Abstract: Product development is accomplished through a plurality of product development tools, each tool assisting in a separate aspect of product development. Each tool has at least one instantiation of a tool module implementing tool logic and a tool database accessible by each tool module. Each product development tool communicates with a global readiness database. The readiness database includes common information accessible by more than one of the product development tools. At least one product supply tool accesses the readiness database to read product development information.

Abstract: Soft and elastic polymer products arc obtained by stretching a composition comprising a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanrate copolymer comprising at least two randomly repeating monomer units. The first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure (I), wherein R1 is H, or C1 or C2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2. The second randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure (II), wherein R2 is a C3-C19 alkyl or C3-C19 alkenyl. At least about 70 mole % of the copolymer comprises randomly repeating monomer units having the structure of the first randomly repeating monomer unit (I). The products exhibit advantageous combinations of softness and elasticity while maintaining strength.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding three-dimensional articles having interstitials. The article has elongate elements and interstitials between the elongate elements. The interstitials may extend entirely through the article, or intercept only the periphery of the article. The article may be formed by injection molding, using two or more mold segments, each having elongate members. The mold segments are separated from each other in a separation direction. The separation direction is parallel to the elongate members of the mold segments and/or the elongate elements of the article. The method and apparatus according to the present invention is useful for making a static mixer, heat exchanger or similar article.

Abstract: A bicomponent fiber comprising one thermoplastic polymer component comprising nonstarch, thermoplastic polymer and one thermoplastic starch component comprising a destructured starch and a plasticizer. The thermoplastic polymer component surrounds the thermoplastic starch component. Also provided are nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the bicomponent fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a horizontally movable and downwardly biased appendage that extends laterally from a surface treating apparatus, such as a robotic floor cleaner. The robotic floor cleaner and/or appendage may use disposable cleaning sheets, such as dust clothes, wipes, sheet-brushes, and the like, to clean under objects or into corners but does not substantially interfere with the rotation of the surface treating apparatus about its axis when it is adjacent to encountered obstacles. The appendage can extend under low hanging obstructions to remove dirt, and reach into corners innavigable or unreachable by the robotic floor cleaner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an intermediate web comprising of high glass transition polymer fibers. The fibers are spun at low to moderate speeds and have a relative crystallinity of from 10% to 75% of the maximum achievable crystallinity. The intermediate web is a low crystallinity web that exhibits shrinkage of more than 30% and elongation to break of more than 80% at high strain rates. This web can be heat treated to reduce shrinkage to less than 15% while the web is capable of at least about 60% elongation at a strain rate of at least about 50 second−1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid impermeable moisture vapor permeable composite structure comprising a specific thermoplastic film which is thinly coated onto a support layer. The composite structures of the present invention can find a variety of applications, wherein moisture vapor permeability is desirable for example within absorbent articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins, panty liners and incontinence products, protective bedding covers, protective clothing and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to multicomponent fibers. The fibers may be in a side-by-side, sheath-core, segmented pie, islands-in-the-sea configuration, or any combination of configurations. Each component of the fiber will comprise destructurized starch and/or a thermoplastic polymer. The present invention is also directed to nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the multicomponent fibers. The nonwoven webs may also contain other synthetic or natural fibers blended with the multicomponent fibers of the present invention.

Abstract: Splittable multicomponent fibers, to split fibers made from such splittable fibers, to a processes for making such splittable and split fibers, and to nonwovens and other substrates made form the split fibers. The splittable multicomponent fibers can comprise one component comprising thermoplastic starch and another component comprising a non-starch thermoplastic polymer, wherein: (i) said second component is capable of being split or removed from said first component to provide at least one split fiber consisting essentially of said first component; and (ii) wherein the split fiber of said first component can have good elongation properties. The splittable multicomponent fibers can also provide split fibers of the thermoplastic starch component.

Abstract: An extrusion/coating die. The die has an internal cavity and one or more static mixers in the die cavity. The static mixer fills the die cavity at its respective cross section. The die may also have one or more auxiliary inlets for separately admitting material/energy to the die.

