Abstract: The present invention relates to personal cleansing wipes articles which have superior softness, feel and cleansing properties. The wipes of the present invention comprise a substrate and an aqueous liquid cleansing composition which is coated onto or impregnated into said substrate to the extent of from about 100% to about 400% by weight of the substrate. The substrate is a single-layer, nonwoven substrate which is formed from hydroentangled fibers. Upon a substantial portion of a base surface comprising the substrate there exists a three-dimensional pattern comprising a plurality of discrete, raised fibrous regions. The raised fibrous regions have a density which is substantially the same as the density of the base surface. The raised fibrous regions are joined to the base surface by a fibrous transition region. The aqueous liquid cleansing composition comprises an effective amount of a cleansing surfactant.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an articulated joint for a pressure vessel, especially a pressure suit, by separately forming a structural fabric and a gas barrier layer into a series of alternating peaks and valleys. The structural fabric can be formed into the three dimensional shape by patterning or heat shrinkage. The resulting articulated joint, pressure vessels and pressurized suits are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is a tissue web comprising cellulosic fibers and a semi-synthetic cationic polymer having a molecular weight less than about 5 million. The semi-synthetic cationic polymer can be heterogeneously distributed in the tissue web. The semi-synthetic cationic polymer has a degree of cationic substitution of at least 0.2.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an abrasive substrate formed by the application of a polymer composition to the surface of the substrate. The polymer composition is applied to the substrate in a manner producing an uneven, structured coating on the substrate, resulting in a surface having abrasive properties. The invention is especially useful in producing abrasive non-woven materials useful as wet and dry wipes.

Abstract: A laundry-durable stretchable composite fabric, based on two nonwoven outer layers and a pre-stretched inner layer of elastomeric fibers of at least 400 decitex and at least eight threadlines/inch, and having a flat surface appearance, is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonwoven web comprising a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions comprised of the same material and being visually distinct from each other, wherein the first regions will exhibit resistive forces in response to an applied elongation along at least one axis before a substantial portion of the second regions develop significant resistive forces to the applied elongation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process comprising the steps of (a) applying less than about 0.1 grams per square meter (gsm) of a release agent to a transfer surface, wherein the release agent is selected such that a test sample of the release agent having a concentration at or above its critical surface tension concentration, has a surface tension of less than about 50 dyne/cm or forms a contact angle with the material of the transfer surface of less than about 120°; (b) applying an adhesive to the transfer surface; and (c) transferring the adhesive from the transfer surface to a material web. Preferred embodiments are provided where the transfer surface is metals, polymers, elastomers, ceramics, wood, or combinations thereof and the release agent has the formula: X—CF2O—(C2F4O)p—(CF2O)q—CF2—X. Additional embodiments are provided to continuous and intermittent processes.

Abstract: Disclosed are adhesive formulations as creping process aids for producing an absorbent creped cellulosic sheet having a high level of surface-perceived softness that comprises continuously forming a web of cellulosic papermaking fibers, adhering said web to a thermal drying means by means of adhesive compositions comprising polymers having at least one primary or secondary amine group in the backbone such as chitosan, plolyvinylamine, polyvinyl alcohol-vinyl amine and polyaminoamide in combination with crosslinking agents such as zirconium compounds having a valence of plus four including ammonium zirconium carbonate, zirconium acetylacetonate, zirconium acetate, zirconium carbonate, zirconium sulfate, zirconium phosphate, potassium zirconium carbonate, zirconium sodium phosphate and sodium zirconium tartrate and creping said treated web from said thermal drying means.

Abstract: Highly textured tissue sheets, particularly suitable for use as bath tissue, are produced by throughdrying and have a low number and/or low amount of pinholes. The low number or amount of pinholes is provided by using a throughdrying fabric having parallel wide ridges with a height suited to the particular tissue sheet being produced.

