Abstract: An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. The benefits of the absorbent article are achieved, in part, by a body facing material having features that help minimize contact of body exudates with the wearer's skin while also being constructed so that the body facing material does not stick to the wearer's skin in use. The body facing material includes a plurality of hollow projections, a plurality of apertures and bonded areas. The bonded areas may be formed with adhesive or by mechanical bonds.

Abstract: The foam and fiber composite can provide an absorbent article with improved dryness and an improved liquid distribution capability. The foam and fiber composite can be formed from at least two materials. The first material is an open cell foam material and the second material is a fibrous material. A plurality of the fibers forming the fibrous material can be fluid inserted into the open cell foam material thereby forming the foam and fiber composite. In various embodiments, the foam and fiber composite can be incorporated into an absorbent article as a component of an absorbent system located between a topsheet layer and a backsheet layer of the absorbent article.

Abstract: Elasticated materials and absorbent articles comprising elasticated materials are disclosed. In an embodiment, an elasticated material may comprise a first layer bonded to a second layer by first bonds and second bonds. A plurality of elastomeric strands may extend between the first layer and the second layer. A first bond and a second bond are disposed on opposite sides of a first strand and are separated by a longitudinal distance less than an un-tensioned diameter of the first strand, and a third bond and a fourth bond are disposed on opposite sides of a second strand and are separated by a longitudinal distance less than an un-tensioned diameter of the second strand. The first bond forms a first angle with respect to the first strand, the third bond forms a second angle with respect to the second strand, and the first angle is different than the second angle.

Abstract: A unique and distinctive adhesive pattern is applied to a base web, such as a nonwoven web. The adhesive pattern can include a plurality of treated discrete areas that can extend parallel in the longitudinal direction of the web. Each treated discrete area can include a head portion connected to a tail portion. The head portion, in one embodiment, can have a greater amount of adhesive composition based on mass per area in relation to the amount of adhesive composition contained in the tail portion. The overall length of the treated discrete area can be relatively short in relation to adhesive patterns produced in the past using conventional slot coating processes. The adhesive pattern provides a secure attachment to an adjoining material and can provide various processing advantages.

Abstract: An absorbent article can include a chassis including an absorbent body. The chassis can include a body facing surface. The absorbent article can also include a waist containment member. The waist containment member can include a proximal portion coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis and a distal portion that includes a distal edge. The proximal portion includes proximal portion elastic members and the distal portion can include distal portion elastic members. The distal portion can be free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration.

Abstract: A method and process for determining the propensity of elastomeric articles to discolor or stain is provided. The elastomeric articles tested are generally crosslinked elastomeric articles containing accelerators, such as carbamates. Residual carbamates can cause staining when contacted with metal ions, such as copper. Tests are disclosed for determining the propensity of the elastomeric articles to stain or discolor. The process can include remediation steps for preventing future articles from staining.

Abstract: The current disclosure provides for a woven or nonwoven textured substrate that is stable in water based solutions. The textured substrate is generated by a controlled placement of ink on to portions of the surface and/or between layers of the textured substrate which is then followed by heat activation which expands the ink to puff out where the ink was applied to the textured substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing products having custom graphic designed are disclosed. A method may comprise printing a first order identifier graphic on a substrate material, the first order identifier graphic associated with a first order for a first set of products, printing a first set of one or more graphic designs on the material, the first set of one or more graphic designs associated with the first order, and combining the material with one or more product components to form a first set of products, each of the first set of products being associated with the first customer order and at least one of the products of the first set of products comprising the first order identifier graphic. The method may further comprise packaging the first set of products in a first package wherein the first order identifier graphic is visible through the first package.

Abstract: Absorbent articles of the present disclosure may be constructed with a secondary liner sheet placed on top of a body facing liner of the articles configured to form a pocket. The pocket provides a barrier, thereby separating a front region of the absorbent articles from a rear region. In this manner, the absorbent articles of the present disclosure may reduce the spread of bodily exudates throughout the articles. The reduced spreading of exudates may help to keep skin healthy by reducing the amount of skin exposed to the skin irritants within the exudates and/or by preventing additional skin irritants from being created by preventing the mixing of BM and urine, at least in proximity to the skin of the wearer.

