(19)
(11) EP 1 876 291 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
22.07.2009 Bulletin 2009/30

(43) Date of publication A2:
09.01.2008 Bulletin 2008/02

(21) Application number: 07019184.6

(22) Date of filing: 17.10.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
D21F 11/00(2006.01)
D21F 1/00(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 02.11.2001 US 15838
02.11.2001 US 15858

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
02784144.4 / 1440195

(71) Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Neenah, WI 54956 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Burazin, Mark Alan
    Oshkosh, WI 54901 (US)
  • Lindsay, Jeffrey D.
    Appleton, WI 54915 (US)
  • Chiu, Kai F.
    Bellvue, WA 98004 (US)

(74) Representative: Davies, Christopher Robert 
Frank B. Dehn & Co. St Bride's House 10 Salisbury Square
London EC4Y 8JD
London EC4Y 8JD (GB)

   


(54) Fabric for use in the manufacture of tissue products having visually discernable background texture regions bordered by curvilinear decorative elements


(57) The present invention is a woven sculpted fabric for the manufacture of a tissue web having a tissue contacting surface and a method for making such a woven sculpted fabric. The tissue contacting surface of the woven sculpted fabric includes at least a first group of strands and a second group of strands wherein the first group of strands extend in a first direction and the second group of strands extend in a second direction. The first group of strands are adapted to produce elevated floats and depressed sinkers thereby defining a three-dimensional fabric surface comprising; a first background region having a set of substantially parallel first elevated floats separated by a set of substantially parallel first depressed sinkers, comprising first depressed sinkers positioned between adjacent first elevated floats and comprising first elevated floats positioned between adjacent first depressed sinkers; a second background region having a set of substantially parallel second elevated floats separated by a set of substantially parallel second depressed sinkers, comprising second depressed sinkers positioned between adjacent second elevated floats and comprising second elevated floats positioned between adjacent a second depressed sinkers; and, a transition region positioned between the first and second background regions, wherein the first elevated floats of the first background region become the second elevated floats of the second background region and the first depressed sinkers of the first background region become the second depressed sinkers of the second background region.







Search report