Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WOVEN GEOTEXTILE FILTRATION FABRICS INCLUDING
CORE-SHEATH SPUN YARNS
[0001] This paragraph removed intentionally.
[0002] This paragraph removed intentionally.
FIELD
[0003] The present disclosure relates to woven geotextile filtration
fabrics that
include core-sheath spun yarns in either or both of the warp and weft
directions.
BACKGROUND
[0004] This section provides background information related to the
present
disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
[0005] Woven fabrics are used in the geotextile market for filtration in
a number of
applications. The advantages of a woven geotextile fabric for a filtration
application are that the
fabric is very tough to the rigors of installation and use while providing
good water flow with
moderate sediment retention. But for applications requiring very good sediment
retention,
nonwoven fabrics are usually required.
[0006] FIG. 1 shows a portion of a conventional woven fabric 10. As
shown, the
woven fabric 10 includes monofilament yarns 14 in the warp direction (from top
to bottom in
FIG. 1) and monofilament yarns 18 in the weft or fill direction (from left to
right in FIG. 1).
DRAWINGS
[0007] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only
of selected
embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to
limit the scope of
the present disclosure.
1
CA 2976264 2019-01-25
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a portion of a conventional woven fabric having
monofilament yarns
in the warp direction and monofilament yarns in the weft or fill direction;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a portion of a woven geotextile filtration fabric
according to an
exemplary embodiment that includes core-sheath spun yarn in the weft direction
(horizontal direction
in FIG. 2) and polypropylene monofilament yarn in the warp direction (vertical
direction in FIG. 2);
[0010] FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram representing an exemplary
manufacturing process
or method of making a woven geotextile filtration fabric according to an
exemplary embodiment; and
[0011] FIGS. 4 through 7 include tables of test data comparing various
properties of
woven geotextile filtration fabrics according to exemplary embodiments
disclosed herein versus
conventional fabrics.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with
reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0013] Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of woven geotextile
filtration fabrics
that include core-sheath spun yarns in either or both of the warp and weft
directions. In exemplary
embodiments in which the woven geotextile filtration fabric includes core-
sheath spun yarn in only
the warp direction or the weft direction, the yarn in the other one of the
warp direction or weft
direction may comprise a wide range of other yarns, such as other types of
spun yarns (e.g., ring-spun
yarn, rotor-spun yarn, open-end spun yarn, etc.), multifilament yarns (e.g,
polypropylene
multifilament yarn, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) multifilament yarn,
etc.), and/or monofilament
yarn (e.g., polypropylene monofilament yarn, etc.). The inventors hereof have
recognized that using
core-sheath spun yarns in either or both of the warp and weft directions
allows the woven geotextile
filtration fabrics to have a unique combination of filtering and strength. For
example, a woven
geotextile filtration fabric including core-sheath spun yarns in either or
both of the warp and weft
directions may be configured so as to have a really high sieve value generally
seen with nonwoven
filtration fabrics but while still having the strength of a woven fabric. As
another example, a woven
geotextile filtration fabric including core-sheath spun yarns in either or
both of the warp and weft
directions may be configured so as to have a relatively low sieve value and
good filtration with the
core-sheath spun yarn.
2
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
[0014] As shown by rows 1, 2, and 3 in the table below, exemplary
embodiments of a
woven geotextile filtration fabric may include core-sheath spun yarn in the
warp direction and
monofilament yarn, multifilament yarn, or core-sheath spun yarn in the weft
direction. As shown by
row 4 and 5 in the table below, exemplary embodiments of a woven geotextile
filtration fabric may
include core-sheath spun yarn in the weft direction and monofilament yarn or
multifilament yarn in
the warp direction.
