Abstract: A form-fitting, pant-like, absorbent garment that does not result in bagging and wrinkling of the bodyside liner. The garment has a stretchable outer cover and a non-stretchable bodyside liner with a free-floating absorbent assembly located between the stretchable outer cover and the non-stretchable bodyside liner. A pair of highly stretchable side panels and/or at least one highly stretchable waist member are attached to the non-stretchable bodyside liner. The total transverse stretchability of the side panels is roughly equal to the transverse stretchability of the outer cover, thereby enabling the outer cover to stretch freely without inhibiting the non-stretchable bodyside liner. Alternatively, or additionally, the total longitudinal stretchability of the waist members is roughly equal to the longitudinal stretchability of the outer cover, thereby also enabling the outer cover to stretch freely without inhibiting the non-stretchable bodyside liner.

Abstract: A liner system suitable for use in personal care absorbent products having a composite material including a substructure applied to a first layer. The first layer and the substructure define a plurality of voids for accommodating passage of fluids through the composite material. In one embodiment, high viscosity fluids including the particles contained therein pass through a plurality of apertures in the first layer. The voids defined by the first layer and the substructure entrap the particles to accommodate passage of fluids through the composite material.

Abstract: A stack of face masks is disclosed. The stack is formed from a plurality of shaped face masks having an inside surface and an outside surface. The inside surface includes a periphery with an adhesive material disposed on at least a portion thereof. The masks are positioned in a nestled relation to one another, the inside surface of the mask being apposed to the outside surface of an adjacent mask, thereby forming a stack. The masks are adapted to maintain a distance between apposed masks so that the periphery of a mask does not contact the outside surface of an apposed mask.

Abstract: A coreless roll winder includes two sets of belts traveling in opposite directions. A cigarette of web material is formed, and the web is wound around the cigarette by the contact with the belts. The roll formed from the winding is transported to the downstream end of the belts and separated from the rest of the web.

Abstract: A personal care absorbent article, such as a sanitary pad or napkin, wound dressing, and the like having one or more layers of absorbent material treated with a red blood cell lysing agent and a gelling agent. The effect of combining a lysing agent that thins menses or other blood-containing bodily fluids with a gelling agent that thickens menses or other blood-containing bodily fluids is enhanced agglomeration and increased viscosity of the blood-containing bodily fluids that come in contact with the treated material.

Abstract: A method for producing a material having z-direction waves in which a layer of continuous fibers is conveyed on a first moving surface into a nip formed by the first moving surface and a second moving surface which is traveling at a slower speed than the first moving surface, resulting in formation of a plurality of z-direction loops in the fibers giving loft to the material and a wave pattern producing ridges on both major surfaces of the resultant nonwoven web. The method permits easy real time alignment of manufacturing parameters to produce a variety of materials. The method further produces lofty nonwovens at a commercially viable rate.

Abstract: A novel article and method are disclosed for reducing malodor in disposable products for the absorption of body fluids. An effective amount of pentitol is applied to a disposable absorbent material, prior to its use. In one aspect, the invention provides a water-swellable, water-insoluble, hydrogel-forming polymeric absorbent material. In one aspect, the pentitol is compositionally part of the absorbent structure or is coated on the absorbent material present in the absorbent structure. The pentitol preferably is located in the area of insult, i.e., that area of the absorbent product to be exposed to the body fluid intended to be absorbed. The pentitol in the novel article and method of the present invention is a compound selected from the group consisting of ribitol, D-arabinitol, L-arabinitol, and xylitol or a combination of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of ribitol, D-arabinitol, L-arabinitol, and xylitol effective in preventing malodor.

Abstract: A disposable waste containment article includes a waste containment structure that has an absorbent composite which is positioned between the wearer and cover, and a pair of containment flaps operatively joined to the waste containment structure. The waste containment structure defines an open volume well formed between the absorbent core and the containment flaps for receiving directly and holding solid body exudates. Methods are provided for making the waste containment article.

Abstract: A process for splicing a first portion of absorbent material to a second portion of absorbent material to form a longer, continuous length of absorbent material suitable for uninterrupted sequential infeed to a processing machine. The process includes the steps of placing a trailing end of the first portion adjacent a leading end of the second portion and aligning the ends. A piece of splicing material is attached to the ends. The piece of splicing material has a fluid permeability at least about as great as a fluid permeability of the first portion of absorbent material and at least about as great as a fluid permeability of the second portion of absorbent material. In other aspects, the disclosure includes a spliced, continuous length of absorbent material, and a personal care absorbent article formed from the spliced absorbent material.

Abstract: New methods for and patterns of applying meltsprayed materials in single-layer web and laminate constructions so as to control various characteristics in the webs and laminates is provided. The patterns of adhesive produce scrim or cell-like patterns that allow for control of desirable characteristics. For example, the loft of a laminate may be enhanced, as well as strength properties.

Abstract: In a method of making an absorbent composite, a porous, stabilized structure is formed and impregnated with a flowable superabsorbent precursor. The flowable superabsorbent precursor is cross-linked to form a superabsorbent material within the stabilized structure. The surface area of one of the flowable superabsorbent precursor impregnated with the stabilized structure and the superabsorbent material formed within the structure is increased. In one embodiment, the surface is increased by freeze drying the impregnated structure.

