Abstract: A method of using a composite waste-containment garment comprising a disposable, elasticized waste-containment insert secured by means integral with the insert inside a non-elasticized over-garment such as a conventional reuseable diaper, or a disposable diaper, or overpants, or the combination of a non-elasticized reuseable diaper covered with an outer-garment such as overpants having elasticized leg cuffs. The insert is so elasticized along its longitudinal side edges that, when properly secured inside a suitable over-garment, and the over-garment is properly applied to a wearer, the elasticized side edges of the insert are sufficiently tensioned to form liquid seals or leg cuffs along upper thigh regions of the wearer: particularly, along the inner spans of the upper thigh regions of the wearer.

Abstract: An apparatus for C-folding a running length of a covering web such as a polyethylene ribbon about a longitudinally flexible article such as a running length of a core web for making disposable diapers or a stream of longitudinally spaced discrete core segments of such a core web; i.e., a stream of absorbent cores for disposable diapers. The apparatus effects folding each longitudinal edge portion of a covering web downwardly and inwardly about an adjacent longitudinal edge region of the article as the web and the article are forwarded through the apparatus. Each longitudinal edge portion is so folded intermediate a transverse turning member which it passes under, and an oblique turning edge disposed downstream therefrom and over which it passes; and the longitudinal edge portions of the running web and the adjacent longitudinal edge regions of the article become juxtaposed upon passing over their respective oblique folding edges.

Abstract: An extensible multi-ply tissue paper product having high tensile energy absorption (TEA); high liquid absorbency; and, preferably, high tensile strength efficiency. The product comprises plies which are preferably embossed and discontinuously adhered together. The product has high tensile energy absorption by virtue of having substantial extensibility in the machine direction which, preferably, results from its constituent plies having substantial MD extensibility induced by having undergone wet and/or dry foreshortening during their manufacture. The product has synergistically high liquid absorbency by virtue of at least two plies of the product having sufficiently different stress/strain properties that one ply will sufficiently constrain unadhered portions of the other ply from being elongated in the plane of the paper when wetted that such unadhered portions of the constrained ply will pucker in the Z-direction as its foreshortening-induced internal stresses are relieved.

Abstract: A bib, preferably disposable, having a top panel, a full-width pocket having side seams, and an apron panel which pendulously depends from the transverse upper edge of the front wall of the pocket (i.e., a pocket panel) so that the weight of the apron panel acts to gravitationally open the pocket and hold it open, and so that the apron panel may be used as a face wipe without inverting the pocket. Gravitational opening of the pocket is further enabled by virtue of the transverse upper edge of the pocket panel being disposed at a higher elevation than the top ends of the side seams of the pocket when viewed with the bib in its use orientation and/or by securing together face-to-face areas of the pocket panel and the apron panel which are disposed adjacent their coextensive upper edges. Preferably such areas which are secured in face-to-face relation are centrally disposed with respect to the width of the bib.

Abstract: A bib, preferably disposable, having a top panel, a full-width pocket, and an apron panel depending below the pocket. Preferably, the apron panel pendulously depends from the upper edge of the front wall of the pocket so that the weight of the apron panel acts to gravitationally open the pocket and hold it open, and so that the apron panel may be used as a face wipe without inverting the pocket. Additionally, the top panel may be provided with transverse cuts adjacent the upper corners of the pocket and/or the end seams of the pocket may be gusseted or pleated to further promote gravitational opening of the pocket. The bib may further comprise: bendable, form-sustaining stays to enable the pocket to be manually opened and closed; a line-of-weakening to enable detaching all or a part of the apron panel for use as a post-use wipe; and a detachable neck opening portion.

Abstract: High bulk, absorbent paper having a relatively high MD elongation at rupture, and a substantially greater stress/strain modulus in the lowest one-third of its range of MD extensibility--preferably when wet--than equally machine-direction-stretchable, purely dry-foreshortened (e.g., dry-creped) paper having substantially identical MD elongation at rupture. The process includes a differential velocity transfer of a wet-laid embryonic web having relatively low fiber consistency from a carrier to a substantially slower moving, open-mesh transfer fabric having a substantial void volume; and thereafter drying the web while precluding substantial macroscopic rearrangement of the fibers in the plane of the web. The differential velocity transfer is effected without substantial compaction of the web by avoiding substantial mechanical pressing, centrifugal slinging, air blasting, and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for segmenting a continuous running web into a stream of discrete articles by cutting the web transversely at uniformly longitudinally spaced intervals; and which apparatus may also effect U-folding of each of the discrete articles. The apparatus is of the type which includes a flight of longitudinally spaced, web engaging friction plates which provide cutter access to the web through spaces intermediate adjacent friction plates. The apparatus further includes a constant clearance infeed nip which is formed in part by the spaced friction plates of the flight passing over a circumferential portion of an infeed roll having circumferentially spaced, radially extending lugs, and which lugs are configured and disposed to engage the web by extending through the spaces intermediate the spaced friction plates. Alternatively, the flight of friction plates may be integrated into a unitary apertured conveyor belt; and the cutter may be integrated into such a constant clearance nip.

