| abstract |
A process for producing a gathered nonwoven web having elastic characteristics is disclosed. The process includes the steps of (a) providing an extendable and retractable or contractable forming surface; (b) extending the forming surface to its extended length; (c) forming a fibrous nonwoven gatherable web directly upon a surface of the forming surface while maintaining the forming surface at its extended length to separably join the fibrous nonwoven gatherable web to the forming surface while continuing to maintain the forming surface at its extended length; (d) contracting the forming surface to its contracted length to gather the fibrous nonwoven gatherable web and (e) separating the gathered fibrous nonwoven web from the forming surface. The gathered fibrous nonwoven web formed by the disclosed process is also disclosed and described. |