Abstract: Disposable mat material comprising an abrasion resistant pervious layer of a non-woven web of bonded filaments and an absorbent layer of microfibres, the pervious and absorbent layers being bonded intermittently, characterized in that the bonds penetrate through the pervious layer and join the fibres in that layer with those in the absorbent layer. Thus water, for example, on the feet of a user, rapidly penetrates to the absorbent layer from the outer abrasion resistant layer. The bond areas not only aid the rapid absorbence, but also provide `pockets` giving an enhanced roughness.

Abstract: A process for making a melt-blown nonwoven polymeric web for use as a liquid filter medium includes increasing the air (fluid) flow and the forming distance to produce a filter medium that is more bulky and more permeable and therefore resists plugging. The melt-blown process parameters include a polymer through-put between 1.8 and 2.9 PIH, a polymer melt temperature between 530.degree. and 600.degree. F., and air flow rate between 200 and 265 SCFM per square inch, air temperature between 500.degree. and 600.degree. F., forming distance between 12 and 23 inches, and a collector vacuum between 0.5 and 1.0 inch of water.

Abstract: A combination spot seeder and tree harvesting mechanism which has a cylindrical seed canister with a top filler opening and a bottom dispensing opening. The spot seeder has a shaft with a seed pocket milled in it which shaft is slideably fitted within the dispensing opening for movement between a retracted position with the seed pocket inside the seed canister and an extended position with the seed pocket outside the seed canister. The seed pocket and the dispensing opening both have rounded edges to minimize damage to the seeds as the seed pocket is closed off by the dispensing opening. The spot seeder is mounted on a feller-buncher head, and the shaft is activated by each cutting stroke of the feller-buncher head.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal retaining fabric laminate which can be used as a hot or cold pack to impart heated or cooled treatment liquids to the skin of a user. The laminate consists in sequence of a skin contact layer for absorbing, holding, and delivering the treatment liquid, a nonporous or low porous first barrier layer, a reservoir layer for absorbing and holding heat retention liquid, and a nonporous second barrier layer. The laminate has an open edge. The barrier layers serve to inhibit the release of vapor while the fabric laminate is in contact with the skin of a user thereby decreasing heat loss resulting from evaporation and increasing the time that the fabric laminate retains its heat. In one embodiment, the first barrier layer between the skin contact layer and the reservoir layer is of low porosity which when the fabric laminate is heated rapidly allows for the escape of vapor so that the vapor pressure created in the reservoir layer will not delaminate the fabric laminate.

Abstract: Nonwoven wiper having improved absorbency characteristics and streak-free wiping properties having a laminate construction including a relatively high basis weight middle layer of meltblown thermoplastic microfibers with fibers added and, on one side, a lightweight layer of generally continuous filament thermoplastic fibers having a larger average diameter with a microfiber layer on the other side. These wipers are strong, fabric-like, and are useful for a wide variety of applications including industrial uses, food services, as well as many others. The continuous filament layers provide strength and low lint properties while the combination exhibits improved wiping characteristics. The laminate is preferably bonded by application of heat and pressure and the individual compounents are preferably treated with a surfactant.

Abstract: There is disclosed a nonwoven wiper comprising a composite web made of a number of interbonded layers of meltblown thermoplastic fibers. The outer layers have average pore sizes greater than 20 microns and preferably greater than 40 microns for rapid pick up of liquid. The internal layers have average pore sizes between 10-20 microns for liquid holding capacity.

Abstract: A covering for a mechanical linkage comprises a material which is substantially impermeable to both liquid and particle contaminants and conforms to the outer surface of the mechanical linkage. Because the covering conforms to the surface of the mechanical linkage, the covering does not have loose portions that billow and rub together as the mechanical linkage operates. This lessens the possibility of pieces of the covering and contaminating material detaching and falling from the mechanical linkage. The covering also comprises access openings whereby the mechanical linkage can be serviced without removing the entire covering. In a preferred embodiment, the covering comprises a plurality of sections, each section having fasteners for securing the sections about the mechanical linkage. The separate sections can be individually removed and replaced in a relatively short period of time.

Abstract: Highly effective and useful method, composition and product for annihilating harmful respiratory viruses and inhibiting the spread of diseases, including the common cold. The product includes one or more carboxylic acids such as citric, malic, succinic, benzoic and the like in an effective amount and may also include a surfactant. Embodiments include impregnated or coated substrates such as facial tissue, nonwoven materials, and the like. In one application, treated tissue, when substituted for ordinary facial tissue and used in wiping the nasal area of a person suffering from a virus-borne infection is effective in annihilating the virus on contact with the treated tissue. This, in turn, prevents the spread of the virus-related illness.

Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent food pad which absorbs exudate from food products in a package and inhibits the propagation of food-borne pathogens. The absorbent food pad contains an effective amount of an antimicrobial composition of one or more acids having the structure:R--COOHwhere R is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl; substituted lower alkyl; carboxy lower alkyl; carboxy, hydroxy lower alkyl; carboxy, halo lower alkyl; carboxy, dihydroxy lower alkyl, dicarboxy, hydroxy lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; carboxy lower alkenyl; dicarboxyl lower alkenyl; phenyl and substituted phenyl groups. In addition, the antimicrobial composition may include an anionic surfactant. More particularlly, the antimicrobial composition comprises a mixture of citric acid, malic acid, and sodium lauryl sulfate in a rate ratio of 10:5:2 by weight respectively. The antimicrobial composition is disbursed within the absorbent medium of the absorbent food pad at a concentration of between 0.04% and 0.

