Patent ID: 8093161

Claim:
A nonwoven web comprising synthetic multiple component fibers having a polymeric axial core, comprising a thermoplastic elastomeric polymer, and a plurality of polymeric wings attached to the core, the wings extending in a substantially spiral twist configuration along the length of the core and said wings comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic polymer having an elasticity that is less than the elasticity of the thermoplastic elastomer polymer of the core, a permanently drawable thermoplastic non-elastomeric polymer, and combinations thereof, wherein at least one of the wing polymer penetrates the core polymer, wherein the core has an outer radius R 1 and an inner radius R 2 , and the ratio R 1 /R 2 is greater than about 1.2; wherein said at least one of the wing polymer penetrates the core polymer at a depth of the difference between the outer radius R 1 and the inner radius R 2 ; wherein at least one of the core polymer penetrates the wing polymer; wherein the core has another outer radius R 1 ′ and another inner radius R 2 ′, and the ratio R 1 ′/R 2 ′ is greater than about 1.2; and wherein said at least one of the core polymer penetrates the wing polymer at a depth of the difference between the outer radius R 1 ′ and the inner radius R 2 ′.