Patent ID: 8252706

Claim:
A nonwoven fabric comprising multiple-component fibers with three-dimensional spiral crimp after heating having no greater than about 5% permanent set wherein when bonded after heating the highest level of stretch of the fabric is at least 12% and wherein the bonds are spaced at about 4 to 8 bonds per cm and have a density of about 16 to 62 per cm 2 ; wherein the multiple component fibers comprise bicomponent fibers including two distinct polymers selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly (cyclohexyl 1,4-dimethylene terephthalate), copolymers of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly (cyclohexyl 1,4-dimethylene terephthalate), copolymers of ethylene terephthalate and the sodium salt of ethylene sulfoisophthalate; poly(trimethylene terephthalate), poly(tetramethylene terephthalate), poly(trimethylene dinaphthalate), poly(trimethylene bibenzoate), and copolymers poly(trimethylene terephthalate), poly(tetramethylene terephthalate), poly(trimethylene dinaphthalate), and poly(trimethylene bibenzoate) with ethylene sodium sulfoisophthalate, crystalline polypropylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, nylon 66, and nylon 6; said bicomponent fibers having an arrangement selected from eccentric sheath-core and side-by side.