1. An apparatus for making a disposable absorbent article comprising:
a first absorbent particulate polymer material feeder;
a first support comprising a first grid including a first plurality of cross bars extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one another so as to form channels extending between the first plurality of cross bars;
a first printing roll for receiving absorbent particulate polymer material from the first absorbent particulate polymer material feeder having a first peripheral surface and a first plurality of reservoirs in the first peripheral surface arranged in an array comprising rows extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one another, the first support and first printing roll arranged such that the first plurality of cross bars are substantially parallel to the rows of the first plurality of reservoirs in the first peripheral surface, so that, when the first printing roll rotates, the first plurality of reservoirs roll receive absorbent particulate polymer material from the first absorbent particulate polymer material feeder and deposit the absorbent particulate polymer material on the first substrate in a first pattern such that the absorbent particulate polymer material collects in rows on the first substrate formed between the first plurality of cross bars; and
a first thermoplastic adhesive material applicator for applying thermoplastic adhesive material applicator on the absorbent particulate polymer material and the first substrate to cover the absorbent particulate polymer material on the first substrate and form a first absorbent layer.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the first grid extends in a machine direction and a cross direction substantially perpendicular to the machine direction and the first plurality of cross bars extend in the cross direction of the first grid and spaced from one another so that the channels extend between the first plurality of cross bars in the cross direction of the first grid;
the first peripheral surface extends in a machine direction and a cross direction substantially perpendicular to the machine direction, the rows of first plurality of reservoirs extend in the cross direction of the first peripheral surface and are spaced from one another in the machine direction of the first peripheral surface; and
the first support and first printing roll are arranged such that the machine direction of the first grid is substantially parallel to the machine direction of the first peripheral surface and the cross direction of the first grid is substantially parallel to the cross direction of the first peripheral surface.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a second absorbent particulate polymer material feeder;
a second support comprising a second grid including a second plurality of cross bars extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one another so as to form channels extending between the second plurality of cross bars;
a second printing roll having a second peripheral surface and a second plurality of reservoirs in the second peripheral surface arranged in an array comprising rows extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one another, the second support and first printing roll arranged such that the second plurality of cross bars are substantially parallel to the rows of the second plurality of reservoirs in the second peripheral surface, so that, when the second printing roll rotates, the second plurality of reservoirs roll receive absorbent particulate polymer material from the second absorbent particulate polymer material feeder and deposit the absorbent particulate polymer material on the second substrate in a second pattern such that the absorbent particulate polymer material collects in rows on the second substrate formed between the second plurality of cross bars; and
a thermoplastic adhesive material applicator for depositing a thermoplastic adhesive material on the absorbent particulate polymer material and the second substrate to cover the absorbent particulate polymer material on the second substrate and form a second absorbent layer,
wherein the first and second supports are arranged for combining said first and second absorbent layers together in juxtaposed relation such that at least a portion of said thermoplastic adhesive material of said first absorbent layer contacts at least a portion of the thermoplastic adhesive material of said second absorbent layer, the absorbent particulate polymer material is disposed between the first and second substrates in an absorbent particulate polymer material area, and the absorbent particulate polymer material is substantially continuously distributed across the absorbent particulate polymer material area.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:
the first grid of the first support extends in a machine direction and a cross direction substantially perpendicular to the machine direction and the first plurality of cross bars extend in the cross direction of the first grid and spaced from one another so that the channels extend between the first plurality of cross bars in the cross direction of the first grid;
the second grid of the second support extends in a machine direction and a cross direction substantially perpendicular to the machine direction and the second plurality of cross bars extend in the cross direction of the second grid and spaced from one another so that the channels extend between the second plurality of cross bars in the cross direction of the second grid;
the peripheral surface of the first printing roll extends in a machine direction and a cross direction substantially perpendicular to the machine direction, the rows of first plurality of reservoirs extend in the cross direction of the first peripheral surface and are spaced from one another in the machine direction of the first peripheral surface;
the peripheral surface of the second printing roll extends in a machine direction and a cross direction substantially perpendicular to the machine direction, the rows of second plurality of reservoirs extend in the cross direction of the second peripheral surface and are spaced from one another in the machine direction of the second peripheral surface;
the first support and first printing roll are arranged such that the machine direction of the first grid is substantially parallel to the machine direction of the first peripheral surface and the cross direction of the first grid is substantially parallel to the cross direction of the first peripheral surface; and
the second support and second printing roll are arranged such that the machine direction of the second grid is substantially parallel to the machine direction of the second peripheral surface and the cross direction of the second grid is substantially parallel to the cross direction of the second peripheral surface.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first and second plurality of reservoirs are cylindrical or conical.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of cross bars each have a substantially straight outwardly facing edge extending across substantially the entire first grid.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rows of absorbent particulate polymer material on the first substrate are separated by junction areas between the rows of absorbent particulate polymer material.
