Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a thin incontinence pad or pantyliner, is disclosed which has an absorbent core formed from multiple layers of blended material for providing protection against involuntary urine loss. A method of forming the absorbent article is also disclosed. The absorbent article includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner, a liquid-impermeable baffle, and first and second absorbents positioned between the liner and the baffle. The first absorbent is a stabilized material containing a superabsorbent and has a predetermined basis weight. The second absorbent is also a stabilized material containing a superabsorbent. The second absorbent is positioned below the first absorbent and has a basis weight that is at least equal to the basis weight of the first absorbent.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is disclosed having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The absorbent article has first, second and third pairs of leg elastics secured between an outer cover and an inner liner. The first, second and third leg elastics are arranged around each of the pair of leg openings with each of the third pair of leg elastics being positioned intermediate one of each of the first and second pairs of leg elastics. Each of the third pair of leg elastics is also separated from one of the first pair of leg elastics by a first gap and from one of the second pair of leg elastics by a second gap.

Abstract: A dispenser is disclosed which is capable of dispensing articles from two locations. The dispenser includes first and second members pivotally connected together by a first hinge to form a first entrance into the dispenser. The first and second members are capable of housing a plurality of wet or dry, sheet-like articles. The first entrance provides reach-in access wherein multiple sheet-like articles can be withdrawn at one time. The second member also has a second entrance formed therein from which the sheet-like articles can be individually withdrawn. The dispenser further includes a third member secured to the first member by a hinge that is coaxially aligned with the first hinge. The third member is capable of pivoting on its hinge to cover the second entrance.

Abstract: A method of forming a waist band on an absorbent article is disclosed. The method includes forming stretchable front and back panels and attaching an elastic band to at least one of the panels. Each elastic band is cantilevered outward from a distal end of the panel to which it is attached. An absorbent assembly is also secured between the front and back panels. The method further includes folding one panel over the other panel so that the outer ends of the elastic bands are aligned approximately even to one another. The first and second side edges of the front panel, back panel and elastic bands are then joined together by a pair of seams to form an absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.

Abstract: A dispensing aid is disclosed for facilitating removal of an individual product from a compressed package. The compressed package has multiple sides and contains a plurality of compressed products arranged in a row. Each of the products has first and second major surfaces. An opening is formed in the compressed package and is aligned perpendicular to the first major surface of at least one of the products. The opening is sized to allow the products to be individually withdrawn. A sheath is sized to contain one of the products to be withdrawn from the compressed package. The sheath to an adjacent sheath has an average coefficient of friction value which is lower than the average coefficient of friction value of a first product to an adjacent product. The sheath functions to reduce the force needed to remove the contained product from the compressed package.

Abstract: A refastenable pant-like disposable undergarment for absorbing human discharge is disclosed. The undergarment includes a front panel, a back panel, and an absorbent assembly secured therebetween. The front and back panels are joined together to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. A pair of tear lines is formed in the front panel with each extending from the waist opening to one of the respective leg openings. A pair of attachment members is secured across the pair of tear lines and one side of the attachment members is removeably fastened to the front panel. The undergarment further includes a pair of ear flaps formed in the front panel under the pair of attachment members. Each ear flap extends to a portion of one of the pair of tear lines and is fixed to one of the attachment members. As the attachment members are opened, the pair of ear flaps will cause the pair of tear lines to break.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is disclosed having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The absorbent article has first, second and third pairs of leg elastics secured between an outer cover and an inner liner. The first, second and third leg elastics are arranged around each of the pair of leg openings with each of the third pair of leg elastics being positioned intermediate one of each of the first and second pairs of leg elastics. Each of the third pair of leg elastics is also separated from one of the first pair of leg elastics by a first gap and from one of the second pair of leg elastics by a second gap.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a thin incontinence pad or pantyliner, is disclosed which has an absorbent core formed from multiple layers of blended material for providing protection against involuntary urine loss. A method of forming the absorbent article is also disclosed. The absorbent article includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner, a liquid-impermeable baffle, and first and second absorbents positioned between the liner and the baffle. The first absorbent is a stabilized material containing a superabsorbent and has a predetermined basis weight. The second absorbent is also a stabilized material containing a superabsorbent. The second absorbent is positioned below the first absorbent and has a basis weight that is at least equal to the basis weight of the first absorbent.

