Abstract: Described herein are modified thermoplastic polyurethanes, methods of reactively extruding the modified thermoplastic polyurethanes, and methods of using the modified thermoplastic polyurethanes. The modified thermoplastic polyurethanes are micro-crosslinked through reaction with a functional polyolefin, have significantly improved tensile strength and elongation compared to unmodified thermoplastic polyurethanes, and may be extruded.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wet-laid tissue product comprising regenerated cellulose fibers that can provide 25 percent or less of the total weight of the wet-laid tissue product. The regenerated cellulose fibers can have a linear density of less than about 1.5 dtex and a fiber length of less than 6.0 mm. The wet-laid tissue product can provide improvements in softness at a given strength. The products may also have improved wet physical properties when regenerated cellulose fibers are presented, such as improved wet tensile strength and wet burst. The improvement in wet physical properties does not come at the expense of dispersibility, as the products are readily dispersible and, in some instances, have improved dispersibility compared to similar products prepared entirely from conventional wood pulp fibers.

Abstract: A tissue sheet includes softwood fibers and treated non-wood fibers from plants in the Poaceae family, wherein the treated non-wood fibers have less than 15 percent hemicellulose. Also, a tissue sheet consists essentially of softwood fibers and treated non-wood fibers, wherein the treated non-wood fibers have less than 15 percent hemicellulose. Customizing the tensile index and Canadian standard freeness (CSF) of fibers in a tissue sheet includes treating non-wood fibers by removing a portion of hemicellulose from the non-wood fibers; forming a tissue sheet comprising softwood fibers and the treated non-wood fibers; and adjusting the portion of hemicellulose removed from the non-wood fibers to achieve a desired the tensile index and Canadian standard freeness (CSF) of the treated non-wood fibers.

Abstract: The present invention provides rolled products, such as spirally wound rolls of bath tissue comprising a plurality of separably joined sheets, that may be repeatably and reliably dispensed by a user with a single hand. Single handed dispensing of the rolled products is facilitated by the web having a ratio of detach strength, typically having units of grams (g) to cross-machine direction (CD) tensile, having units of grams per 76.2 mm, of 0.65 or less, such as from about 0.10 to 0.65. In this manner rolled bath tissue products may have a CD tensile from about 400 to about 1,000 g/76.2 mm and a detach strength from about 100 to about 500 g.

Abstract: The present invention provides an embossed multi-ply tissue product that is visually pleasing and has improved physical attributes. For example, the inventive multi-ply tissue products have reduced stiffness, such as a GM Flexural Rigidity less than about 600 mg*cm, improved absorbency, such as a Residual Water (WResidual) value less than about 0.15 g, and improved wet resiliency, such as a wet elastic strain ratio greater than about 32 percent.

Abstract: Disclosed are non-treated, creped tissue webs, and tissue products produced therefrom, having low stiffness and surface lint. The inventive products may be produced by a print creping process adapted to dispose a non-crosslinked latex polymer on at least one of the outer surfaces of the tissue product. The non-crosslinked latex polymer creping composition does not negatively affect stiffness such that the products generally have a Stiffness Index less than about 5.0, such as from about 2.5 to about 5.0.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for dispensing of paper products. A paper product dispenser comprising a housing comprising a back, two sides, and a product holding area defined by the back and two sides, wherein each of the two sides includes a vertical track and wherein one of the two sides is movably attached to the housing; and a support device configured to movably engage the vertical tracks of the first and second sides and to support a first roll and a second roll, vertically offset from one another, in the product holding area.

Abstract: A social media impact analysis (SMIA) computer device and methods for allocating resources in response to social media conversations are provided. The SMIA device stores for a plurality of escalation levels, corresponding trigger criteria and resource allocations, where each trigger criteria includes a sales impact range and a content category. The SMIA device is configured to receive tracking signals relating to social media conversations about a product over a time period, each tracking signal including a topic of social media conversation and correlated to a predicted future sales impact; detect that a tracking signal deviates from a threshold; compare the tracking signal to the trigger criteria for the escalation levels; and allocate resources automatically in response to the social media conversations according to the resource allocation for a first of the escalation levels.

Abstract: Superabsorbent polymers are made of copolymers including a major portion of low molecular weight monomers each individually including a backbone and a charged moiety, a minor portion of high molecular weight monomers each individually including a backbone and a charged moiety, and optionally a crosslinker. The copolymer-based superabsorbent polymers have significantly improved absorbency under load.

Abstract: Exemplary wearable articles including regions with differing visual patterns are disclosed. In one embodiment, an article may comprise an elasticated front chassis region and an elasticated front waistband region, a rear region, a crotch region, and an absorbent body disposed at least partially within the crotch region. The front chassis and front waistband regions may comprise a plurality of elastomeric strands disposed between a first material and a material and are bonded together by a plurality of discrete bonds, at least some of which entrap the strands. The strands of the front chassis region are spaced apart a first distance, while the strands of the front waistband region are spaced apart a second distance, with the second distance being less than the first distance.

Abstract: The present invention provides multi-ply creped tissue products, and in particular embodiments creped wet-pressed tissue products, having substantially higher per-ply basis weights, such as from about 14.0 grams per square meter or greater. Despite having relatively high per-ply basis weights, the products are generally soft and flexible, such as having a softness value (measured as TS7) less than about 10.0 and a Stiffness Index less than about 20.0. While being soft and flexible, the tissue products are durable enough to withstand use, such as having a geometric mean tensile (GMT) greater than about 1,000 g/3?.

Abstract: A container for dispensing product includes a housing having an interior space. A rigid flip top assembly is disposed on the housing, and includes a lever, a lid, and a flange. The lid covers a dispensing orifice when in a closed position. The lever has a first end and a second end, and the lid is connected to the flange at a hinge proximate the second end. The lever longitudinally extends over a fulcrum. When a force is applied to the lever proximate the first end, the lever pivots at the fulcrum about a pivot axis, and the second end of the lever moves the lid from the closed position toward an open position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a through-air dried tissue product comprising regenerated cellulose fibers that can provide 25 percent or less of the total weight of the through-air dried tissue product. The regenerated cellulose fibers can have a linear density less than about 1.5 dtex and a fiber length of less than 6.0 mm. The through-air dried tissue product can provide improvements in softness at a given strength.

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: Soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers are disclosed. The tissue products preferably comprise at least about 5 percent, by weight of the product, high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber and have relatively modest tensile strengths, such as a geometric mean tensile (GMT) greater than about 1,000 g/3?, and improved durability and cross-machine direction (CD) properties, such as a CD Stretch greater than about 10 percent. Additionally, at the foregoing tensile strengths the products are not overly stiff. For example the tissue products may have a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.

Abstract: A hollow fiber that generally extends in a longitudinal direction is provided. The hollow fiber comprises a hollow cavity that extends along at least a portion of the fiber in the longitudinal direction. The cavity is defined by an interior wall that is formed front a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and a nanoinclusion additive dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined in the composition that includes a plurality of nanopores.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for dynamically adjusting product use reporting schedules for dispensers to increase or decrease the frequency of such reports based on expected product use such as a date the dispenser is expected to be depleted.

Abstract: A controller is provided for use in controlling a blade sharpening system that includes at least one grinding wheel operable to sharpen the blade. The controller includes a memory device, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory device. The processor is configured to receive signals from at least one sensor, the at least one sensor operable to monitor rotation of the at least one grinding wheel. The processor is further configured to adjust a position of the at least one grinding wheel relative to the blade based on the received signals.