Abstract: An absorbent article having improved softness signals is disclosed. The article may include a topsheet or a backsheet including a nonwoven web. The web may have a basis weight of 30 gsm or less, may be formed of spunlaid fibers including polyolefin and up to 5 percent by weight TiO2, and may be impressed with a pattern of bond impressions to a bond area percentage of at least 10 percent forming a pattern of bonded regions and raised regions. The web may have opacity of 42 or greater; have an average height difference between bonded regions and raised regions of at least 280 ?m; be hydroengorged; and/or have a cross-machine direction tensile strength of 350 gf/cm. A nonwoven web manufactured to have a suitable combination of such features exhibits an enhanced appearance of softness, soft tactile feel and satisfactory mechanical attributes, while being relatively cost effective.

Abstract: A pressure-driven metered treating chemistry dispensing pump for a laundry treating appliance having a housing having first, second and third chambers, with the first and second chambers each in fluid communication with the third chamber; a fluid inlet fluidly coupling a first fluid to the first chamber; an outlet fluidly coupled to the third chamber; a piston disposed in the housing; wherein, when the piston moves in a first direction in response to the first fluid entering the first chamber via the fluid inlet, the second chamber decreases in volume thereby ejecting at least some of the second fluid from the second chamber into the third chamber, and when the piston moves in a second direction, different from the first direction, the first chamber decreases in volume thereby ejecting at least some of the first fluid from the first chamber into the third chamber to mix the at least some of the first fluid and the at least some of the second fluid to form a mixture in the third chamber, which can be emitted t

Abstract: An injury mitigating stock guard is described. The stock guard includes mutually parallel linear members defining linear pockets therebetween of sufficient size to allow the passage of the hoof of an adult domesticated animal. The linear members include one or more laterally extending flanges that prevent the further passage of the hoof through the bottoms of the pockets to prevent injury.

Abstract: An example pressure-driven metered mixing dispensing pump includes a housing, a fluid inlet, a piston disposed in the housing at least partially defining first, second and third chambers, the first and second chambers each in fluid communication with the third chamber, the piston to, in response to first fluid entering the first chamber via the fluid inlet, move in a first direction to decrease the volume of the second chamber thereby ejecting second fluid from the second chamber into the third chamber, a spring to move the piston in a second direction to decrease the volume of the first chamber thereby ejecting at least some of the first fluid from the first chamber into the third chamber thereby mixing the at least some of the first fluid and the second fluid to form a mixture, and an outlet to discharge the mixture from the third chamber.

Abstract: An absorbent article having improved softness signals is disclosed. The article may include a topsheet or a backsheet including a nonwoven web. The web may have a basis weight of 30 gsm or less, may be formed of spunlaid fibers including polyolefin and up to 5 percent by weight TiO2, and may be impressed with a pattern of bond impressions to a bond area percentage of at least 10 percent forming a pattern of bonded regions and raised regions. The web may have opacity of 42 or greater; have an average height difference between bonded regions and raised regions of at least 280 ?m; be hydroengorged; and/or have a cross-direction tensile strength of 350 gf/cm. A nonwoven web manufactured to have a suitable combination of such features exhibits an enhanced appearance of softness, soft tactile feel and satisfactory mechanical attributes, while being relatively cost effective.

Abstract: A nonwoven web made of substantially continuous fibers and comprising a three-dimensional pattern of protruding closed shapes, wherein the nonwoven web has a compression recovery of at least 30% after being compressed at 1 psi for 24 hours.

Abstract: An injury mitigating stock guard that includes mutually parallel linear members defining linear pockets therebetween of sufficient size to allow the passage of the hoof of an adult domesticated animal. The linear members include one or more laterally extending flanges that prevent the further passage of the hoof through the bottoms of the pockets to prevent injury.

Abstract: A composite structure including at least one natural fiber web layer and at least one nonwoven web layer. In an exemplary embodiment, the natural fiber web layer is made of cotton fibers and the nonwoven web layer is a spunbond or spunmelt layer. The composite structure may be used to form components of an absorbent article, such as top sheets or back sheets of a diaper.

Abstract: A nonwoven web made up of continuous fibers that include a polymer component, the web being bonded by a bond pattern including spaced apart closed figures arranged in a repeating pattern, the web having an abrasion rating of 3 or higher and an average HOM of less than 6 grams.

Abstract: A composite structure including at least one paper web layer bonded to at least one nonwoven web layer by a hydroentanglement process. The paper web layer is made of natural fibers processed to have a specified kappa number depending on desired smoothness and hydrophilicity of the composite structure. In an exemplary embodiment, the paper web layer is made of a structured paper web, and the structure of the paper web is imparted to the nonwoven web layer by the hydroentanglement process. In an exemplary embodiment, the composite structure is a wipe product, comprised of a two or three layer structure, with at least one natural fiber layer. Higher machine speeds to produce a two-layer composite web comprised of one natural fiber web is achieved using a protective layer during the hydro-entangling process.

