Abstract: Soft, absorbent paper webs and processes for making them. In the process, an aqueous dispersion of the papermaking fibers is formed into an embryonic web on a first foraminous member such as a Fourdinier wire. This embryonic web is associated with a second foraminous member known as a deflection member. The surface of the deflection member with which the embryonic web is associated has a macroscopic monoplanar, continuous, patterned network surface which defines within the deflection member a plurality of discrete, isolated deflection conduits. The papermaking fibers in the web are deflected into the deflection conduits and water is removed through the deflection conduits to form an intermediate web. Deflection begins no later than the time water removal through the deflection member begins. The intermediate web is dried and foreshortened as by creping. The paper web has a distinct continuous network region and a plurality of domes dispersed throughout the whole of the network region.

Abstract: Foraminous members useful in making paper webs. The foraminous member of this invention has a macroscopically monoplanar, patterned, continuous network surface which serves to define within the member a plurality of discrete, isolated, deflection conduits. A foraminous woven element, such as a screen, is thoroughly coated with liquid photosensitive resin to a controlled depth above the upper surface of the woven element. A mask or a negative having opaque and transparent regions which define the pattern is brought into contact with the surface of the liquid photosensitive resin and the resin is exposed to light of an activating wavelength through the mask. The resin exposed to the activating light is hardened (cured). Uncured resin is removed from the composite leaving behind the woven element with the solid network formed by the cured resin.

Abstract: A disposable bib of flexible sheet material having a neck-accommodating aperture, a predetermined line-of-parting which extends from the edge of the aperture to an adjacent outer edge of the bib, and a tape-tab fastener having pressure sensitive adhesive coated ends. The tape-tab fastener is, until time-of-use, wholly disposed on the back surface of the bib adjacent the line-of-parting. At time-of-use, the line-of-parting is parted; and a mother's-bond portion of the tape-tab fastener is peeled from the factory-bond portion of the fastener, extended to bridge the parted line-of-parting, and then secured to a predetermined mother's-bond zone of the front surface of the bib. The line-of-parting provides structural integrity for the bib prior to use, yet enables the bib to be fitted on an infant at the time of use. In a preferred embodiment, the line-of-parting is a tearable line-of-weakening comprising a plurality of spaced cuts or perforations.

Abstract: A disposable bib having a fibrous topsheet and a tape-tab fastener wherein a predetermined mother's-bond zone of the topsheet is sufficiently impregnated with a bonding material such as a non-pressure sensitive bonding material to enable the mother's-bond end of the tape-tab fastener to be operatively secured to the mother's-bond zone: preferably, refastenably secured thereto so that, for example, an unsoiled bib may be removed for alter use. In a preferred embodiment which comprises a laminate of flexible sheet material, the laminate comprises a tissue paper topsheet having insufficient strength to operatively accept the mother's-bond end of the tape-tab fastener; and a liquid impervious backsheet of, for example, polyethylene film.

Abstract: An integral handle is provided for a carton having opposed pairs of side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall comprising at least first and second substantially identical overlapping flaps hingedly connected to the upper edges of one of the opposed pairs of side walls. The handle comprises first and second handle elements. The first handle element is die cut from the upper portion of the first flap and is of a length less than the width of the first flap. The first handle element has a finger receiving aperture and is pivotal about score line hinges formed in the first flap. The second handle element is of greater length than the first handle element and comprises the entire upper portion of the second flap as defined by a score line hinge extending the full width of the second flap in parallel spaced relationship to the upper edge thereof and about which the second handle element is pivotal. The second flap has at least one finger receiving aperture alignable with the aperture of the first handle element.

Abstract: A process for making a nonwoven fabric barrier layer that comprises simultaneously ring-rolling to a desired basis weight at least two adjacent plies of hydrophobic microfine fiber webs. The adjacent plies prior to ring-rolling have a cumulative basis weight of from about 1.1 to about 4 times the desired basis weight.

Abstract: Disposable diapers having elasticized waistbands which allow the diapers to breathe and which reduce the incidence of waistband rollover. The waistbands are formed by affixing elastic elements between the topsheets and the backsheets (in the waistband region of the diapers) using regularly spaced, transversely extending regions of securement. Regions of nonsecurement are formed between pairs of the regions of securement thereby forming channels which allow the diaper to breathe and also forming corrugations which tend to inhibit waistband rollover.

