Abstract: Systems and methods for shrink wrap bundling a group of heat-sensitive products are provided. A method comprises: providing a heating oven with a convective heat source and a radiant electromagnetic energy source therein and a product; and wrapping the product with a shrink film that comprises an activation temperature and an electromagnetic energy absorbance level. The method also comprises: placing the wrapped product inside the heating oven for a predetermined duration of residence time; exposing the wrapped product to radiant electromagnetic energy for a predetermined duration of exposure time, wherein the direction of the electromagnetic energy is coincidental or approximately coincidental with a plane of the shrink film; and removing the wrapped product from the heating oven resulting in the wrapped product being robustly bundled according to a defined Bundle Rigidity Test without substantial damage to the heat-sensitive products of the wrapped product.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shrink wrap bundling a group of heat-sensitive products are provided. A method comprises: providing a heating oven with a convective heat source and a radiant electromagnetic energy source therein and a product; and wrapping the product with a shrink film that comprises an activation temperature and an electromagnetic energy absorbance level. The method also comprises: placing the wrapped product inside the heating oven for a predetermined duration of residence time; exposing the wrapped product to radiant electromagnetic energy for a predetermined duration of exposure time, wherein the direction of the electromagnetic energy is coincidental or approximately coincidental with a plane of the shrink film; and removing the wrapped product from the heating oven resulting in the wrapped product being robustly bundled according to a defined Bundle Rigidity Test without substantial damage to the heat-sensitive products of the wrapped product.

Abstract: A method for forming an object includes steps of forming a non-woven mat from one or more strands of meltable material and subsequently forming discrete units from the non-woven mat where portions of the surface of the formed discrete units are locally densified.

Abstract: Methods for producing composite structures with a plurality of absorbent foam particulates between substrates, wherein the method includes providing a carrier substrate. The carrier substrate may comprise a pre-determined pattern. The pre-determined pattern may comprise z-directional deflections. The methods may also comprise placing a plurality of absorbent foam particulates onto the carrier substrate, forming a loaded carrier substrate. The methods may further comprise providing a particulate settling means enabled to affect the loaded carrier substrate, affecting the loaded carrier substrate, forming a settled carrier substrate. The methods may further comprise associating a cover with the settled carrier substrate, forming a composite structure.

Abstract: Methods for producing composite structures with a plurality of absorbent foam particulates between substrates, wherein the method includes providing a carrier substrate. The carrier substrate may comprise a pre-determined pattern. The pre-determined pattern may comprise z-directional deflections. The methods may also comprise placing a plurality of absorbent foam particulates onto the carrier substrate, forming a loaded carrier substrate. The methods may further comprise providing a particulate settling means enabled to affect the loaded carrier substrate, affecting the loaded carrier substrate, forming a settled carrier substrate. The methods may further comprise associating a cover with the settled carrier substrate, forming a composite structure.

Abstract: A personal skin polishing or microdermabrasion device having a convenient form factor with a applicator attached to a contoured housing with a handle portion. The housing contains a battery, a cordless motor and a gear box to provide an appropriate rotational velocity to the output shaft that is coupled to the applicator. The applicator may be a foam material selected to cushion the skin from excessive abrasion to the particles in a personal care composition to be used with device, and to have a porosity that will enable the foam to interact with the particles and enhance the skin polishing effect.

Abstract: A continuous process for making a flexible porous dissolvable solid structure with open celled foam. The continuous process has the steps of preparing a pre-mixture comprising surfactant, polymer, water, and optionally plasticizer; aerating the pre-mixture to form a wet aerated pre-mixture; extruding the wet aerated pre-mixture to form one or more sheets on a belt; and drying the sheets to form an Article having an open celled foam.

Abstract: A sensor-responsive toothbrush that can adjust its output or operation depending upon information received by one or more sensors incorporated in the toothbrush or as selected by a user. The information typically relates to certain conditions or the presence of particular substances or agents within or outside of the oral cavity. The sensor-responsive toothbrush also includes one or more responsive output components that provide a responsive output in response to the sensed information. A method of providing an oral care benefit, comprising steps of: activating a toothbrush comprising a sensor; detecting a sensor input with the sensor; and initiating a responsive output from the toothbrush in response to the sensor input.

Abstract: A method of surface treating particulate materials with electromagnetic radiation that is carried out with a so-called roll reactor comprising a rotating roll and an irradiation source. Radical former molecules can be applied on the surface of superabsorbent polymer particles, which are fed onto the surface of the roll and irradiated while moved with the rotating roll. The irradiation source is provided such that the radiation is able to reach at least part of the particulate material that has been fed onto the surface of the roll.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connector having particular application in an oral care implement having a removable and/or replaceable head. In particular, an electric toothbrush having a removable brush head and/or head and neck assembly and a severable electrical connector is disclosed in which the brush head includes one or more elements requiring a source of electrical power. The severable electrical connector provides electrical communication between the brush head and a power source retained within the handle or handle portion of the toothbrush.

