Abstract: A holder for a floor mat comprises at least one connecting device and at least one connecting member which has complementary connection devices whereby the connecting member may be connected in a releasable manner to at least two adjacent mat holders so as to secure the mat holders together. Preferably at least one of the holder or the connecting member are made from flexible material or are designed to be slightly flexible.

Abstract: An absorbent pad has a cover formed of non-woven fibrous material, which is coated with a fluorocarbon polymer and odor absorber(s). The cover sheet is apertured around a critical zone to overcome undesired surface tension effects. The method of producing the cover includes providing a water-based mixture that includes 1% by weight of a fluorocarbon composition. An odor absorbing reagent is added to the mixture which then is applied to a nonwoven web of fibrous material. The treated web is dried to remove the excess water from the mixture, and the fluorocarbon composition component is cured to form a hydrophobic coating around the reagent and to bind the reagent to the web. The drying and curing steps can be accomplished by applying a flow of air heated to a temperature in a range from about 100.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C. to the web until the water has been removed.

Abstract: A method of treating a low hydrohead fibrous porous web material to increase its retentive wettability, by at least about 50%, as compared to untreated low hydrohead web material, is disclosed. The increase in retentive wettability is evidenced by the increase in the average number of runoff tests that the treated web material can sustain without unacceptable runoff is disclosed.The invention is also directed to products prepared or preparable by the process.

Abstract: A method of treating a high hydrohead fibrous porous web to increase its retentive acquision rate and retentive absorbency, as compared to untreated web, is disclosed.The invention is also directed to products prepared by or preparable by the process.

Abstract: Nonwoven materials, methods of forming the same, and apparatus for forming the same, are disclosed. The nonwoven materials include at least one nonwoven web, with the at least one web being bonded by entangle bonding in spots, such entangle bonding being provided by hydraulic entangling. As a specific embodiment, elastomeric laminates are formed, the at least one nonwoven web subjected to spot-entangle-bonding including an elastomeric web spot-entangle-bonded to another web so as to form an elastomeric laminate. By spot-entangle-bonding (jet treating) the webs, utilizing hydraulic entangling to provide the spot-entangle-bonds, conventional bonding methods need not be used, whereby good hand and drape properties can be retained after bonding, and the overall bulk of the material can be maintained, while providing a product that does not easily delaminate and that is stretchable and resilient.

Abstract: Particle-laden meltblown material, methods of forming such material, composite laminate fabrics using such material as a layer of the laminate, and uses of such material and/or laminate thereof are disclosed. The particle-laden meltblown material is a coform of the particles and meltblown fibers, consolidated into a meltblown material. The meltblown fibers are made of polymeric materials such that the fibers are tacky after extrusion from the meltblowing die and prior to consolidation as meltblown material; active particles (such as active carbon) are incorporated in the stream of meltblown fibers, as the fibers pass from the die to the consolidation surface, at a location where the fibers are tacky, so that the particles adhere to the surface of the fibers. The polymeric materials forming the meltblown fibers can be elastomeric materials, and/or blends of polymers.

Abstract: An elastomeric nonwoven web is formed by meltblowing fibers composed of a polyether block amide copolymer.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for inhibiting thermal oxidative degradation of polypropylene webs results from rinsing the polypropylene webs after washing in an aqueous solution of either dilaurylthiodipropionate (DLTOP) or distearylthiodipropionate (DSTDP). The aqueous solution has a concentration of DLTDP or DSTDP of 5 ppm. The aqueous solution is maintained about 150.degree. F., and the polypropylene web is rinsed or dipped in the aqueous solution until saturated. A polypropylene web is also disclosed which has been treated to inhibit thermal oxidative degradation by the above process.