Row Warp Yarn Weft Yarn
1 Core-Sheath Spun Yarn Monofilament
2 Core-Sheath Spun Yarn Multifilament
3 Core-Sheath Spun Yarn Core-Sheath Spun Yarn
4 Monofilament Core-Sheath Spun Yarn
Multifilament Core-Sheath Spun Yarn
[0015] A woven geotextile filtration fabric may include core-sheath
spun yarn in the warp
direction but not the weft direction. In the weft direction, the woven
geotextile filtration fabric may
include multifilament yarn and/or monofilament yarn. In this first example,
the woven geotextile
filtration fabric may consist of only core-sheath spun yarn in the warp
direction and only
multifilament and/or monofilament yarn in the weft direction. Or, for example,
a woven geotextile
filtration fabric may include core-sheath spun yarn in the weft direction but
not the warp direction. In
the warp direction, the woven geotextile filtration fabric may include
multifilament yarn and/or
monofilament yarn. In this second example, the woven geotextile filtration
fabric may consist of only
core-sheath spun yarn in the weft direction and only multifilament and/or
monofilament yarn in the
warp direction. As another example, a woven geotextile filtration fabric may
include core-sheath
spun yarn in both the warp and weft directions. In this third example, the
woven geotextile filtration
fabric may consist of only core-sheath spun yarn in both the weft and warp
directions. Alternatively,
the example woven geotextile filtration fabrics described above may
additionally include one or more
other yarns in either or both of the warp and weft directions.
[0016] In the above examples, the core-sheath spun yarn may include a
polypropylene
core having a denier about 1800 and a polypropylene fiber sheath having a
denier about 1600. The
polypropylene core and polypropylene fiber sheath may each have a round (e.g.,
circular or
3
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
substantially circular, etc.) cross section. Alternatively, other yarns may be
used in other exemplary
embodiments, such as yarns with higher or lower denier (e.g., core yarns of
100 denier to 11,000
denier that are single strands or bundled into strands of two or more strands,
etc.), yarns with other
cross-sectional shapes or geometries (e.g., noncircular, oval-shaped, etc.),
yarns made out of other
materials, tape yarns, fibrillated yarns, etc. Also, the warp and weft yarns
may have the same denier,
or they may have deniers different from each other.
[0017] Regarding the core-sheath spun yarns, the core yarns may range
from a total of
100 denier to 11,000 denier each. For example, core yarns of 100 denier to
11,000 denier that are
single strands or bundled into strands of two or more strands may be used in
exemplary
embodiments. The core yarns may be comprised of polyethylene homopolymers,
polypropylene
homopolymers, polyesters, nylons, fiberglass, polyphenylene oxide, natural
and/or synthetic fibers,
other synthetic or natural raw material(s), etc. The sheath fibers may be made
from polypropylene,
polyethylene, polyester, nylon, rayon, different terpolymers, acrylic, aramid
fibers, natural and/or
synthetic fibers, other synthetic or natural raw material(s), etc. The sheath
weight percentage
compared to the total weight of the core-sheath spun yarn may range from about
10% to about 99%
in exemplary embodiments. Alternatively, other core-sheath spun yarns may be
used in other
exemplary embodiments.
[0018] The core-sheath spun yarn may include relatively short filaments
or staple fibers
from 1 denier per filament (dpf) to 60 dpf. The short filaments or staple
fibers may be spun,
entangled, twisted, etc., together to form a larger yarn. The short filaments
or staple fibers may also
be utilized in a core-sheath spun yarn where single or multiple yarns for a
core structure are
encapsulated in a single or multiple (e.g.,1 to 1 to 6, etc.) blend of fibers
around the core.
[0019] By way of example only, the core-sheath spun yarns may be made
by Dref
spinning, ring spinning, rotor spinning, open-end spinning, etc. But aspects
of the present disclosure
should not be limited to any single type of manufacturing process for making
the core-sheath spun
yarns.
[0020] In exemplary embodiments in which the woven geotextile
filtration fabric includes
core-sheath spun yarn in only the warp direction or the weft direction, the
yam in the other one of the
warp direction or weft direction may comprise a wide range of other yarns,
such as yarns with other
cross-sectional shapes or geometries (e.g., noncireular, oval-shaped, etc.),
yarns made out of other
4
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
materials (e.g, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, nylon, rayon,
different terpolymers, acrylic,
aramid fibers, other raw material(s), etc.), yams with a higher or lower
denier than the core-sheath
spun yarn, etc.
