MXPA96006174A - Non-woven female component for adjustable fixing device and method of making my - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a female component of a restrainable fastening device capable of linking a complementary hook fastening component, characterized in that said female component comprises: an elastomeric adhesive backing having an elongated orientation, a relaxed orientation, and a response path along which said material contracts from said elongated orientation toward said relaxed orientation, and a nonwoven web in contact with, and secured to, said elastomeric adhesive backing, said nonwoven web being secured to said elastomeric adhesive backing while said backing is in said elongated orientation, said non-woven web comprising a multiplicity of fibrous elements comprising filaments that are joined together with inter-fiber links in separate, fixed regions, along the length of each of said filaments for define between each pair of fixed regions as a region of unsecured grip, where said fibrous elements comprise those filaments that are gathered, when said backrest contracts to said orientation relaxes

Description

NON-WOVEN FEMALE COMPONENT FOR DEVICE OF SUBJECT RESU.?ETABLE AND METHOD OF DOING THE SAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a female component for restraining hook-and-loop type fastening devices and, more particularly to a female component, of low cost, for a hook-and-loop type fastening device, and to a method for producing such a fastening component hem a.

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 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 Stu on October 3, 1972, describes a "detachable snap" having a female component comprising a "high bulge" nonwoven fabric and a backing layer of adhesive flexible 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. 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. 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. 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. Accordingly, it 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 placing a plurality of filaments on an elastomeric adhesive backing without manipulating the fibers in the form of curls to 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. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved, and low cost, method for producing a female component for a hook-and-loop type fastening device. 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 adhesive backing and a multiplicity of fibrous elements extending from the backing. The fibrous elements are formed by filaments placed on the backrest when the backrest is in an elongated orientation. The filaments are preferably placed on the backing essentially parallel to one another and essentially parallel or perpendicular to the response path of the backing material. The filaments which are preferably interferently secured to one another in fixed, separate regions, such that the fixed regions define grip regions between them. In this way, the fibrous elements are formed by crimping the filaments in the grip regions when the backing material is returned to its relaxed orientation. The curl fastening material is formed by a method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first sheet comprising an elastomeric, pressure-sensitive adhesive film having a first adhesive surface and a second adhesive surface opposite said adhesive first adhesive surface, a relaxed orientation and an elongated orientation; (b) stretching said first sheet from said relaxed orientation toward said elongated orientation; (c) contacting a second sheet comprising a nonwoven web with said first surface of said first web in said elongated orientation, whereby said second web and said first web are joined directly to form a web unit; and (d) relaxing said first sheet such that said second sheet is crimped to form gripping regions capable of interlacing the hooks of a complementary male fastening component. The present invention also relates to a device of fastening 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 side view, greatly enlarged, of the fibrous elements of the female component of the present invention. Figure 6 is a side view, greatly enlarged, of an alternate embodiment of a trilaminar unit of the present invention. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a disposable diaper that includes the fastening device of the present invention. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a disposable diaper that includes the fastening device of the present invention. Figure 9 is a schematic side view of a process for making the female component of the present invention. Figure 10 is a schematic top plan view of a part of the process for making the female component of the present invention. Figure 11 is a top plan view, schematic, of an alternative embodiment of the process for making the female component of the present invention, Figure 12 is a schematic top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the process to make the female component of the present invention Figure 13 is an isometric view of a part of the process for making the female component of the present invention Figure 14 is a schematic side view of a modality of the process for making the embodiment of the trilaminar unit of the present invention Figure 15 is a schematic side view of an alternate embodiment of the process for making the trilaminar unit embodiment 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 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 Figures 3 and 4 comprises at least one non-woven web 30 secured to the backrest 34. As shown in Figure 1, the non-woven web 30 has an outward facing surface 21 and an inwardly facing surface 23, opposite to the facing surface 21. The non-woven 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, and preferably comprises an elastomeric adhesive The male portion of the device, more specifically, the hook fastening component (or simply the "hook component") 24, comprises a base having a first s surface 27 and a second surface 29. Base 26 comprises a plurality of erect linking elements or "hooks" 28 extending from first surface 27. The term "hook" is not limited by the sense that linking elements they may be in any manner well known in the art as long as they are adapted to engage 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 arranged in the upper part of the pins or rods 40 that extend from the first surface 27 of the male component 24. The holding device 20 of the present invention operates 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 so that they occupy the heads 38 of the hooks when the fastening device 20 is closed. The back 34 provides a support foundation for the nonwoven web 30. With the hooks 28 mechanically interlocked by 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 clamping device 20. The clamping 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 CLAMPING COMPONENT The term "nonwoven female component", as used herein, refers to a female component for a restrainable fastening device comprising a nonwoven web attached to a backing. (The non-woven female component may also be referred to as a terrycloth fastening material or simply, a terrycloth fastener). The term "nonwoven web" refers to webs made of fibers held together by interfiber or interlacing links that are not woven, felt, or the like. 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 non-woven web 30, as shown in Figure 1, preferably comprises a multiplicity of filaments 36 that are linked together by interfiber links 32 before they are associated with the backing 34. As used herein, the term " "united" encompasses configurations with which an element is directly secured 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 in turn are fixed to another element. The term "interfiber links" refers to bonds that join one or more filaments to one or more other filaments. 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 non-woven web 30 is aligned essentially parallel to each other and essentially perpendicular to a backup response path 34. ("Essentially perpendicular" is used herein to indicate that the filaments 36 need not extend absolutely perpendicular to the path * The response, while most of the filaments 36 extend perpendicularly to or a small deviation was perpendicular to the response path As used herein, the term "response path" refers to the direction in which a elastomeric material in an elongated orientation will respond when the acting forces are removed for Argar to the elastomeric material.

