David R Newkirk

US Patent:

6417121, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Dec 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/476067

Inventors:

David D. Newkirk - Greer SC
Harold Edward Thomas - Greer SC
David Bruce Christopher - Simpsonville SC
Barry DeWayne Meece - Pelzer SC

Assignee:

BBA Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc. - Simpsonville SC

International Classification:

D01F 800

US Classification:

442364, 442361, 442381, 442382, 442392, 442394, 442328, 428373, 428365, 428198, 604358

Abstract:

The present invention provides multicomponent fibers arranged in structured domains. At least one of the polymer components is formed of a multipolymer blend. The present invention also provides nonwoven fabrics formed of the multicomponent fibers, the fabrics having a superior combination of extensibility, tensile properties and abrasion resistance. A second layer can be laminated to this coherent extensible nonwoven web.

US Patent:

6417122, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Dec 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/476068

Inventors:

David D. Newkirk - Greer SC
Harold Edward Thomas - Greer SC
David Bruce Christopher - Simpsonville SC
Barry DeWayne Meece - Pelzer SC

Assignee:

BBA Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc. - Simpsonville SC

International Classification:

D01F 806

US Classification:

442364, 442361, 442381, 442382, 442392, 442394, 442328, 428373, 428365, 428198, 604358

Abstract:

The present invention provides multicomponent fibers arranged in structured domains. At least one of the polymer components is formed of a multipolymer blend. The present invention also provides nonwoven fabrics formed of the multicomponent fibers, the fabrics having a superior combination of extensibility, tensile properties and abrasion resistance. A second layer can be laminated to this coherent extensible nonwoven web.

US Patent:

6420285, Jul 16, 2002

Filed:

Dec 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/476062

Inventors:

David D. Newkirk - Greer SC
Harold Edward Thomas - Greer SC
David Bruce Christopher - Simpsonville SC
Barry DeWayne Meece - Pelzer SC

Assignee:

BBA Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc. - Simpsonville SC

International Classification:

D04H 300

US Classification:

442364, 442361, 442381, 442382, 442392, 442394, 442328, 442400, 442401, 428364, 428365, 428373, 604358, 604367, 604370, 604372

Abstract:

The present invention provides multicomponent fibers arranged in structured domains. At least one of the polymer components is formed of a multipolymer blend. The present invention also provides nonwoven fabrics formed of the multicomponent fibers, the fabrics having a superior combination of extensibility, tensile properties and abrasion resistance. A second layer can be laminated to this coherent extensible nonwoven web.

US Patent:

6468931, Oct 22, 2002

Filed:

Aug 22, 1996

Appl. No.:

08/701734

Inventors:

James O. Reeder - Greenville SC
David D. Newkirk - Greer SC

Assignee:

Fiberweb North America, Inc.

International Classification:

B32B 526

US Classification:

442381, 428198, 428171, 428172, 428296, 428286, 428298, 428369, 442382, 442389, 442392

Abstract:

A multilayer thermally bonded nonwoven fabric which is particularly useful as a liner in an absorbent product is described. The fabric includes at least two prebonded nonwoven webs having a multiplicity of intralaminar bonds bonding the fibers of the prebonded nonwoven webs together. The prebonded webs are secured together to form the fabric of the invention by a plurality of interlaminar thermal bonds formed of discrete areas of compressed and fused fibers of the prebonded webs.

US Patent:

6506698, Jan 14, 2003

Filed:

Mar 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/516309

Inventors:

Thomas E. Quantrille - Simpsonville SC
Harold E. Thomas - Greer SC
Barry D. Meece - Pelzer SC
Scott L. Gessner - Encinitas CA
J. Darrell Gillespie - Simpsonville SC
Jared A. Austin - Greer SC
David D. Newkirk - Greer SC
William Fowells - Washougal WA

Assignee:

BBA Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc. - Simpsonville SC

International Classification:

B32B 526

US Classification:

442361, 442364, 442381, 442382, 442392, 442394, 442328, 442401, 428373

Abstract:

The present invention provides a composite nonwoven fabric with a superior combination of extensibility, tensile properties and abrasion resistance. The composite nonwoven fabric ( ) comprises at least one layer containing multipolymer fibers, with a plurality of bonds bonding the fibers together to form a coherent extensible nonwoven web ( ). This coherent extensible nonwoven web ( ) has a Taber surface abrasion value (rubber wheel) of greater than 10 cycles and an elongation at peak load in at least one of the machine direction or the cross-machine direction of at least 70%. A second extensible layer ( ) is laminated to this coherent extensible nonwoven web ( ).