Abstract: An absorbent article having improved softness signals is disclosed. The article may include a topsheet or a backsheet including a nonwoven web. The web may have a basis weight of 30 gsm or less, may be formed of spunlaid fibers including polyolefin and up to 5 percent by weight TiO2, and may be impressed with a pattern of bond impressions to a bond area percentage of at least 10 percent forming a pattern of bonded regions and raised regions. The web may have opacity of 42 or greater; have an average height difference between bonded regions and raised regions of at least 280 ?m; be hydroengorged; and/or have a cross-direction tensile strength of 350 gf/cm. A nonwoven web manufactured to have a suitable combination of such features exhibits an enhanced appearance of softness, soft tactile feel and satisfactory mechanical attributes, while being relatively cost effective.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy includes, in weight percent, 0.70-0.85 Si, 0.14-0.25 Fe, 0.25-0.35 Cu, 0.05 max Mn, 0.75-0.90 Mg, 0.12-0.18 Cr, 0.05 max Zn, and 0.04 max Ti, the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The alloy may be suitable for extruding, and may be formed into an extruded alloy product.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy composition includes, in weight percent: less than or equal to 0.70 iron; less than or equal to 0.30 silicon; and less than or equal to 0.30 copper, with the balance being aluminum and other elements, with the other elements being present at up to 0.05 weight percent each and up to 0.15 weight percent total. The alloy is homogenized at a temperature of 520° C. to 570° C. for 2-10 hours. The volume phase fraction of ?-AlFeSi phase present in the homogenized aluminum alloy product may be at least 10%.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy includes, in weight percent, 0.70-0.85 Si, 0.14-0.25 Fe, 0.25-0.35 Cu, 0.02-0.08 Mn, 0.75-0.90 Mg, 0.04-0.08 Cr, 0.05 max Zn, and 0.04 max Ti, the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The minimum Mn content may be 0.03 wt. %, and/or the maximum Mn content may be 0.06 wt. %, in various configurations. The alloy may be suitable for extruding, and may be formed into an extruded alloy product.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nonwoven including the steps of: forming a nonwoven web substantially comprised of continuous fibers; applying a bonding pattern to said nonwoven web using a smooth roll and a calender roll wherein said bonding pattern comprises a pattern having unbonded areas; and subjecting the side of said nonwoven web contacted by said smooth roll to a hydraulic treatment at a pressure of between 25 and 75 bars and a total energy of about 0.01-0.04 kwhr/kg., wherein said continuous fibers are comprised of between 97% and 98.5% by weight of an olefin resin comprising substantially of polypropylene and between 1.5% and 3% by weight of a whitener.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an embossed nonwoven sheet comprising feeding a sheet comprising spunmelt fibers through a nip region of a forming station, the forming station comprising a rigid cylinder having a surface with raised elements that form a 3D pattern and a deformable opposing surface which is not part of the rigid cylinder, so that the sheet is in contact with both the rigid cylinder and the deformable opposing surface at the nip region as the sheet moves through the forming station and the 3D pattern is embossed onto the sheet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nonwoven including the steps of: forming a nonwoven web substantially comprised of continuous fibers; applying a bonding pattern to said nonwoven web using a smooth roll and a calender roll wherein said bonding pattern comprises a pattern having unbonded areas; and subjecting the side of said nonwoven web contacted by said smooth roll to a hydraulic treatment at a pressure of between 25 and 75 bars and a total energy of about 0.01-0.04 kwhr/kg., wherein said continuous fibers are comprised of between 97% and 98.5% by weight of an olefin resin comprising substantially of polypropylene and between 1.5% and 3% by weight of a whitener.

Abstract: An absorbent article having improved softness signals is disclosed. The article may include a topsheet or a backsheet including a nonwoven web. The web may have a basis weight of 30 gsm or less, may be formed of spunlaid fibers including polyolefin and up to 5 percent by weight TiO2, and may be impressed with a pattern of bond impressions to a bond area percentage of at least 10 percent forming a pattern of bonded regions and raised regions. The web may have opacity of 42 or greater; have an average height difference between bonded regions and raised regions of at least 280 ?m; be hydroengorged; and/or have a cross-direction tensile strength of 350 gf/cm. A nonwoven web manufactured to have a suitable combination of such features exhibits an enhanced appearance of softness, soft tactile feel and satisfactory mechanical attributes, while being relatively cost effective.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine, either vertical or horizontal axis, can have a bulk dispenser assembly capable of dispensing multiple doses of treating chemistry from a bulk supply of treating chemistry. The bulk supply may be a solid block of treating chemistry held within a removable cartridge. A sensing assembly can be provided for determining the amount of treating chemistry that is dispensed from the bulk supply for a non-uniform dosing of treating chemistry.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy includes, in weight percent, 0.50-1.30% Si, 0.2-0.60% Fe, 0.15% max Cu, 0.5-0.90% Mn, 0.6-1.0% Mg, and 0.20% max Cr, the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The alloy may include excess Mg over the amount that can be occupied by Mg—Si precipitates. The alloy may be utilized as a matrix material for a composite that includes a filler material dispersed in the matrix material. One such composite may include boron carbide as a filler material, and the resultant composite may be used for neutron shielding applications.