Abstract: A flexible and durable paper-based web particularly useful as label stock for flexible, squeezable containers. The paper web includes a substrate containing cellulose papermaking fibers. The substrate contains a fine crepe pattern that has been subjected to pressure to smooth the substrate surface. The substrate also contains as a saturant between about 15 and 75 parts by weight per 100 parts of fiber of a soft polymer saturant characterized by a glass transition in temperature from about -45.degree. C. to 0.degree. C. The resulting saturated substrate has a flexibility in the range of from about 10 mg. to 50 mg. generally and an elongation in the range of from about 15% to 35% generally with a Sheffield smoothness in the range of from about 20 to 250 generally. These properties are unique in a paper web and provide highly beneficial results in use as labels which may be repeatedly flexed on a squeezable container without wrinking.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to preparation and dispensing of moist, hot towels which has become standard practice in international airline travel and is recognized as a desired passenger convenience. Limitations on cost, storage space, and airline attendant time have restricted the airlines' ability to make such a convenience more widespread. The present invention provides a compact, efficient means for containing, preparing and dispensing moist, hot towels that overcomes these drawbacks. As disclosed, the container of the invention includes a bottom formed at least partially of heat insulating material that is adapted to contain a stack of, for example, disposable towels and that has self-supporting sidewalls. A top cover is included that is similarly shaped, but of a slightly smaller dimension so that it will fit inside the cavity of the bottom.

Abstract: Highly effective and useful method, composition and product for annihilating harmful respiratory viruses and inhibiting the spread of diseases, including the common cold. The product includes one or more carboxylic acids such as citric, malic, succinic, benzoic and the like in an effective amount and may also include a surfactant. Embodiments include impregnated or coated substrates such as facial tissue, nonwoven materials, and the like. In one application, treated tissue, when substituted for ordinary facial tissue and used in wiping the nasal area of a person suffering from a virus-borne infection is effective in annihilating the virus on contact with the treated tissue. This, in turn, prevents the spread of the virus-related illness.

Abstract: HEPA or pre-HEPA filter media are made by forming a web of melt-blown polypropylene fibers. The melt-blown process is accomplished at a low through-put of about 1 pound per inch of die width per hour and at a high fluid flow rate of about 250 to 325 standard cubic feet per minute. The resulting web has fibers with an average diameter of about 5 microns and surface pores of less than 30 microns in size. By cold calendering the web with pressure of between 100 and 300 psi, further filter efficiency can be achieved. The resulting calendered web has surface pore sizes less than 20 microns.

Abstract: A protective garment is described that is particularly suitable for application such as spray painting and the like. The garment includes a top with a "Z" closure front opening and a separate bottom. The front of both the top and bottom is made from a nonwoven having a smooth calendered outer surface and an uncalendered inner body facing surface, and the back of both the top and bottom is made from a breathable material. The result is a very high degree of comfort and protection from contamination, as well as reduced pilling and release of fibers from the garment.

Abstract: There is disclosed a radiation stabilized fabric of polypropylene polymer or copolymer of polypropylene. Radiation stabilization results from adding by weight 0.5%-1.0% of a long-chain aliphatic ester, particularly hexadecyl 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a wall panel and wall paneling system which panels include a light weight polystyrene tray having an compartment. Within the compartment is installed a insulative, resilient insert. A fabric facing or web is loosely stretched across the opening of the tray's compartment to enclose the insert within the compartment, and the fabric is glued to the walls of the tray. When the wall panel is installed, by gluing it to the existing walls, molding strips engage the side walls of the tray to hold adjacent panels together, to stretch the fabric facing more tightly across the opening of the compartment, and to expose the molding strips and side walls as uniformly spaced vertical battens.

Abstract: There is disclosed an agricultural protective fabric having characteristics which dynamically change during the growing season as a result of the degradation of one of the fabric layers. The fabric is a two layer fabric of a nondegradable spun-bonded layer and a degradable melt-blown layer. During the early part of the season the melt-blown layer provides additional protection from frost. In one embodiment, as a result of ultraviolet light, the melt-blown layer degrades to provide less insulation and greater permeability.

Abstract: There is disclosed nonwoven composite fabric comprising a central melt-blown web preferably formed of collected, entangled, elastic or adhesive nonwoven fibers comprising poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate), where the central web is polar and of relatively low melting point. This central web is positioned next to or bonded to two other insulative nonwoven webs of non-polar, melt-blown fibers, which in turn are positioned next to or bonded to two outer nonwoven webs of spun-bonded fibers. The composites are useful for health care fabrics such as drapes, protective covers, and the like.

Abstract: A thermoplastic material extrusion mechanism is provided which includes a die head having a centrally disposed high velocity gas delivery means adapted to continuously emit a jet of a gas having shear layers, at least one chamber for the thermoplastic material, thermoplastic material delivery means arranged at least partially surrounding the centrally disposed high velocity gas delivery means for directing extruded thermoplastic material emitted from the thermoplastic material delivery means toward the gas jet, causing the extruded thermoplastic material to be introduced into the shear layers of the gas jet, and a thermoplastic material conduit which communicates the at least one chamber with each of the thermoplastic material extrusion openings.