Abstract: An absorbent article can have a topsheet layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer. The absorbent article can further include an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned on a body facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a first component which defines an opening for direct passage of body exudates into the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a second component which at least partially overlaps the first component of the exudate management layer and further extends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in a direction towards the posterior region of the absorbent article.

Abstract: A polyolefin material that is formed by solid state drawing of a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

Abstract: An absorbent article which can have an improved feeling of comfort next to the skin of the wearer and a reduction in the feelings of wetness and rewet. An absorbent article can have a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a depth direction. The absorbent article can have a topsheet layer, a backsheet layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. The topsheet layer can have a hydrophilic central layer, a semi-hydrophilic first side layer, and a semi-hydrophilic second side layer. Each of the semi-hydrophilic side layers can be bonded to the central layer utilizing an embossing technique in the regions of overlap of each of the semi-hydrophilic side layers with the central layer. The area of the body-facing surface of each of the regions of overlap can contain from about 10% to about 35% of at least one embossment.

Abstract: An absorbent garment that includes a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. The absorbent garment also includes a front region, a back region and a crotch region, with the crotch region being disposed between the front region and the back region. The crotch region includes an absorbent assembly. The absorbent garment further includes a front panel in the front region, wherein the front panel includes an inner layer, an outer layer and a front longitudinal end; a back panel in the back region, wherein the back panel includes an inner layer, an outer layer and a back longitudinal end. The front panel and the back panel each include a stranded elastic area between their inner and outer layers. The front panel also includes a stretch banded area disposed between the inner and outer layers. The stretch banded area is disposed adjacent the front longitudinal end.

Abstract: A multi-layered web is disclosed that is resilient and/or elastic in the Z-direction. Thus, when the web is compressed, the web assumes a compacted state and then expands to an expanded state when the compressive forces are removed. In one embodiment, the multi-layered web includes a middle layer made from a resilient blend of fibers positioned inbetween two outer layers. The middle layer, for instance, can contain elastomeric fibers, three-dimensional fibers, and/or debonded fibers.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of dispensers each configured to dispense a respective hygienic consumable product during a dispense operation and each including a processor and memory; a distributed computing program configured to receive data defining a computational task comprising work streams and generate data assigning the work streams to at least two of the plurality of dispensers, wherein each of the at least two of the plurality of dispensers are configured to use their respective processor and memory to work on their respective work streams; and a data processing apparatus configured to run the distributed computing program.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprising an absorbent member positioned between a topsheet and a backsheet is provided. The absorbent member contains at least one layer that comprises porous superabsorbent particles, wherein the particles exhibit a relative humidity microclimate of about 67% or less after being exposed to an atmosphere having a temperature of about 23° C. and relative humidity of 80% for a time period of 20 minutes.

Abstract: A system comprising a pulper configured to (i) accept surfactant, a liquid and fiber stock and (ii) generate a foam that suspends the fiber stock, wherein the foam has a half-life; a headbox configured to receive the foam-suspended fiber stock from the pulper and displace the foam-suspended fiber stock onto a forming wire, wherein a time it takes the foam-suspended fiber stock to move from the pulper to the headbox is less than the half-life; and a foam return device that removes at least some of the foam from the forming wire and returns the at least some of the foam to the pulper.

Abstract: A feminine care absorbent article comprising an absorbent member positioned between a topsheet and a baffle is provided. The absorbent member contains at least one layer that comprises superabsorbent particles containing nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 10 to about 500 nanometers.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for actively cooling a fluid, particularly a foamed fluid. The foamed fluid may comprise a foamed suspension of fibers that is used to form a web. The foamed suspension of fibers is fed around a recirculation loop and actively cooled using a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing consumable product comprising a dispenser including a body comprising a front side and aback side, and a product holding area defined by the front side and the back side, wherein the product storage area is configured to store the consumable product within the dispenser; a dispensing mechanism operatively coupled to the consumable product through a consumable product holder in the product storage area, and wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to facilitate a dispensing cycle to dispense a portion of the consumable product; a first impact sensor configured to sense a first impact to the dispenser; a dispenser event sensor configured to sense an operational status of the dispenser; and a data processing device configured to store impact data describing the first impact and operational status data describing the operational status and associate the first impact data and the operational status data.