[0021] As recognized by the inventors hereof, advantages of using core-
sheath spun yarns
in a woven geotextile filtration fabric are that the filament fibers and/or
core structure of the yarns
can be configured (e.g., engineered, designed, etc.) to achieve the strength
and toughness needed in
the fabric while the fiber can be configured (e.g., engineered, designed,
etc.) to achieve the
appearance and functional properties desired. For example, the core-sheath
spun yarns (e.g., the core
and/or the sheath fiber, etc.) can be enhanced or treated for UV resistance,
flame retardance, water
absorption, tackiness, oil attraction, and/or other desirable properties.
[0022] As disclosed herein, the woven geotextile filtration fabric may
include one or more
different types of yarn in addition to the core-sheath spun yarns in the warp
and/or weft directions,
such as multifilament yarns, monofilament yarns, and/or other spun yarns in
either or both the weft
and warp directions. The woven geotextile filtration fabric may be formed by
layers of warp and weft
yarns secured or interwoven together in a weave (e.g., a plain weave, etc.),
construction, or pattern,
which helps to enhance water flow and strength characteristics.
[0023] In exemplary embodiments, the warp yarns and weft yarns may have
different
cross-sectional shapes. In some exemplary embodiments, the weft yarns have a
round, substantially
circular cross-sectional shape, and the warp yarns have an oval cross-
sectional shape with a width
greater than its thickness or height. Alternatively, other embodiments may
include warp and weft
yarns that have the same cross-sectional shapes or geometries. For example,
the warp and weft yarns
may both have an oval or round cross-sectional shape. Alternative embodiments
may include a
woven geotextile filtration fabric having warp and/or weft yarns with other or
additional cross-
sectional shapes, geometries, and/or sizes.
[0024] In exemplary embodiments, the woven geotextile filtration fabric
may consist of a
single warp set/system and a single weft set/system. In this example, either
or both of the first/warp
system and the second/weft system may include core-sheath spun yarns. The
first and second (or
warp and weft) sets of yarns may be interwoven together to form a
dimensionally stable network,
which allows the yarns to maintain their relative position. By way of example
only, the weft system
may comprise core-sheath spun yarns including a polypropylene core with a
denier of about 1800 and
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
a polypropylene fiber sheath with a denier of about 1600. The core and the
sheath may each have a
rounded or substantially circular cross-sectional shape. The warp system may
comprise a
polypropylene monofilament yarn with a denier of about 1000 and a
substantially oval-shaped cross-
section.
[0025] With reference now to the figure, FIG. 2 illustrates an
exemplary embodiment of a
woven geotextile filtration fabric 100 embodying one or more aspects of the
present disclosure. As
shown, the woven geotextile filtration fabric 100 includes warp yarns 114 in
the warp direction (from
top to bottom in FIG. 2) and weft yarns 118 in the weft direction (from left
to right in FIG. 2).
[0026] In this exemplary embodiment, the woven geotextile filtration
fabric 100 includes
monofilament yarns 114 in the warp direction and core-sheath spun yarns 118 in
the weft direction.
In alternative embodiments, the woven geotextile filtration fabric 100 may
include core-sheath spun
yarn in the warp direction and monofilament yarn in the weft direction. In
other embodiments, the
woven geotextile filtration fabric 100 may include core-sheath spun yarn in
both the warp direction
and the weft direction. In yet other embodiments, the woven geotextile
filtration fabric 100 may
include core-sheath spun yarns in either or both the warp and weft directions
and one or more other
types of yarn in either or both warp and weft directions in addition to the
core-sheath spun yarns,
such as multifilament yarns, other spun yarns, monofilament yarns, fibers,
threads, other yam types
such as tape yarns and/or fibrillated yarns, etc.
