Abstract: The invention is a refastenable mechanical fastening system, made of free formed prongs joined to a substrate. The prongs taper and are nonperpendicularly oriented relative to the plane of the substrate. Each prong has an engaging means projecting laterally from the periphery of the prong. The free formed prongs are manufactured by the process of depositing liquid material onto a moving substrate, stretching the liquid material in a direction parallel to the plane of the substrate and severing the stretched material to form the distal end and engaging means of the prong. The advantageous usage of the fastening system in an article of manufacture, such as a disposable absorbent garment, specifically a diaper, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An articulable container. The container is articulable from and between a first open position to a second closed position. In the first open position the container can receive product. Additionally, the user may dispense or display product from the container while it is in the first open position. In the second closed position, the container covers or encloses the product. The closed position is useful for storing the product or transporting the product between two points such as the point of manufacture to the point of use or sale. The container may take the form of a plate, bowl, tray, clam shell, shipping container, display device, or other known configurations.

Abstract: A web winding apparatus and a method of operating the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus can include a turret assembly, a core loading apparatus, and a core stripping apparatus. The turret assembly supports rotatably driven mandrels for engaging hollow cores upon which a paper web is wound. Each mandrel is driven in a closed mandrel path, which can be non-circular. The core loading apparatus conveys cores onto the mandrels during movement of the mandrels along the core loading segment of the closed mandrel path, and the core stripping apparatus removes each web wound core from its respective mandrel during movement of the mandrel along the core stripping segment of the closed mandrel path. The turret assembly can be rotated continuously, and the sheet count per wound log can be changed as the turret assembly is rotating. The apparatus can also include a mandrel having a deformable core engaging member.

Abstract: A laminate having two or more plies. The plies are embossed, and adhesively joined together. The adhesive forms an essentially continuous network. The essentially continuous network increases the strength of adhesive, increases the strength of the laminate, and is disposed within the X-Y plane of the laminate coincident the embossments.

Abstract: A laminate having two or more plies. The plies are embossed, and adhesively joined together. The adhesive forms an essentially continuous network. The essentially continuous network increases the strength of adhesive, increases the strength of the laminate, and is disposed within the X-Y plane of the laminate coincident the embossments.

Abstract: A limiting orifice through-air-drying medium for papermaking or other absorbent embryonic webs. The medium may be used in an apparatus which can be embodied in a cover and a roll. The medium has the unique combination of a relatively high bending fatigue strength and relatively low pressure drop. The medium may comprise a laminate of a plurality of plies. The intermediate plies of the laminate may be woven with a square weave. The medium may also be used for other types of drying.

Abstract: An absorbent material comprising a mixture of (1) a plurality of absorbent gelling particles comprising a water-insoluble, water-swellable polymer, and (2) an absorbent property modification polymer reactive with at least one component included in a urine. The mixture is made by (i) applying a solution containing an organic solvent, water and the absorbent property modification polymer onto the plurality of absorbent gelling particles, wherein the weight ratio of the organic solvent to the water is at least 50:50, and (ii) removing a portion of the organic solvent and water from the applied absorbent gelling particles. When a urine is applied to the absorbent material, the absorbent gelling particles are spontaneously connective through the absorbent property modification polymer. The absorbent material has at least one of the improved absorbent properties after swelling such as (1) liquid permeability, (2) porosity, (3) wet integrity, and (4) recovery property when subjected to external forces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container for containing a stack of moist wipes, the container comprising a container body and a lid covering the container body, the lid comprising a dispensing aperture and a hinging cover connected to the lid and overlying the dispensing aperture, wherein the hinging cover is pivotable around a hinging axis.

Abstract: A method of making a mechanical fastening system. The mechanical fastening system is attachable to a complementary receiving surface. The method comprises the steps of providing an elastically extensible substrate and stretching the substrate. Prongs are applied to the substrate while the substrate is stretched. The prongs are joined to the substrate at a base and extend outwardly from the substrate along a shank to an engaging means. The substrate is released, whereby it is allowed to contract.