Abstract: An improved ultrasonic bonding apparatus for pattern bonding juxtaposed laminae with a pattern of discrete bonds defined by a multiplicity of discrete pattern protuberances disposed on an anvil as the laminae are forwarded in the machine direction while fixedly associated with the discrete pattern protuberances. In such apparatus having the tip of an ultrasonic transducer biased towards its anvil surface, the discrete pattern protuberances are so configured and disposed on the anvil in its machine direction to obviate cobblestoning of the transducer with respect to the anvil as a patterned portion thereof is moved past the transducer tip; and/or the discrete pattern protuberances are so configured and disposed transverse the apparatus to precipitate wear--preferably even wear--of the tip of the ultrasonic transducer of the apparatus along the entirety of a line-of-contact portion thereof.

Abstract: A bib having a neck-accommodating aperture defined by a segmented perimetric edge: i.e., a segmented neck-aperture perimeter. The neck-accommodating aperture is generally oval-shape and the sheet material from which the bib is constructed has a plurality of bifurcations such as slits or notches which extend generally radially outwardly from the perimetric edge of the neck-accommodating aperture. Each pair of adjacent bifurcations define a portion of bib material which is attached to the parent bib material along only a proximal-end-defining line and which portion is designated a petal. The petals are readily conformable to a range of neck sizes and will, due to inherent resilience of the bib material, maintain a comfortable fit even during infant neck contortions. In an exemplary embodiment, the distal end portions of such petals are doubled under and have their distal ends secured adjacent their proximal ends to obviate raw cut edges of such portions from contacting users' necks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bonding together a plurality of juxtaposed webs which are subject to being ultrasonically bonded together to form a laminate as the webs are being driven forward at a relatively high velocity. The regions of the webs to be bonded are subjected to progressively increasing compressive forces while simultaneously being subjected to ultrasonic energy as they traverse an elongate portion of a predetermined path at a predetermined velocity. After the regions are ultrasonically bonded they may be subjected to another compression prior to the bonds becoming fully set upon cooling. The method may be practiced in an apparatus which includes an ultrasonic horn and an anvil which are configured and disposed to define a bonding passageway having an elongate convergent portion; and the apparatus may include a pressure roll biased towards the anvil adjacent the downstream end of the passageway.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for bonding together juxtaposed webs which are subject to being ultrasonically bonded together such as, for example, thermoplastic films or non-woven thermoplastic webs or elastomeric films to form a laminate as the webs are being driven forward at a relatively high velocity. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic horn and a power-rotated anvil cylinder which define a bonding passageway therebetween, and a rotatable pressure roll which is biased towards the anvil adjacent the downstream end of the bonding passageway to apply a predetermined level of compressive force to the bonded regions of the laminate issuing from the passageway before the bonds in the bonded regions become fully set upon cooling.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for alternately forming a predetermined stack of articles such as disposable diapers in vertically spaced ways, and then forwarding the stack as a unit from between the ways to ancillary downstream apparatus: for instance, packaging apparatus. The apparatus comprises an endless flight of nestable ways which flight is preferably continuously driven through an infeed station, and which flight has cyclical spatial dwell-and-go motion at an outfeed station. Each stack of articles is removed from between the ways at the outfeed station during such a spatial dwell of the portion of the flight of ways then disposed at the outfeed station.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously forming a cyclically contoured and densified air-laid fibrous web having alternately spaced relatively high basis weight narrow regions and relatively low basis weight wide regions. This web can be severed by spaced transverse cuts into uniform, contoured articles such as fibrous absorbent cores for disposable diapers having relatively thick, narrow and absorbent crotch areas; and relatively thin waistband regions. The apparatus comprises means for producing such a web without stepwise basis weight gradients. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an air-laying drum having an endless lay down surface which is partially masked to define a plurality of alternately spaced relatively wide areas and relatively narrow areas.