[0027] Also by way of example only, the core-sheath spun yams 118 may
range from a
total of 100 denier to 11,000 denier each. For example, core yarns of 100
denier to 11,000 denier that
are single strands or bundled into strands of two or more strands may be used
in exemplary
embodiments. The core yarns may be comprised of polyethylene homopolymers,
polypropylene
homopolymers, polyesters, nylons, fiberglass, polyphenylene oxide, natural
and/or synthetic fibers,
other synthetic or natural raw material(s), etc. The sheath fibers may be made
from polypropylene,
polyethylene, polyester, nylon, rayon, different terpolymers, acrylic, aramid
fibers, natural and/or
synthetic fibers, other synthetic or natural raw material(s), etc. The sheath
weight percentage
compared to the total weight of the yarn may range from about 10% to about
99%. The core-sheath
spun yarn may include relatively small filaments or staple fibers that are
from 1 denier per filament
(dpf) to 60 dpf. The short filaments or staple fibers may be spun, entangled,
twisted, etc., together to
form single or multiple yarns for the core structure, which are encapsulated
in a single or multiple
6
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
(e.g., 1 to 1 to 6, etc.) blend of fibers around the core. The core-sheath
spun yarns may be made by a
process known as Dref spinning. In one particular example, the core-sheath
spun yarns 118 may
comprise a polypropylene core having a denier about 1800 and a polypropylene
fiber sheath having a
denier about 1600. The polypropylene core and polypropylene fiber sheath may
each have a round
(e.g., circular or substantially circular, etc.) cross section. Alternatively,
other core-sheath spun yarns
may be used in other exemplary embodiments, such as core-sheath spun yarns
with higher or lower
denier, core-sheath spun yarns with other cross-sectional shapes or geometries
(e.g., noncircular,
oval-shaped, etc.), core-sheath spun yarns made out of other materials, core-
sheath spun yarns made
via other processes besides Dref spinning (e.g., rotor spinning, ring
spinning, open-end spinning,
etc.), etc.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram representing an exemplary
manufacturing process
or method 240 of making a woven geotextile filtration fabric (e.g., woven
geotextile filtration fabric
100 shown in FIG. 1, etc.) according to exemplary embodiments. Generally, the
method 240 includes
three operations or steps labeled as yarn production 244, beaming 248, and
weaving 252 in FIG. 3.
[0029] By way of background, single strand yarns are produced from
plastic resin pellets.
These pellets are introduced to a plastic extrusion machine, which heats the
pellets to a high enough
temperature to transform the pellets into a molten state. At this point,
additives (e.g., color or other
substances, etc.) can be introduced along with the plastic pellets to achieve
desired characteristics of
the yarn. The molten plastic is then forced through a hole in a die to create
a continuous strand. The
shape of the hole governs the shape of the strand. The molten strand is then
quenched to become solid
again. The solid state strand is then stretched, e.g., from 5 times to 12
times, to achieve appropriate
physical properties. After it is stretched, the yarn strand is then wound onto
a tube for later use.
[0030] Filament yarns are extruded in a similar manner as described
above. But the
individual holes are much smaller. These individual strands are then bundled
together to form a
heavier weight yarn. The yarn bundle can then be exposed to a number of other
processes (e.g.,
twisting, etc.) to enhance the yarn properties.
[0031] Spun yarns are manufactured from cut lengths of plastic fibers
or relatively short
staple fibers. These fibers are entangled among themselves or around a core
yarn(s) to form a single
strand of yarn.
7
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
[0032] After the yarns are manufactured at the first yarn product
operation or step 244, the
yarns may then proceed to the second operation or step 248 where the yarns are
processed into either
warp yarns or weft yarns for a woven geotextile filtration fabric. First,
individual packages of yarn
are loaded onto a creel and then transferred to a single loom beam. These
yarns are generally referred
to as warp yarns. A loom beam may contain thousands of individual warp yarns.
The loom beam
becomes the source in the loom for the machine direction yarns. Other yarns
are then inserted on the
loom in the cross machine direction of the woven fabric. These other yarns are
generally known as
weft or fill yarns.