Abstract: Disclosed are adhesive formulations as creping process aids for producing an absorbent creped cellulosic sheet having a high level of surface-perceived softness that comprises continuously forming a web of cellulosic papermaking fibers, adhering said web to a thermal drying means by means of adhesive compositions comprising polymers having at least one primary or secondary amine group in the backbone such as chitosan, plolyvinylamine, polyvinyl alcohol-vinyl amine and polyaminoamide in combination with crosslinking agents such as zirconium compounds having a valence of plus four including ammonium zirconium carbonate, zirconium acetylacetonate, zirconium acetate, zirconium carbonate, zirconium sulfate, zirconium phosphate, potassium zirconium carbonate, zirconium sodium phosphate and sodium zirconium tartrate and creping said treated web from said thermal drying means.

Abstract: Absorbent article comprising a liquid-impermeable cover sheet, a liquid-permeable cover sheet, and an absorbent body between the liquid-impermeable cover sheet and the liquid-permeable cover sheet. Any one or all of the liquid-impermeable cover sheet, the liquid-permeable cover sheet, or the absorbent body can be made of a corrugated web which is corrugated from a sheet material which, in the process of being corrugated, is drawn in, and optionally elongated in a direction transverse to the corrugations, alternatively drawn-in along a direction transverse to a length of the web. The corrugated web can comprise corrugations of differing heights (H1).

Abstract: An absorbent edge coating for masking tape and other masking materials is herein disclosed. A masking tape according to the present invention comprises a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one masking edge. The bottom surface of the substrate has an adhesive layer applied thereto. An absorbent edge coating is applied to at least one masking edge of the substrate so as to at least substantially prevent liquids addressed to the at least one coated masking edge from being absorbed into the substrate of the tape and from passing between the bottom surface of the tape and a surface to which the tape has been applied.

Abstract: A decorative shredded material formed from a substantially iridescent, creped sheet of flexible material which is shredded into a plurality of creped decorative strips or creped decorative elements, each of the plurality of creped decorative strips or creped decorative elements having a plurality of ridges and valleys which provide visual light and dark reflective effects, the light and dark reflective effects changing with a change in light directed upon and reflected from the plurality of ridges and valleys on each of the plurality of decorative strips or decorative elements.

Abstract: A biaxially extendible, breathable laminate having liquid barrier properties and low retractive force. The laminate includes a nonwoven web neck-stretched in a first direction to impart extendibility of the web in a second direction mutually perpendicular with the first direction, and a film that is extendible in the second direction. The film can be a breathable, microporous film, and can either be an inelastic film stretched to form rugosities in the second direction, or can be made of an extendible polymer that is extendible in the second direction. Using an appropriate elastomeric lamination and/or creping adhesive, the laminate is creped to produce extendibility in the first direction with some retractive force. The biaxial extendible laminate is particularly useful as an outer cover for diapers and other personal care products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stable material having enhanced extensibility and a method for making the same. A tensioning force is applied to a neckable material to neck the material. The necked material is then subjected to mechanical stabilization to provide a stabilized extensible necked material. The stabilized extensible necked material is easily extended in a direction parallel to the direction necking.

Abstract: A laminated film for thermosensitive image transfer material, comprises a biaxially oriented polyester film including at least one surface thereof a laminated layer containing 50% by weight or more of a wax-based compound, wherein the laminated layer has island-like protrusions, wherein the island-like protrusions have stripe-like protrusions on their surfaces, and wherein a density of the island-like protrusions is 2 to 100 protrusions/100 &mgr;m2. Such laminated film for thermosensitive image transfer material has excellent hot sticking resistance even in a high energy-applied range, slidability, and printability that cannot be achieved conventionally.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a necked laminate and a process for making the laminate. The necked laminate is formed from sheet layers of at least one non-elastic neckable material laminated to at least one non-elastic film defining a longitudinal and transverse dimension wherein the laminate is extensible and retractable in at least one dimension without significantly reducing the breathability and/or liquid barrier properties of the film layer. This laminate extensibility and retractability is the result of striated rugosities in, for instance, the longitudinal dimension of the film layer which enables the necked laminate to have an amount of extensibility and retractability in the transverse dimension. The laminate is made by first partially stretching the non-elastic film layer, attaching a non-elastic neckable layer to form a laminate and then stretching the laminate to neck the laminate and stretch the film to its desired fully stretched configuration.

