Abstract: The present invention provides an embossed multi-ply tissue product that is visually pleasing and has improved physical attributes. For example, the inventive multi-ply tissue products have reduced stiffness, such as a GM Flexural Rigidity less than about 600 mg*cm, improved absorbency, such as a Residual Water (WResidual) value less than about 0.15 g, and improved wet resiliency, such as a wet elastic strain ratio greater than about 32 percent.

Abstract: A flexible container defining an interior volume and having one or more geometric deformations on one or more sidewalls is provided. The flexible container exhibits an increased rigidity due to the one or more geometric deformations such that the flexible container maintains a substantial portion of an internal volume and/or a height of the sidewall(s) of the flexible container when some or all of an article contained in the internal volume is dispensed. A method of forming a flexible container is also provided that includes forming a flexible container from a film or laminate, where one or more geometric deformations are formed on a wall of the flexible container.

Abstract: Various implementations include dispensers for a plurality of sheets of sheet material that includes at least two adjacent panels that together define a removable surfboard, wherein the two adjacent panels are joined together via a fold line. Various implementations also include blanks that can be folded into the dispensers and methods of assembling the same. In some implementations, the removable surfboard has a length of about 60% to about 80% of a length of the fold line. In addition, the removable surfboard has a medial portion and lateral portions disposed on opposite sides of the medial portion. The lateral portions defined by the first panel have a width that is greater than a width of the medial portion defined by the first panel. Additionally, in some implementations, the shape of the removable surfboard contributes to a unique look for the dispensers and the blanks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wet-laid tissue product comprising regenerated cellulose fibers that can provide 25% or less of the total weight of the wet-laid tissue product. The regenerated cellulose fibers can have a denier of less than 0.9 and a fiber length of less than 6.0 mm. The wet-laid tissue product can provide improvements in softness at a given strength.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing sheet material from one or more rolls of sheet material is provided. The dispenser includes a housing having an interior volume and a module disposed within the housing including a dispensing mechanism. The dispenser includes a transfer assembly having a rear transfer roller and a front transfer roller disposed on a transfer arm. The transfer arm is disposed in one or more walls of the module via a slot. The transfer arm is configured to be placed in an operating position or a loading position. When in the loading position, the transfer arm extends into a second portion of the slot to provide greater clearance between the front transfer roller and the drive roller to facilitate loading of the sheet material. A transfer assembly is also disclosed having a rear transfer roller disposed in a slot disposed in a second portion of the transfer arm.

Abstract: Elasticated materials and articles comprising elasticated materials are disclosed. A method may comprise advancing first and second substrate materials and a stretched elastomeric strand in the machine direction. The method may further comprise advancing the first and the second substrate materials with the elastomeric strand positioned therebetween to a bonding apparatus. The bonding apparatus may comprise first and second elements forming a bonding nip. The method may further comprise oscillating the strand in a cross-machine direction and advancing the first and second substrate materials, and the strand, through the bonding nip and bonding the first and second substrate materials together with at least first and second bonds. The first and second bonds may be disposed on opposite sides of the strand and spaced apart a distance less than its un-tensioned diameter, and the first and second bonds may be located along an arcuate portion of the strand.

Abstract: A method for increasing absorbent capacity of a superabsorbent material (SAM) by treating the SAM with a selected multifunctional chemical agent (MCA) or a combination of a plurality of selected MCAs is described herein. The selected MCA(s) may interact with the polymer chain of the SAM through one or a plurality of mechanisms that enhance the absorbent capacity of the SAM. In various preferred embodiments, SAMs include polyelectrolytes that are made from polymerizing mixtures of acrylic acid monomer and acrylic acid sodium salt, and L-arginine or lysine is selected as the MCA.

Abstract: Disclosed is a two layered belt useful in the manufacture of tissue products comprising a first woven layer and a second nonwoven layer joined together in a laminated arrangement. The woven layer typically forms the machine contacting layer of the belt and is woven from a highly abrasion resistant material, while the nonwoven layer contacts the nascent tissue web. The woven layer may be provided with valleys and ridges that the nascent web is molded into, while the nonwoven layer may be provided with elements that impart a visually aesthetic pattern to the web. In this manner the belt may be useful in the production of products having desirable physical properties resulting from molding into the woven fabric while also being visually pleasing to the user.

Abstract: Described herein are super absorbent materials (SAMs) and methods of making SAMs. The super absorbent materials are copolymerized with select redox active inorganic salts in a staged polymerization process. The copolymer-based super absorbent materials have significantly improved absorbance properties. The compositions and methods described herein are useful in a variety of absorbent products.