Abstract: A method of surface treating particulate materials with electromagnetic radiation that is carried out with a so-called roll reactor comprising a rotating roll and an irradiation source. Radical former molecules can be applied on the surface of superabsorbent polymer particles, which are fed onto the surface of the roll and irradiated while moved with the rotating roll. The irradiation source is provided such that the radiation is able to reach at least part of the particulate material that has been fed onto the surface of the roll.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of surface treating particulate materials with electromagnetic radiation, in particular a method of cross-linking superabsorbent polymer particles using UV irradiation. The method is carried out with a so-called roll reactor, which comprises a rotating roll and an irradiation source. Radical former molecules can be applied on the surface of superabsorbent polymer particles. The particulate material is fed onto the surface of the roll and is irradiated while moved with the rotating roll. The irradiation source is provided such that the radiation emitted by the irradiation source is able to reach at least part of the particulate material that has been fed onto the surface of the roll. The irradiation source for use in the method of the present disclosure is able to emit UV radiation of a wavelength between 201 nm and 400 nm. The present disclosure also relates to absorbent articles comprising surface treated superabsorbent particles made by said method.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush having a handle, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head is disclosed. The handle has a hollow interior region having a motor and an electrical power source. The head includes an ultrasonic transducer and a bristle field. The ultrasonic transducer is in electrical communication with the electrical power source, and a shaft is operatively connected to the motor for moving the bristle field.

Abstract: A personal skin polishing or microdermabrasion device having a convenient form factor with a applicator attached to a contoured housing with a handle portion. The housing contains a battery, a cordless motor and a gear box to provide an appropriate rotational velocity to the output shaft that is coupled to the applicator. The applicator may be a foam material selected to cushion the skin from excessive abrasion to the particles in a personal care composition to be used with device, and to have a porosity that will enable the foam to interact with the particles and enhance the skin polishing effect.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush having a handle, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head is disclosed. The handle has a hollow interior region having a motor and an electrical power source. The head includes an ultrasonic transducer and a bristle field. The ultrasonic transducer is in electrical communication with the electrical power source, and a shaft is operatively connected to the motor for moving the bristle field.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of surface treating particulate materials with electromagnetic radiation, in particular a method of cross-linking superabsorbent polymer particles using UV irradiation. The method is carried out with a so-called roll reactor, which comprises a rotating roll and an irradiation source. Radical former molecules can be applied on the surface of superabsorbent polymer particles. The particulate material is fed onto the surface of the roll and is irradiated while moved with the rotating roll. The irradiation source is provided such that the radiation emitted by the irradiation source is able to reach at least part of the particulate material that has been fed onto the surface of the roll. The irradiation source for use in the method of the present disclosure is able to emit UV radiation of a wavelength between 201 nm and 400 nm. The present disclosure also relates to absorbent articles comprising surface treated superabsorbent particles made by said method.

Abstract: A method for measuring the barrier properties of naturally occurring tissue, such as the skin. The method comprises the steps of providing a probe having a pair of spaced apart electrodes in electrical communication with each other, a voltage generator capable of supplying an increasing voltage between said electrodes, and a voltage meter capable of indicating the voltage between said electrodes. The electrodes are placed in contact with the target surface. An increasing voltage from is supplied from the voltage generator to the electrodes until current between said electrodes reaches a predetermined value. The voltage, which occurs when the current reaches the predetermined value, is noted. In another embodiment the invention comprises a device for measuring the barrier properties of the skin. The device comprises a probe. The probe has a pair of spaced apart electrodes in electrical communication with each other.

Abstract: Methods for producing granular compositions comprise the steps of preparing a viscous liquid mixture, forming a plurality of ligaments from the viscous liquid mixture, cutting the ligaments with one or more liquid jet streams to form pieces, and drying the pieces to form the granular compositions. Apparatus for producing a granular compositions comprise a viscous liquid composition supply, a ligament forming device in fluid communication with a viscous liquid composition supply, one or more liquid jet nozzles adjacent an outlet of a ligament forming device, and a dryer.

Abstract: An integral three-dimensional article having interstitials therethrough, the three-dimensional article comprises an unconstrained number of axially successive stages. An apparatus and process for molding such a three-dimensional article are also disclosed. The apparatus has members extending into a mold cavity, each member having access to the periphery of the mold cavity. Each stage may nest within an adjacent stage. The nesting may be accomplished by having the end of one stage be convex, while the mating end of an adjacent stage is complementary and concave. The article may be useful as a static mixer, heat exchanger, etc.

Abstract: Methods for producing granular compositions comprise the steps of preparing a viscous liquid mixture, forming a plurality of ligaments from the viscous liquid mixture, cutting the ligaments with one or more liquid jet streams to form pieces, and drying the pieces to form the granular compositions. Apparatus for producing a granular compositions comprise a viscous liquid composition supply, a ligament forming device in fluid communication with a viscous liquid composition supply, one or more liquid jet nozzles adjacent an outlet of a ligament forming device, and a dryer.