Patent ID: 7237308

Claim:
In a hydroentangling apparatus for fibrous masses comprising one or more nozzles, the improvement comprising a composite nozzle strip for hydroentangling comprising: (a) a substrate having a first side surface and a second side surface comprising a material of a first hardness, the substrate having at least one aperture of a first diameter; (b) at least one orifice element having a first side surface and a second side surface comprising a material of a second hardness greater than the first hardness, and further defining an aperture of a second diameter less than the first diameter; and (c) wherein the first side surface of the at least one orifice element is affixed to the second side surface of the substrate such that no portion of the at least one orifice element extends into the at least one aperture in the substrate and further so that the aperture in the at least one orifice element is aligned with the at least one aperture in the substrate, and further wherein the first side surface of the at least one orifice element that surrounds the aperture in the at least one orifice element is substantially co-planar to the second side surface of the substrate.