Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for generating and using virtual reality simulations to conduct market research and related activities. An immersive visualization center may be used to manage relationships with customers, choosers, shoppers, and users. The visualization center may allow customers (or other relevant parties) to interact with virtual representations of products or solutions in a virtual reality environment appropriate for the product. The immersive visualization center may also include a physical mock-up of the environment and or products simulated by the virtual reality simulation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for generating and using virtual reality simulations to conduct market research and related activities, where the virtual reality simulations include personalized aspects of a participant's environment, such as simulations of a virtual home derived from the participant's physical home. In this way, aspects of product design such as product storage and product use can be simulated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for generating and using virtual reality simulations to conduct market research and related activities. An immersive visualization center may be used to manage relationships with customers, choosers, shoppers, and users. The visualization center may allow customers (or other relevant parties) to interact with virtual representations of products or solutions in a virtual reality environment appropriate for the product. The immersive visualization center may also include a physical mock-up of the environment and or products simulated by the virtual reality simulation.

Abstract: An absorbent article has a front region, a rear region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and rear regions. The absorbent article includes a liquid impermeable outercover, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, and an absorbent assembly having a front portion and a rear portion. The absorbent assembly front portion is disposed intermediate the outercover and the liner in the front region of the article. The absorbent assembly rear portion is disposed intermediate the outercover and the liner in the rear region of the article and at least partially spaced from the absorbent assembly front portion to provide a first gap between the rear and front portions of the absorbent assembly. A temperature change member containing a temperature change substance is disposed within the first gap.

Abstract: The multicultural educational kit includes a series of components relating to one or more specific cultural, ethnic, racial, national, or other population groups, for teaching young children about such different groups throughout the world and eliminating the development of early prejudices toward peoples different from one's own. The present kit preferably contains a costumed doll representing a child native to the group being studied, a video presentation describing a typical day in the life of a child of the culture, a series of finger puppets representing a family of the group being studied, a series of small picture books and corresponding audio presentations discussing various subject areas of the culture or group being studied, an activity book relating to the culture or group being studied, a regional map, and a series of flash cards having various terms or words for colors, numbers, family members, geographical features, etc.

Abstract: There is provided a temperature change element for use in personal care products where the temperature change element has a reactive component and a gel-forming agent. Upon exposure to liquids such as urine, the temperature change element will change in temperature substantially, thus letting the wearer know that he has urinated.

Abstract: A personal wear article capable of alerting a wearer to the wearer's release of liquid body exudates. The article includes an absorbent structure and a wetness indicator adapted to receive said liquid body exudates. The wetness indicator stiffens as it absorbs the liquid body exudates and applies a tactile sensation against the wearer's skin. The wetness indicator is positioned relative to a portion of the absorbent structure having an absorbent capacity gradient such that the absorbent capacity of the absorbent structure increases as the absorbent structure extends generally from the position of the wetness indicator in a direction generally away from the position of the wetness indicator. In another embodiment, the article includes a temperature change agent responsive to the liquid body exudates to change the temperature of the liquid body exudates to thereby facilitate a temperature change sensation against the wearer's skin.

Abstract: A polymeric fabric having enhanced wettability, a method for producing such wettable polymeric fabric, and a composition for use in the method. The polymeric fabric is preferably a nonwoven. In one embodiment, the fabric includes a succinate surfactant substantially uniformly distributed on the surface of the fabric. The succinate surfactant is applied with a co-wetting aid which reduces the surface tension of the surfactant composition. In another embodiment, the polymeric fabric comprises multiple surfactants on the surface of the polymeric fabric. The first surfactant has a cloud point less than 50.degree. C. and a low solubility in water and is dispersible in water. The second surfactant comprises a succinate surfactant. The first and second surfactants are applied to the fabric in an aqueous solution preferably with a co-wetting aid such as a primary or secondary alcohol.

