Abstract: Disposable liquid absorbent mats are described. The mats generally include at least a liquid absorbent layer and a liquid impervious layer. The liquid absorbent layer may be made from a tissue web, a hydroentangled web, an airlaid web, a coform web, and the like. The liquid impervious layer, on the other hand, may comprise a meltspun web, a film, a hydroentangled web, or even a tissue web that has been treated with a sizing agent that renders the web resistant to fluid flow. In one embodiment, the mats can be made so as to have a relatively low caliper so that the mats can be spirally wound into a roll. In other embodiments, however, the mats may be packaged in a stacked arrangement. The mats have various uses and applications. For instance, the mats are well suited for use during food preparation. The mats are well suited to absorbing fluids while preventing the fluids from striking through the product. In some embodiments, the mats are also well suited to serve as an absorbent and cut resistant surface.

Abstract: A gradient material comprising at least two types of nanofibers distributed non-uniformly throughout the material to form one or more gradients is provided. In one embodiment, the at least two types of nanofibers intertwine to form a single layer of material, i.e., are at least partially physically intertwined, i.e., entangled with one another in a multi-component material. Such intertwining can occur when both types of nanofibers are deposited substantially simultaneously in an overlapping region. In another embodiment, the at least two types of nanofibers combine to form a plurality of layers. The nanofibers can be electrospun fibers. The material can have a gradient in the planar and/or thickness directions. Embodiments of the invention also provide processes for producing the gradient nanofiber material. The materials are useful for any type of disposable garment, wipe, hospital garment, face mask, sterile wrap, air filter, water filter and so forth.

Abstract: Soft durable paper towels are disclosed. These paper towels can be produced, for example, using a throughdried basesheet, such as an uncreped throughdried sheet, in which both outer surfaces have been pattern-printed with a binder and at least one outer surface of the sheet is creped.

Abstract: Rendering data stored within an electronic data tag unreadable. A receptacle receives an article with the data tag, detects the presence of the electronic data tag, and decommissions the electronic data tag. The receptacle further modifies a label on the article to remove data printed thereon.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an endless non-woven tissue making fabric having a three-dimensional texture suitable for use as a fabric for producing three-dimensional fibrous webs. The endless non-woven tissue making fabric comprises a plurality of substantially parallel adjoining sections of non-woven material. Each section of non-woven material has a width substantially less than the width of the non-woven tissue making fabric. Each section of non-woven material may be joined to at least one other adjoining section of non-woven material. The non-woven tissue making fabric has a machine direction, a cross-machine direction, a tissue contacting surface and a tissue machine contacting surface. The tissue contacting surface comprises solid matter at a plurality of heights such that the tissue contacting surface of the non-woven tissue making fabric has an Overall Surface Depth of at least 0.2 mm in regions of solid matter on the tissue contacting surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bicomponent strengthening system and the paper webs produced with the bicomponent strengthening system. Through use of the strengthening system, paper webs may be produced in which the strength characteristics of the web may be specifically tailored. The first component of the system comprises a polymer having at least about 1.5 m-eq primary amine functionality per gram of polymer and a molecular weight of at least about 10,000 Daltons. The second component may be either a polymeric anionic compound or a polymeric aldehyde functional compound. For example, the polyamine polymer component may be a polyvinylamine or polysaccharide having primary amine functionality. In one embodiment, the second component may be a cationic polymeric aldehyde functional compound. For example, the second component may be a cationic glyoxylated polyacrylamide. In another embodiment, the second component may be a polymeric anionic compound comprising carboxy functionality.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and attaching cleaning wipes or cleaning blocks is provided. The apparatus includes a container configured for holding at least one cleaning wipe or block. The container has a body with an attaching surface. An attachment mechanism is included and is configured for attaching the cleaning wipe or block to the attaching surface for use in a cleaning procedure. The container is capable of being grasped to aid in positioning of the cleaning wipe or block during the cleaning procedure.

Abstract: A kit for use in cleaning is provided. The kit includes a first cleaning element that is made at least partially of foam that has a first cleaning property. A second cleaning element is also included and is made at least partially of foam and has a second cleaning property. The first and second cleaning elements are configured for cleaning a surface. A first identifying feature is present that identifies the first cleaning element as having the first cleaning property, and likewise a second identifying feature is present that identifies the second cleaning element as having the second cleaning property. The cleaning properties of the first and second cleaning elements are different from one another.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting the profit attributable to a proposed sales promotion of a product, wherein the product has a wholesale price and a manufacturing cost per unit sales, including establishing a base volume for sales of the product in the absence of promotions; determining a sales lift for the plurality of single promotions; and correlating the sales lift with promotion information to provide a sales lift model. The method and system also include proposing a promotion having a cost per unit sales for a promotion time period and having a planned sale price for the product; applying the sales lift model to the proposed promotion to predict sales of the product for the promotion time period; and calculating manufacturer profit based upon the product's predicted sales, cost per unit sales for promotion, wholesale price, and manufacturing cost per unit sales during the promotion time period.

