Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable protective garment adapted to stretchably conform to the body of a wearer, the garment being composed of at least one piece of a reversibly-necked material which is adapted to have recoverable stretch in at least one direction. The reversibly-necked material is necked by drawing and treated to impart memory of its necked configuration so it has recoverable stretch while also being breathable, liquid resistant and conformable. The disposable protective garment may contain a body portion, sleeve portions and/or leg portions. The stretch direction of reversibly-necked material may be parallel to the direction of motion of the body portion, sleeve portions and/or leg portions.

Abstract: A process for treating a fibrous material which includes the steps of: 1) providing a liquid suspension composed of fibrous material; 2) intermixing the liquid suspension of fibrous material with a treatment over a time period T.sub.1 --wherein the treatment requires a period of time T.sub.R sufficient to treat the fibrous material; 3) depositing the liquid suspension of fibrous material and intermixed treatment onto a forming surface to form a layer and removing a substantial portion of the liquid, over a period of time T.sub.2 ; and 4) applying pressurized jets of a liquid to the layer of fibrous material to wash unused treatment from the fibrous material within a period of time T.sub.3. Periods of time T.sub.1, T.sub.2 and T.sub.3 are immediately consecutive and amount to a total period of time at least as great as T.sub.R.

Abstract: A melt-extrudable polymeric strand with enhanced tensile strength formed by extruding a melt-extrudable polymer while subjecting the a portion of the polymer to ultrasonic energy. The melt-extrudable polymeric strand has a tenacity which is from about 1.5 to about 3 times the tenacity of an otherwise identical strand not made by applying ultrasonic energy to a portion of the melt-extrudable polymer while the melt-extrudable polymer is extruded. Desirably, the strand has a tenacity within a range from about 0.3 to about 0.9 g/denier. In a method for making such a strand, a molten melt-extrudable polymer is extruded through a die assembly, ultrasonic energy is applied to a portion of the melt-extrudable polymer within the chamber and without applying ultrasonic energy to the die tip, while an extrusion exit orifice receives melt-extrudable polymer from an extrusion chamber, and the extruded polymer is attenuated to form a strand.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for increasing the flow rate of a pressurized liquid through an orifice by applying ultrasonic energy to a portion of the pressurized liquid. The apparatus includes a die housing which defines a chamber adapted to receive a pressurized liquid and a means for applying ultrasonic energy to a portion of the pressurized liquid. The die housing further includes an inlet adapted to supply the chamber with the pressurized liquid, and an exit orifice defined by the walls of a die tip. The exit orifice is adapted to receive the pressurized liquid from the chamber and pass the liquid out of the die housing. When the means for applying ultrasonic energy is excited, it applies ultrasonic energy to the pressurized liquid without applying ultrasonic energy to the die tip.

Abstract: A method of making sanitary paper products from newspapers. The method includes the steps of: (a) pulping newspapers in water with agitation to produce a pulp slurry, the fiber in the newspapers having an oil content ranging from about 0.025% to about 2.0%, by weight, and the slurry having a consistency between about 3% and about 18% and a pH below about 8.0; (b) adding a surfactant to the pulp slurry and maintaining the pulp slurry at a temperature above about 100.degree. F. for at least 15 minutes such that a substantial quantity of the oil in the old newspaper is retained; (c) increasing the consistency of the slurry to between about 3.5% and about 18%; and (d) using the treated pulp as a source of fibers in a paper making process to produce sanitary paper products.

Abstract: A permeable, liquid flow control material composed of: 1) a permeable sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which have a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes/cm; and 2) amphiphilic proteins adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces to define a gradient distribution of amphiphilic protein coating along at least one dimension of the permeable sheet so that the adsorbed amphiphilic protein coating provides controlled wettability along at least one dimension of the liquid flow control material. Desirably, the liquid flow control material is substantially free of fugitive amphiphilic proteins. The material may be used as a permeable, bodyside cover material for absorbent personal care products.

Abstract: A flame retardant composition for treating a high pulp content nonwoven web is provided. The flame retardant composition includes soluble solids formed from inorganic salts, such as ammonium polyphosphate and sulfur. The TGA range of such soluble solids is from about 175.degree. C. to about 370.degree. C. The flame retardant composition may be continuously and uniformly applied to the high pulp content nonwoven web by a non-compressive process.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous cleanser formulation comprising a blend of paramenthadienes together with one or more surfactants and/or solubilisers. Such a formulation has been found to be capable of removing a wide range of heavy soils from the skin surface whilst leaving minimal residual odour.

Abstract: A process for treating a fibrous material which includes the steps of: 1) providing a liquid suspension composed of fibrous material; 2) intermixing the liquid suspension of fibrous material with a treatment over a time period T.sub.1 --wherein the treatment requires a period of time T.sub.R sufficient to treat the fibrous material; 3) depositing the liquid suspension of fibrous material and intermixed treatment onto a forming surface to form a layer and removing a substantial portion of the liquid, over a period of time T.sub.2 ; and 4) applying pressurized jets of a liquid to the layer of fibrous material to wash unused treatment from the fibrous material within a period of time T.sub.3. Periods of time T.sub.1, T.sub.2 and T.sub.3 are immediately consecutive and amount to a total period of time at least as great as T.sub.R.

Abstract: A coreless roll of product that is self-supporting in a rotary dispenser. The roll includes a rolled web of product that is wound throughout its diameter about a winding axis into a cylinder having first and second flat ends. At least one flat end defines a mounting hole at substantially the center of the winding axis of the coreless roll. The mounting hole has a depth and has sides generally perpendicular to the end of the roll. The sides are separated by a distance that is less than the depth of the hole such that the mounting hole is adapted to receive a plunger from a rotary dispenser. Methods of making the coreless roll are also described.

Abstract: A dispensing system for flowable liquids that includes a dispensing base for holding a refill package of a flowable liquid. A door is pivotally mounted to the dispensing base by a first pivot so that the door can have an open position and a closed position. The system has a push handle pivotally mounted to the door by a second pivot and a latch integral with the dispensing base to pivotally secure the push handle at the second pivot when the door is closed so that the door is held secure in the closed position and the push handle may be used for dispensing. The dispensing system also includes a release for disengaging the push handle from the latch so that the door may be moved to its open position.

Abstract: A method of applying chemical charge-modifiers to a permeable sheet including the steps of: providing a permeable sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having relatively low surface energies; providing an aqueous solution containing amphiphilic macromolecules, the solution having a relatively high surface tension; contacting the solution containing amphiphilic macromolecules under shear stress conditions with the permeable sheet so that at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules are adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces to form a coated permeable sheet; and contacting the coated permeable sheet with a solution containing chemical charge modifiers to incorporate chemical charge modifiers onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules.

Abstract: An aqueous, antimicrobial liquid cleaning formulation including: 1) a polymeric deposition aid composed of a mixture of liquid, hydroxyl-terminated urethane polymers in polyethylene glycol; 2) a phenol derivative antimicrobial agent; and 3) a surfactant system comprising predominantly nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants or combinations thereof such that the liquid cleaning formulation provides at least about 10 percent greater antimicrobial activity than the same formulation without the polymeric deposition aid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid transport material composed of a pulp fibers hydraulically needled into a nonwoven fibrous structure adapted to have a liquid transport value of at least 12 grams of liquid per gram of material over 30 minutes. The liquid transport material may contain up to about 50 percent, by weight, short staple length fibers as well as effective amounts of various particulates. The liquid transport material may be used as a liquid transport component of an absorbent structure which may be part of, for example, a personal care product. Also disclosed is a process of making a liquid transport material utilizing hydraulic needling techniques.