Abstract: A surfactant composition useful for imparting durability and wettability to a substrate includes first and second surfactants in combination. The first surfactant includes a compound selected from ethoxylated hydrogenated fatty oils, monosaccharides, monosaccharide derivatives, polysaccharides, polysaccharide derivatives, and combinations thereof. The second surfactant includes an organosilicon compound. The surfactant composition can be applied as an aqueous emulsion to a substrate such as a nonwoven web, to provide enhanced wettability after repeated washing cycles.

Abstract: A light-stable colored composition which includes a colorant and a radiation transorber. The colorant, in the presence of the radiation transorber, is adapted, upon exposure of the transorber to specific, narrow bandwidth radiation, to be mutable. The radiation transorber also imparts light-stability to the colorant so that the colorant does not fade when exposed to sunlight or artificial light.

Abstract: Throughdried tissue products such as facial tissue, bath tissue, and paper towels are made using a throughdrying fabric having from about 5 to about 300 machine direction impression knuckles per square inch (per 6.45 square centimeters) which are raised above the plane of the fabric. These impression knuckles create corresponding protrusions in the throughdried sheet which impart a significant amount of cross-machine direction stretch to the sheet. In addition, other properties such as bulk, absorbent capacity, absorbent rate and flexibility are also improved.

Abstract: An individually wrapped absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin which is simple, compact, sanitary, and easy to unwrap for use and to dispose of after use. The absorbent article avoids the need for a separate peel strip and pouch because it is provided with a wrapper that can be folded into a pouch. Substantially the entire backsheet of the absorbent article directly faces the wrapper and is secured to it to form an assembly. In the case of a winged or tabbed type absorbent article, this configuration obviates the need for a separate peel strip to cover the garment adhesive located on the wings or tabs. The assembly is wrapped by folding the lateral flaps thereof longitudinally over one another to enclose the article to prevent the garment adhesive from becoming contaminated. The package is then tri-folded laterally to form an e-shaped pouch. Wrapping and folding are performed by an in-line process that uses simple equipment and that does not require reversal in the direction of article conveyance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a breathable laminate including an oriented microporous elastomeric film and at least one support layer bonded to the film. The present invention also relates to a process for forming the breathable laminate including the step of stretching a filled film to produce a microporous film before bonding it to a support.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a facial tissue dispensing system which is a portable, flexible pack for dispensing large tissues. The portable, flexible pack container is thin yet contains regular-sized or large-sized tissues for cleaning in the alternative to paper towels or rags. Before being placed into the container, each of the tissues is first reversibly folded three times onto itself to decrease the size of the tissue in first or lateral dimension and is second reversibly folded onto itself at least one time to decrease the size of the tissue in a second or longitudinal dimension, which is generally perpendicular to the first dimension. The tissues are folded such that they unfold as they pass through the tissue dispensing opening of the container. The tissue dispensing opening may be covered by a resealable closure flap. In this manner, tissues are kept from the environment to keep them clean and dry.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, is provided having an absorbent between a cover and a baffle. The absorbent article also includes an inwardly directed attachment panel adapted to be folded around at least a portion of the crotch of the undergarment. To facilitate ease of placing the sanitary napkin in an undergarment prior to use, the panel is held in an outward direction, relative to the longitudinal side of the absorbent, by a frangible securement bond. The frangible fastener is affixed to one surface of the panel and has a bond strength of less than about 500 grams. When the wearer is ready to secure the article in the undergarment, the bond is easily broken by the wearer and the panel is appropriately positioned.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, incontinent pad, sanitary napkin and the like that has as a component of the absorbent core a fluff cellulosic material. The absorbent core is especially effective and efficient for absorbing body fluids contacting the surface of the absorbent article. The absorbent core comprises a first absorbent layer having a fluff cellulosic material and a second absorbent layer of a resilient cellulosic material. The first absorbent layer can have an acquisition orifice so the second absorbent layer can quickly acquire any discharged body fluids. The absorbent article exhibits excellent wet crush recovery substantially without the use of polymeric or polyolefinic materials in either of the absorbent layers. The absorbent core when laterally crushed to approximately 40% of its initial dimension will recover to at least about 70% of its initial, precrushed dimension.