Abstract: A process for making relatively thick foraminous members the foramina of which form a preselected pattern. The backing film such as a thermoplastic film is placed in contact with a rotating drum. A foraminous woven element about which the foraminous member will be constructed is placed in contact with the thermoplastic backing film. Liquid photosensitive resin is supplied to a controlled thickness. A mask comprising the preselected pattern is placed adjacent the photosensitive resin and the resin is exposed through the mask to the light of an activating wavelength. Uncured resin is washed from the composite leaving behind the completed foraminous member.

Abstract: Strong, soft, absorbent tissue paper products comprising a substrate carrying an emollient. The substrate is planar and is formed of one or more tissue paper sheets. At least one of its two major surfaces must be soft, relatively untextured, and smooth. The emollient is distributed over at least a major portion of the smooth surface. In preferred embodiments, the substrate consists of two plies of tissue paper. Each tissue paper ply consists of two layers: the first is relatively weak compared to the second and has an outwardly facing surface which is soft, relatively untextured and smooth; the second layer is strong enough to impart to the ply sufficient strength to enable it to accomplish its intended purpose. In an alternate embodiment, multiple plies of tissue paper are joined together by a laminating means consisting of embossments in a region of embossing; the region of embossing is relatively free of emollient.

Abstract: A method of using a composite waste-containment garment comprising a disposable, elasticized waste-containment insert secured by means integral with the insert inside a non-elasticized over-garment such as a conventional reuseable diaper, or a disposable diaper, or overpants, or the combination of a non-elasticized reuseable diaper covered with an outer-garment such as overpants having elasticized leg cuffs. The insert is so elasticized along its longitudinal side edges that, when properly secured inside a suitable over-garment, and the over-garment is properly applied to a wearer, the elasticized side edges of the insert are sufficiently tensioned to form liquid seals or leg cuffs along upper thigh regions of the wearer: particularly, along the inner spans of the upper thigh regions of the wearer.

Abstract: A bib having a body member which obviates refastenable application of a tape-tab fastener directly to the front surface of the body member. The bib is provided with a duplex refastenable tape-tab fastener open by non-releasably securing a separability member on each side of a cut which extends from a neck-accommodating aperture in the body member to an adjacent outer edge of the bib; and by bridging the cut with an adhesive-faced tape-tab fastener by securing each of its oppositely disposed end portions to a separability member. The tape-tab fastener is said to be duplex by virtue of the construction enabling either end of the tape-tab to be peeled from its respective separability member: that is, both ends of the tape-tab fastener are refastenable.

Abstract: An apparatus for C-folding a running length of a covering web such as a polyethylene ribbon about a longitudinally flexible article such as a running length of a core web for making disposable diapers or a stream of longitudinally spaced discrete core segments of such a core web; i.e., a stream of absorbent cores for disposable diapers. The apparatus effects folding each longitudinal edge portion of a covering web downwardly and inwardly about an adjacent longitudinal edge region of the article as the web and the article are forwarded through the apparatus. Each longitudinal edge portion is so folded intermediate a transverse turning member which it passes under, and an oblique turning edge disposed downstream therefrom and over which it passes; and the longitudinal edge portions of the running web and the adjacent longitudinal edge regions of the article become juxtaposed upon passing over their respective oblique folding edges.

Abstract: Strong, soft, absorbent tissue paper products comprising a substrate carrying an emollient. The substrate is planar and is a laminate formed of two or more tissue paper sheets. At least one of its two major surfaces must be soft, relatively untextured, and smooth. The emollient is distributed over at least a major portion of the smooth surface. In preferred embodiments, each tissue paper ply consists of two layers: the first is relatively weak compared to the second and has an outwardly facing surface which is soft, relatively untextured and smooth; the second layer is strong enough to impart to the ply sufficient strength to enable it to accomplish its intended purpose. The plies of tissue paper are joined together by a laminating means consisting of embossments in a region of embossing; the region of embossing is substantially free of emollient.

