Abstract: Methods and systems for extruding polymeric fibers are disclosed. The extrusion process preferably involves the delivery of a lubricant separately from a polymer melt stream to each orifice of an extrusion die such that the lubricant preferably encases the polymer melt stream as it passes through the die orifice.

Abstract: Composite webs having one or more polymeric structures located on a substrate, closure systems comprising composite webs, and methods of attaching articles are disclosed. The polymeric structures are formed using thermoplastic compositions and are attached to a surface of a substrate. The polymeric structures include an area that is attached to the substrate and a detached area that is not attached to a surface of a substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a low cost loop material for a hook and loop fastener having at least one sheet of flexible nonwoven material intermittently bonded to inelastic oriented film. The invention further relates to methods for producing these loops.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a reticulated web, mesh or netting the polymeric netting comprising two sets of strands at angles to each other and formed from a profile extruded three dimensional film having a first face and a second face. The profile extruded film is cut in regular intervals along the X-dimension on one or more faces or alternatively in alternating fashion on the first face and the second face. The cut film is then stretched (oriented) in the lengthwise dimension creating a nonplanar netting characterized by land portions on the top and bottom surfaces with connecting leg portions extending between the land portion on the top and bottom surfaces.

Abstract: Composite webs having one or more polymeric structures located on a substrate, methods of manufacturing the composite webs, and systems for manufacturing the composite webs are disclosed. The polymeric structures are formed using thermoplastic compositions deposited into one or more depressions on a forming tool. The forming tool is maintained at a temperature that is below the melt processing temperature of the thermoplastic composition.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an extrusion formed reticulated web, mesh or netting including reticulated hook fasteners for use with hook and loop fasteners the polymer netting comprising two sets of strands at angles to each other. The first set of strands are a plurality of oriented (molecular orientation created by stretching) strands extending in a first direction and are generally mutually parallel and linear. The second set of strands are a plurality of substantially parallel strands attached only to a first face of the first set of oriented strands. The first set of oriented strands occupy a first planar cross-sectional area in the thickness direction of the formed netting. Said second set of oriented strands occupy a second planar cross-sectional area in the thickness direction of the formed netting. Preferably, these first and second planar cross-sectional areas are substantially mutually exclusive and are abutting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of applying a fastener portion 10 to an absorbent article 1, said method comprising in a first alternative (A) the steps of: (i) providing a top sheet 2, (ii) placing one or more fastener portions 10 onto an inner surface 2a of the top sheet 2 so that a fastener user's end 12 is essentially supported by the top sheet 2 and a fastener manufacture's end 11 is essentially adjacent to one of the lateral edges 2c,2d of the top sheet 2 whereby the fastening means 15 is facing towards the inner surface 2a of the top sheet 2, (iii) folding around the manufacturer's end 11 so that it is essentially opposite to the user's end 12, and (iv) applying an absorbent core 4 and a back sheet 3 onto the top sheet 2, whereby the sequence of steps (iii) and (iv) may be exchanged, or in a second alternative (B) (i) providing a back sheet 3, (ii) placing one or more fastener portions 10 onto the outer surface 3b of the back sheet 3 so that a fastener user's end 12 is essentially supported b

Abstract: Composite webs having one or more polymeric structures located on a substrate, closure systems comprising composite webs, and methods of attaching articles are disclosed. The polymeric structures are formed using thermoplastic compositions and are attached to a surface of a substrate. The polymeric structures include an area that is attached to the substrate and a detached area that is not attached to a surface of a substrate.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a disposable dry cleansing article that is formed from a melt extruded fibrous web that has incorporated into the fibers forming the web from 0.5 to 20 percent by weight of a melt extruded lathering surfactant. The invention, dry article generally comprises a melt extruded fibrous web of a thermoplastic polymer having a basis weight of from about 10 to 200 g/m2, preferably 10 to 150 g/m2 wherein the fibers have a lathering surfactant incorporated into the fiber at a level that allows the article to be used two (2) or more times with a rinse foam volume of 15 or more, with an initial foam volume of at least 50 ml.

Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavities of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.

Abstract: A method for forming a unitary polymeric projection or fastener comprising a thin, strong flexible backing, and a multiplicity of thin spaced hook members projecting from the upper surface of the unitary backing the method generally including extruding a thermoplastic resin through a die plate which die plate is shaped to form a base layer and spaced ridges, ribs or hook elements projecting above a surface of the base layer. When the die forms the spaced ridges or ribs the cross sectional shape of the hook members are formed by the die plate while the initial hook member thickness is formed by transversely cutting the ridges at spaced locations along their lengths to form discrete cut portions of the ridges. Subsequently longitudinal stretching of the backing layer (in the direction of the ridges on the machine direction) separates these cut portions of the ridges, which cut portion then form spaced apart hook members.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a hook strand. These hook strands have a base layer with first top face and a second bottom face and two side faces. Hook elements on the strand extend from at least one face and the hook elements have engaging arms that extend at an angle of from 1 to 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal extent of the strands.

Abstract: The present invention concerns breathable fasteners for use with hook fastener systems. The breathable fastening system comprises a first breathable mechanical fastener surface, which is generally a loop or fibrous type surface that can optionally be joined to a breathable backing loop, and a recon large area breathable hook type fastener. The hook type fastener generally has an integral film backing which film backing has a porosity of from 0.0001 to 0.005 cm3, a backing thickness of from 25 to 200 ?m, a stiffness of from 10 to 2000 Gurley units and a hook or projection containing surface area of at least 10 cm2.

Abstract: To provide an oil cleaning sheet for makeup which has excellent oil absorption, allows clear assessment of the oil absorbing effect by becoming transparent upon oil absorption, thus providing the user with a feeling of adequate wiping and a sense of satisfaction, has an agreeable feel, is resistant to damage during use and which does not require inclusion of particulate bodies on the surface. The oil cleaning sheet consists of a porous stretched film made of a plastic material.

Abstract: A filtration system for filtering particulates from air. A plurality of point ionization sources are positioned in the proximity of the periphery of an air flow channel and being oriented to generate ions in the proximity of the air flow channel in a direction generally upstream from each respective one of the plurality of point ionization sources. A particulate collection surface is positioned within the air flow channel in a downstream direction from the plurality of point ionization sources. The particulate collection surface is electrostatically charged in an opposite direction with respect to ground than the electrical charge of the ions. An ion trap is positioned within the air flow channel between the plurality of ionization sources and the particulate collection surface. The ion trap is relatively electrically neutral as compared with the particulate collection surface and the ions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of converting a web of indefinite length into a plurality of web portions by slitting the web at a transverse point prior to processing the web portions into a plurality of use supply forms (such as rolls), wherein the plurality of web portions are separated by a two-stage process. A first stage of the process is a partial separation operation that almost entirely separates the web portions, but leaves the web portions connected, such as by a slitting operation that leaves a series of connected zones. The second stage includes the complete separation, such as by breaking of the connected zones. The complete separation of the web portions preferably occurs near the station at which the use supply forms are created, such as a winding station. Thus, the web portions, after substantial separation at the first stage can be handled (for example, guided and tensioned) as if the plurality of web portions were a full width web.

Abstract: A unitary fastener of a thermoplastic resin comprising a base film layer having generally parallel upper and lower major surfaces, arranged in a first direction the base film layer being oriented at least in the first direction. The backing layer having on at least one surface separated surface elements extending at an angle to said first direction. The invention is also related to a method of forming a unitary fastener. The method includes the steps of extruding a thermoplastic resin in a machine direction through a die plate having a continuous base portion cavity and one or more rib cavities extending from the base portion cavity, forming a strip having a base layer and continuous rib. This scoring or cutting the ribs and at least a surface layer of the film structure forms predetermined separable elements. This inelastically stretching the strip to separated projections and the separated separable surface elements across the strip.