Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and incontinence pads. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, that have undergarment covering components (or "side wrapping elements") that automatically wrap the sides of a wearer's panties and provide an alternative to conventional side flaps. The side wrapping elements have at least one zone of extensibility and at a region therein that is stiffer than the zone of extensibility.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a pulsed stream of discrete particles of absorbent material. The apparatus comprises a particle metering apparatus for providing a stream of particles having a predetermined mass flow rate, an ejector having an acceleration air nozzle for accelerating the stream of particles, at least one deceleration air nozzle; and valving for alternately directing air through the acceleration and deceleration nozzles. The apparatus can be used to form a fibrous web having a predetermined variation in basis weight of absorbent material along the length of the web.

Abstract: A forming station used to make a substrate. The forming station has a forming chamber which deposits particles and fibers from an air carrier onto a forming screen movable relative to the forming chamber. Inside the forming chamber is at least one baffle, which creates a velocity gradient and low pressure zone for the air carrier. Different sized components of the substrate have different momentums, and thus are differently affected by the velocity gradient and low pressure zone. This difference causes the different sized components to be sorted according to size. The sorted components are then distributed according to size within the substrate.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a waist pocket cuff is disclosed. A gluteal groove spacer is disposed on the pocket cuff to reduce leakage of fecal material along the wearer's gluteal groove. The pocket cuff can have an open edge which extends between open edge ends joined to the distal edges of barrier cuffs. The pocket cuff and gluteal groove spacer are spaced apart from the topsheet by elastic members associated with the barrier cuffs and the pocket cuff.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin is disclosed. The sanitary napkin has a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet. The sanitary napkin has a first Z-direction caliper at a Z-direction compressive load of 2 grams and a second Z-direction caliper at Z-direction compressive load of less than 100 grams, wherein the second Z-direction caliper is at least 15 millimeters less than the first Z-direction caliper.

Abstract: A paper structure having at least three regions is disclosed. The paper structure has a first region, a patterned second region, and a third transition region connecting the first and second regions. The first and second regions are disposed at different elevations, and can each have a thickness less than a thickness of the transition region. An apparatus and process for making such a paper structure are also disclosed.

Abstract: A diaper having a transverse partition. The transverse partition is upstanding from the topsheet and presents an abrupt discontinuity out of the plane of the diaper. The partition obstructs fecal material deposited in the rear portion of the diaper from migrating to the front portion of the diaper. The transverse partition has areas of relatively greater and relatively lesser effective heights. This may be accomplished by providing blocking members on the distal edge of the partition.

Abstract: Absorbent foam materials that are capable of acquiring and distributing aqueous fluids, especially discharged body fluids such as urine. These absorbent foams combine relatively high capillary absorption pressures and capacity-per-weight properties that allow them to acquire fluid, with or without the aid of gravity. These absorbent foams also give up this fluid efficiently to higher absorption pressure storage materials, including foam-based absorbent fluid storage components, without collapsing. These absorbent foams are made by polymerizing high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs).

Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional, macroscopically expanded, apertured, laminate web suitable for use as a topsheet on an absorbent article and a method for making the same. The web includes a first layer of substantially transparent, polymeric material having an inner surface and an outer surface. A nonwoven web is secured to the inner surface of the substantially transparent polymeric material and is visible through the substantially transparent polymeric material. The presence of the nonwoven web creates the appearance of a fibrous web which is perceived as soft and skin friendly while still maintaining the fluid transport benefits of prior art plastic webs.

Abstract: Disclosed are individualized, crosslinked fibers, and processes for making such fibers, and absorbent structures containing the fibers. The individualized, crosslinked fibers have a polymeric polyacrylic acid crosslinking agent reacted with the fibers in the form of intrafiber crosslink bonds. Preferably, the crosslinking agent is a copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic acid and preferably, between about 1.0 weight % and about 10.0 weight % of the crosslinking agent reacts with the individualized fibers to form the intrafiber crosslink bonds. The individualized, crosslinked fibers are useful in a variety of absorbent structure applications. The absorbent structures may also contain hydrogel-forming material.