Abstract: Absorbent devices, such as catamenial tampons and catamenial pads. The devices comprise an unbonded array of non-absorbent, hydrophillic, resilient, moisture insensitive fibers contained within a porous overwrap. When the devices are intended to be presented in the compressed state, the compressed density of the mass of fibers should be less than about 0.3 grams per cubic centimeter. The devices can contain ancillary absorbent material.

Abstract: An extensible multi-ply tissue paper product having high tensile energy absorption (TEA); high liquid absorbency; and, preferably, high tensile strength efficiency. The product comprises plies which are preferably embossed and discontinuously adhered together. The product has high tensile energy absorption by virtue of having substantial extensibility in the machine direction which, preferably, results from its constituent plies having substantial MD extensibility induced by having undergone wet and/or dry foreshortening during their manufacture. The product has synergistically high liquid absorbency by virtue of at least two plies of the product having sufficiently different stress/strain properties that one ply will sufficiently constrain unadhered portions of the other ply from being elongated in the plane of the paper when wetted that such unadhered portions of the constrained ply will pucker in the Z-direction as its foreshortening-induced internal stresses are relieved.

Abstract: A process for making soft, absorbent tissue paper webs and the webs made by that process. In the first step, a furnish of papermaking fibers and a wet strength resin is provided. A wet fibrous web is made from the furnish and the wet web is dried. Next, the wet strength resin in the web is at least partially cured. A nitrogenous cationic debonding agent is then incorporated into the dried web.

Abstract: A bib, preferably disposable, having a top panel, a full-width pocket having side seams, and an apron panel which pendulously depends from the transverse upper edge of the front wall of the pocket (i.e., a pocket panel) so that the weight of the apron panel acts to gravitationally open the pocket and hold it open, and so that the apron panel may be used as a face wipe without inverting the pocket. Gravitational opening of the pocket is further enabled by virtue of the transverse upper edge of the pocket panel being disposed at a higher elevation than the top ends of the side seams of the pocket when viewed with the bib in its use orientation and/or by securing together face-to-face areas of the pocket panel and the apron panel which are disposed adjacent their coextensive upper edges. Preferably such areas which are secured in face-to-face relation are centrally disposed with respect to the width of the bib.

Abstract: Tissue paper webs useful in the manufacture of soft, absorbent products such as paper towels, and processes for making the webs. The process comprises the steps of forming an aqueous papermaking furnish from paper pulp, at least one specified quaternary ammonium compound and at least one specified nonionic surfactant. The quaternary ammonium compounds are trimethylalkyl, trimethylalkylene, methylpolyoxyethylene alkyl and methylpolyoxyethylene alkylene quaternary ammonium compounds. The nonionic surfactants are ethylene oxide adducts of fatty alcohols and fatty acids. The second and third steps in the basic process are the deposition of the papermaking furnish onto a foraminous surface such as a Fordrinier wire and removal of the water from the deposited furnish.

Abstract: A bib, preferably disposable, having a top panel, a full-width pocket, and an apron panel depending below the pocket. Preferably, the apron panel pendulously depends from the upper edge of the front wall of the pocket so that the weight of the apron panel acts to gravitationally open the pocket and hold it open, and so that the apron panel may be used as a face wipe without inverting the pocket. Additionally, the top panel may be provided with transverse cuts adjacent the upper corners of the pocket and/or the end seams of the pocket may be gusseted or pleated to further promote gravitational opening of the pocket. The bib may further comprise: bendable, form-sustaining stays to enable the pocket to be manually opened and closed; a line-of-weakening to enable detaching all or a part of the apron panel for use as a post-use wipe; and a detachable neck opening portion.

Abstract: High bulk, absorbent paper having a relatively high MD elongation at rupture, and a substantially greater stress/strain modulus in the lowest one-third of its range of MD extensibility--preferably when wet--than equally machine-direction-stretchable, purely dry-foreshortened (e.g., dry-creped) paper having substantially identical MD elongation at rupture. The process includes a differential velocity transfer of a wet-laid embryonic web having relatively low fiber consistency from a carrier to a substantially slower moving, open-mesh transfer fabric having a substantial void volume; and thereafter drying the web while precluding substantial macroscopic rearrangement of the fibers in the plane of the web. The differential velocity transfer is effected without substantial compaction of the web by avoiding substantial mechanical pressing, centrifugal slinging, air blasting, and the like.