Abstract: A method of producing easily densified high bulk fibers that have adhered particulates. The fibers have hydrogen bonding or coordinate covalent bonding functionalities, and a binder is applied to the fibers to bind the particles to the fibers. The binder has a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond with the fibers. A substantial portion of the particles that are adhered to the fibers are adhered in particulate form by hydrogen bonds or coordinate covalent bonds to the binder, and the binder is in turn adhered to the fibers by hydrogen bonds. Fibers containing particles bound by this method are easily densified.

Abstract: A binder is applied to fibers to bind particles to the fibers. The fibers have hydrogen bonding functional groups. The particles have functional groups capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond. The binder comprises binder molecules, wherein the binder molecules have at least one functional group that forms a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and at least one functional group that forms a hydrogen bond with the fibers. A substantial portion of the particles that may be adhered to the fibers are adhered in particulate form by hydrogen bonds or coordinate covalent bonds to the binder, and the binder in turn may be adhered to the fibers by hydrogen bonds. Fibers containing particles bound by this method are easily densified.

Abstract: Binder is applied to fibers during the production of a web on a wet laid sheet manufacturing line. Particles are bound to fibrous material by a binder that has a volatility less than water, wherein the binder has a functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the fibers, and a functional group that is capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles. The binder may be activated or reactivated by addition of heat, liquid, or mechanical energy such that fibers treated with binder may be shipped to a distribution point before particles are bound to the fibers. The binder may be a polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyacrylic acid, polyamides and polyamines, and in which the polymeric binder has a hydrogen bonding functionality or coordinate covalent bond forming functionality on each repeating unit of the polymeric binder.

Abstract: A binder is applied to particles which are then combined with fibers to bind the particles to the fibers. The particles have functional sites for forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond. The fibers have hydrogen bonding functional sites. The binder comprises binder molecules. The binder molecules have at least one functional group that is capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and at least one functional group that is capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the fibers. Particularly suitable binders include glycerin, a glycerin monoester, a glycerin diester, a polyglycerin oligomer, propylene glycol, a polypropylene glycol oligomer, urea, and combinations thereof. A substantial portion of the particles that are adhered to the fibers may be adhered in particulate form by hydrogen bonds or coordinate covalent bonds to the binder, and the binder may in turn be adhered to the fibers by hydrogen bonds.

Abstract: A method of producing easily densified high bulk fibers that have adhered particulates. The high bulk fibers have hydrogen bonding or coordinate covalent bonding functionalities, and a binder is applied to the fibers to bind the particles to the fibers. The binder has a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond with the fibers. A substantial portion of the particles that are adhered to the fibers are adhered in particulate form by hydrogen bonds or coordinate covalent bonds to the binder, and the binder is in turn adhered to the fibers by hydrogen bonds. Fibers containing particles bound by this method are easily densified.

Abstract: Power inverter equipment monitor/controller method and apparatus are described. The invented apparatus provides for the semi-automatic state steering and monitoring of an inverter/charger and alternator system. A flat panel user interface includes an array of switches, displays and indicators for establishing modes of operation of the system, for initializing operating parameters of the system and a connected battery, for establishing rates for the system's operation, permit the user to monitor the system's operating mode and charging data (including charging efficiency factor or CEF) while it is operating to charge the battery and to supply AC power to connected appliances.

Abstract: Particles, such as superabsorbent particles, are bound to fibers, such as cellulosic fibers, by a binder that has a volatility less than water. The binder has a functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the fibers, and a functional group that is capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles. The binder is activated or reactivated by addition of heat, liquid, or mechanical energy. Therefore, fibers treated with binder may be shipped to a distribution point before particles are bound to the fibers. The binder may be a polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, poly (caprolactone) diol, polyacrylic acid, polyamides and polyamines. The polymeric binder has a hydrogen bonding functionality or coordinate covalent bond forming functionality on each repeating unit of the polymeric binder.

Abstract: The binder is applied to fibers to bind particles to the fibers. The fibers have hydrogen bonding functional groups. The particles have functional groups capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond. The binder comprises binder molecules, wherein the binder molecules have at least one functional group that forms a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and at least one functional group that forms a hydrogen bond with the fibers. A substantial portion of the particles that may be adhered to the fibers are adhered in particulate form by hydrogen bonds or coordinate covalent bonds to the binder, and the binder in turn may be adhered to the fibers by hydrogen bonds. Fibers containing particles bound by this method are easily densified.

Abstract: A densifying agent is applied to fibers in order to improve the densification properties of the fibers. The fibers have hydrogen bonding functional groups. The densifying agent are denser than the fibers to which the densifying agent is applied. The densifying agent can be organic or inorganic. The improved densification properties are observed without the presence of particles bound to the fibers or in the presence of particles that are not bound to the fibers. Softening agents can also be applied to the fibers in order to soften the fibers and articles including such fibers. Softening agents may be selected from the group of densifying agents.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment includes a moisture impervious outer layer, a nonwoven moisture pervious inner layer, an absorbent layer sandwiched and encased between the inner and outer layers, with the sandwiched layers having opposed first and second waist edges and two opposed side margins. The garment further includes a fastener or closure system comprising a pair of gripping strips or extensions from each of the side margins along the second waist edge, each gripping strip having a plurality of first resiliently deformable connectors integrally formed therein. The fastener system further includes a pair of targets located on the outer layer along the first waist edge adjacent each side margin, each target having a plurality of second connectors integrally formed thereon which are adapted to engage the first connectors of the gripping strips. The first and second connectors comprise interlocking means of the fastener system and include a plurality of interlockable projections and receptacles.

