Abstract: An absorbent article including an absorbent chassis and a pair of back ears. The absorbent chassis includes a liquid impermeable outercover and an absorbent body disposed on said outercover. A least a portion of each back ear is substantially flush with the chassis back waist edge.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis, a first ear and a first fastening member. The absorbent article can also include a plurality of folds. The plurality of folds can arrange the fastening member in an overlaid relationship with said inner surface on said absorbent chassis.

Abstract: A training device for nasal hygiene comprises a facial tissue sheet; where the facial tissue sheet has a first side, and where the facial tissue sheet also has a second side having an opposing planar relationship to the first side. A first-side tissue graphic is visible on the first side of the facial tissue sheet. The first-side tissue graphic comprises a permanent graphic and/or an active graphic. In addition, the first-side tissue graphic is a training mark.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an ultrasonic horn for transporting ultrasonic energy to an operating location.

Abstract: A method is described for determining the effectiveness of maintenance or other improvements to a system having multiple sections and multiple modes of failure. The method uses a simulation model that is dynamic in that it can change during a simulation run to show how a system event such as a failure of one system section can effect a different system section. By running the simulation model multiple times, it may become apparent which system section will benefit most from maintenance or other improvements.

Abstract: A process for separating a product web into discrete products is disclosed. The process can include transporting the product web in a machine direction, creating a line of weakness in the product web, and separating the product web into discrete product elements at the line of weakness.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composite web including a base web, a first web of fastener material, a first sinusoidal line of separation and a second sinusoidal line of separation. In one aspect, the composite web can be used to form components for absorbent articles.

Abstract: A panel of a material is transported in operative proximity to an air knife having a nozzle and a curved Coanda surface, such that the panel is folded over the curved Coanda surface as the material is transported in a machine direction. The panel can be folded to a variety of angles and can comprise a refastenable fastening component. Air knives are employed in various methods for folding garment side panels and forming prefastened garments, such as refastenable pants.

Abstract: A method for positioning side panels during manufacture of a pant includes positioning the side panels on side panel transfer devices. The side panels move perpendicular to a pant transport plane as the pant is transported in the machine direction and the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices. The side panels can include refastenable fastening components. The method and apparatus can move the fastening components closer together in the cross-machine direction or maintain the fastening components at a constant cross-machine position while the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices.

Abstract: A method for bonding a strip, such as a leg elastic or the like, to an opening on a web of material. The method includes providing a web that includes at least one opening and defines at least a first bonding surface adjacent each opening. For each opening the method includes: deforming the web to modify the shape of the opening, providing a strip defining a second bonding surface, bonding together at least portions of the first and second bonding surfaces of the modified opening and relaxing the web.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for tuning a microwave apparatus. The chamber volume of the microwave apparatus can be changed by moving a flexible portion of a flexible wall while a perimeter portion of the flexible wall remains fixed.

Abstract: A distinctive process for making a garment having a waist opening and a pair of hanging legs is disclosed. The process includes providing a first web and a second web and joining the first web and the second web to provide a crotch seam. Portions of the webs may also be removed to provide a crotch gap. The first web is drawn from the second web and at least a portion of the webs are slit to provide a garment chassis. Edges of the garment chassis may be fastened together to provide the garment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous process for the manufacture of a garment. A web of fabric including opposing web side edges wherein the opposing web side edges are proximate a pair of opposing garment bottom edges of the garment is provided. The web of fabric is intermittently cut, thereby forming edges defining neck openings in the web of fabric. The opposing web side edges of the web of fabric are intermittently cut, thereby defining pairs of opposing indentations in the opposing web side edges of the web of fabric. The web of fabric is cut, thereby defining discrete garment-sized pieces. Each of the discrete garment-sized pieces of the web of fabric includes at least one neck opening, a front panel having a pair of opposing garment side edges, a back panel having a pair of opposing garment side edges, a portion of two pairs of the opposing indentations in the web side edges of the web of fabric, two garment end portions, and the pair of opposing garment bottom edges.

Abstract: A method for positioning side panels during manufacture of a pant includes positioning the side panels within fluid flow devices. The side panels can move parallel or perpendicular to a pant transport plane as the pant is transported in the machine direction and the side panels reside within the fluid flow devices. The side panels can include refastenable fastening components. The method and apparatus can move the fastening components closer together in the cross-machine direction while the side panels reside within the fluid flow devices.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric protective cover article disclosed comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, at least one edge, and at least one weight joined thereto. The nonwoven fabric of the protective cover article is hydrophobic and has a basis weight from between about 0.15 osy to about 8.0 osy, an air permeability from about 60 ft3/min/ft2 to about 110 ft3/min/ft2, and stain resistance from about 4 to about 5 for blueberry, instant coffee, gravy, and wine.

Abstract: A process for making prefastened and refastenable garments includes providing a plurality of discrete articles with mating fastening components disposed in the waist regions. First fastening components are separated from one another by an initial transverse distance. The waist region containing the first fastening components is modified to transversely displace these fastening components to a post displacement distance that is not equal to the initial distance. The process allows for convenient alignment of the fastening components to form refastenable seams.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article such as a training pant includes active graphics that can change color during use and can provide an interactive training aid. The active graphics in particular embodiments can comprise moisture sensitive color change compositions that disappear from view or blend in with background graphics upon activation. In particular embodiments, the active graphics comprise at least two compositions that have different post-activation colors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (20) for ultrasonic bonding or other processing can include a rotatable ultrasonic horn member (28) and a rotatable axle member (34). The axle member is operatively joined to the horn member (28), and can provide a node plane (38). An isolation member (42) can be operatively joined to the axle member (34), and may have a location that is operatively proximate the node plane (38) of the axle member (34). In a particular aspect, the isolation member (42) can exhibit high rigidity. In a further feature, the isolation member (42) is capable of bending under a horn-life range of sonic frequencies to provide an operative component of motion along a radial direction (102), and an operative component of motion along an axial direction (100) of the isolation member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (20) for making an absorbent article can include a delivering of a first contoured web-strip (30a) from a first production supply (38) of contoured web-strip material, with the first contoured web-strip (30a) presenting a primary production sequence of side edge contours during its delivery. At least a second contoured web-strip (30b) can be delivered from a second production supply (40) of the contoured web-strip material, with the second contoured web-strip (30b) also presenting the primary production sequence of side edge contours during its delivery. In a particular aspect, the first and second contoured web-strips (30a and 30b) have been produced from a web (22) of absorbent material which has been divided to provided at least two web-strips (30) having a substantially nested configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (20) for forming a fibrous web (50) includes a movable, foraminous forming surface (22) and a substantially stationary, vacuum-commutator duct system (24) which is located substantially subjacent the forming surface (22). The vacuum-commutator duct system (24) has an entrance opening (26) that changes in configuration along a longitudinal dimension (30) of the entrance opening (26).