Abstract: Conductive meltblown fabrics are disclosed which have improved strength and hand over conventional conductive meltblown fabrics. Also disclosed is a process for spraying a solution containing a conductive agent into a molten stream of meltblown fibers before they are deposited onto a forming wire. By applying the solution onto the fibers before they are deposited onto the forming wire, the heat of the molten stream vaporizes the solvent carrying the conductive agent and thereby eliminates the need to subsequently dry the formed material. By eliminating the drying step, degradation of the strength and hardening of the hand of the material normally resulting from the wetting and drying of meltblown fabrics are avoided. There is also disclosed a conductive SMS laminate having a conductive meltblown layer sandwiched between two untreated and nonconductive spunbond layers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a porous non-woven absorbent structure formed from fibers. The porous structure has a basis weight within the range of at least about 0.25 osy to about 10.0 osy a density of at least about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.15 g/cc. The porous structure is adapted such that upon the application of at least 2 ml of fluid Bovine blood-oxalate to a surface thereof, substantially all of said fluid enters the bulk of the porous structure within about 45 seconds. The porous structure may be single layered or include multiple layers. The single layered structure is formed from spunbonded thermoplastic fibers which include a hydrophilic internal additive. The multiple layered structure is formed by laminating a spunbonded web to a second layer. The second may be formed from natural or synthetic fibers. When formed from synthetic fibers, the second layer is generally formed from meltblown fibers which may also include a hydrophobic internal additive.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a quilted film laminate wherein a film having a plurality of generally parallel slits is laminated to a substrate layer such as a fibrous nonwoven web. Due to processing conditions, once the slit film layer and substrate layer have been laminated to one another, the composite is allowed to retract thereby giving the composite a puckered or quilted appearance with an undulating surface. The undulating surface also causes the slits to form a plurality of openings which are generally perpendicular to the central plane of the film. In addition, due to the undulating nature of the surface of the film, the apertures so created reside in, above and below the central plane of the film layer. The composite so produced has a wide variety of uses not the least of which include a cover material or body side liner for personal care absorbent products. The process for producing the composite is also disclosed.

Abstract: A nonwoven laminiferous structure is provided which has three melt-extruded nonwoven layers, each of which includes at least a portion of a nonwoven web. The first nonwoven web is adjacent to one surface of the second nonwoven web and the third nonwoven web is adjacent to the other surface of the second nonwoven web. The first and third nonwoven webs consist of continuous and randomly deposited filaments having an average filament diameter in excess of about 7 micrometers. The second nonwoven web consists of substantially continuous and randomly deposited microfibers having an average diameter of from about 0.1 to about 10 micrometers. The microfibers of the second nonwoven web are prepared from a mixture of an additive and a second thermoplastic polymer, which additive imparts alcohol repellency to the surfaces of the microfibers. The three nonwoven layers can be prepared independently from polyolefins, polyesters, polyetheresters, and polyamides.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite structure is provided which has three melt-extruded nonwoven layers, each of which includes at least a portion of a nonwoven web. The first nonwoven web is adjacent to one surface of the second nonwoven web and the third nonwoven web is adjacent to the other surface of the second nonwoven web. The first and third nonwoven webs consist of continuous and randomly deposited filaments having an average filament diameter in excess of about 7 micrometers. The second nonwoven web consists of substantially continuous and randomly deposited microfibers having an average diameter of from about 0.1 to about 10 micrometers. The microfibers of the second nonwoven web are prepared from a mixture of an additive and a second thermoplastic polymer, which additive imparts alcohol repellency to the surfaces of the microfibers. The three nonwoven layers can be prepared independently from polyolefins, polyesters, polyetheresters, and polyamides.

Abstract: A polymeric fabric having enhanced wettability, a method for producing such wettable polymeric fabric, and composition for us in the method are provided. The polymeric fabric comprises a primary surfactant on the surface of the polymeric fabric, the primary surfactant having a low solubility in water and dispersible in water. The primary surfactant is applied to the fabric in an aqueous solution. The primary surfactant is preferably applied to the fabric in a composiiton comprising the primary surfactant, water, and a co-surfactant functional to wet the polymeric fabric with the composition during application of the composition to the polymeric fabric. The co-surfactant is present in the composition in an amount sufficient to provide for substantially uniform distribution of the primary surfactant onto the polymeric fabric.