Abstract: A bib having a predisposition for folding or bending to conform to the wearer. The predisposition is provided by slits, notches or other features which selectively reduce the cross sectional area of the bib or otherwise provide a hinge line. Preferably, the slits or notches are symmetric relative to the longitudinal centerline of the bib. The reduced cross section may extend essentially continuously across the lateral width of the bib. If desired, the hinge lines may converge as the bottom edge of the bib is approached. Preferably, the hinge lines converge at a common point which intercepts both the longitudinal centerline and the bottom edge of the bib.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing paper. The apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a moistening system. The moistening system enables a user to optionally moisten the tissue if so desired. The degree to which the tissue is moistened is controlled by the user. The tissue may be dispensed either in roll or sheet form.

Abstract: A bib having an improved pocket. The pocket is formed by a pocket panel disposed adjacent a body panel. A longitudinally extending crease is disposed in at least one of the pocket panel and the body panel. In one embodiment, the bib includes an apron panel for facilitating gravitational opening of the pocket. The apron can comprise a longitudinally extending crease. The creases in each panel can extend generally parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the bib.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing toilet tissue and at least one other product includes a top wall and two opposing side walls connected together to form a housing. The apparatus is readily attachable to ordinary toilet tissue roll holders using a spindle of the roll holder and without the need for adhesives or the like. The apparatus receives at least one roll of toilet tissue by a spindle or by other known hardware. The top wall is adapted for holding additional products.

Abstract: A paper web and method of making the paper web are disclosed. The paper web has a background portion and a non-embossed decorative pattern. The decorative pattern has at least one high basis weight region having a basis weight greater than the average basis weight of the surrounding background portion. The decorative pattern can include a number of discrete, decorative indicia. Each decorative indicia can be separated from adjacent decorative indicia by the background portion.

Abstract: A two-ply core for core wound paper products. The inner ply of the core has more resistance to compression than the outer ply. The outer ply may have more resistance to tension than the inner ply. The two-ply core is suitable for use with core-wound paper products and particularly those which have been diametrically compressed. The core may comprise two plies of differing basis weights, wherein the inner ply has a greater basis weight than the outer ply.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for applying discrete particles of absorbent material to a predetermined location on a fibrous web. The apparatus comprises a continuously rotating mask, and a means for directing a supply stream of absorbent particles to form an acute included angle with a diverting surface on the rotating mask. The mask diverting surface splits the supply stream of absorbent particles into a first intermittent stream passing through the mask and a second intermittent stream deflected by the diverting surface. The absorbent particles in one of the first and second intermittent streams is directed to the fibrous web.

Abstract: Absorbent article such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders and the like, that have a unique elastic waist feature that improves the dynamic fit of the elasticized waistband as well as the containment characteristics of the absorbent article. The elastic waist feature preferably comprises an interconnecting panel zone, a first flexural hinge zone joining the interconnecting panel zone with the containment assembly, an elasticized waistband, and a second flexural hinge zone joining the elasticized waistband with the interconnecting panel zone. The elasticized waistband comprises a shaping panel zone; a waistline panel zone; and a predisposed, resilient, waistband flexural hinge zone joining the shaping panel zone and the waistline panel zone.

Abstract: A process for high pressure embossing a single ply of paper and the paper produced thereby. The embossing process requires two rolls, a pattern roll 30 and an anvil roll 32. The rolls are loaded together at a pressure of at least 1000 psi at the nip. A single ply of paper is embossed in the nip. The embossments of the paper do not extend outwardly beyond the thickness of the paper to have any out-of-plane deformation. The embossments are typically glassined. The resulting paper has an aesthetically pleasing appearance, without undue loss of tensile strength from the embossing process.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying a cellulosic fibrous structure. The apparatus comprises a micropore medium having pores therethrough. The pores are the limiting orifice in the air flow used in the drying process. The micropore medium has a relatively low wet pressure drop therethrough. This relatively low wet pressure drop advantageously reduces the energy costs used in drying, and/or allows for greater drying to be obtained at constant energy costs.

Abstract: A package for containing hygienic articles. The package has a dispensing aperture covered by a refastenably closable flap. The flap overlaps the dispensing aperture, to minimize external contamination. The aperture is made by a cut-out, leaving an opening in the material used to form the package. A separate retaining band is added to decrease the size of the opening so that the desired overlap can be maintained independent of the cut-out used to form the opening or the flap. The package is intact as presented to the user, and may completely enclose the hygienic articles after the first use of a hygienic article.