Abstract: Deactivating a data tag attached to packaging for user privacy or tamper-evident reasons. A data circuit stores identification information. A plurality of antennae is coupled to the data circuit. At least one antenna of the plurality of antennae is a removable antenna capable of wireless signal transmission at a first range such that removal of the antenna substantially prevents communication of the identification information via the removed antenna and permits communication of the identification information via another antenna of the plurality of antennae at a second range relatively smaller than the first range.

Abstract: Mechanically and reversibly activating or deactivating a radio frequency identification (RFID) data tag. An RFID tag includes an RFID chip for storing an RFID code, an antenna for communicating a radio frequency (RF) signal, and a mechanical switch coupling the RFID chip to the antenna. Closing the mechanical switch enables the RFID chip and the antenna to communicate the RFID code via the RF signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a testing tool for testing of complex software systems having a plurality of interrelated system components and a suite of test scenarios for testing the performance of the plurality of interrelated system components. The testing tool includes an Automated Multidimensional Traceability Matrix system for determining linkages between interrelated system components, a means for identifying a change in one or more of the interrelated system components, a means for applying the Automated Multidimensional Traceability Matrix, a means for executing all of or a subset of the test scenarios associated with the interrelated system components that may be affected by the change and a means for evaluating the results of the executed test scenarios.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to paper products having great softness and strength. The paper products are formed from one or more paper webs that can be made according to various methods. In one embodiment, the paper web is an uncreped through-air dried web. According to the present invention, at least one side of the paper web is treated with a bonding material according to a preselected pattern and creped from a creping surface. Through the process, a two-sided tissue web is formed having a smooth side and a textured side.

Abstract: An RFID method and system for preventing product out-of-stock conditions in a retailer supply chain is disclosed. RFID smart tags are associated with products in a place of purchase or a place of selection of such products. Each distinct product may be associated with at least one smart tag, the smart tags containing identification information regarding their respective product. RFID smart tag readers are used to obtain real time inventory data that may be used in a method for prevent product out-of-stock conditions thereby reducing the number of lost sales that may result from out-of-stock events. In addition, such real time inventory data is also be used in a process to reduce the number of lost sales resulting from out-of-stock events.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has a nanofabricated attachment means having adhesive hairs disposed on a substrate wherein the hairs are effective to adhesively engage an opposing surface having a polymeric film or a fibrous web. In another embodiment, the absorbent article has a gecko-like fastener including a substrate and a plurality of adhesive hairs arising from the substrate having a base section, midsection, and top section, a height of about 0.5 microns to about 8 millimeters, and a diameter greater than about 0.05 microns.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking a body's bio-readings and environmental information in which such bio-readings are generated is disclosed. Conventional bio-reading sensor technology may be used in combination with technology for receiving information from electronic tags associated with items in a body's environment. Such technology may include RFID smart tags associated with items in an environment. Such smart tags store information describing the item associated with the smart tag. An RFID smart tag reader may be provided for retrieving item description information stored in such smart tags. The combination of bio-reading data and environmental data provide a power tool in evaluating behavioral and environmental variables that affect a body's bio-readings.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to paper products having great softness and strength. The paper products are formed from one or more paper webs that can be made according to various methods. In one embodiment, the paper web is an uncreped through-air dried web. According to the present invention, at least one side of the paper web is treated with a bonding material according to a preselected pattern and creped from a creping surface. Through the process, a two-sided tissue web is formed having a smooth side and a textured side. In one embodiment, tissue webs made according to the present invention may also be splittable, allowing the web to be pulled apart in two substantially continuous webs with distinctly different properties.

Abstract: Nonwoven webs having reduced levels of lint and slough are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, the nonwoven webs are treated on at least one surface with a small amount of a polymeric component. The polymeric component may be present, for instance, in the form of meltblown fibers. The meltblown fibers are made from a polymer that is compatible with the nonwoven web. By adding relatively small amounts of meltblown fibers to at least one side of the nonwoven material, lint and slough levels have been found to be significantly reduced. The nonwoven web may be any web containing pulp fibers, such as a tissue web or a coform web.

Abstract: A cleaning wipe and cleaning product are provided. The cleaning wipe includes a foam layer such as phenolic or melamine based foam that is configured for contacting and cleaning a surface. A reinforcing web is attached to the foam.

Abstract: A cleaning tool, which in some instances may be a mop, for use in cleaning a surface is provided. The cleaning tool includes a frame and a primary cleaning member that is carried by the frame. The primary cleaning member is configured for removing generally smaller size particles from the surface that is cleaned. A secondary cleaning member is included and is also carried by the frame. The secondary cleaning member is configured for removing generally larger size particles from the surface to be cleaned.