Abstract: An absorbent article (10) has a longitudinal direction (26) and a lateral direction (24). The article includes a backsheet layer (30), a liquid-permeable topsheet layer (28), and an absorbent body (32) sandwiched between the backsheet layer (30) and topsheet layer (28). A surge management member (46) is joined between the topsheet layer (28) and the absorbent body (32), and the surge management member (46) includes at least a first nonwoven fabric layer (52). In particular aspects, the article (10) can be bent around a wearer's body contours with a reduced tendency to form a transverse channel crease (76) along the cross-direction of the surge management member, particularly when the surge member (46) is curved through the wearer's crotch region.

Abstract: Highly textured tissue sheets, particularly suitable for use as bath tissue, are produced by throughdrying and have a low number and/or low amount of pinholes. The low number or amount of pinholes is provided by using a throughdrying fabric having parallel wide ridges with a height suited to the particular tissue sheet being produced.

Abstract: A compound formable decorative laminate includes a resin impregnated decorative layer composed of a bilaterally stretchable decorative paper and a resin impregnated core layer composed of a bilaterally stretchable kraft paper. The laminate is used in the manufacture of various articles requiring molding about a compound surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a paper tissue, and in particular to facial tissue, and disposable handkerchiefs. Claimed and described is a paper tissue comprising at least two plies, characterized in that the paper tissue has a physiological surface smoothness parameter of less than 700 microns, preferably from 650 microns to 50 microns, more preferably from 650 microns to 300 microns and in combination has a caliper per ply of more than 0.09 mm, preferably from 0.09 mm to 0.5 mm, more preferably from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. In one preferred embodiment a three-ply tissue with embossed middle ply is provided. Further is a related process claimed and described.

Abstract: A method for making decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern which constitutes at least a portion of the decor of the decorative grass. Printed designs or materials and/or embossed materials can also constitute a portion of the decor of the decorative grass. The method includes slitting a material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof and then cutting the slit material into segments of a predetermined length to provide the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern.

Abstract: Fibers and microfibrillated articles are provided by imparting fluid energy to at least one surface of a highly oriented, voided, melt-processed polymeric film. The fibers and microfibrillated articles are useful as tape backings, filters, thermal and acoustical insulation and as reinforcement fibers for polymers or cast building materials such as concrete.

Abstract: The present invention provides a one step method for bonding and creping a nonwoven web. In the method of the present invention, a nonwoven web is adhered to a creping roll and bonded while on the creping roll. The bonding of the nonwoven adheres the nonwoven to the creping roll in a pattern of the bonding roll. Once creped from the creping roll, the resulting nonwoven web is creped in the pattern of the bonding roll. The creped nonwoven webs of the present invention are useful in a wide variety of application including as wipes, liners, transfer or surge layers, outercovers, other fluid handling materials and looped fastener materials.

Abstract: A fabric that comprises an entangled, creped and optionally stretched nonwoven web is provided. The nonwoven web is formed from splittable multicomponent thermoplastic fibers having individual segments exposed on an outer perimeter thereof. In one embodiment, the splittable multicomponent fibers are continuous spunbonded thermoplastic fibers. For example, in some embodiments, the creped nonwoven web can be hydraulically entangled with a fibrous material that contains cellulosic fibers and optionally synthetic staple fibers.