[0033] At the third operation or step 252, a weaving machine, commonly
called a loom, is
loaded with the loom beam and the weft yarns mentioned above. The weaving
machine then
interlaces the yarns in a woven method (e.g., in a plain weave, etc.).
[0034] The method 240 shown in FIG. 3 and described above is provided
for purpose of
illustration only as a woven geotextile filtration fabric may be made by other
processes. For example,
another exemplary embodiment may include a woven geotextile filtration fabric
including core-
sheath spun yarn in either or both of the warp and weft directions where the
woven geotextile
filtration fabric is made by a different process.
[0035] To better examine advantages or benefits that may be realized
with the exemplary
embodiments of woven geotextile filtration fabrics disclosed, various tests
were conducted for
comparative purposes only. To this end, FIGS. 4 through 7 include tables I,
II, III, and IV,
respectively, of test data comparing various properties of woven geotextile
filtration fabrics according
to exemplary embodiments versus conventional fabrics.
[0036] More specifically, FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 include Tables I, II,
III, and IV,
respectively, with test data relating to grab tensile strength (pounds) in the
warp and weft directions
according to ASTM D4632, grab tensile elongation (%) in the warp and weft
directions according to
ASTM D4632, CBR (California Bearing Ratio) Puncture Strength (pounds)
according to ASTM
D6241, trapezoid tear strength (pounds) in the warp and weft directions
according to ASTM D4533,
apparent opening size (AOS) (U.S. Sieve) according to ASTM D4751, permittivity
(sec-1) according
to ASTM D4491, and Flow Rate in gallons per minute per square foot
(gal/min/ft2) according to
ASTM D4491. The ASTM test methods listed in Tables I, II, III, and IV are
commonly recognized
tests used by those in the geotextile industry.
8
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
[0037] In Tables I and II, a woven geotextile filtration fabric
according to an exemplary
embodiment is referred to as Exemplary Fabric A. Conventional fabrics in the
industry are referred to
in Tables I and II as Fabrics B, C, D, H, I, and J.
[0038] For this testing, Fabric A included monofilament yarns in the
warp direction and
core-sheath spun yarns in the weft direction. The monofilament yarns included
polypropylene
monofilament yarn having a denier of about 1000 and an oval cross-sectional
shape. The core-sheath
spun yarns included a polypropylene core having a denier of about 1800 and a
round cross section.
The core-sheath spun yarns also included a polypropylene fiber sheath having a
denier about 1600
and a round cross section.
[0039] As shown in Table I, Fabric A performed at 27% to 45% better
when evaluated on
strength when compared to the published Minimum Average Roll Values (MARV) of
common
woven fabrics B, C, and D in the industry with similar constructions. Notably,
the opening size of the
Exemplary Fabric A was significantly better with an Apparent Opening Size
(AOS) of 200 (0.075
mm) versus the Apparent Opening Size (AOS) of 70 (0.212 mm) of the
conventional woven fabrics
B, C, and D.
[0040] The AOS test generally gauges the opening sizes of the weave,
which, in turn,
predicts the amount of sediment that the fabric will catch or hold when used
in a geotextile
application. In contrast to the AOS test, water flow is a measurement of the
amount of water that will
flow through the fabric. In general, as AOS is tighter/smaller, the water flow
is lower due to the
constricting nature of the weave construction. But in this case, the Exemplary
Fabric A had a water
flow rate of 80 gal/min/ft2, which was higher than the 18 gal/min/ft2 water
flow rate of the
conventional woven Fabrics B, C, and D even though the AOS of Fabric A was 200
and thus higher
than the 70 AOS of conventional woven Fabrics B, C, and D.
[0041] In Table II, Fabric A is compared to MARV (Minimum Average Roll
Values) data
for three typical 10 ounce nonwoven fabrics identified as Fabrics H, I, and J.
