(19)

(11)

EP 1 109 665 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 27.06.2001 Bulletin 2001/26 (21) Application number: 99935943.3 (22) Date of filing: 26.07.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B32B 1/04, B32B 3/02, B32B 3/10, B32B 5/00, B32B 29/02, B32B 31/00, B32B 31/20, A47G 9/02 (86) International application number: PCT/US9916/933 (87) International publication number: WO 0006/372 (10.02.2000 Gazette 2000/06)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 27.07.1998 US 94283 P (71) Applicant: Polymer Group, Inc. North Charleston, S.C. 29405 (US)	(72) Inventors: WALTON, John, H. Raleigh, NC 27606 (US) MCDONNELL, Theresa, M. Northvale, NJ 07647 (US) DALE, Robert Lawrenceville, GA 30043 (US) HUSKEY, Timothy Suwanee, GA 30024 (US) MCAMISH, Larry Cornelius, NC 28031 (US) (74) Representative: Flosdorff, Jürgen, Dr.  Alleestrasse 33 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen (DE)