US 12,268,583 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. 17/295,585
Filed by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 27, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/063559
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 20, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/112968, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/773,529, filed on Nov. 30, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0015964 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); D04H 1/495 (2012.01); B32B 5/24 (2006.01)
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 along a longitudinal direction between a first material end and a second material end, the nonwoven material 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 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;
a first side zone and a second side zone integral to the nonwoven material, the first side zone and the second side zone each extending between the first material end and the second material end and being un-apertured, each of the first side zone and the second side zone having a percent open area greater than 0.5% and less than the percent open area of the apertured zone, as determined by the Material Sample Analysis Test Method; and
wherein the apertured zone comprises a lane of nodes which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the lane of nodes extending substantially in the longitudinal direction is formed of longitudinally adjacent nodes which are aligned such that lines drawn between centers of longitudinally adjacent nodes within the lane of nodes each form an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of less than 20 degrees.