Patent EA-002839-B1 (EA)
Title: Breathable elastic polymeric film laminates
Inventor: PELKIE JAMES E
IPC: A61F13/511
Filed: 1997-10-09
Abstract: 1. A composite material comprising an elastomeric film having protuberances made on one of its surfaces, wherein each protuberance defines an aperture, and a carrier material bonded to, at least, a part of other surface of the elastomeric film, wherein the composite material has elastic hysteresis properties such that the composite material has about 10% or less tensile set and about 21% or less force relaxation after about a 300% elongation. 2. The composite material of Claim 1, wherein the carrier material comprises a fibrous material. 3. The composite material of Claim 2, wherein the fibrous material comprises a non-woven fabric. 4. The composite material of Claim 2, wherein the fibrous material comprises loose fibers. 5. The composite material of Claim 2, wherein the fibrous material comprises a woven fabric. 6. The composite material of Claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises at least one layer of a polymeric film including polymeric layers achieved by co-extrusion or extrusion coating. 7. The composite material of Claim 1, wherein the elastomeric film is selected from the group consisting of natural polymeric material, synthetic polymeric materials, isoprenes, butadiene-styrene materials, styrene block copolymers, and blends of the same. 8. The composite material of Claim 2, wherein the fibrous material is selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyolefins, acrylics, rayons, cotton, cellulose materials and blends of the same. 9. The composite materials of Claim 2, wherein the fibrous material has a basis weight ranging from about 5 to about 150 g/m<2>. 10. The composite material of Claim 7, wherein the basis weight ranges from about 15 to about 35 g/m<2>. 11. An absorbent article comprising a topsheet formed of the composite material of Claim 1, an absorbent pad and a fluid impervious backsheet. 12. A composite material comprising an elastomeric three-dimensional, apertured film having a first surface and a three-dimensional second surface with a plurality of protuberances, wherein each protuberance defines an aperture, said composite material comprising at least one layer of the carrier material coextruded with the elastomeric film, said carrier material is bonded to, at least, said the first surface of the elastomeric apertured film. 13. A composite material of Claim 12, wherein a first layer of said carrier material is bonded to the first surface of the elastomeric film and a second layer of said carrier material is bonded to the three-dimensional layer of said elastomeric film. 14. A composite material of Claim 12, wherein said composite material has a defined thickness and said carrier material has a thickness comprising less than 40 percent of the defined thickness of said composite material. 15. A composite material of Claim 12, wherein said elastomeric apertured film is disposed between two layers of said carrier material. 16. A composite material of Claim 12, wherein said composite material having elastic hysteresis properties such that the composite material has less than 10% tensile set after elongation of about 300%. 17. A composite material of any Claim 12 to16, wherein said composite material having elastic hysteresis properties such that the composite material has less than 21% tensile set after elongation of about 300%. 18. A composite material of any Claim 12 to17, wherein said composite material having elastic properties such that that the force required to extend the composite material 100% is from about 366 g/cm to about 524 g/cm. 19. A composite material of any Claim 12 to 18, wherein a first layer of said carrier material is bonded to the first surface of the elastomeric film and a second layer of said carrier material is bonded to the three-dimensional layer of said elastomeric film. 20. A composite material of any Claim 12 to 19, wherein said elastomeric film comprises a vacuum-apertured elastomeric film and said film carrier material is disposed on the surface of the elastomeric film. 21. A composite material of any Claim 12 to 19, wherein said composite material comprising a continuous supply of the film carrier material coextruded with the elastomeric film material thereby forming a laminate which is apertured.