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 filaments 36 will be "gathered" when the backrest 34 contracts its relaxed orientation "shown in Figure 3". As used herein, the term "shirring" refers to the joining of the filaments 36 of the nonwoven web 30 caused by the contraction of the back 34 from its elongated orientation to its relaxed orientation, such that portions of the backs filaments 36 that are not secured to the back 34 or other filaments 36 fold away from the first surface 31 of the back 34. The gathered filaments 36 form unsecured regions and grip 37 (crimps) capable of interlacing the hooks 28 of a fastening component male 24 complementary.

Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention after the nonwoven web 30 and backing 34 have been joined and after they have been removed the forces acting to elongate the backrest 34 such that the backrest 34 has contracted toward its relaxed orientation. The gathered filaments 36 form a multiplicity of fibrous elements 35 extending outwardly from the first surface 31 of the backrest 34. Each of the fibrous elements 35 comprises a pair of fixed regions 42 (attached to the backrest 34) and a grip region. unsecured 37 disposed between the pair of fixed regions 42. The gripping regions 37 are able to securely attach to the hooks of a complementary hook fastening component to provide a holding device 20., as shown in Figure 4. 1. The nonwoven web The fibrous elements 35 of the present invention are preferably formed of filaments 36 placed on and secured to the backrest 34. As used herein the term "filament" defines a member having a high ratio of length to diameter or wide. (Figure 5 shows a portion of the female fastening component 22 greatly enlarged to show the filaments 36 in detail). 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 nonwoven web 30 having a basis weight of between about 10g / yd2 and between about 40g / yd2 (about 12g / m2 to about 48g / m2), more preferably between about 18g / m2 and approximately 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 non-woven web of carded polypropylene manufactured by Veratec Nonwoven Group of the International Paper Company, of Walpole, 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 (1 cm to about 13 c.). 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 herein, 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 complete fibrous element 35. In this way, for example, the filament 36 may have only one of fixed regions 42 placed adjacent its ends, such that the fibrous element 35 of a total filament 36. More preferably, the filament 36 has a number of fixed regions 42 positioned along its length to form a plurality of fibrous elements 35 along each filament 36. If the filaments 36 are short, or corked, it can not be formed the fibrous elements 35 having two fixed regions 42 and gripping regions 37. The resulting incomplete fibrous elements 35 may not be able to securely link the hooks 28 of a complementary hook fastening material 24. In this way, the capacity of the non-woven female component 22 can be decreased 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 for the ability of the female component 22 of the present invention to interlock the complementary hook fastening component 24. An excessive number of sites Bonding created between the filaments 36 and in the nonwoven web 30 will tend to interfere with the entry of the hooks 28 towards the non-woven web 30, thereby reducing the shear stress 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 having 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 a preferred embodiment 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 area seen in The plant of the inter fiber links is between approximately 5% and approximately 25% of the total area of the nonwoven 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 outward facing surface 21 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. Inter-fiber links 32 may be solid lines or intermittent link failures. Preferably the inter-fiber links 32 are sufficiently close together that the filaments 36 of the non-woven 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. As used herein, the term "regular" refers to bond patterns that are similar throughout the area of the nonwoven web 30, when viewed from directly above the surface that faces outwardly. of the non-woven web 30. Suitable inter-fiber link patterns include a series of straight or curved lines, or inter-fiber link arrangements 32 that form gratings that define different geometric shapes, such as squares, rectangles, hexagons, diamonds and circles Such regular patterns will give the female component 22 relatively uniform retention characteristics. A bond pattern that 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 diamond pattern comprise a number of intermittent 32 intermittent links regularly arranged in lines defining the edges of the regions in a generally square fashion. (A preferred arrangement of the inter fiber links 32 of the nonwoven web 30 before the filaments are gathered together is shown on the left side of Figure 2. A preferred arrangement of the inter fiber links 32 of the web is not woven 30 after the filaments have gathered, is shown on the left side of Figure 4.) The pattern is rotated approximately 45 ° to give them the appearance of diamonds. Preferably, the dimensions of the pattern should be such that the distance between linked areas 46, 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 1/2 x 1/2 of an inch (about 1.3 x 1.3 cm) and about 1/8 x 1/8 of an inch (about 0.3 x 0.3 cm); more preferably between