Abstract: An integral three-dimensional article having interstitials therethrough, the three-dimensional article comprises an unconstrained number of axially successive stages. An apparatus and process for molding such a three-dimensional article are also disclosed. The apparatus has members extending into a mold cavity, each member having access to the periphery of the mold cavity. Each stage may nest within an adjacent stage. The nesting may be accomplished by having the end of one stage be convex, while the mating end of an adjacent stage is complementary and concave. The article may be useful as a static mixer, heat exchanger, etc.

Abstract: A faecal management device has a bag and a flange. The faecal management device is placed on a wearer, in combination with an applicator. The applicator is configured to exert pressure from at least two spaced apart pressure points onto the flange of the device. The device is placed on a wearer by using placement lobes associated with the flange.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispersing solids into a liquid. The solids may be any particulate material, ranging from cohesive to free flowing. The apparatus and method use an auger to deliver the solids from a hopper to a mixer, where the solids are dispersed into one or more liquids. Typically a vacuum is created in the mixer, or other differential pressures may occur between the hopper and mixer. The apparatus and method provide a delivery rate of the solids which is substantially controlled by the auger rotational speed and substantially independent of the vacuum or other differential pressure at certain auger rotational speeds.

Abstract: Environmentally degradable molded or extruded articles comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate C4C6 copolymer composition having short annealing cycle times are provided. Such short annealing cycle times are achieved by compositions having a percentage of C6 units of 2-8%. Desirable annealing cycle times are obtained for molded or extruded articles, particularly for tampon applicators.

Abstract: The present invention provides a web of entangled synthetic fibers, wherein said fibers are eccentric bicomponent fibers. The present invention further provides a method of absorbing oil from foods by contacting a web of entangled, eccentric bicomponent fibers with oil-containing food prior to, during, or subsequent to preparation of such foods, especially but not limited to during or subsequent to cooking such foods wherein said web is exposed to temperatures at above about 120 C.

Abstract: A composition of polyolefin, ester additive, and hyperbranched polymer with improved tensile energy-to-break value compared to polyolefins wihtout the hyperbranched polymer. The concentration of the hyperbranched polymers can be between about 0.1% and about 10% by weight of the polyolefins. The polyolefins have a melt flow index of about 14 g/10 min or greater.

Abstract: A method for treating substrates including the steps of: providing a substrate; exposing said substrate to a plasma glow discharge in the presence of a fluorocarbon gas; maintaining said gas at a pressure between about 50 mTorr and about 400 mTorr; generating said plasma as a modulated glow discharge; pulsing said discharge at an on time of 1-500 milliseconds; pulsing said glow at an off time of 1-1000 milliseconds; maintaining said plasma glow discharge at a power density of 0.02-10 watts/cm2; and applying a hydrophobic coating to said substrate.

Abstract: A shade for covering and uncovering an opening. The shade is attachable to drawstrings which raise and lower or otherwise move the end of the shade to obscure/reveal more or less of the opening, as desired. The shade is attachable to the drawstrings through attachments which comprise slots, etc. The attachments do not require threading of the drawstrings through holes in the shade. The shades are conveniently removable from the drawstrings and optionally disposable so that different shades may be coordinated with room colors, seasonal events, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-layered plastic container (10) that substantially enhances product drainage and reduces product residual levels trapped in the container, especially for viscous liquid products, including oil-in-water emulsions, water-in-oil emulsions, polymeric gels, foams, surfactant mixtures, dispersions, colloidal dispersions, suspensions, polymer solutions, polymer melts, and products like catsup, mustard, syrup, etc. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the plastic container is made by blow-molding an extruded parison having an outer polyolefin layer (14), an intermediate adhesive layer (18), and an inner product-contacting layer (16) of a polyester material such as glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate.

Abstract: A multicomponent fiber comprising one component comprising non-starch thermoplastic polymer and one component comprising a thermoplastic starch. The thermoplastic polymer component can surround the thermoplastic starch component. The thermoplastic starch can contain destructured starch and plasticizer. The multicomponent fiber has a greater elongation than a monocomponent thermoplastic fiber produced with the same thermoplastic polymer component materials and under the same processing conditions. Also provided are nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the multicomponent fibers.