Abstract: An absorbent article has a top sheet, a back sheet, and an absorbent assembly positioned between the back sheet and the top sheet. The absorbent article includes a fluid intake layer positioned between the absorbent assembly and the top sheet. The fluid intake layer has a rearward-facing arch located in a back portion of the fluid intake layer. The fluid intake layer has an opening. The absorbent article includes a first lateral stiffener and a second lateral stiffener extending along a majority of the longitudinal side edges of the fluid intake layer. The absorbent article includes a first flexure, a second flexure, and a third flexure in a rear portion of the absorbent article.

Abstract: Described herein are super absorbent materials (SAMs) and methods of making SAMs. The SAMs are copolymerized after formation of monomer complexes to incorporate select inorganic salts into the polymerized SAMS. The SAMs are copolymerized with select stable inorganic salts and/or with select redox active inorganic salts. The SAMS are copolymerized in a single-step polymerization process or in a staged polymerization process. The copolymer-based SAMs have significantly improved absorbance properties. The compositions and methods described herein are useful in a variety of absorbent products.

Abstract: Three dimensional nonwoven materials and methods of manufacturing such materials are disclosed. In one embodiment, a nonwoven material may comprise a plurality of fibers and may further comprise an opposing first surface and a second surface, an apertured zone comprising a plurality of nodes extending away from a base plane on the first surface, a plurality of connecting ligaments interconnecting the plurality of nodes, and a plurality of openings providing a percent open area for the apertured zone that is greater than about 15%, as determined by the Material Sample Analysis Test Method. The material may further comprise a first and second side zones with the nonwoven material having a material width and the first and second side zones having first and second side zone widths, and wherein each of the first and second side zone widths are between about 5% and about 25% of the nonwoven material width.

Abstract: Disclosed are non-wood pulps having a fiber length greater than about 1.70 mm and a brightness of about 80% or greater. The relatively high degree of brightness is achieved without a loss fiber length or pulp yield. The high degree of brightness and relatively long fiber length makes the pulps well suited for the manufacture of wet-laid fibrous products, particularly wet-laid tissue products. The pulps may be prepared from plants of the family Asparagaceae by mechanical pulping and more preferably by a chemi-mechanical pulping using a sodium hydroxide alkaline peroxide solution where the primary pulp is cleaned to reduce debris prior to bleaching. Preferably the cleaned primary pulp has less than about 5% debris prior to bleaching.

Abstract: An absorbent article (10, 110) can include a waist containment member (54) with a first longitudinal side edge (72), a second longitudinal side edge (74), a proximal portion (76), an intermediate portion (77), and a distal portion (78). The proximal portion (76) can be coupled to the chassis (11) of the absorbent article (10, 110). The intermediate portion (77) can be free to move independent of the proximal portion (76) and the distal portion (78) and free to move independent of the body facing surface (19) of the chassis (11) to provide a containment pocket (82) for containing body exudates. The distal portion (78) can be disposed underneath the intermediate portion (77) when the absorbent article (10, 110) is in the stretched, laid-flat configuration. The waist containment member (54) can also include a first lateral tack-down region (83a) and a second lateral tack-down region (83b).

Abstract: Disclosed are non-wood pulps having a fiber length greater than about 1.70 mm and a Very Long Fiber (VLF) content of about 0.50% or less. The fibers are readily dispersible in water and useful in the formation of fibrous sheets, particularly wet-laid sheets and more particularly wet-laid tissue sheets having a relatively low basis weight. In addition of having a relatively long fiber length and a low VLF content, the pulps may also have a Dispersivity Index of about 2.00 or less, which is indicative of a relatively narrow fiber length distribution. The pulps may be prepared from plants of the family Asparagaceae by mechanical pulping and more preferably by a chemi-mechanical pulping process using an alkaline and hydrogen peroxide where the plant biomass is cut to size prior to pulping.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a liquid-handling system includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner; a liquid impermeable outer cover; and an absorbent core disposed between the liner and the outer cover, wherein the absorbent core has a longitudinal direction, wherein the absorbent core includes a layer of a three-dimensionally patterned, wetlaid, cellulosic tissue nonwoven material, and wherein the layer includes longitudinal ridges and grooves. The absorbent core can include multiple layers of a three-dimensionally patterned, wetlaid, cellulosic tissue nonwoven material, wherein each layer of the multiple layers includes longitudinal ridges and grooves, and wherein the multiple layers are joined by lines of embossing, such lines of embossing extending in the longitudinal direction. Each layer of the multiple layers can include embossed longitudinal ridges and grooves.

Abstract: Methods for producing a dispenser for dispensable products are disclosed. The method includes attaching a label to the front plate of the dispenser by an in-mold process. The label has a label height (H2) that is less than the front plate height (H1) and label width (W2) that is less than the front plate width (W1) such that a border is formed around at least a portion of the label in the front plate. The front plate can be formed from a transparent material while the label is formed from an opaque material.