Laminated composites

Abstract

A laminated composite suitable for use in medical products such as tapes and wraps. The composite includes, for example, a first nonwoven fiber layer, an elastic layer, a melt blown adhesive fiber layer, and a second nonwoven fiber layer. A scrim layer serves as a deadstop, or stretch limit, to prevent over stretching. The non-woven fiber layer(s) and / or the scrim layer form suitable loops for a hook and loop fastening system. The scrim layer in some embodiments is employed to make the composite finger tearable. The melt blown adhesive layer, nonwoven web layer and elastic layer form a breathable, porous elastic composite. Methods of manufacturing the composite are also disclosed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 282,515, filed Oct. 29, 2002, now allowed, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09 / 444,349, filed 19 Nov. 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,855, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 165,672, filed Oct. 2, 1998, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 09 / 257,447, filed Feb. 25, 1999, now abandoned in favor of divisional application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 821,669, filed Mar. 29, 2001. The entire disclosures of the related applications are incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to laminated elastic composites that are suitable for use in tapes, wraps and bandages, and to a method of making such laminated elastic composites. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Elastic composite materials are widely used in many forms in a large number of medical products such as tapes, wraps, bandages and wound dressing...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] Several alternative elastic composites can be made within the method of the invention. The apparatus may be modified to include an upstream roll for dispensing a scrim that comprises spaced-apart filaments oriented in the machine direction that are substantially perpendicular to spaced-apart filaments oriented in the cross direction. Using this modified apparatus, a length of scrim material may be placed between the first nonwoven web and the elastic layer of the elastic composite. The presence of the scrim in this composite provides added tensile strength to the composite and provides the advantage of facilitating tearing in either the machine direction or the cross direction along the lines provided by the filaments.

Problems solved by technology

Although all of these properties are pursued by workers in the field, it is difficult in practice to produce a single elastic composite that possesses them all, because the materials and methods that are ideally suited to provide some of the desired properties may at the same time possess countervailing qualities that prevent the achievement of others.

For example, some polymeric films possess the desirable properties of strength and low cost of manufacture, yet these same films have the disadvantage of being neither breathable nor conformable.

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