about 1/4 x 1/4 inch (about 0.6 x 0.6 cm) and about 3/8 x 3/8 inch (about 1 x 1 cm);; and most preferably about 1/4 x 1/4 inch (about 0.6 x 0.6 cm). A suitable nonwoven web comprising interfiber links arranged in a diamond pattern is available from Veratec Nonwoven Group of International Paper Company, of Walpole, Massachusetts under the trade name P-11. The inter fiber links 32 can be produced by any method known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the interfiber links 32 are produced by passing a non-woven web 30 through a pair of rollers that have been heated near the melting point of the filaments 36 comprised in the non-woven web 30. One of the rolls preferably has a smooth surface; of complementary roller has a pattern of spikes extending from its surface in the diamond-shaped pattern described above. When the non-woven web 30 passes between the rollers, the heat and pressure of the rollers cause 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 c be placed on the back 34 in a non-stable or stressed state, it is not preferred to provide the maximum gathering of the filaments 36. In addition, although the back 34 c be in a relaxed orientation when the filaments are placed 36 on the back 34, this is not preferred because it causes the back 34 to become elongated, the elements 36 may be misplaced, unkempt, biased or linked to the back 34 such that the fibrous elements 35 w not be so effective in interlocking the hook fastening component. The configuration in which the filaments 36 are placed or seated in 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 randomly placed on the back 34 such that the filaments 36 transpose or extend in many different directions, it has been found that the filaments 36 sh preferably be placed as parallel to each other as possible to provide fibrous elements. configured 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 fibrous elements 35 of maximum height, the filaments 36 are preferably placed on the back 34 in an essentially perpendicular direction to the backup response path 34. (It has been found, however, that the filaments 36 placed essentially parallel 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. The backrest The backrest 34 of the present invention is that part of the female fastening component 22 to which the nonwoven web 30 is secured. The backing 34 is preferably comprised of an elastomeric, pressure sensitive adhesive, so that it can be easily attached to the nonwoven web 30 to form the nonwoven female component 22. 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). The term "adhesive" refers to materials that are capable of bonding to another material by gluing, adhering, to the surface of another material. A pressure-sensitive "adhesive" is an adhesive that responds to pressure, that is, it is able to adhere under the influence of pressure only. The elastomeric adhesive comprising the backing 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 varying thickness, crusts, pits, deformations or the like; a laminar unit of 2 or more films, a web of elastomeric adhesive; a single or multiple strand of elastomeric adhesive; discrete regions of elastomeric adhesive formed in regular or random patterns; or any combination of the above. In a preferred embodiment, the back 34 comprises an elastomeric adhesive that has been extruded in the form of a thin film of approximately 0.03 mm. at approximately l.Omm. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the elastomeric film has a thickness of between about 0.025mm to about 0.38mm. The elastomeric adhesive selected for backing 34 may comprise any of a number of different elastomeric adhesives as is known in the art. The elastomeric adhesive preferably has a modulus of elasticity of between about 1 to about 30 PSI and more preferably between about 5 and about 15 PFI. (The calculation of the modulus of elasticity is preferably determined in a range of stress of about 50% to about 150% elongation of any convenient standard length using the original cross-sectional area of the sample before straining the sample to determine the modulus elastic). In addition, in elastomeric adhesive it must be capable of an elongation of about 500 to about 1000% in at least one direction without rupture. More preferably, the elastomeric adhesive should be capable of between about 500% and about 1000% elongation without rupture, exhibiting neither degloving or excessive thinning when lengthened, or exhibiting hysteresis or excessive delamination upon elongation. Other features that help define suitable elastomeric adhesives are narrated in the process in which the present invention is made. Preferably, the tensile strength of the film must be less than the bond strength of the joint between the film and the laying straps. (As used herein, the term "tensile strength" refers to the pull effort required to break a given specimen.The term "joint deformation bond strength" refers to the force required to crack a seal. overlap joint, where the applied force is essentially parallel to the surface that joins the elastomeric adhesive film and the laying straps.) In this way, while the laying straps diverge and stretch the film, the bond between the film and the laying straps remain in tact. An elastomeric pressure sensitive adhesive sold by Findley Adhesive Corporation of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, under the tradename 198-338, has been found to be particularly well suited for this purpose. However, other suitable elastomeric materials include H2206 and HS2206, each of which is available from Findley Adhesive Corporation.

