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 and an extended wing 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 wing can be a separate material or can be formed from one of the layer materials used to form the elasticized flap. The absorbent sanitary article provides improved fit and leakage protection with better comfort.

Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins worn by women. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as thin sanitary napkins, that are extensible, especially in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A process for incorporating a fine particulate filler such as kaolin clay into tissue paper is disclosed. The process results in strong, soft, and low dusting tissue paper webs useful in the manufacture of soft, absorbent sanitary products such as bath tissue, facial tissue, and absorbent towels.

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.

Abstract: Absorbent article such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, and the like, that have a unique composite member forming a portion of the elasticized side panel and the elasticized waistband. The composite member includes an elastomeric member and a three-dimensional, macroscopically expanded, formed-film member secured to at least one of the surfaces of the elastomeric member. The composite member provides the preferred bulk, elasticity, resiliency, and stiffness required to withstand the application, wear and removal stresses and provide the desired comfort during the typical wearing cycle of a disposable diaper.

Abstract: Modified cellulosic fibers are formed by (1) esterifying cellulosic fibers with a 1,2-disubstituted alkene that has at least one carboxylic acid group reactive with cellulosic hydroxyl groups and (2) oxidizing the esterified fibers to form aldehyde groups. The modified fibers are useful in paper products, which tend to have temporary wet strength. Strength additives may be included in the paper product to impart a higher level of temporary wet strength or permanent wet strength.

Abstract: Fibrous cellulose materials useful in the manufacture of soft, absorbent paper products such as paper towels, facial tissues, and toilet tissue are disclosed. The paper products contain a vegetable oil based quaternary ammonium chemical softening compound. Examples of preferred vegetable oil based quaternary ammonium chemical softening compounds include diester di(oleyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride (DEDODMAC) (i.e., di(octadec-z-9-eneoyloxyethyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride) derived from canola oil and/or high oleic safflower oil. Variables that need to be adjusted to maximize the fluidity of vegetable oil based acyl groups include the cis/trans isomer ratio or the Iodine Value (IV) of the fatty acyl groups. The tissue softness is further enhanced by controlling the purity of the fatty acyl groups and the di-substituted versus mono-substituted long chain hydrocarbyl substituent ratio in the quaternary ammonium compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article having a topsheet treated with a silicone-based surfactant to impart hydrophilicity. The absorbent article preferably includes a first, apertured, macroscopically expanded, three-dimensional, polymeric topsheet and preferably includes a second, apertured, macroscopically expanded, three-dimensional polymeric topsheet underlying the first topsheet. The multiple topsheets provide improved masking of bodily fluids absorbed and retained by the absorbent core. The first and second topsheets preferably include surfactants which impart hydrophilicity to differing degrees, and which preferably are selected from diverse surfactant categories. The use of a silicone-based surfactant imparts improved tactile qualities to the wearer-contacting surface of the first topsheet in comparison with non-silicone-based surfactants.

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 relates to a method for making laminate materials, and more particularly the present invention relates to a method for making laminate materials having a capillary zone or passageway to acquire, move and/or store fluid within the laminate material. Such laminate materials are particularly suitable for use as a topsheet, an acquisition layer and/or an absorbent core in absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, catamenials, sanitary napkins, bandages, incontinent briefs and the like.

Abstract: A multi-ply paper product. One or both of the plies may have embossments protruding towards and contacting the other ply. The plies are adhesively joined, preferably at such embossments. The adhesive is selected from a composition that advantageously provides a minimum wet ply bond strength and a dry ply bond strength which falls within a particularly desired range.

