Abstract: A combined paper towel and hand soap dispenser for a public washroom includes a base that is adapted to be mounted to a surface in a public washroom, a paper towel dispensing mechanism, a hand soap dispensing mechanism, and a cover that is mounted to the base. The cover defines an interior space in which the paper towel dispensing mechanism and the hand soap dispensing mechanisms are positioned. The cover is mounted to the base so as to be movable between an open position for refilling the system with hygienic product and a closed, operative dispensing position. Water channeling structure is positioned between the base and the cover to channel water that may fall between the cover and the base away from the interior space. As a result, the dispensing mechanisms and any product therein will be prevented from getting wet during custodial cleaning.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a crimp-bonded fibrous cellulosic laminate. The process includes the steps of: 1) providing at least two superposed plies of a fibrous cellulosic material; 2) passing the superposed plies through a crimp roll arrangement including a rotating crimp element and a rotating anvil element; and 3) applying a pressure load against the rotating elements sufficient to crimp bond the fibrous cellulosic material plies into a laminate. The crimp element has protruding members configured in a discontinuous pattern aligned on an axis that is parallel to the cross-machine direction to provide a substantially continuous uniform area of localized surface contacts between the rotating crimp and anvil elements across the width of the plies. Also disclosed is an overall crimp-bonded fibrous cellulosic laminate and an apparatus for crimp-bonding multiple superposed plies of a fibrous cellulosic material.

Abstract: A system and method of installing a coreless roll of an absorbent consumer paper product in a dispenser performs or includes steps of orienting the coreless roll to a desired position of alignment within the dispenser, and securing the coreless roll to the dispenser by penetrating the coreless roll with at least one projection that penetrates between adjacent layers of paper product in the coreless roll so that the coreless roll is secured against radial displacement with respect to the dispenser during operation. A temporary holding mechanism may be provided to hold the coreless roll in an intended position of alignment while the coreless roll is being secured to the dispenser.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting data on individual and aggregate use of toilet tissue or other types of rolled absorbent paper in a public washroom includes a sensing system for sensing one or more characteristics of paper use at a particular dispensing location, and a recording system for receiving and recording data from the sensing system, whereby paper use at the dispensing location can be monitored and studied. The system further analyzes the data to determine such things as the total amount of paper used, the duration of time over which paper is used, the number of discrete pulls on the paper taken by a user and the amount of paper taken by a user per discrete pull.

Abstract: Dispensers in accordance with the invention are extremely adaptable. They may be used either as a portable dispenser for wipes, or mounted to a wall or fixed surface. Two similar containers may be joined together to form a dispenser in order to carry twice as many wipes or to dispense two different types of wipes thereby eliminating the need to carry two containers, one for each product. Alternatively, one container may be used to dispense wipes and the other may be used as a receptacle for soiled or used wipes. The containers may be substantially identical.

Abstract: A drinking straw that purifies water by forced movement of water through the straw. The straw is composed of: 1) a filter plug made of a fibrous structure, the filter plug having sides, a first end, a second end, and a firmness sufficient to avoid collapse of the fibrous structure under a specified pressure drop; 2) a water purification material integrated in the fibrous structure; and 3) a liquid impervious wrapper covering the sides of the filter plug, the wrapper defining openings at the first and second ends of the filter plug.

Abstract: There is provided a laminate material having stretchability and recovery, breathability and barrier properties, and being made from a nonwoven elastomeric web having at least one web of textile material discontinuously adhesively bonded to each side thereof. The laminate material is free of an elastomeric film, the elastomeric web is substantially flat when the laminate is unstretched, and the nonwoven elastomeric web provides recovery to the laminate. The nonwoven elastomeric web is preferably a web of meltblown elastomeric fibers and the other webs may be knits, wovens or scrim materials. These laminates are well suited for infection control products, personal care products and garments.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adsorbent fibrous nonwoven structure composed of a matrix of pulp fibers having a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface; and an adsorbent material integrated into the pulp fiber matrix so that the concentration of adsorbent material adjacent the first exterior surface of the nonwoven structure is at least about 60 percent, as determined by optical image analysis, and the concentration of adsorbent material adjacent the second exterior surface is less than about 40 percent, as determined by optical image analysis. This adsorbent nonwoven structure provides useful strength and low-lint characteristics. The fibrous nonwoven structure of the present invention may be laminated together or to surfaces of other materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elastic metallized film composed of an elastic film and a metallic coating substantially covering at least a portion of at least one side of the film. The elastic film may be formed from a thermoset elastic material, a thermoplastic elastic material or a naturally occurring polymeric elastic material. The film may also be microporous and/or micropertured. The elastic metallized film has a metallic coating with an thickness ranging from about 1 nanometer to about 5 microns and which remains on the film when the film is stretched at least about 25 percent. The elastic metallized film may be joined with other materials to form multi-layer materials. Also disclosed is a process of making an elastic metallized film.

Abstract: A gravity-operated apparatus for sequentially dispensing sheet material from rolls of sheet material. The apparatus includes a housing having an opening; a rotatable turret; cantilevered spindles adapted to receive a roll of sheet material; and a limit gate. Each spindle extends from a distal portion of the turret so the weight of a full roll of sheet material on the spindle urges the turret to rotate placing a full roll of sheet material at a dispensing position. The limit gate is positioned to impede rotation of the turret when the limit gate encounters a spindle containing a roll of sheet material that is less than substantially depleted.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lanate composite elastic material made by a method including the steps of applying a tensioning force to elongate at least one pressure sensitive elastomer adhesive sheet; inserting substantially individualized fibrous materials into the elastic sheet by mechanical needling the elastomer sheet while it is maintained in an elongated condition; and releasing the tensioning force so the attached fibrous materials are positioned closer together by the recovery of the elastic sheet. The resulting lanate composite elastic material has stretch and recovery properties, bulk, and desirable insulation properties. One or more layers of the lanate composite material may be combined with other layers of material to create a multi-layer structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a crimp-bonded fibrous cellulosic laminate. The process includes the steps of: 1) providing at least two superposed plies of a fibrous cellulosic material; 2) passing the superposed plies through a crimp roll arrangement including a rotating crimp element and a rotating anvil element; and 3) applying a pressure load against the rotating elements sufficient to crimp bond the fibrous cellulosic material plies into a laminate. The crimp element has protruding members configured in a discontinuous pattern aligned on an axis that is parallel to the cross-machine direction to provide a substantially continuous uniform area of localized surface contacts between the rotating crimp and anvil elements across the width of the plies. Also disclosed is an overall crimp-bonded fibrous cellulosic laminate and an apparatus for crimp-bonding multiple superposed plies of a fibrous cellulosic material.

Abstract: A method of treating a coreless rolls of absorbent paper product such as toilet tissue so as to make it easier for a user to center a winding axis of the coreless roll with respect to a dispenser. The method includes the steps of: (a) positioning a tool adjacent to at least one side of the coreless roll so that the tool is substantially centered with respect to the winding axis of the roll; and (b) pressing the tool into the side of the roll to form a visible depression in the side of the roll that is centered with respect to the winding axis of the roll, the tool being wetted prior to completion of the step of pressing the tool into the side of the roll. An embodiment of the invention encompasses the step of wetting the roll prior to pressing the tool into the side of the roll.