The AOS for these
nonwoven Fabric H, I, and J is 100 (0.150 mm) compared to an AOS of 200 (0.075
mm) for Fabric
A. Water flow for the nonwoven Fabrics H, I, and J is approximately 60% less.
The strength
characteristics of Fabric A is 44% to 121% greater than the nonwoven Fabrics
H, I, and J. Elongation
for Fabric A is 40% to 70% less than the published data for the nonwoven
Fabrics H, I, and J, which
9
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
may be advantageous as many applications may require lower elongations for
which nonwoven
fabrics are not well suited.
[0042] As noted above, Fabric A included polypropylene monofilament
warp yarns
having a denier of about 1000 and an oval cross-sectional shape. Fabric A also
included core-sheath
spun weft yarns. The core-sheath spun yarns included a polypropylene core
having a denier of about
1800 and a round cross section. The core-sheath spun yarns also included a
polypropylene fiber
sheath having a denier about 1600 and a round cross section. As shown by
Tables I and II, the test
data for Fabric A included the following:
= grab tensile strength of 472 pounds in the warp direction according to
ASTM D4632;
= grab tensile elongation of 30% in the warp direction according to ASTM
D4632;
= grab tensile strength of 362 pounds in the weft direction according to
ASTM D4632;
= grab tensile elongation of 9% in the weft direction according to ASTM
D4632;
= CBR puncture strength of 1382 pounds according to ASTM D6241;
= trapezoid tear strength of 145 pounds in the warp direction according to
ASTM D4533;
= trapezoid tear strength of 256 pounds in the weft direction according to
ASTM D4533;
= apparent opening size (AOS) of 200 U.S. Sieve or 0.075 mm according to
ASTM D4751;
= permittivity of .43 sec-I according to ASTM D4491; and
= water flow rate of 32 gal/min/ft2.
[0043] In Tables III and IV, a woven geotextile filtration fabric
according to an exemplary
embodiment is referred to as Exemplary Fabric E. Conventional fabrics in the
industry are referred to
in Tables III and IV as Fabrics F, G, K, L, and M.
[0044] For this testing, Fabric E included monofilament yarns in the
warp direction and
core-sheath spun yams in the weft direction. The monofilament yarns included
polypropylene
monofilament yam having a denier of about 1000 and an oval cross-sectional
shape. The core-sheath
spun yarns had a total denier of about 1800. The core-sheath spun yarns
included a polypropylene
core having a denier of about 1100 and a round cross section. The core-sheath
spun yams also
included a polypropylene fiber sheath having a denier about 700 and a round
cross section.
[0045] As shown in Table III, the Fabric E performed at 29% to 83%
better when
evaluated on strength when compared to the published Minimum Average Roll
Values (MARV) of
common Fabrics F and G in the industry with similar constructions. And, the
opening size of the
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
fabric was similar with an Apparent Opening Size (AOS) of 50 (0.300 mm) vs. 50
(0.300 mm). In
contrast, while the AOS tests were similar, water flow for the Exemplary
Fabric E was 365% better
than published data for similar woven fabrics.
[0046] In Table IV, the Exemplary Fabric E is compared to MARV data for
typical 3.1
ounce nonwoven fabrics K, L, and M. The AOS for these nonwoven fabrics K, L,
and M is 50 (0.300
mm) compared to 50 (0.300 mm) for the Exemplary Fabric E. Water flow for the
nonwoven fabrics
K, L, and M is approximately 114% higher than Fabric E. But the strength
characteristics of the
Exemplary Fabric E are 327% to 551% greater than the nonwoven fabrics K, L,
and M while
elongation for the Exemplary Fabric E is 44% to 56% less than the published
data for the nonwoven
fabrics K, L, and M.
[0047] As noted above, Fabric E included polypropylene monofilament
warp yarns
having a denier of about 1000 and an oval cross-sectional shape. Fabric E also
included core-sheath
spun weft yarns having a total denier of about 1800. The core-sheath spun
yarns included a
polypropylene core having a denier of about 1100 and a round cross section.
The core-sheath spun
yarns also included a polypropylene fiber sheath having a denier about 700 and
a round cross section.