Abstract: An apparatus for making paper. The apparatus comprises a felt and a pattern layer joined to the felt. The felt has a relatively high UV absorbance. Such a high UV absorbance prevents the actinic radiation applied to cure the pattern layer from scattering when the radiation penetrates the surface of the pattern layer. By limiting the scattering of radiation beneath the surface of the pattern layer, extraneous cured pattern layer material is minimized in the regions of the felt where it is desired not to have pattern layer material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to paper products having temporary wet strength. The paper products contain cellulosic fibers that are treated with a polyaldehyde polymer having free aldehyde groups and a water soluble polyhydroxy polymer. The initial wet strength obtained with the combined use of these materials is significantly greater than that obtained by use of either the polyaldehyde or pelyhydroxy polymer alone. At the same time, the wet strength decays at a rate that is rapid enough to enable the paper product to be flushed under conditions of normal use.

Abstract: A web winding apparatus and a method of operating the apparatus 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 unitary package comprising a plurality of individual inner packages juxtaposed with each other at one or more interfaces. At least some inner packages are wrapped in a wrapper and are peripherally disposed along at least first and second outside walls of the unitary package, defining these first and second outside walls. A first sheet of material having at least one line of weakness is juxtaposed with the first outside wall and interconnects all peripherally disposed inner packages by engaging each of them. Preferably, a second sheet of material is juxtaposed with the second outside wall interconnecting all peripherally disposed inner packages. Preferably, both sheets of material have a self-registering pattern of a plurality of lines of weakness running in both mutually perpendicular directions and comparatively closely spaced such that there is a high probability that at least one of these lines is positioned at the interface of the individual inner packages.

Abstract: Tissue paper webs useful in the manufacture of soft, absorbent sanitary products such as bath tissue, facial tissue, and napkins are provided. The composite average coarseness of the tissue papers is between about 11 mg/100 m and about 18 mg/100 m. The tissue paper comprise closed cell wall, chemically softened cellulose fibers further comprising coarse cellulose fibers such as those derived from CTMP or recycled sources. The cellulose fibers have enhanced lubricity such that they possess a depressed coefficient of friction (DCOF, in percentage points) related to the composite average coarseness, C, in mg/100 m, by the equation:DCOF>4.27*C-44.23.

Abstract: A papermaking belt comprising a reinforcing structure and a framework. The reinforcing structure has air permeability not less than 800 cfm and a Fiber Support Index not less than 75. The framework is joined to the reinforcing structure and extends outwardly not more than about 6.5 mils from the reinforcing structure. The framework has deflection conduits dispersed throughout, encompassed by, and isolated one from another by the framework. A paper-contacting surface of the framework comprises a paper-side network which encompasses paper-side openings of the deflection conduits. A substantial portion of each paper-side opening is not less than about 45 mils in each of its dimensions measured in the X-Y plane. A paper web having two regions: an essentially continuous and macroscopically monoplanar network region, and a dome region comprising a plurality of discrete domes encompassed by the network region. The domes are distributed in a non-random, repeating pattern.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for applying a curable resin, such as a photosensitive resin, to a substrate such as a papermaker's dewatering felt. The method comprises the steps of providing a substrate; providing a curable liquid resin; providing a second material different from the curable liquid resin; applying the second material to the substrate to occupy at least some of the voids in the substrate intermediate the first and second surfaces of the substrate; applying the curable resin to the substrate; curing at least some of the resin to provide a resin layer on the substrate; and removing at least some of the second material from the substrate, wherein at least some of the second material is removed from the substrate after applying the curable resin to the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins worn by women. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as thin sanitary napkins, that are extensible, especially in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides absorbent structures for absorbent articles, in particular catamenial pads, that are capable of acquiring, distributing, and storing aqueous body fluids, especially menstrual fluids, as well as providing better fit and comfort for the user of the products. These absorbent structures comprise an absorbent core and a comparatively low density, fluid-pervious, resilient web in fluid communication with the absorbent core. The resilient webs of the present invention are formed from a thermally-bonded matrix predominantly comprised of synthetic fibers which maintains substantially constant resiliency and density properties even after exposure to aqueous bodily fluids. The advantageous aspects of absorbent structures of the present invention include: (a) maintenance of a comparatively low density structure to aid in handling of fluids under "gush" situations; (b) the ability to increase total fluid capacity and retain the absorbed fluid, i.e.