Elastic composite

Abstract

An elastic composite includes a first nonwoven, a second nonwoven, and two elastic films sandwiched between the first and second nonwoven. The elastic composite also includes a lateral edge portion where the first nonwoven is bonded to the second nonwoven, a lane between the elastic films that is free of the elastic films, and a first bond joining the first nonwoven to the elastic film, and a second bond joining the second nonwoven to the elastic film. The elastic composite may be used as a component of a disposable garment.

1 . An elastic composite comprising:
 a structure consisting of three lateral sections, said sections being a lateral edge portion, a stretch zone, and a lane, with the stretch zone positioned between the lateral edge zone and the lane, the lateral edge portion and the lane being substantially inextensible in a CD when compared to the stretch zone, and the stretch zone being extensible in the CD when compared to the lateral edge portion or the lane; and the elastic composite further comprising:   a first nonwoven and a second nonwoven sandwiching an elastic film with lateral edges, the first nonwoven and the second nonwoven extending beyond the lateral edges of the elastic film,   in the lateral edge portion, the first nonwoven and the second nonwoven being bonded together so that the lateral edge portion being substantially inextensible in the CD,   in the stretch zone, the first nonwoven being bonded to the elastic film with a plurality of laterally spaced apart, stretch zone bonds that extend in a MD, the second nonwoven is bonded to the elastic film with a plurality of laterally spaced apart, stretch zone bonds that extend in the MD,   in the lane, the first nonwoven and the second nonwoven being bonded so that the lane being substantially inextensible in the CD,   whereby when the elastic composite is stretched in the CD, said nonwovens bonded to the elastic film extend with the elastic film and when the elastic composite is relaxed, said nonwovens bonded to the elastic film bulk.   
     
     
         2 . The elastic composite according to  claim 1  wherein the stretch zone bonds between either the first nonwoven and the elastic film or the second nonwoven and the elastic film comprise lines of adhesives. 
     
     
         3 . The elastic composite according to  claim 2  wherein the lines of adhesives may be continuous lines or discontinuous lines. 
     
     
         4 . The elastic composite according to  claim 2  wherein the adhesive being a hot melt adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The elastic composite according to  claim 2  wherein the adhesive being inelastic. 
     
     
         6 . The elastic composite according to  claim 1  wherein each stretch zone bond having a width in the range of 0.5-1.0 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The elastic composite according to  claim 6  wherein each stretch zone bond having a width in the range of 0.5-0.55 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The elastic composite according to  claim 1  wherein a center-to-center stretch zone bond spacing being in the range of 2.0-2.5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The elastic composite according to  claim 1  wherein the first nonwoven or the second nonwoven or both being selected from the group consisting of a point bonded carded nonwoven or a spunlaced nonwoven. 
     
     
         10 . The elastic composite according to  claim 9  wherein the first nonwoven or the second nonwoven or both have a CD/MD elongation ratio of at least 3:1. 
     
     
         11 . The elastic composite according to  claim 1  wherein the elastic film comprising a styrenic block co-polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The elastic composite according to  claim 1  where in the lane, the first nonwoven is bonded to the second nonwoven. 
     
     
         13 . The elastic composite according to  claim 1  where in the lane, a stiffener is bonded between the first nonwoven and the second nonwoven. 
     
     
         14 . An elastic composite comprising:
 a first nonwoven, said first nonwoven being extensible, but inelastic, said first nonwoven being further characterized by a CD/MD elongation ratio of at least 3:1, said first nonwoven being a point-bonded carded nonwoven made of staple fibers or a spunlaced nonwoven,   a second nonwoven, said second nonwoven being extensible, but inelastic, said second nonwoven being further characterized by a CD/MD elongation ratio of at least 3:1, said second nonwoven being a point-bonded carded nonwoven made of staple fibers or a spunlaced nonwoven,   a first elastic film and a second elastic film, said first elastic film and said second elastic film being laterally spaced apart from one another and sandwiched between said first nonwoven and said second nonwoven, said first elastic film and said second elastic film being bonded to said first nonwoven and said second nonwoven, respectively, by a plurality of continuous lines of a hot melt adhesive extending in the MD direction when said first elastic film and said second elastic film being non-tensioned,   a non-extensible material between said first elastic film and said second elastic film and being sandwiched between and bonded to said first nonwoven and said second nonwoven,   whereby when the elastic composite is stretched in the CD direction, said nonwovens extend with said elastic films and when the elastic composite is relaxed, said nonwovens bulk.   
     
     
         15 . The elastic composite of  claim 14  wherein said CD/MD elongation ratio being in the range of 4-5:1. 
     
     
         16 . The elastic composite according to  claim 14  wherein said first nonwoven or said second nonwoven being a spunlaced nonwoven. 
     
     
         17 . The elastic composite according to  claim 14  wherein said first elastic film or said second elastic film or both comprising a styrenic block co-polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The elastic composite according to  claim 14  wherein said first elastic film or said second elastic film or both having a basis weight in the range of 50-70 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         19 . The elastic composite according to  claim 14  wherein said hot melt adhesive being a non-elastic adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The elastic composite according to  claim 14  wherein a line of said plurality of continuous lines having a width in the range of 0.5-1.0 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The elastic composite according to  claim 14  wherein a line of said plurality of continuous lines having a width in the range of 0.5-0.55 mm. 
     
     
         22 . The elastic composite according to  claim 14  wherein a center-to-center spacing of said plurality of continuous lines being in the range of 2.0-2.5 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The elastic composite according to  claim 14  wherein said non-extensible material between said first elastic film and said second elastic film and being sandwiched between said first nonwoven and said second nonwoven and bonded to said first nonwoven and said second nonwoven with a hot melt adhesive.