As shown by Tables III and IV, the test data for Fabric E included the
following:
= grab tensile strength of 415 pounds in the warp direction according to
ASTM D4632;
= grab tensile elongation of 28% in the warp direction according to ASTM
D4632;
= grab tensile strength of 342 pounds in the weft direction according to
ASTM D4632;
= grab tensile elongation of 22% in the weft direction according to ASTM
D4632;
= CBR puncture strength of 1140 pounds according to ASTM D6241;
= trapezoid tear strength of 146 pounds in the warp direction according to
ASTM D4533;
= trapezoid tear strength of 140 pounds in the weft direction according to
ASTM D4533;
= apparent opening size (AOS) of 50 U.S. Sieve or 0.300 mm according to
ASTM D4751;
= permittivity of .93 sec' according to ASTM D4491; and
= water flow rate of 70 gal/min/ft2.
[0048] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough, and
will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous
specific details are set forth
such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a
thorough understanding
of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled
in the art that specific
11
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many
different forms,
and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In
some example
embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-
known technologies are
not described in detail. In addition, advantages and improvements that may be
achieved with one or
more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are provided for purpose
of illustration only
and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure, as exemplary embodiments
disclosed herein may
provide all or none of the above mentioned advantages and improvements and
still fall within the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0049] Specific dimensions, specific materials, and/or specific shapes
disclosed herein are
example in nature and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The
disclosure herein of
particular values and particular ranges of values for given parameters are not
exclusive of other
values and ranges of values that may be useful in one or more of the examples
disclosed herein.
Moreover, it is envisioned that any two particular values for a specific
parameter stated herein may
define the endpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the given
parameter (i.e., the
disclosure of a first value and a second value for a given parameter can be
interpreted as disclosing
that any value between the first and second values could also be employed for
the given parameter).
For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also
exemplified to have
value Z, it is envisioned that parameter X may have a range of values from
about A to about Z.
Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values
for a parameter (whether
such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible
combination of ranges for the
value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For
example, if parameter X is
exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1 ¨ 10, or 2 ¨ 9, or 3 ¨ 8,
it is also envisioned that
Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1 ¨9, 1 ¨ 8, 1 ¨3, 1 -
2, 2¨ 10, 2¨ 8, 2 ¨ 3, 3
¨ 10, and 3 ¨ 9.
[0050] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular example
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the
singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context
clearly indicates
otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "including," and "having," are
inclusive and
therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, and/or
components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers,
12
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof The method
steps, processes, and
operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring
their performance in the
particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as
an order of performance. It is
also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
[0051] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on", "engaged
to", "connected
to" or "coupled to" another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged,
connected or coupled to
the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present.
In contrast, when an
element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly engaged to",
"directly connected to" or
"directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no intervening
elements or layers
present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should
be interpreted in a
like fashion (e.g., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus
"directly adjacent," etc.).
As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or
more of the associated
listed items.
[0052] The term "about" when applied to values indicates that the
calculation or the
measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to
exactness in the
value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some
reason, the imprecision
provided by "about" is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary
meaning, then "about"
as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary
methods of measuring or
using such parameters. For example, the terms "generally", "about", and
"substantially" may be used
herein to mean within manufacturing tolerances.
[0053] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein
to describe various
elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements,
components, regions, layers
and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only
used to distinguish one
element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or
section. Terms such as
"first," "second." and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a
sequence or order
unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component,
region, layer or section
discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or
section without
departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
[0054] Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," "outer," "beneath",
"below", "lower",
"above", "upper" and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to
describe one element or
13
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in
the figures. Spatially relative
terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use
or operation in
addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the
device in the figures is turned
over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features
would then be oriented
"above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below" can
encompass both an
orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated
90 degrees or at other
orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted
accordingly.
[0055]
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of
illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the disclosure. Individual
elements, intended or stated uses, or features of a particular embodiment are
generally not limited to
that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can
be used in a selected
embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be
varied in many
ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
disclosure, and all such
modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
14
CA 2976264 2017-08-14