Abstract: An improved method of making imprinted paper on a Yankee dryer type papermaking machine wherein a substantial length portion of a loop of imprinting fabric post-wraps an arcuate sector of the Yankee dryer immediately after a pressure roll-Yankee dryer nip, and by being tensioned imposes radially inwardly acting compressive loading on a corresponding length portion of the web disposed between the fabric and the dryer surface. This enables, for instance, improved Yankee dryer speed, improved web tension and edge control of the paper when creped off the Yankee dryer, reduced use of adhesive on the Yankee dryer surface, improved fiber transfer efficiency, and reduced energy consumption per ton of paper made.

Abstract: A layered paper and method of making it, which paper is characterized by having a soft, relatively untextured smooth velutinous surface defined by a multiplicity of relatively flaccid papermaking fibers having unbonded free end portions of substantial length, and which surface is subjectively discernible by humans as being extremely soft and smooth. Exemplary embodiments include tissue paper, and tissue paper products comprising one or more plies of such paper. The method includes wet laying a layered web which has a relatively low bond surface layer comprising at least about 60% relatively short papermaking fibers, drying the web without imparting substantial texture thereto, breaking sufficient papermaking bonds in the surface layer to generate a velutinous surface having an FFE-Index of at least about 60 and preferably at least about 90, and calendering the dried web as required to provide said surface layer with an HTR-Texture of about 1.0 or less, and more preferably about 0.

Abstract: A microwave moderator for partially attenuating and/or modifying microwave energy to achieve, for instance, more uniform cooking of comestible articles in microwave ovens. Packages, bags, and wraps are disclosed which comprise such microwave moderators and which enable microwave cooking of frozen foods at relatively high microwave oven power levels without requiring precooking, defrosting or oven power level changes. Such a moderator may comprise an array of alternately disposed or spaced areas of microwave reflective material, and complemental-shape, substantially microwave transparent zones. One species of such moderators is exemplified by a wrap which comprises a perforate sheet of microwave reflective material; for instance, aluminum foil.

Abstract: A reinforced insulated wall construction having a core of thermal insulation material which is reinforced by high-slenderness-ratio reinforced concrete columns. High compressive and side-load strengths are achieved by centrally supporting reinforcing members in vertical passageways in the core while the remainder of each passageway is filled with a concrete slurry and by so centrally supporting the members until the slurry hardens into concrete. Further side-load strength enhancement may be achieved by encasing at least a central length portion of each concrete column in a high flexural strength structural tubular casing.

Abstract: Papermachine clothing, for instance, a loop of imprinting fabric, is disclosed which is so woven that a top-surface-plane thereof is defined by coplanar crossovers of filaments of at least two sets of filaments (i.e., warp and shute filaments) and so that sub-top-surface crossovers are distributed in a predetermined pattern throughout the clothing. Specific weaves are disclosed wherein the top-surface crossovers act corporately to define a top surface comprising a bilaterally staggered array of wicker-basket-like cavities which cavities each span at least one sub-top-surface crossover. Such clothing is particularly useful for making soft, absorbent paper of relatively low density, and relatively isotropic stretch properties when creped.

Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly debossing and perforating a ribbon of thermoplastic sheet material or film through the use of vacuum in combination with a flash heating source such as a flow of hot air. The apparatus causes a ribbon film to be forwarded from a supply such as a roll of thermoplastic material, then about a circumferentially extending portion of a rotating debossing-perforating cylinder, and then downstream where the debossed and perforated film may be further processed or where it may be wound on a spool to form a roll thereof. The debossing-perforating cylinder comprises a perforated tubular member through which a plurality of independently adjustable levels of vacuum can be applied from within the cylinder to circumferentially spaced sections of the film in contact with the exterior surface of the perforated tubular member. The apparatus further causes a virtual curtain of hot air to be directed radially inwardly towards a predetermined zone of the perforated tubular member.

Abstract: An improved absorbent product, such as a disposable diaper type garment having a wetness indicator disposed between a translucent cover member and an absorbent member. The improvement relates to providing a flexible pH-change/color-change wetness indicator coating on a surface portion of the product which is visible through the cover member, and which retains sharp edge definition of the coated surface portion when wetted; for instance, by urine. The coating is preferably applied in the form of a stripe to a portion of the inwardly facing surface of a backsheet of a disposable diaper. Such a coating comprises a solid-solid mixture (e.g., solution) of a pH-change/color-change type material dispersed in a matrix of adhesive material which coating is sufficiently flexible to not substantially impair the flexibility of the product, and which coating is sufficiently adhesive and flexible to remain on the coated surface portion through a normal period of use of the product.