ALTERNATE MODALITIES Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the female component 22 of the present invention comprising a second sheet 80 attached to the second surface 33 of the elastomeric adhesive backing 34 to form a three-layered unit 85. Attaching a second sheet 80 to the elastomeric adhesive backing 34 the female fastening component is provided with additional advantages. For example, the material of the three-layered unit 85 can be incorporated into a disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper such as an elastomeric waistband capable of linking the hooks of a complementary male fastening component. In addition, the three-layered unit 85 provides an elastomeric female fastening component 22 capable of linking the hooks of a complementary male fastening component 24 to two opposing surfaces. In a particularly preferred alternate embodiment of the present invention, the second sheet 80 comprises a nonwoven web such as the non-woven web 30 described above with respect to the female fastening component 22. However, a suitable web can be manufactured from a wide range of materials, including plastic films; woven wefts of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton), synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester or polypropylene), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers; foams; or natural or synthetic rubber. The second sheet 80 may be attached to the elastomeric adhesive backing 34, in the manner described with respect to the nonwoven web 30 or any other method as is known in the art. In addition, the second sheet 80 may be attached to the backing 34 contemporaneously with the nonwoven web 30 when the backing 34 is in an elongated orientation or at any other time after the adhesive backing 34 is formed. In a preferred embodiment, however , the sheet 80 is attached to the backing 34 after the nonwoven web 30 has been attached to the backing 34, and after the backing has been at least partially relaxed. (An elastomeric material in an elongated orientation is "partially relaxed" when the stretching forces of the elastomeric material are decreased, allowing the material to contract but not relax completely.) Therefore, an elastomeric material in a partially relaxed condition is still capable of contracting more to its relaxed orientation after the forces are completely eliminated.) Joining the second sheet 80 after the backing has been at least partially relaxed, ensures that the fibrous elements 35 of the nonwoven web 30 will remain gathered when stretched the female fastening component 22. That is, because the second lamina 80 will fully extend to its elastic limit in front of the non-woven web 30, thereby maintaining at least some puckering in the filaments 36 of the non-woven web 30. Accordingly, a nonwoven, elastomeric female component 22 is provided which will maintain its ca The ability to interweave the hooks 28 of a complementary male fastening component 24, even after the female component 22 has been stretched to a point where the second sheet 80 is fully extended. (If the second sheet 80 is attached to the backing 34). when the backrest 34 is in its completely relaxed orientation, the female component 22 will lose its elastomeric qualities. In this way, said mode is not preferred where the female component must be capable of stretching.) 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 hooks 28, flexible. 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. A particularly preferred hook component is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,846,815, entitled "Disposable Diaper Having An Improved Fastening Device" (disposable diaper having an improved fastening device), which was granted to C.L. Scripps on July 11, 1989. Other particularly preferred male components are the tines disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,058,247, entitled "Mechanical Fastening Prong," issued to Thomas et al. On October 22, 1991; U.S. Patent 5,116,563 entitled "Process for Producing a Mechanical Fastener", issued to Thomas et al., May 26, 1992; U.S. Patent 5,180,534 entitled "Process of Manufacturing A Refastenable Mechanical Fastening System " (Procedure for manufacturing a Resubstable Mechanical Fastening System), granted to Thomas et al., On January 19, 1993; and U.S. Patent 5,230,851 entitled "Process of Manufacturing A Refastenable Fastening System", issued to Thomas et al., July 27, 1993. Each of these patents is for the present 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 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 otherwise reused). Examples of disposable absorbent articles include diapers, incontinent garments, sanitary napkins, bandages and the like. Figures 6 and 7 show an exemplary disposable diaper 50 comprising a fastening system 72 which includes the nonwoven female 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 the liquids 68 and an absorbent core 66. As shown in Figure 7, the fastening system 72 of the 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 the second holding element 72b comprises the male element 24. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the 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; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/155048 entitled "Absorbing article with extensible, multi-directional side panels", filed November 19, 1993; and co-pending United States Patent Application Serial No. 08/203456 entitled "absorbent article with, -'- stretch feature stretch film film in the form of multi-zone structural elastic" filed on February 28 of 1994. Each of the above-mentioned patents and co-pending patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference. It should 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.

