Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Including variation in thickness
Patent
1993-07-01
1995-06-27
Loney, Donald J.
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Including variation in thickness
428141, 428169, B32B 300
Patent
active
054278384
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a flexible plastic sheet having an appearance of a woven fabric and suitable for use as a liquid-impermeable backsheet which is one of the important components of a disposable hygienic wearing article.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flexible plastic sheets inclusive of thermoplastic film usually have a somewhat slimy gloss and a sticky touch characterizing conventional plastic sheets, which are disliked by users in some applications of such sheets. To alleviate such gloss and to improve the touch of the sheet, several techniques have already been known, for example, a technique by which the sheet surface is embossed to take such gloss off and simultaneously to provide the surface with irregularities, and a technique by which a third ingredient is previously mixed into raw material for the sheet so that desired alleviation of the gloss and improvement on the touch may be achieved on a step of sheet production.
However, these well known techniques have not been able to achieve adequate improvement in a plastic sheet particularly used for as a surface sheet in disposable hygienic wearable articles such as sanitary napkins and disposable diapers, because the gloss and feel of the plastic sheet are decisively disliked by users of such wearable articles. U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,314 discloses a technique to provide a flexible plastic sheet with a fibrous appearance and a capillary structure for improvement of appearance as well as touch. According to the technique disclosed by this patent, an appearance closely resembling woven fabric can be achieved, but its surface could be relatively smooth and therefore apt to have yet a slimy gloss even after the sheet has been treated in accordance with the disclosed technique.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a flexible plastic sheet on its surface with a plurality of ribs crossing one another so as to create an appearance like woven fabric and thereby to alleviate said undesirable gloss and to improve touch.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The object set forth above is achieved, according to the present invention, by a flexible plastic sheet having a rib-structure and presenting an appearance of woven fabric comprising: side edges curved downward and a plurality of ribs extending in a second direction, each having opposite side edges curved downward so that these first and second direction ribs cross one another; first direction ribs and each pair of adjacent second direction ribs crossing said pair of adjacent first direction ribs; and side edges of said pair of adjacent first direction ribs at first and second crossings which are adjacent and diagonally opposed to each other, on one hand, and tops of said pair of adjacent first direction ribs being connected to the side edges of said pair of adjacent second direction ribs at third and fourth crossings which are adjacent and diagonally opposed to each other, on the other hand.
According to an aspect of the invention, said pair of adjacent first direction ribs preferably include bridges connecting opposite lower edges of these ribs.
According to another aspect of the invention, said flexible plastic sheet is preferably liquid-impermeable.
Advantageous effect provided by the invention will be readily apparent from the following description.
In the flexible plastic sheet of the invention constructed as has been mentioned, the first direction ribs cross the second direction ribs and, at each crossing, one of ribs bulges upward while the other rib sinks so that the top of the latter is connected to the side edges of the former and thereby an appearance like woven fabric such as plain weave fabric or twill weave fabric is created. Said plastic sheet is continuous in the areas surrounded by the first and second direction ribs and thus there is provided a flexible, liquid-impermeable plastic sheet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective and plan views, respectively, of an embodiment of the flexible p
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patent: 4859519 (1989-08-01), Cabe et al.
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Murakami Masaki
Yagi Yagoro
Yamamoto Masamitsu
Loney Donald J.
Uni-Charm Corporation
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