Abstract: Disclosed is a two-side personal-care appliance for various applications, including exfoliation of skin. The appliance comprises a first interbonded fibrous layer having three-dimensional contours on both faces of the layer. These contours facilitate exfoliation and/or stimulation and/or gentle abrasion of skin. Furthermore, these contours facilitate contact and attachment to the second interbonded fibrous layer. The second interbonded fibrous layer comprises a high-loft material capable of gently cleaning skin, holding liquid, and generating lather.

Abstract: Substrates, and personal-care appliances made from such substrates, include an inter-bonded fibrous layer having shaped discontinuities and reinforcing strands attached to said inter-bonded fibrous layer. Pores between the fibers in the inter-bonded fibrous layer are suited to help hold liquid. The shaped discontinuities are suited to help generate suds or lather should the substrate or personal-care appliance be used in combination with a cleaning composition, soap formulation, or other such material having a surface-active agent or other chemical or compound that helps generate lather. The reinforcing strands help strengthen, or improve the wet resilience of, the inter-bonded fibrous layer. Furthermore, by selecting the appropriate ingredients of the reinforcing strands, the strands may be stiffer than the inter-bonded fibrous layer, thereby helping to provide some exfoliating character to the substrate or personal-care appliance.

Abstract: Disclosed is an appliance for treating skin or tissue, the appliance comprising a three-layer substrate having a cloth-like appearance and feel. The substrate includes a water-impermeable layer, such as a film, sandwiched between, and attached to, two fibrous layers. The fibrous layer that is adapted to contact skin includes a formulation or composition adapted to be transferred to skin or tissue of the user. Furthermore, the fibrous layer that is adapted to contact skin includes undulations that inhibit leakage of the formulation or composition.

Abstract: A method for increasing the thickness of a fibrous sheet including stretching the sheet beyond its relaxed length and returning the sheet to about the relaxed length, causing the sheet to have a second thickness greater than the first thickness. The sheet can be a wet-wipe. The wet-wipe includes an elastic layer and a fibrous layer, which increases in thickness when stretched then relaxed. The wet-wipe can be stored in a container which causes the wet-wipe to stretch as it is removed from the container.

Abstract: Nonwoven webs having reduced levels of lint and slough are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, the nonwoven webs are treated on at least one surface with a small amount of a polymeric component. The polymeric component may be present, for instance, in the form of meltblown fibers. The meltblown fibers are made from a polymer that is compatible with the nonwoven web. By adding relatively small amounts of meltblown fibers to at least one side of the nonwoven material, lint and slough levels have been found to be significantly reduced. The nonwoven web may be any web containing pulp fibers, such as a tissue web or a coform web.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stack of wipes for use in a wipes dispenser. The stack includes a plurality of wipes, each wipe of the plurality of wipes formed from a portion of a common material. Each wipe includes a leading edge portion with a pleat-like zone located along at least a portion of a length of the leading edge portion and the pleat-like zone is distinct from an adjoining main portion of each wipe. Each wipe is folded upon itself at least once and each wipe is positioned relative to adjacent wipes to form the stack of wipes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for heat treatment of non-woven composite elastic material including a non-woven elastic layer; and a non-woven gatherable layer. The process includes stretching the material, heating the material and cooling the material. The material has a softer more cloth like feel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stack of wipes for use in a wipes dispenser. The stack includes a plurality of wipes, each wipe of the plurality of wipes formed from a portion of a common material. Each wipe includes a leading edge portion with a pleat-like zone located along at least a portion of a length of the leading edge portion and the pleat-like zone is distinct from an adjoining main portion of each wipe. Each wipe is folded upon itself at least once and each wipe is positioned relative to adjacent wipes to form the stack of wipes.