Method for making the female fastening component The female fastening component 22 of the present invention can be made by contacting a non-woven web comprising interfiber links with an elastomeric pressure sensitive adhesive film. The adhesive film is formed and elongated in at least the transverse direction of the machine before it is brought into contact with the nonwoven web. When the adhesive film and the nonwoven web are brought into contact with each other, they join to form a laminar unit comprising the non-woven web and an elastomeric adhesive backing. The laminar unit is then contracted, such that the regions of the nonwoven web are crimped and thus become capable of interlocking the hooks of a complementary male fastening component. The following is a detailed description of the process for making the female fastening component 22 of the present invention. Although the description refers to the elastomeric adhesive backing as an "adhesive film", this terminology should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention. As mentioned above, the adhesive backing 34 can take a number of different configurations including films, laminar units, wefts, yarns, yarns, or the like. The female component 22 of the present invention can be produced on the illustrated apparatus 110, as shown in Figure 9. The apparatus 110 comprises two separate process modules, the process module 111 for the elastomeric adhesive backing 34 (or "film"). adhesive "), and the process module 112 for the nonwoven web 30. The process module 111 comprises an extrusion head 116 and a release surface on which the extruded adhesive is formed, such as the forming belt 117, to form the elastomeric adhesive backing film 34. (In an alternate eiment the elastomeric adhesive backing can be preformed and supplied from a roll This would eliminate the extrusion head 116 and the forming belt 117). Examining in more detail the process module 111, the extrusion head has a groove through which the molten elastic adhesive of the adhesive film 34 is extruded to form a thin film of approximately 1.Omm in thickness, and of any width desired, on the forming belt 117. In the adhesive film 34 having a thickness from about 0.025 to about 0.38 mm, it is particularly preferred. A thicker adhesive film 34 is generally preferred as the thickness and stiffness of the nonwoven web 30 increases. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that increasing the thickness of the adhesive film 34 will generally provide a proportional increase in the ultimate strength of the female fastening component 22. An adhesive film 34 of about 8.4 g / cm2 has been found to be suitable. . The extrusion head 116 extrudes the molten adhesive onto the forming belt 117, which cools the molten adhesive into an adhesive film 34 suitable for processing and transporting the adhesive film 34 to the laying straps 135. A roller in conjunction may be used with the strap 117 to provide additional cooling and a holding space for compression of the adhesive film 34. In addition, the adhesive film 34 may be separated from the forming belt 117 by a scalpel (not shown). After being removed from the forming belt 117, the application roller 131 guides the separated regions of the adhesive film 34 onto the surface of the laying straps 135. (As used herein, the term "separated" is refers to the regions of the adhesive film 34 that are separated in the transverse direction of the machine one from the other). The adhesive nature of the adhesive film 34 allows the adhesive film 34 to be secured to the laying straps 135 without any additional securing means., as they are generally used in the art. Preferably, only about 1/4 of an inch to about 3/4 of an inch of the edges of the adhesive film 34 should be secured to the working surface of each laying belt 135. (However, it should be noted that the webs of laying can be designed in such a way that a vacuum helps in the handling of the film that makes contact with the laying straps). The separate regions of the adhesive film 34 are adhered to the working surfaces of the laying straps 135, forming continuous overlap joints. (As used herein, the term "continuous" means relatively unbroken or uninterrupted). The continuous nature of the lap joint helps to ensure that the adhesive film 34 will be more evenly stretched than films that are stretched by stretch means comprising discrete mechanical splicing devices. The laying belts 135 are separated in the transverse direction of the machine and diverge as they move in the machine direction. The runner belts 135 preferably comprise a substantially planar work surface to which the adhesive film 34 adheres, and members that help provide positive control of the belts both in the machine direction and in the transverse direction of the machine. . The working surface of each laying belt 135 is preferably comprised of any material, such as TEFLON, to which the adhesive film 34 will adhere sufficiently in constant effort to stretch the adhesive film 34, and from which the adhesive film 34 can be peeled off. without damaging the adhesive film 34 when removed. A belt with a suitable work surface is available from F. M. Sheppard &; Co. of Erlanger, Kentuc and, and is sold as Belt Style No. 3W11-2A. Each laying belt 135 travels around a pair of pulleys. As shown in Figure 13, belts 140 and 142 travel around pulleys 141a and 141b. The pulley 141a defines the converging end 146 of the belts 140 and 142, while the pulley 141b defines the diverging end 144 of the belts. In a preferred embodiment, the pulleys 141a and 141b comprise V-shaped recesses and the laying belts 140 and 142 comprise V-shaped extensions which are mounted in the V-shaped recesses complementary to the pulleys 141a and 141b, to provide the control of the machine direction of the belt in the transverse direction of the machine. The runner belts 135 can be driven by any drive means well known in the art and preferably, are not driven by the adhesive film 34. In a preferred embodiment, each runner belt 135 comprises channels and teeth which coact with the means of Complementary drive to provide directional, transverse control of the machine, from the belt while being driven forward. One embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 10, comprises two laying belts 135, a first belt 140 and a second belt 142. A first region 159 of the second surface 33 of the adhesive film 34 is adhered to the first belt 140, and a second region 160 of the second surface 33 of the adhesive film 34 is adhered to the second belt 142. The first belt 140 and the second belt 142 diverge as they move in the machine direction , by stretching the adhesive film 34 in the transverse direction of the machine. (The cross direction of the machine is denoted by an arrow C in Figure 10). This configuration is preferred when it is desired that the adhesive film 34 be unmly stretched. (Alternative modes comprising more than two laying belts are discussed below). As shown in Figure 9, the non-woven web of an unwind roller 126 is taken and preferably passes through the S-shaped winding tension roller 128 to provide an appropriate tension and prevent wrinkling or stacking of the non-woven web. 30. The guide roller 130 guides the non-woven web 30 into the clamping space between the combiner rollers 124. If necessary, a locating system (not shown) as is commonly used and known in the art can be employed. in the process module 112 for optimally locating and adjusting the webs of the non-woven web 30 towards the clamping space between the rollers 124. A locating system manufactured by Fife Corporation of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and sold as a Model may be suitable. Op6 LRA. The clamping space between the combining rollers 124 compresses the nonwoven web 30 in superposed contact relationship with the elastomeric adhesive backing 34, causing the pressure sensitive adhesive backing 34 to be bonded to the nonwoven web 30, joining the two materials for forming the female fastening component 22. As used herein, the term "overlay" will refer to a layer of material having a particular geometric shape that is placed on another layer of material having a substantially similar geometric shape , such that all similar parts of the two layers of material substantially coincide. The combiner rolls 124 can take a number of different configurations, as is known in the art. For example, combinator rolls 124 may have smooth surfaces or may have recesses, teeth, or any pattern of indentations and / or raised areas on their surfaces. In addition, the combiner rolls 124 may be identical or may have different surface characteristics, as described above.