Abstract: Particles are bound to fibrous material by a polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of poly(caprolactone) diol, polyamides and polyamines. The polymeric binder has a hydrogen bonding functionality or coordinate covalent bond forming functionality on each repeating unit of the polymeric binder. As a specific example, the fibrous material is cellulosic fibers and the particles are superabsorbent particles. Preferably 3-80 percent binder and 0.05-80 percent particles, by weight of the total weight of the fibrous material, binder and particles are included. The binder preferably has a molecular weight greater than 500 grams/mole, preferably 4,000-8,000 grams/mole. Particles attached to the fibers in this manner are firmly adhered and are not easily dislodged. Fibrous products produced by this method include fibers to which particles are bound, and fibers which have been treated with the binder but to which particles are not bound.

Abstract: Particles are bound to fibrous materials by a non-polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, a carboxylic acid, an aldehyde, an amino acid, an amide, and a polyamine. Particular disclosed binders include glycerin, glyoxal, ascorbic acid, urea, glycine, pentaerythritol, a monosaccharide and a disaccharide. The fibrous material is preferably cellulose fibers, and the particles are preferably superabsorbent particles. Fibers that incorporate the particles and binder preferably include 3-80% binder and 0.05-80% particles, by weight of the total weight of the fibrous material, binder and particles. Particles adhered to the fibers with the binder are firmly adhered and are not easily dislodged, hence products incorporating the fibers retain the desired property imparted by the particles, such as absorbency. Fibrous products produced by this method include fibers to which particles are bound, and fibers which have been treated with the binder but to which particles are not bound.

Abstract: Discontinuous fibers are coated with a binder material with the binder material adhering the fibers to super absorbent particles. Fibers in the product are substantially unbonded except to the super absorbent particles. The binder may be present at an amount which is sufficient to substantially continuously coat the fibers. Plural coatings of various binder materials may be used. The binder material may be heat fusible or heat curable and the treated fibers mixed with other fibers for use in producing a wide variety of products.

Abstract: A method of producing easily densified high bulk fibers that have adhered particulates. The fibers have hydrogen bonding or coordinate covalent bonding functionalities, and a binder is applied to the fibers to bind the particles to the fibers. The binder has a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond with the fibers. A substantial portion of the particles that are adhered to the fibers are adhered in particulate form by hydrogen bonds or coordinate covalent bonds to the binder, and the binder is in turn adhered to the fibers by hydrogen bonds. Fibers containing particles bound by this method are easily densified.

Abstract: A fiber product comprises dry discontinuous fibers having a starch binder on at least a portion of the fiber surfaces, at least about seventy percent of the starch binder coated fibers being unbonded to one another, solid particles are adhered to the fibers by the binder without the binder entirely coating the particles. The fibers may be air laid into a web or formed into an absorbent structure. Superabsorbent particles are a specific example of the particles which may be adhered to the fibers.

Abstract: Particles, such as superabsorbent particles, are bound to fibers, such as cellulosic fibers, by a binder that has a volatility less than water. The binder has a functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the fibers, and a functional group that is capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles. The binder is activated or reactivated by addition of heat, liquid, or mechanical energy. Therefore, fibers treated with binder may be shipped to a distribution point before particles are bound to the fibers. The binder may be a polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, poly(caprolactone) diol, polyacrylic acid, polyamides and polyamines. The polymeric binder has a hydrogen bonding functionality or coordinate covalent bond forming functionality on each repeating unit of the polymeric binder.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment includes a moisture impervious outer layer, a nonwoven moisture pervious inner layer, an absorbent layer sandwiched and encased between the inner and outer layers, with the sandwiched layers having opposed first and second waist edges and two opposed side margins. The garment further includes a fastener or closure system comprising a pair of gripping strips or extensions from each of the side margins along the second waist edge, each gripping strip having a plurality of first resiliently deformable connectors integrally formed therein. The fastener system further includes a pair of targets located on the outer layer along the first waist edge adjacent each side margin, each target having a plurality of second connectors integrally formed thereon which are adapted to engage the first connectors of the gripping strips. The first and second connectors comprise interlocking means of the fastener system and include a plurality of interlockable projections and receptacles.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment includes a moisture impervious outer layer, a nonwoven moisture pervious inner layer, an absorbent layer sandwiched and encased between the inner and outer layers, with the sandwiched layers having opposed first and second waist edges and two opposed side margins. The garment further includes a fastener or closure system comprising a pair of gripping strips or extensions from each of the side margins along the second waist edge, each gripping strip having a plurality of first resiliently deformable connectors integrally formed therein. The fastener system further includes a pair of targets located on the outer layer along the first waist edge adjacent each side margin, each target having a plurality of second connectors integrally formed thereon which are adapted to engage the first connectors of the gripping strips. The first and second connectors comprise interlocking means of the fastener system and include a plurality of interlockable projections and receptacles.

Abstract: A method of producing easily densified high bulk fibers that have adhered particulates. The fibers have hydrogen bonding or coordinate covalent bonding functionalities, and a binder is applied to the fibers to bind the particles to the fibers. The binder has a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond with the fibers A substantial portion of the particles that are adhered to the fibers are adhered in particulate form by hydrogen bonds or coordinate covalent bonds to the binder, and the binder is in turn adhered to the fibers by hydrogen bonds. Fibers containing particles bound by this method are easily densified.

Abstract: Binder is applied to fibers during the production of a web on a wet laid sheet manufacturing line. Particles are bound to fibrous material by a binder that has a volatility less than water, wherein the binder has a functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the fibers, and a functional group that is capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles. The binder may be activated or reactivated by addition of heat, liquid, or mechanical energy such that fibers treated with binder may be shipped to a distribution point before particles are bound to the fibers. The binder may be a polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyacrylic acid, polyamides and polyamines, and in which the polymeric binder has a hydrogen bonding functionality or coordinate covalent bond forming functionality on each repeating unit of the polymeric binder.