Abstract: A pant-like disposable garment for absorbing human discharge is disclosed. The pant-like garment includes a front panel, a back panel, and an absorbent assembly. The absorbent assembly includes a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent positioned therebetween. The absorbent assembly further including a pair of end edges and is secured to the front panel and to the back panel. The front and back panels are joined together by a pair of seams to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The garment also includes a pair of perforation lines formed in the front panel with each being aligned non-parallel to one of the seams. The garment further includes a pair of attachment members which overlap the pair of perforation lines. The pair of perforation lines and the pair of attachment members function to allow the waist opening to be easily opened and closed more than once.

Abstract: A dispenser is disclosed which can house a plurality of folded wet wipes, each having a width. The dispenser includes first and second members pivotally connected together to form an enclosed dispenser having a transverse axis. The first and second members are formed from a semi-rigid material. The dispenser has a height of about 2.5 inches or less and has a top wall with an entrance formed therein. The entrance has a surface area of from between about 15 cm2 to about 95 cm2. The folded wet wipes having a normalized separation force between two adjacent sheets of less than about 65 g/cm. The entrance also has a dimension measured along the transverse axis that when divided by the width of one of the folded wet wipes is at least about 0.7.

Abstract: A disposable pant-like undergarment is disclosed having stretchable front and back panels. An elastic band is secured to at least one of the front and back panels. The elastic band has a retracted length less than the retracted length of the panel to which it is secured. An absorbent assembly including a liquid pervious bodyside liner, a liquid-impervious outer cover, and an absorbent positioned therebetween, is secured to the front and back panels. The absorbent assembly is capable of being folded to enable the front panel to overlap the back panel. A pair of seams joins the front panel, the back panel and the elastic band together at their side edges to form a pant-like undergarment having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The elastic band creates a snug fit at the waist opening.

Abstract: A method of forming a disposable, refastenable absorbent article is disclosed. The method includes directing a first material parallel to and spaced apart from a second material. A pair of lines of perforations is formed across the width of the first material. A pair of attachment members is then secured to the first material such that each bridges across one of the pair of lines of perforations. An absorbent assembly is secured across the first and second materials to form a subassembly. The subassembly is then folded and the first and second materials are bonded together by first and second seam lines. The first and second materials are then separated at locations outward from each of the first and second seam lines to form a disposable, refastenable absorbent article.