US Patent:

6632504, Oct 14, 2003

Filed:

Mar 17, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/527864

Inventors:

Jay Darrell Gillespie - Simpsonville SC
David D. Newkirk - Greer SC
Michael M. Thomason - Simpsonville SC
Gregory W. Farell - Simpsonville SC
Harold E. Thomas - Greer SC

Assignee:

BBA Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc. - Simpsonville SC

International Classification:

B32B 310

US Classification:

428131, 428134, 428136, 428147, 428198, 428373, 428374, 428395, 442352, 442353, 604384

Abstract:

A nonwoven web is provided which can be readily converted to an apertured web by stretching. In its initial non-apertured state, the web comprises a plurality of multicomponent fibers comprising at least two thermoplastic polymer components arranged in at least first and second separate continuous structured domains. The polymer component of the first domain comprises polyethylene. Prior to stretch aperturing, the web has a peak elongation of at least 100 percent and is characterized by having a plurality of discrete, spaced-apart, frangible bond sites of polymer bonding the fibers to form a coherent extensible nonwoven web. The frangible bond sites are structured and arranged to readily rupture when subjected to tensile stress to form discrete, spaced-apart apertures in the nonwoven fabric. The web has a total energy absorption in at least one of the machine direction or the cross-machine direction of at least 50 gcm/cm2.

US Patent:

20020193032, Dec 19, 2002

Filed:

May 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/141041

Inventors:

David Newkirk - Greer SC, US
Michael Thomason - Simpsonville SC, US
Jay Gillespie - Simpsonville SC, US

Assignee:

BBA Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc.

International Classification:

B32B005/26
B32B027/12
D04H001/56

US Classification:

442/401000, 442/382000, 442/394000, 442/400000

Abstract:

A spunbond nonwoven fabric is provided from a multiplicity of substantially continuous filaments which form a web having a length dimension and a width dimension. The filaments are arranged to define a substantially uniform web basis weight along one of dimension of the fabric, while in the other dimension, the filaments are arranged to define adjacent zones of a relatively lower web basis weight and a relatively higher web basis weight which is at least 25 weight percent greater than the basis weight of the lower basis weight zone. The spunbond nonwoven fabric can be combined with one or more additional layer to form a composite nonwoven fabric. The fabric is useful in various articles that utilize nonwovens, such as diapers, protective clothing, and hygiene articles.

US Patent:

20110039063, Feb 17, 2011

Filed:

Oct 10, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/445655

Inventors:

Samuel Charles Baer - Greenville SC, US
Jay Darrell Gillespie - Mt. Juliet TN, US
David D. Newkirk - Greer SC, US

International Classification:

D04H 13/00
B32B 3/10
D04H 1/00
B28B 1/48
B29C 59/04

US Classification:

428132, 428131, 264156, 425294

Abstract:

Disclosed is a process for continuous perforation of fabrics that comprise thermoplastic fibers. The process utilizes a combination of heat and pressure to perforate fabrics where the shape. size, and distribution of the individual fabric perforations is define solely by the design of the pattern embossing roll, In particular, the top side of the individual embossing points are not flat but rather have a raised peripheral edge so that the actual fabric contact area of the bond points is much less than total area circumscribed by each bond point. The small ratio of fabric contact area to total bond area concentrates the thermal and compressive forces in the embossing nip and allows a large perforation to be cut out of a fabric moving at high speed through the perforation nip.