Abstract: A fabric is constructed by weaving on a loom, with a loom setting of between about 78%-88% of firm setting in the greige, using false twist textured polyester warp yarn with about 57-75 ends per inch and air textured polyester weft yarn with about 36-54 picks per inch, and finishing the fabric by scouring (on a jet or on a continuous scouring range) and printing or jet dyeing, and then heat setting at temperature of at least about 350° F. The yarns may be fire resistant (FR), or finished with a durable FR finish. The fabric scores between 4.5 and 5.0 on each of random tumble pilling, brush pilling, and Klopman method roughing and pilling, tests. The fabric also has a surface SMD of at least about 4.3, a bending rigidity 2HB of about 0.1 or less, a compressibility EMC % of less than about 28, a shearing stiffness G value of about 2 or less, and an extensibility EMT % of at least about 3.0. The fabric is especially suitable in the hospitality trade, e.g. for curtains and bedspreads.

Abstract: The invention relates to different methods for distortion-free production of data carriers having at least in partial areas a transparent plastic layer with a surface structure in the form of a lens structure. The surface structure can be produced by cutting methods or embossed by applying heat and pressure. Alternatively the surface structure can be produced as a separate element which is connected after its production with the data carrier.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously producing a web (1) which is corrugated from a thin sheet material which is elastic at least in a transverse direction of the web. The apparatus includes a guide bed (2) which has grooves extending parallel or inclined to each other in the direction of movement of the material. The apparatus also has holding-down devices (5) arranged opposite the grooves of the guide bed (2) so as to urge the web passing between the surface of the guide bed (2) and the holding-down devices (5) into the grooves of the guide bed (2) to obtain corrugations in the web. Finally, at the outlet end (4) of the guide bed (2) is an apparatus or substance which substantially prevents the formed corrugations from springing back to the original condition. A process for producing a strip and an absorbent article containing corrugated strips are included.

Abstract: There is disclosed a water-decomposable fibrous sheet including water-dispersible fibers and water-insoluble carboxymethyl cellulose. The water-insoluble carboxymethyl cellulose has a degree of substitution for etherification (DE) falling between 0.3 and 0.6. In the water-insoluble carboxymethyl cellulose, the hydrogen of the carboxyl group in at least 95% of the carboxymethyl groups is substituted with a metal.

Abstract: A gripping and traction pattern for use on the outer gripping surfaces of footwear, handwear, tools, and the like that provides increased traction and a more natural feel. The pattern has a tread pattern of multiple projections extending from the base of the gripping surface, the projections being of a shape, contour, and arrangement corresponding to the anatomical characteristics of a human or animal foot, hand, or paw.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric sheet comprising a multiplicity of generally parallel elongate strands of inelastic thermoplastic material extending in a first direction in spaced relationship, each of said strands having opposite elongate side surface portions that are spaced from and are adjacent elongate side surface portions of adjacent strands, and each of said strands also having corresponding opposite first and second elongate surface portions extending between said opposite elongate side surface portions, and a first sheet of flexible nonwoven material having spaced anchor portions bonded at first bond sites of the strands along said first elongate surface portions wherein the elongate strands thermoplastic material is oriented at least between adjacent bond sites along the length of the strands.

Abstract: The present invention is a multiple zone member (29) having at least a first zone (300) and a second zone (302); the member includes a backing (120, 122) and a sheet of fibers (126); the sheet of fibers in the first zone having anchor portions (127) in the backing at spaced bonding locations (128) and having arcuate portions (130) of the sheet projecting from the backing between bonding locations; the arcuate portions in the first zone having a height (301) from the backing; the sheet of fibers in the second zone having anchor portions in the backing at spaced bonding locations and having arcuate portions of the sheet projecting form the backing between bonding locations; the arcuate portions in the second zone having a height (304) from the backing which is less than the height of the arcuate portions from the backing in the first zone.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to wiping products having great softness and strength. The wiping products are made from a web of material containing binder fibers alone or in combination with pulp fibers. Once the web is formed, the web is adhered to a creping surface and creped. According to the present invention, the web may be creped once or creped multiple times. Of particular advantage, the web can be adhered to a creping surface through the use of the binder fibers without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite structure which is capable of use as a filter medium and a method for producing the same. The composite structure contains at least a first nonwoven layer, said first layer having a first surface and a second surface, as well as a rigidifying or stiffening component. The rigidifying component is applied in semi-molten state to the one surface of the nonwoven layer and provides sufficient stiffness and/or resilience to the composite such that the composite is self-pleatable yet retains flexibility. The rigidifying or stiffening component may be filaments of a polymer or polymer blend or alternatively the rigidifying or stiffening component may also be a wax or wax blend.