Abstract: The process friendly garments include a waste containment structure that has an absorbent core which is positioned between a wearer and a backsheet, and a cover joined to the pant structure.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article defines a first side portion, a second side portion, and a longitudinal centerline between the side portions. The absorbent article comprises an outer cover and an absorbent insert which is connected to the outer cover. The outer cover comprises a first side panel which is located in the first side portion of the absorbent article and a second side panel which is located in the second side portion of the absorbent article. An edge of the first side panel is connected to an edge of the second side panel to provide a seam which extends along the longitudinal centerline between the side portions of the absorbent article. The opposite waist regions on each side panel are configured to encircle the legs of the wearer and releasably engage together about the hips of the wearer. The disposable absorbent article has an aesthetically pleasing garment-like appearance and is readily refastenable about the hips of the wearer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoplastic composition that comprises a unreacted mixture of polyethylene oxide polymer and a multicarboxylic acid. One embodiment of such a thermoplastic composition is a mixture of polyethylene oxide polymer and adipic acid. The thermoplastic composition is capable of being extruded into fibers that may be formed into nonwoven structures that may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Abstract: A golf bag with integrally formed, automatically retractable golf bag stand is provided including a golf bag having a rigid open top and a rigid closed bottom with a tubular intermediate portion therebetween. The top is open for the positioning of golf clubs therethrough for support on the bottom and within an interior space of the intermediate. The bag further includes a pivotal foot pivotally coupled to the bottom of the bag. A pair of legs are pivotally coupled with respect to the bag. The legs have lower ends adapted to support the bag in a tripod orientation in association with the bottom of the bag. A pair of actuation rods have upper ends pivotally coupled to the legs and lower ends coupled to the pivotal foot at the bottom of the bag.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adhesive that exhibits desired oil-resistance and processing properties. The adhesive is suitable for use in elastic composites and disposable absorbent products. In one embodiment, the adhesive exhibits the following properties: an Elastic Modulus value that is greater than about 4.times.10.sup.5 dynes per square centimeter at 40.degree. C. across the frequency range of about 0.1 to about 100 radians per second; an Elastic Modulus in Oil value that is greater than about 4.times.10.sup.5 dynes per square centimeter at 40.degree. C. across the frequency range of about 0.1 to about 100 radians per second; a Viscosity value of less than about 40,000 centipoise at a temperature of about 275.degree. F.; and a Viscosity value of greater than about 60,000 centipoise at a temperature of about 250.degree. F.

Abstract: A method of generating reactive species which includes exposing a photoreactor composition to radiation, in which the photoreactor composition comprises a wavelength-specific sensitizer associated with one or more reactive species-generating photoinitiators. Also described are methods of polymerizing unsaturated monomers and curing an unsaturated oligomer/monomer mixture.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a moving substrate includes a cutter nozzle connected to a movable support. A supplying mechanism provides a cutting fluid to the cutter nozzle at a pressure which provides for a fluid flow rate from the cutter nozzle which is sufficient to cut the substrate in a selected cut pattern. A designating mechanism identifies a plurality of selected article lengths along the substrate, and a transporting mechanism moves the substrate at a predetermined speed along the machine direction during the cutting of the substrate. An actuating servo moves the cutter nozzle along a selected cutting path, and a regulating mechanism controls the actuating servo by employing a selected, electronically stored data set. The data set is configured to move the actuating servo in a selected sequence, and the sequence has a predetermined correspondence with the movement of the substrate to thereby direct the cutter nozzle along the selected cutting path and provide the selected cut pattern on the substrate.

Abstract: Copolymer DMC-catalyzed polyoxypropylene polyols which exhibit processing latitude similar to base-catalyzed copolymer analogs and homopolyoxypropylene analogs may be prepared by oxyalkylation with a mixture of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide such that a finite ethylene oxide content is maintained in the oxyalkylation reactor for the most substantial part of the oxyalkylation, the polyoxypropylene polyol having randomly distributed oxyethylene moieties which constitute 1.5 weight percent or more of the polyol product. Block copolymer polyols having external blocks containing lesser oxyethylene content than internal blocks and bicompositional compositions containing discrete multimodal and dissimilar and optionally multimodal polyols produced by a continuous addition of starter process are useful as polyols exhibiting greater processing latitude.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of precisely preloading a bearing onto a shaft is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base plate and a support mounted to and extending upward from the base plate. The support is capable of supporting a shaft. The shaft has a shoulder, a tapered surface adjacent to the shoulder and a threaded portion adjacent to the tapered surface. A shim is positioned on the shaft adjacent to the shoulder and a bearing is positioned adjacent to the shim. The bearing has an inner race, an outer race and a plurality of roller elements positioned therebetween. The bearing is preloaded onto the shaft by a lock nut which is secured to the threaded portion of the shaft and which contacts the inner race of the bearing. The apparatus further includes a motor mounted to the base plate and an output shaft which is axially aligned with and connectable to the outer race of the bearing. The motor is capable of rotating the outer race of the bearing at a predetermined speed.