (2013.01) [A61F 13/15577 (2013.01); A61F 13/15699 (2013.01); A61F 13/15731 (2013.01); A61F 13/475 (2013.01); A61F 13/49 (2013.01); A61F 13/494 (2013.01); A61F 13/51121 (2013.01); A61F 13/5116 (2013.01); A61F 13/512 (2013.01); A61F 13/5121 (2013.01); A61F 13/5125 (2013.01); A61F 13/5126 (2013.01); A61F 13/513 (2013.01); B32B 3/266 (2013.01); B32B 3/30 (2013.01); B32B 5/022 (2013.01); B32B 5/12 (2013.01); D04H 1/495 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15284 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15829 (2013.01); A61F 2013/1591 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15934 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15983 (2013.01); A61F 2013/51165 (2013.01); B32B 5/24 (2013.01); B32B 2555/02 (2013.01); D10B 2401/06 (2013.01); D10B 2401/063 (2013.01); D10B 2509/02 (2013.01); D10B 2509/026 (2013.01); Y10T 428/24124 (2015.01); Y10T 428/24182 (2015.01); Y10T 428/24298 (2015.01); Y10T 428/24322 (2015.01); Y10T 428/24331 (2015.01); Y10T 442/689 (2015.04)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A nonwoven material comprising a plurality of fibers and extending between a first end and a second end, the nonwoven material having a material width and comprising:
a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being opposite from the second surface;
an apertured zone, the apertured zone comprising:
a plurality of nodes having a height of between 3 mm and 6 mm and extending away from a base plane on the first surface,
a plurality of connecting ligaments interconnecting the plurality of nodes, wherein a majority of the plurality of nodes include at least three connecting ligaments connecting to adjacent nodes, and
a plurality of openings providing a percent open area for the apertured zone of the nonwoven material that is greater than 15%, as determined by the Material Sample Analysis Test Method; and
a first side zone and a second side zone, the first side zone having a first side zone width and the second side zone having a second side zone width each of the first side zone and the second side zone having a percent open area that is less than the percent open area of the apertured zone and being free of nodes having a height greater than 3 mm, and
wherein each of the first side zone width and the second side zone width are between 5% and 25% of the nonwoven material width.