Abstract: The invention relates to embossing single-ply paper products, for example, paper towels, tissue and napkins, in which an improved embossing arrangement is used which is particularly suitable for paper products which have been processed so as to impart undulations whose axes extend in a principal undulatory direction, typically in the machine direction. The absorbent sheet typically further includes undulations which extend in the cross (transverse direction) of the web such that the absorbent sheet has a biaxially undulatory structure. The undulations may be formed by the use of an undulatory creping blade. Defined parameters accommodate: the distance at which the undulations are spaced, the total surface area of the design (embossing) elements, the width and length of the embossing elements and the aspect ratio of the elements, as well as the angular orientation of the embossing elements with respect to the undulations.

Abstract: A papermaking felt which offers excellent elasticity over a long duration comprises a base body (2) and batt layers (3), and a film layer (5) with elongate ridges (4) having their orientation in the CMD direction. The film is arranged in the base body, in the batt layers, or between the layers. The papermaking felt is capable of running flexibly and smoothly in a winding path of a papermaking machine, and is highly resistant to flattening through fatigue, even if subjected to repeated compression under the nip pressure.

Abstract: There is provided a corrugated nonwoven web where at least 40 percent of the web surface area is made from fusible fibers. The corrugated web is bonded such that no gaps are present between the folds of the web. Such webs provide comparable compression resistance and resiliency to, and greater void volume than, webs having a conventional X-Y plane fiber alignment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing a surface-structured, film semi-finished product made of a thermoplastic which is applied onto a prepared surface with numerous fine cavities provided in the form of pocket borings and is correspondingly shaped. The solidified plastic material is removed from the surface as a structured film, whereby the thermoplastic material which is inserted into the cavities and removed from the same forms a pile comprised of projections and naps. The projections which form the pile are stretch by combing, brushing, using a squeegee, and/or by squeezing by shearing in order to form naps.

Abstract: A composite sheet includes a nonwoven fabric and a plurality of fine, flexible and continuous filaments extending parallel one to another in a first direction and spaced apart one from another in second direction orthogonal to the first direction and bonded to the nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric and the continuous filaments are formed with a plurality of recoverable crepes extending in the second direction and continuously arranged in the first direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a building having a roof with structured roof tiles and a structure projecting out from the roof surface, such as a chimney, a window, a wall, or ventilating pipe and to a method of constructing a roof of a building covered with structured roofing tiles and a structure projecting out from the roof surface, such as a chimney, a window, a wall, or ventilating pipe and also the gap between a ridge, an arris or hip covering.

Abstract: A cleaning sheet for printer cylinders is produced by three-dimensionally aggregating fibers into a sheet in a wet paper-making process. The cleaning sheet contains thermofusible fibers that serves as binder fibers, and is creped by heating it at a temperature at which the thermofusible binder fibers therein fuse to thereby make the sheet surface have numerous irregularities.

Abstract: A decorative shredded material formed from a creped optical effect material made from a creped iridescent material, the creping creating light-reflective iridescent ridges and non-light reflective valleys on each strip or piece of the decorative shredded material. Methods for making decorative shredded material.

Abstract: A process for increasing the tactile properties of a base web without adversely effecting the strength of the web is disclosed. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of placing a creped base web between a first moving conveyor and a second moving conveyor. The conveyors are then wrapped around a shear-inducing roll which creates shear forces and compressive forces that act upon the base web. The shear forces disrupt the web, increasing the softness and decreasing the stiffness of the web. The compressive forces are localized at the areas where the fabric knuckles contact the base web, imparting a unique fabric-imprinted pattern to the web with limited caliper reduction. The shear-inducing roll typically has a relatively small diameter. In some applications, more than one shear-inducing roll may be incorporated into the system.