Abstract: A multi-region paper structure having a transition region interconnecting relatively thinner regions is disclosed. The paper structure comprises a first region, a patterned second region, a third region, and transition region. The transition region interconnects the patterned second region with a background matrix. The background matrix comprises the first region and the third region. The first region comprises a plurality of discrete protuberances dispersed throughout the third region. The first and second regions are disposed at different elevations, and each has a thickness less than a thickness of the transition region. An apparatus and process for making the paper structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for making an absorbent structure having a capillary substrate and regions of osmotic absorbent on the capillary substrate. The osmotic absorbent is cured from a liquid precursor applied to the capillary substrate. The capillary substrate has regions of topographically different elevations, taken normal to the plane of the capillary substrate. The capillary substrate is passed through a gap between a transfer roll and an anvil roll in a printing apparatus. The transfer roll has at liquid precursor on its periphery. The liquid precursor is applied to only the topographically elevated regions of the capillary substrate which contact the periphery of the transfer roll. By changing the topography of the capillary substrate, the liquid precursor can be applied to the capillary substrate in different pattern, without changing the transfer roll.

Abstract: The fluid distribution members according to the present invention preferably comprise three basic components: chemically stiffened, twisted, and curled bulking fibers, high surface area fibers, and thermoplastic binder fibers. Fluid distribution members according to the present invention use a high surface fiber to provide capillary pressure (or suction) to the fluid distribution member. These high surface area fibers are generally small and highly conformable. They provide the substrate with capillary pressure well in excess of the capillary pressure found in the bulk-providing chemically stiffened, twisted, and curled fibers alone. A presently preferred fiber for this high surface application is the eucalyptus family of wood pulp fibers. Eucalyptus provides the capillary pressure usually associated with cellulose fines, but at a large enough length and denier so as to not fill in the voids provided by the chemically stiffened, twisted, and curled fibers and will not easily pass through a forming screen.

Abstract: A process for making an absorbent structure having a capillary substrate and regions of osmotic absorbent on the capillary substrate. The osmotic absorbent is cured from a liquid precursor applied to the capillary substrate. The capillary substrate has regions of topographically different elevations, taken normal to the plane of the capillary substrate. The capillary substrate is passed through a gap between a transfer roll and an anvil roll in a printing apparatus. The transfer roll has a liquid precursor on its periphery. The liquid precursor is applied to only the topographically elevated regions of the capillary substrate which contact the periphery of the transfer roll. By changing the topography of the capillary substrate, the liquid precursor can be applied to the capillary substrate in different pattern, without changing the transfer roll.

Abstract: Polymer compositions having enhanced biodegradability are disclosed. The compositions comprise a blend of:(1) a polymer containing hydrolyzable bonds; and(2) a substantially water-insoluble, pH-modifying compound capable of accelerating the hydrolysis of the hydrolyzable bonds in the polymer.The invention also relates to polymer films comprising such compositions and absorbent articles containing such polymer compositions or films. The compositions are particularly suitable for use in disposable absorbent articles such as diapers.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet and a liquid absorbent pad for absorbing a liquid exuded from the human body positioned there between, and having an elasticized side flap along each side edge of the absorbent article. The side flap has a loop member formed from either the topsheet or the backsheet, or an optional secondary non-woven sheet, which extends from and loops back toward said side edge of said absorbent pad, and an inserted member formed from a layer which extends from said side edge of said absorbent pad. An elastic material is affixed along a portion of the length of the inserted member, and a seal affixes the inserted member inside the loop member at its base end.The absorbent sanitary article provides improved fit and leakage protection with better comfort.

Abstract: Substantially waterless self-emulsifiable biodegradable chemical softening compositions are provided comprising a mixture of an ester-functional quaternary ammonium compound and a polyhydroxy compound. Preferred biodegradable ester-functional quaternary ammonium compounds include diesterdialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts such as diester ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, diester di(touch hydrogenated)tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride and diester di(hydrogenated)tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride. Preferred polyhydroxy compounds are selected from the group consisting of glycerol, polyglycerols having a weight average molecular weight from about 150 to about 800 and polyoxyethylene glycols and polyoxypropylene glycols having a weight average molecular weight from about 200 to about 4000.

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. The prongs also have an azimuthal angle relative to the machine direction 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, severing the stretched material to form the distal end and engaging means of the prong, and imparting an azimuthal angle to 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: A disposable diaper having a waist pocket cuff is disclosed. The pocket cuff has an open edge having an apex. The open edge extends between ends joined to the distal edges of barrier cuffs. The open edge is elastically biased to form the open edge apex along the longitudinal centerline of the disposable diaper.

Abstract: A limiting orifice through-air-drying apparatus for papermaking or other absorbent embryonic webs. The apparatus has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone is maintained at a differential pressure less than the breakthrough pressure, while the second zone is maintained at a differential pressure greater than the breakthrough pressure. The residence time of the embryonic web to be dried with the apparatus is maintained at preferably less than 35 milliseconds on the first zone. Using the dual zone system described above, the overall energy required to run the apparatus can be reduced.