Once the non-woven web 30 and the elastomeric adhesive backing 34 have been joined to form the female fastening component 22, the web unit 90 is returned to a relaxed condition. In this configuration, the non-woven web 30 will come to be joined in at least the direction parallel to the response path of the adhesive film 34, which will form grooves, wrinkles, or grooves extending outward from the first surface 31 of the female component 22, capable of interlacing the hooks 28 of a complementary male fastening component 24. The elastomeric laminar unit 90 will be elastically extensible in the direction parallel to the response path of the adhesive film 34 up to about the free length of the weft non-woven 30. Shrinking the laminar unit 90 to a relaxed condition can be accomplished in a number of ways, including simply removing the laminar unit 90 from the laying straps 135 and allowing it to contract. More preferably, however, as shown in Figure 13, the laminar unit 90 can remain adhered to the belts 140 and 142 as they travel from the diverging end 144 toward the converging end 146 of their cycle. As the belts 140 and 142 travel from the diverging end 144 toward the converging end 146, the belts 140 and 142 converge, and thus contract the laminar unit 90 (as used herein the terms "converge" and "converge"). "convergent" means closer movement with each other). Alternately, as shown in Figure 11, the laminar unit 90 can be removed from the belts 140 and 142 and transported to a separate configuration of converging belts 158. Although the converging belts 158 can take a number of different configurations, a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the converging belts is described in co-pending United States patent application Serial No. entitled "apparatus for continuously releasing the stretching forces of a weft using two pairs of non-flat, opposite belts ", filed on June 6, 1994, in the name of L. John Viltro et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. After the laminar unit 90 has been contracted, it is removed from either the laying belts 135 or the converging belts 158, leaving the sensitive adhesive exposed to the pressure of the second surface 33 of the adhesive backing 34. The exposed surface may be used to attach the female fastening component 22 to an absorbent article or any other desired article, or it can be deactivated by blocking as is commonly known in the art, such that the adhesive of the elastomeric adhesive backing 34 does not bind to other materials through the pressure-sensitive properties of the elastomeric adhesive backing 34. Blocking is achieved by an adhesive deactivation system (not shown) by applying a resin powder to the exposed face of the elastomeric adhesive backing 34. Suitable resin powders include talcum powder, polyolefin powders, and preferably a resin similar to that used for the nonwoven web Alternatively, the exposed face of the elastomeric adhesive backing 34 can be deactivated by applying a non-adhesive elastomeric film, nonwoven web, foam or any other non-adhesive material suitable for this. An example of a suitable non-adhesive elastomeric film is H2901 manufactured by Findley Adhesives Corporation of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Alternate Modalities A preferred alternate embodiment of the present invention for providing differential stretching regions along the length of the adhesive film 34, as shown in Figure 11, comprises three laying belts, a first belt 140a, a second belt 142a and a third strap 143a. (As used herein, the term "differential stretch" refers to areas of the adhesive film 34 that have been unevenly elongated). As discussed above, the separated regions of the second surface 33 of the adhesive 34 are joined to each of the laying belts. In this particular embodiment, a first region 159a of the adhesive film 34 is adhered to the first belt 140a, a second region 160a of the adhesive film 34 is adhered to the second belt 142a and a third region 161a of the adhesive film is adhered to the third strap 143a. As the belts move in the machine direction, the first belt 140a and the second belt 142a diverge in a different proportion from the proportion in which the second belt 142a and the third belt 143a diverge, thus producing two regions of differential stretching in the adhesive film 34. Another preferred alternate embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, comprises a first pair 180 of laying straps comprised of straps 182 and 184, and a second pair 185 of laying straps comprised of the straps 182. belts 187 and 189. Each of said belts makes contact in a separate region different from the second surface 33 of the adhesive film 34. While the pairs of belts move in the direction of the machine, they diverge in different proportions producing areas of differential stretching throughout the length of the adhesive film 34. (Of course, the first pair 180 may comprise laying straps 184 and 187 and in pair 185 can comprise the laying straps 182 and 189). In addition, numerous other configurations are contemplated, wherein some of the laying belts diverge and others run parallel to each other, thereby producing an adhesive film 34 having portions that are stretched between the diverging belts and other portions and are left unstretched. between the parallel belts. (Although some preferred embodiments have been discussed, it should be noted that any number of laying straps can be used to produce any combination of stretched and relaxed regions along the entire length of the adhesive film 34). Still another alternate embodiment of the present invention provides a female fastening component 22 with multidirectional stretching. In that embodiment, the adhesive film 34 can be directed through the clamping space formed between a pair of tension rollers (not