Abstract: A tissue product containing a multi-layered paper web that has at least one layer formed from a blend of pulp fibers and synthetic fibers is provided. By containing at least one layer of synthetic and pulp fibers, it has been discovered that lint and slough of a tissue product formed according to the present invention can be substantially reduced. In addition, by limiting the amount and layers to which the synthetic fibers are applied, the increase in hydrophobicity and cost of the tissue product may be minimized, while still achieving the desired reduction in lint and slough. In some embodiments, the tendency of the synthetic fibers to sink or float in the fibrous furnish may be minimized to enhance processability by selecting certain types of synthetic fibers, e.g., those with a certain density imbalance.

Abstract: A superabsorbent composition comprising a superabsorbent material and an elastomer. The superabsorbent composition has a two-phase morphology resulting in one of the superabsorbent material and elastomer being dispersed as aggregates in the other continuous material. The superabsorbent composition has a low glass transition temperature. The low glass transition temperature gives the superabsorbent composition many beneficial properties. This invention also discloses novel superabsorbent particles, fibers, films, and microporous films. Also disclosed in this invention are personal care articles comprising such particles, fibers, films and microporous films.

Abstract: A process for producing tissue webs is disclosed. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an improved process for drying webs. According to the present invention, a formed web still containing a substantial amount of moisture is passed through a nip formed between a press roll and a heated drum. When passed through the nip, the web is placed on a porous fabric. The web is then carried through the nip for a period of time and subjected to temperatures and pressures sufficient to create a steam front which travels through the web and expels a significant amount of moisture from the web through the porous fabric.

Abstract: This invention relates to a latent polymer composite which contains a heat-sensitive polymer material and a microwave sensitizer. The latent polymer material is inelastic in the latent state but can be made elastic with the addition of heat. The microwave sensitizer is a solid material blended uniformly into the latent polymer composite. The sensitizer absorbs microwave radiation and heats the heat-sensitive polymer material. The polymer composite becomes elastic under microwave radiation or thermal energy. The latent polymer composite can bonded to a fibrous sheet to form a latent laminate material. When exposed to microwave radiation, the latent laminate material becomes an elastic laminate. The latent polymer composite of the laminate shrinks and returns to an elastic state creating an elastic laminate material. The polymer composite of this invention has a rough surface created by the sensitizer particles.

Abstract: A system for cutting cores used to wind up web materials or as a base structure for containers and other devices is provided. The system uses a core guidance tube in one aspect to position a continuously forming core while a laser beam is directed at the core to cut the core into desired lengths. A method for using the system is further provided.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for simultaneously storing and dispensing premoistened tissue sheets and dry tissue sheets. The dispenser includes a housing having a compartment configured to retain a supply of tissue sheets. An adjustable support mechanism is disposed on an exterior surface of the housing sides. The support mechanism engages with a roll product support fixture and is adjustable longitudinally between the back and front of the housing to accommodate fixtures having varying length support arms.

Abstract: A fiber which includes a thermoplastic polymer and particles of a ferroelectric material dispersed therein. The thermoplastic polymer may be, for example, a polyolefin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, and the ferroelectric material may be barium titanate. The ferroelectric material may be present at a level of from about 0.01 to about 50 percent by weight (from about 0.001 to about 13 percent by volume), and will have a longest dimension in a range of from about 10 nanometers to about 10 micrometers. The fiber may be exposed to an electric field. A plurality of the fibers may be employed to form a knitted or woven fabric or a nonwoven web. Also provided is a method of preparing fibers containing particles of a ferroelectric material. The method includes destructuring the ferroelectric material in the presence of a liquid and a surfactant to give destructured particles; the liquid is a solvent for the surfactant and the surfactant is adapted to stabilize the destructured particles against agglomeration.

Abstract: Ionic superabsorbent polymers having increased swelling capacity of salt-containing solutions are disclosed. The ionic superabsorbent polymers of the present invention contain an additive to increase the osmotic activity of the polymer in the presence of a salt-containing solution. The additive used in combination with the ionic superabsorbent polymer is capable of forming a zwitterion at a pH of from about 1 to about 9, has a dipole moment greater than that of water, and has a molecular weight less than about 10,000 grams/mole.

Abstract: This invention pertains to processing continuous webs such as paper, film, composites, and the like, in dynamic continuous processing operations. More particularly, it relates to accumulating limited lengths of such continuous webs and to controlling tension in such continuous webs during the processing operation. Both tension control and limited accumulations are achieved in festoon systems by connecting corresponding movably mounted festoon rolls to an actuator, sensing parameters such as position, tension, velocity, and acceleration related to the web and the festoon, and providing active force commands, in response to the sensed variables, to cause translational movement, generally including a target acceleration, in the movably mounted festoon rolls to control tension in the web while providing limited accumulation of a length of the web. The festoon control system can be used to attenuate tension disturbances, in the alternative to create controlled tension disturbances.