Abstract: A weather resistant commodity stockpile and collection pond covering system made up of a plurality of sheets joined together in waterproof seams. A plurality of flexible cords are tightly encapsulated and fixed in each sheet at spaced apart locations within thermally welded prayer seams and utilized for retention of the cover system and the hanging of ballast bags. The peeling stresses on the prayer seams are transferred as shearing stresses to lap seams formed by welding choker strips to the cover sheets on either side of each prayer seam. Side cords encapsulated in edge seams along side edges of adjacent sheets are abutted together and secured by flexible ties to form joints between sheets. Those joints are made waterproof by edge flaps attached to the sheets which are extended over each joint and sealed to the face of an adjoining sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composite material and a process for making the material. The composite material may be breathable and is formed from at least one layer of an elastic material and a necked laminate of sheet layers. The sheet layers include at least one non-elastic neckable material laminated to at least one non-elastic film defining a longitudinal and transverse dimension wherein the laminate is extensible and retractable in at least one dimension without significantly reducing the breathability and/or liquid barrier properties of the film layer. This laminate extensibility and retractability is the result of striated rugosities in, for instance, the longitudinal dimension of the film layer which enables the necked laminate to have an amount of extensibility and retractability in the transverse dimension.

Abstract: A dual-laminate honeycomb panel permits the use of two or more different materials to form a single panel. In this manner, a retractable covering for an architectural opening may be formed that has a different appearance depending upon which side of the panel is being viewed. The resultant panel is formed by attaching a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells, wherein each precursor tubular cell itself comprises two strips of material attached to one another.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid transfer material formed from a necked laminate and a process for making the laminate. The necked laminate is formed from sheet layers of at least one non-elastic neckable material laminated to at least the film non-elastic film defining a longitudinal and transverse dimension. At least the film layer of the laminate is apertured in an area where liquid transfer through the laminate is desired. The entire laminate may also be apertured. The non-apertured part of the laminate remains extensible and retractable in at least one dimension without significantly reducing the breathability and/or liquid barrier properties of the film layer. This laminate extensibility and retractability is the result of striated rugosities in, for instance, the longitudinal dimension of the film layer which enables the necked laminate to have an amount of extensibility and retractability in the transverse dimension.

Abstract: An edge protector for the edges of roll shaped articles, e.g. pallets, reeled steel and paper products is made from an elongated sheet (10) of plastics material, the sheet having an indentation (11) extending longitudinally along a major surface of the sheet and extending only partially into the thickness of the sheet. The indentation (11) divides the sheet into webs (12, 13) which are folded into an L-shape.

Abstract: A paper web of the present invention has a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline, and comprises a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions. The first regions form boundaries separating the second regions, the first regions being substantially in a plane of the paper web. The second regions comprise a plurality of raised out-of-said-plane rib-like elements, the rib-like elements of each second region being disposed parallel to a major rib axis and perpendicular to a minor rib axis. All or most of each first regions have both major rib axis and minor rib axis components. The first and second regions undergo geometric deformation when the web material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis.

Abstract: A water disintegratable non-woven fabric having excellent water disintegratability and high wet strength can be obtained by a step of forming a fiber web from fibers having a fiber length of 10 mm or less, a step of applying a water jet treatment to the fiber web to obtain a fiber sheet having wet strength of less than 100 g/25 mm in MD and CD, the wet strength being defined by tensile strength at break of the fiber sheet, as measured by using a tensilon tester with a chuck distance of 100 mm, at a tensile speed of 100 mm/min to the fiber sheet which is cut into 25 mm width and 150 mm length and impregnated with water in an amount 2.5 times the weight of the fiber sheet, and a step of adding at least one binder selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, alkylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol and modified polyvinyl alcohol to the fiber sheet. The water disintegratable non-woven fabric is sufficiently bulky and has an excellent wiping effect.