Abstract: A package is disclosed having an enclosed compartment with a pair of oppositely aligned walls and a perimeter. An array of compressible articles is retained in the enclosed compartment in an initial orientation. The package also includes an opening mechanism capable of being activated to provide an opening into the enclosed compartment. The opening is of sufficient size to allow the articles to be individually removed. The package further includes an expansion member secured to the enclosed compartment and capable of expanding outward through the opening. The expansion member permits removal of the articles from the opened package while retaining the remaining articles in their initial orientation.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of co-extruding a first component and a second component. The first component has a recovery percentage R1 and the second component has a recovery percentage R2, wherein R1 is higher than R2. The first and second components are directed through a spin pack to form a plurality of continuous, molten fibers. The plurality of molten fibers is then routed through a quenching chamber to form a plurality of continuous cooled fibers. The plurality of continuous cooled fibers is then routed through a drawing unit to form a plurality of continuous, solid linear fibers. The linear fibers are then deposited onto a moving support, such ass a forming wire, to form an accumulation or fibers. The accumulation of fibers are stabilized and bonded to form a web. The web is then stretched by at least 50 percent in at least one direction before being allowed to relax.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of co-extruding a first component and a second component. The first component has a recovery percentage R1 and the second component has a recovery percentage R2, wherein R1 is higher than R2. The first and second components are directed through a spin pack to form a plurality of continuous, molten fibers. The molten fibers are then muted through a quenching chamber to form a plurality of continuous cooled fibers. The coiled fibers are then routed through a drawing unit to form a plurality of continuous, solid linear fibers. Each of the solid fibers is then stretched by at least 50 percent before it is allowed to relax. The relaxation step forms the linear fibers into a plurality of continuous 3-dimensional fibers each having a coiled configuration over at least a portion of its length. The continuous 3-dimensional, coiled fibers are then deposited onto a moving support to form a web.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laminate and absorbent articles made from the laminate where it can be used as an outer cover. In one embodiment, the laminate includes: a liquid-impermeable first layer having a first surface, a second layer having an interior surface adjacent the first surface and an exterior surface, at least a portion of the interior surface is joined to the first surface by an adhesive applied to the exterior surface, and the adhesive having a first bond peel strength of about 1 g/mm or greater. In another embodiment, the laminate induces: a liquid-impermeable first layer having a first surface, a nonwoven second layer having an interior surface adjacent the first surface and an exterior surface, at least a portion of the interior surface is joined to the first surface by first bonds having a first bond peel strength about 1 g/mm or greater, and at least a portion of the interior surface is joined to the first surface by second bonds having a second bond peel strength about 3 g/mm or less.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a commode liner made from a first and a second opposing member defining a top with an opening, a bottom, and a pair of opposing sides. The pair of opposing sides includes a separation distance D, which varies from the top to the bottom, and the distance D is larger at the top than at the bottom. The opposing members can be formed from a latently dispersible barrier composite material including an exposed low strength barrier component, an internal water sensitive layer, and a water permeable, inextensible, water dispersible support layer. When exposed to aqueous conditions on the barrier side, the composite prevents it from passing through to the other layers. When exposed to aqueous conditions on the opposite side, the commode liner readily disperses and may be disposed of by flushing in a toilet, for example. Examples of barrier layers include polylactic acid. Examples of water sensitive layers include polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A combination for managing the involuntary loss of bladder control is disclosed along with a method of using and manufacturing the combination. The combination includes an anti-incontinent agent capable of reducing urinary loss and an absorbent article capable of absorbing urine that is lost from the body. The anti-incontinent agent is enclosed in a first wrapper and the absorbent article is positioned adjacent to the wrapped anti-incontinent agent. A pouch encloses the wrapped anti-incontinent agent and the absorbent article to keep both items sanitary. A combination of a disposable absorbent article and information related to an anti-incontinent agent is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a discrete portion of a first web traveling at a first speed onto a second web traveling a second speed. The apparatus includes a converting mechanism capable of forming at least one discrete portion out of the first web. An anvil roll is positioned in close proximity to the converting mechanism and can travel at a rotational speed equal to the first speed. The anvil roll is a vacuum roll that is capable of directing the discrete portion away from the converting mechanism. A transfer roll is arranged in close proximity to the anvil roll and initially travels at a rotational speed equal to the first speed. The transfer roll forms a gap with the anvil roll through which the discrete portion can pass. The transfer roll is also a vacuum roll that is capable of directing the discrete portion away from the anvil roll. The transfer roll is capable of changing rotational speed to match the second speed during a single revolution.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the efficiency of an absorbent article having first and second absorbent layers. The method comprises the steps of selecting a density for the first absorbent layer and for the second absorbent layer. A basis weight for each of the first and second absorbent layers is selected which is at least about 100 grams per square meter. A desired percentage of a superabsorbent to be present in each of the first and second absorbent layers is also selected. The percentage of a superabsorbent present in the first absorbent layer is greater than the percentage of a superabsorbent present in the second absorbent layer.