shown). The tension rollers provide the direction of the machine that stretches the adhesive film 34 before it is applied to the laying belts 135, this provides a laminar unit that is elastically extensible in two directions, i.e., the direction of the machine and the cross direction of the machine. A laminar unit that is elastically extensible in the machine direction and methods for forming said laminate are described in greater detail in U.S. Patent 5,032,120 entitled "disposable absorbent article having improved leg cuffs" granted on July 16, 1991 to Mary E. Freeland and Patrick J. Alien, which is incorporated herein by reference. , < * - "METHOD FOR MAKING A METHOD OF CLOSED UNIT The method described above for producing a female fastening component comprising a single non-woven web 30 attached to the first surface 31 of the elastomeric adhesive film 34 can also be used to produce a three-layered fastening component comprising a non-woven web 30, attached to the first surface 31 of the back 34 and a second lamina 80 attached to the second backing surface 33. As described above the non-woven web 30 and the backing 34 are joined to form the laminar unit 90. However, when the laminar unit 90 leaves the holding space between the combiner rolls 124, the exposed adhesive backing surface 34 is not deactivated as described above. in Figure 14, the laminar unit 90 is allowed to remain in the laying straps 135 as the laying straps 135 move from the diverging end 144 of its cycle to the converging end 146 of its cycle. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 15, the laminar unit 90 can be transported to the separate converging belts 158. In any case, the laminar unit 90 can be partially or totally relaxed before the application of a second lamina 80. The second sheet 80 by additional processing module 113, as shown in Figures 14 and 15. The second sheet 80 of an unwinding roll 150 is taken and preferably passed through the S-shaped roll tensioning roller 152 to provide the suitable tensioning and preventing wrinkling or stacking of the sheet 80. The guide roller 156 guides the second sheet 80 towards the combiner rollers 162. If necessary, a locating system, not shown, as is commonly used and known in the art. This technique can be used in the process module 113 to optimally locate and adjust the second sheet 80 towards the combiner rolls. After the laminate 90 comprising the non-woven web 30 and the elastomeric adhesive backing 34 exit the converging webs 158, the second surface 33 of the adhesive backing 34 is brought into contact with the second web 80. The web unit 90 and the second web 80 sheet 80 is passed through the holding space of the combiner rolls 162 under sufficient pressure so that the adhesive 34 adheres to the sheet 80, thereby forming the three-sheet female holding component 100. In a preferred embodiment, the second sheet 80 is attached to adhesive backing 34 after the laminate 90 has been at least partially, still not fully relaxed.

(This creates a three-layered unit with the features and benefits described above with respect to an alternate embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6). Preferably, the second sheet 80 is attached to the adhesive backing 34 after the laminate 90 has been relaxed, such that the side dimensions of sheet 90, after converging, is between about 90% and about 50% of the lateral dimensions of the sheet. the sheet 22 when fully stretched. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the second sheet 80 is attached to the adhesive backing 34 after the laminate 90 has been relaxed such that the side dimensions of the laminate 90, after converging, is approximately 70% of the side dimensions of the laminate 90. when they stretch completely. However, embodiments are contemplated wherein the second sheet 80 is joined after the laminate 90 is completely relaxed, or while the laminate 90 is fully stretched. After the three sheet unit 100 has been formed, as described above, the three sheet unit 100 can be adhered to an absorbent article or any other desired object. The process for forming the unit of three sheets 100 leaves exposed the portions of the second surface 33 that were adhered to the laying straps 35. In this way, the portions of the second surface 33 of the adhesive film which were adhered to the laying belts 35 can be used to join the unit of three sheets 100 to any desired object without the use of any additional adhesive. 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 in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS l. A female component of a restraining fastening device capable of linking a complementary male fastening component, characterized in that said female component comprises: an elastomeric adhesive backing having an elongated orientation, a relaxed orientation, and a response path along the length of wherein said material contracts from said elongated orientation toward said relaxed orientation, and a nonwoven web in contact with, and thereby secured to, said elastomeric adhesive backing, said non-woven web being secured to said elastomeric adhesive backing while said backing is in said elongated orientation, said non-woven web comprising filaments that are bonded together with interfiber links in fixed, spaced regions, along the length of each of said filaments to define between each pair of fixed regions a grip region not insured, said inter fiber links preferably being arranged in a diamond-shaped pattern, wherein said fibrous elements comprise those filaments that are gathered, when said backrest contracts to said relaxed orientation, said nonwoven web preferably comprising carded polypropylene filaments; and said filaments preferably being placed on said backing essentially perpendicular to said response path of said elastomeric adhesive backing.