8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the rows of absorbent particulate polymer material on the first and second substrates are separated by junction areas between the rows of absorbent particulate polymer material so that the rows of absorbent particulate polymer material on the first substrate are disposed between and substantially parallel to rows of absorbent particulate polymer material on the second substrate.
9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of reservoirs in the first printing roll and the plurality of reservoirs each have a diameter of about 3 to about 8 mm, a spacing in a cross direction of about 5.5 to about 10 mm from reservoir center to reservoir center, and a spacing in a machine direction of about 8 to about 10 mm from reservoir center to reservoir center.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of cross bars each have a substantially straight outwardly facing edge extending across substantially the entire first grid.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first substrate is disposed on the first grid so that the first substrate directly contacts at least some of the first plurality of cross bars.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first grid further comprises a plurality of spacers spaced from one another and extending between the first plurality of cross bars in the machine direction of the first support.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seat cushion upholstery part and a backrest upholstery part, wherein said seat cushion upholstery part andor backrest upholstery part is bordered on each of the left and right sides by a deformable side bolster for supporting a vehicle seat occupant, wherein each side bolster comprises at least one cushion deformable in the seat width direction and at least one upholstery portion into which the at least one cushion is embedded,
wherein a fibre fabric is embedded two-dimensionally into the foam of the at least one foam upholstery portion for its stabilisation and at least partially covering the at least one embedded cushion, and wherein, in at least one part of the area covered by the fibre fabric, the fibres of the fibre fabric are oriented at a non-zero-degree angle to the plane extending in the seat width direction and in the elevation direction of the side bolster.
2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1,
wherein in at least part of the area covered by the fibre fabric the fibres of the fibre fabric are at an angle of between 15\xb0 and 75\xb0, preferably between 25\xb0 and 65\xb0, and even more preferably between 40\xb0 and 50\xb0 to the plane extending in the seat width direction and in the elevation direction of the side bolster.
3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1,
wherein the fibre fabric is a mesh grid with parallelogram-shaped, diamond-shaped, rectangular or square meshes.
4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1,
wherein the respective side bolster is designed as an elongated elevation running essentially orthogonally to the seat width direction and the upholstery part of which has, on an inner side, a hollow space tapering in the elevation direction extending towards an edge into which the at least one cushion is embedded such that the two sides are pressed apart relative to the edge of the hollow space upon deformation of the cushion.
5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4,
wherein the fibre fabric is embedded adjacent to the at least one cushion on a reverse side of the upholstery part.
6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1,
wherein the respective at least one cushion is designed as being inflatable.
7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6,
wherein a pump apparatus which is connected via a hose line to the respective at least one cushion in order to pump a fluid, in particular compressed air, into the cushion and out of the cushion.
8. The vehicle seat according to claim 6,
wherein the cushion consists of two partial chambers extending lengthwise in the elevation direction of the upholstery portion, wherein the two partial chambers are joined in hinge-like fashion in the elevation direction the upholstery portion such that the upholstery portion is pressed laterally outward in hinge-like fashion upon filling.
9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1,
wherein the fibre fabric consists of two partial areas joined together in the midsection of the edge wherein the shape of the partial area of the fibre fabric located on the inner side of the seat relative to the respective at least one cushion in the seat width direction, is fashioned to the shape of the corresponding side of the cushion, while the outer partial area in the two outer sections of the edge overlaps in such a way that protruding partial area sections can be folded over the edge onto the inner side, where they then overlap with the other partial area section.
10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1,
wherein the fibre fabric consists of a plastic or textile material.