Abstract: A wet wipe which is elastic in at least one direction, and includes an elastic sheet having at least one non-elastic non-woven web joined thereto at least at two areas. The non-elastic web is gathered between said two areas and a liquid is distributed within the sheet and/or the web. The sheet is preferably a nonwoven web or meltblown ethylene vinyl acetate fibers and the non-elastic web is preferably a nonwoven web of spunbonded fibers. The liquid may include a fragrance and/or a preservative. An arrangement for dispensing an interleaved stack of the wet wipes is also provided.

Abstract: An elastomeric nonwoven web is formed by meltblowing fibers composed of a polyether block amide copolymer.

Abstract: Elastomeric melt-blown fibers comprising a copolymer of ethylene and at least one vinyl monomer selected from the group including vinyl ester monomers, unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids and alkyl esters of these monocarboxylic acids disclosed. Elastomeric nonwoven webs formed from such fibers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Particle-laden meltblown material, methods for forming such material, composite laminate fabrics using such material as a layer of the laminate, and uses of such material and/or laminate thereof are disclosed. The particle-laden meltblown material is a coform of the particles and meltblown fibers, consolidated into a meltblown material. The meltblown fibers are made of polymeric materials such that the fibers are tacky after extrusion from the meltblowing die and prior to consolidation as meltblown material; active particles (such as active carbon) are incorporated in the stream of meltblown fibers, as the fibers pass from the die to the consolidation surface, at a location where the fibers are tacky, so that the particles adhere to the surface of the fibers. The polymeric materials forming the meltblown fibers can be elastomeric materials, and/or blends of polymers.

Abstract: A laminate which is elastic in at least one direction, includes an elastic sheet having at least one nonelastic nonwoven web joined thereto at least at two areas. The nonelastic web is gathered between the two areas. The elastic sheet is formed from a polyetherester and the nonelastic nonwoven web includes spunlaced hydraulically entangled polyester fibers. The nonelastic nonwoven web may also include rayon or wood pulp fibers.

Abstract: An elastic laminate which includes a first elastic sheet having at least one other elastic sheet joined thereto. The first elastic sheet is formed from an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. The second elastic sheet is formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. The sheets may be nonwoven webs of meltblown fibers.

Abstract: An elastomeric nonwoven web is formed by meltblowing fibers composed of a polyetherester. Nonelastic fibers and/or particulate materials may also be included in the web.

Abstract: A wet wipe which is elastic in at least one direction, and includes an elastic sheet having at least one non-elastic non-woven web joined thereto at least at two areas. The non-elastic web is gathered between said two areas and a liquid is distributed within the sheet and/or the web. The sheet is preferably a nonwoven web of meltblown ethylene vinyl acetate fibers and the non-elastic web is preferably a nonwoven web of spunbonded fibers. The liquid may include a fragrance and/or a preservative. An arrangement for dispensing an interleaved stack of the wet wipes is also provided.

Abstract: An elasticized non-woven fiber material is made by combining one or more textile fibers with one or more elasticizeable fibers and bonding the combined fibers together. The resultant web of bonded non-woven fibers is then heat-treated to heat-shrink the elasticizeable fiber and recover its elasticity thereby shrinking the fibers and the web of material. An elasticized non-woven fabric made by the described method is also provided.

Abstract: An elastomeric nonwoven web is formed by meltblowing fibers composed of a polyether block amide copolymer.

Abstract: A method of producing a composite elastic material comprises stretching an elastic web to elongate it, for example, elongating a nonwoven web of meltblown elastomeric fibers, and bonding the elongated web to at least one gatherable web, such as a spunbonded polyester fiber material, under conditions which soften at least a portion of the elastic web to form the bonded composite web of elastic material. The composite material is relaxed immediately after the bonding to prevent the elastic web from losing its ability to contract from the stretched dimensions which it assumed during the bonding step. Such immediate relaxation of the composite material after the bonding step results in the elastic web retaining its ability to contract so that, upon termination of the elongating force, the elastic web contracts to form gathers in the gatherable web.

Abstract: An elastomeric nonwoven web is formed by meltblowing fibers composed of a polyetherester. Nonelastic fibers and/or particulate materials may also be included in the web.