Stretchable web

Abstract

The present invention relates to stretchable webs having a plurality of elongated cells, and a retractive force mechanism to provide increased retractive force of the web when stretched in a given direction. The stretchable webs are useful in disposable garments such as diapers, bandages and other hygiene material so that the material fits closely without slipping off.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A stretchable web comprising: 
 a three-dimensional web having a plurality of elongated cells aligned to provide mechanical elasticity perpendicular to the aligned elongated apertures, and    a retractive force mechanism to provide increased retractive force in the direction of mechanical elasticity.    
     
     
         2 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the retractive force mechanism comprises lanes of two-dimensional material positioned between lanes of three-dimensional elongated cells.  
     
     
         3 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the retractive force mechanism comprises lanes of a plurality of smaller cells between lanes of a plurality of larger cells.  
     
     
         4 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the retractive force mechanism is a reinforcing layer bonded to said web.  
     
     
         5 . The web of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing layer is selected from the group consisting of film, non-woven, woven, necked non-woven, slit non-woven, apertured non-woven, apertured film, apertured film with elongated apertures, laminates, incrementally stretched non-wovens, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The web of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing layer is bonded to the web with a plurality of discrete bonds.  
     
     
         7 . The web of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing layer is bonded to the web with an adhesive or an elastic adhesive.  
     
     
         8 . The web of  claim 1  wherein the elongated cells are apertures.  
     
     
         9 . The web of  claim 1  wherein the retractive force mechanism comprises at least one bridging element positioned across at least one elongated cell.  
     
     
         10 . The web of  claim 9  wherein the bridging element is comprised of the same material as the web.  
     
     
         11 . The web of  claim 9  wherein the bridging element is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of adhesive, elastic adhesive, film strips, non-woven strips, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The web of  claim 9 , wherein the bridging element is positioned across the minor axis of at least one elongated cell.  
     
     
         13 . The web of  claim 12 , wherein the bridging element is ruptured across the at least one elongated cell.  
     
     
         14 . A stretchable web, comprising: 
 a web of material; and    pinwheel groupings of three-dimensional cells in the inelastic material, the groupings including a central cell and a plurality of cells at least partially surrounding the central cell to create elasticity.    
     
     
         15 . The web of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of cells at least partially surrounding the central cell includes at least a pair of “C” shaped cells.  
     
     
         16 . The web of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of cells at least partially surrounding the central cell comprises at least two shapes of cells.  
     
     
         17 . The web of  claim 14  wherein the three-dimensional cells include a plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         18 . A method of making the web of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 forming a three-dimensional web comprising a plurality of elongated apertures aligned to provide mechanical elasticity perpendicular to the aligned elongated apertures; and    providing a retractive force mechanism to the three-dimensional web to increase the retractive force of the web.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein providing the retractive force mechanism comprises forming the three-dimensional web using a screen having at least one lane of perforations positioned between at least one lane of unperforated screen to provide a web having at least one lane of two-dimensional material positioned between at least one lane of three-dimensional elongated cells.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein providing the retractive force mechanism comprises forming the three-dimensional web using a screen having a plurality of first perforations positioned between a plurality of second perforations where the first perforations have a diameter smaller than the second perforations.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein providing the retractive force mechanism comprising bonding a reinforcing layer to the web.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the reinforcing layer is selected from the group consisting of film, non-woven, woven, necked non-woven, slit non-woven, apertured non-woven, apertured film, apertured film with elongated apertures, laminates, incrementally stretched non-wovens, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the reinforcing layer is bonded to the web with a plurality of discrete bonds.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the reinforcing layer is bonded to the web with an adhesive or an elastic adhesive.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein providing the retractive force mechanism comprises positioning at least one bridging element across at least one elongated cell.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the bridging element is comprised of the same material as the web.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the bridging element is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of adhesive, elastic adhesive, film strips, non-woven strips, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the bridging element is positioned across the minor axis of at least one elongated cell.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the bridging element is ruptured across the at least one elongated cell.  
     
     
         30 . A laminate comprising the web of  claim 1  and an additional layer laminated to the web.  
     
     
         31 . An absorbent garment comprising the web of  claim 1.