Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing packages which clearly communicates the function of upright dispensing and encourages a proper usage angle to insure substantial product evacuation from the package while functionally minimizing the risk of product being dispensed onto the side of the package is provided. The nozzle has a dispensing straw which is hinged at the underneath side of a shroud. The dispensing straw and shroud may be constructed as a single part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a container, or a cap for a container for viscous liquid products. The container or the cap comprises a venting element. The venting element allows passage of gases between the interior and the exterior of the container when the pressure inside the container differs from the external ambient pressure. The container or cap further includes a control feature which controls the phase separation of the product splashed onto the membrane.

Abstract: A roll-on applicator which allows venting of gases between the inside and the outside of said applicator. This applicator comprises a ball within a dispensing opening and a flexible and resilient support means for said ball. Said flexible and resilient support means is such to urge said ball against said dispensing opening, achieving a leak tight engagement between said ball and said dispensing opening. This engagement is such that the pressure built up inside said container is not efficiently released to the outside of said container. Furthermore, said flexible and resilient support means can be resiliently deformed by an external force acting on said ball to disengage said leak-tight engagement between said ball and said dispensing opening, allowing said contained product to be spread by said ball. Said applicator further comprises a cap which presses onto said ball creating a free passage between said ball and said dispensing opening only when said cap is engaged or disengaged from said container.

Abstract: A concentrated reduced dosage spray pump delivery system for dispensing fluids containing actives and volatile organic compounds with reduced emissions of the volatile organic compounds is disclosed. The system includes a housing storing a concentrated fluid containing volatile organic compounds and an effective component, wherein the effective component is concentrated within the fluid. The system also includes a spray pump in fluid communication with the concentrated fluid containing the volatile organic compounds such that the spray pump dispenses the concentrated fluid at a reduced dosage per pump stroke. The combination of the concentrated fluid containing volatile organic compounds and the reduced dosage per pump stroke reduces the emission of volatile organic compounds, while the quantity of actives applied per square area of application surface substantially remains the same.

Abstract: A method of making a gas permeable material having a diffusive gas permeability at 0.21 atmosphere diffusive driving force in the range of about 0.5.times.10.sup.5 cm.sup.3 /100 square inches/day to about 2.times.10.sup.5 cm.sup.3 /100 square inches/day. The method comprises the step of coating a pattern of spots of a gas impermeable material onto a porous substrate, followed by a step of enlarging the pattern of spots to cover greater than about 95% of the porous substrate such that the gas permeability occurs only through openings between the pattern of spots. The gas impermeable material is preferably a hot melt adhesive and the porous substrate is preferably a nonwoven. The step of enlarging the pattern of spots includes smearing substantially circular spots into oblong spots as the pattern of spots is printed onto the porous substrate until the oblong spots partially overlap. The smearing is achieved by operating a printing screen at a surface speed higher than a draw rate of the porous substrate.

Abstract: An improved washing implement which exhibits superior softness, while also retaining good resiliency, is made from at least one piece of open cell polymer mesh. To achieve the improved softness and resiliency of the improved washing implement an improved open cell mesh is provided which is softer and sufficiently resilient as a result of its controlled cell structure parameters. In preferred embodiments, the controlled physical parameters of the open cell mesh include basis weight, cell count, node count, node length and node diameter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved open cell mesh which exhibits superior softness, while also retaining acceptable resiliency, as a result of controlling cell structure parameters. In preferred embodiments, physically measurable parameters of the open cell mesh, and more particularly the cell structure, are controlled within pre-defined ranges. The controlled physical parameters of the subject open cell mesh include basis weight, cell count, node count, node length, node thickness, and node width. Additionally, there is provided a method of testing the mesh's resistance to an applied load, which is a predictive indicator of softness and resiliency.