2. 2. A disposable absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet bonded to said topsheet, an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, a waistband, and a restraint system for attaching said disposable absorbent article around a user, wherein said fastening system or said waistband comprises the female fastening component of claim 1.
3. 3. A method for manufacturing an elastomeric female fastening component capable of bonding a fastening component complementary male, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a first sheet comprising an elastomeric pressure sensitive adhesive film having a first adhesive surface and a second adhesive surface opposite said first adhesive surface, a relaxed orientation and an elongated orientation, said elastom adhesive rich being extruded onto a release surface to form said first lamina, said release surface preferably comprising a forming belt; (b) stretching said first sheet from said relaxed orientation toward said elongated orientation; (c) contacting a second sheet comprising a nonwoven web with said first surface of said first web in said elongated orientation, thereby joining said second web and said first web to form a web unit; and (d) relaxing said first sheet such that said second sheet is crimped to form gripping regions capable of interlacing the hooks of a complementary male fastening component.
4. A method for manufacturing an elastomeric female fastening component capable of bonding a complementary male fastening component, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a first sheet comprising an elastomeric, pressure sensitive adhesive, having a first adhesive surface and a second adhesive surface opposite said first adhesive surface, a relaxed orientation and an elongated orientation, and a response path along which said sheet contracts from said elongated orientation to said relaxed orientation, said first sheet being preferably extruded onto a release surface to form said first sheet, said release surface preferably comprising a forming belt; (b) stretching said first sheet from said relaxed orientation toward said elongated orientation; (c) contacting a second sheet comprising a nonwoven web with said first surface of said first web in said elongated orientation, thereby joining said second web and said first web to form a web unit; and (d) partially relaxing said first sheet such that said second sheet is crimped to form gripping regions capable of interlacing the hooks of a complementary male fastening component, wherein said first sheet is preferably induced to contract along said trajectory of response to between 50% and 90% of said elongated orientation, more preferably wherein said first sheet is induced to contract along said response path to between 60% and 80% of said elongated orientation, and most preferably wherein said first sheet is induced to contract along said response path of 70% of said elongated orientation; and (e) placing a third sheet in contact with said second surface of said first sheet, thereby attaching said third sheet to said first sheet to form a sheet unit.
5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, further characterized in that step (b) comprises the steps of: (i) contacting a first region of said second surface of said first sheet with a first strap to adhere said first region to said first strap, and contacting at least a second region of the second surface of said first sheet with a second strap to adhere said second region to said second strap, said first region being separated from said second region; and (ii) diverging said first belt and said second belt such that said second blade becomes stretched towards said elongated orientation, wherein said belts rotate continuously around at least one pair of pulleys, one of said pulleys defining a converging end and another defining a divergent end.
6. 6. The method according to claim 5 further characterized in that it comprises two diverging belts.
7. 7. The method according to claims 3, 4 or 5 characterized in that it comprises a multiplicity of belts.
8. 8. The method according to claim 5, further characterized in that the step of relaxing said laminar unit comprises allowing said first region and second region of said first sheet to remain adhered to said, /. first strap and said second strap, while moving the straps from said divergent end toward said converging end, thereby converging said laminate.
9. 9. The method according to claim 7 further characterized in that said multiplicity of belts comprise at least a first belt, a second belt, and a third belt, wherein said first region of said second surface of said first blade contacts With said first belt, said second region makes contact with said second belt and a third region makes contact with said third belt, said first belt diverging from said second belt at a speed different from the speed at which said second belt diverges from said third. A belt for producing regions of differential stretching in said first sheet, wherein said multiplicity of belts comprises at least a first pair of belts and a second pair of belts, each of said belts making contact in different regions separated from said second surface. said first sheet, said first pair of belts diverging at a different speed of said second pair of belts to produce regions of differential stretching in said first sheet, or wherein said multiplicity of belts comprises at least a first pair of diverging belts and at least one pair of parallel belts, each of said belts contacting in different regions separated from said second surface of said first sheet to stretch said first sheet between said diverging belts and allow said sheet to remain relaxed between said parallel belts.
10. 10. The method according to claim 3, 4 or 5, further characterized in that step (d) comprises relaxing said first sheet such that said first sheet contracts said relaxed orientation. ABSTRACT A female component (22) for a restrainable fastening device having an elastomeric adhesive backing (34) and a multiplicity of fibrous elements (36) extending from the backrest. The female fastening component (22) is formed by a method comprising the steps of: providing a first sheet comprising a pressure-sensitive elastomeric film (34) having a first adhesive surface and a second opposing adhesive surface to said first adhesive surface, a relaxed orientation and an elongated orientation; stretching said first sheet from said relaxed orientation towards said elongated orientation; contacting a second sheet comprising a nonwoven web with said first surface of said first web in said elongated orientation, whereby said second web and said first web are joined directly to form a web unit; and relaxing said first sheet such that said second sheet is crimped to form gripping portions capable of interlocking the hooks of a complementary male fastening component.