Abstract: A method of making a mechanical fastener. The method includes providing a slit web having mechanical fastening elements, applying tension to the slit web in the machine direction, and spreading the slit web in the cross-machine direction by moving the slit web over a crowned surface to provide a spread mechanical fastening web. The slit web includes a plurality of interrupted slits that are interrupted by intact bridging regions of the web. The crowned surface may be an air bearing, or at least a portion of the crowned surface is a low-friction surface, and the crowned surface and the slit web are not moving at the same speed in the same direction. The crowned surface may be provided with at least one ridge.

Abstract: A method of making a structured surface is disclosed. The method includes providing a thermoplastic backing with multiple rows of upstanding elements. The upstanding elements include stems with proximal ends attached to the thermoplastic backing and distal caps, and each distal cap has an overhanging portion that extends beyond the stem in a first direction. For at least some of the multiple rows, an implement is passed between two adjacent rows, wherein the implement contacts the overhanging portion of at least some of the distal caps in the two adjacent rows such that at least part of the overhanging portion is turned in a second direction, different from the first direction. A structured surface that can be prepared by the method is also provided along with a fastening laminate that includes a carrier and the structured surface and an absorbent article that includes the fastening laminate. A tool useful for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are adhesive articles and assemblies that include a flat and at least partially elastic backing along with a patterned adhesive coating on each side of the backing. When viewed from directions perpendicular to the backing, the adhesive on one side of the backing does not substantially overlap the adhesive on the opposing side of the backing. As a result, it is possible to use a stretch removable adhesive article that uses, for example, an aggressive adhesive to provide a reliable bond but still remove cleanly and easily from delicate substrates that would otherwise be damaged or destroyed if bonded with conventional adhesive constructions.

Abstract: Disposable absorbent articles comprising an absorbent material and an antimicrobial composition are disclosed. The antimicrobial composition includes a carrier comprising fatty alcohol and a poly(alkyleneoxy) polymer, and an antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial composition may be coated on to component substrates such as nonwovens and films, that are incorporated into disposable absorbent articles, such as disposable infant diapers, adult incontinence articles, feminine hygiene articles such as sanitary napkins, wound dressings, bandages, panty liners and tampons, personal care wipes and household wipes to provide odor control, and control of microbial growth.

Abstract: Provided are adhesive articles and assemblies that include a flat and at least partially elastic backing along with a patterned adhesive coating on each side of the backing. When viewed from directions perpendicular to the backing, the adhesive on one side of the backing does not substantially overlap the adhesive on the opposing side of the backing. As a result, it is possible to use a stretch removable adhesive article that uses, for example, an aggressive adhesive to provide a reliable bond but still remove cleanly and easily from delicate substrates that would otherwise be damaged or destroyed if bonded with conventional adhesive constructions.

Abstract: An absorbent foam composite comprising a foam layer having open slits that define apertures on at least a portion of the foam layer and an absorbent layer. A heat set film may be sandwiched between the foam layer and the absorbent layer and have opened slits that define apertures that are at least partially congruent with the apertures of the foam layer. The absorbent layer may contain apertures or be aperture free. The absorbent foam composites can be used in a variety of applications, including personal hygiene articles, medical bandages, pet pads and agricultural pads.

Abstract: A method of making absorbent foam composites and absorbent foam composites produced therefrom. The method comprises casting an absorbent foam layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side onto a barrier layer having a first side and second side opposite the first side, where the second side of the absorbent foam layer is in contact with the first side of the barrier layer; joining a second absorbent layer to the second side of the barrier layer before, during, or after the casting step; and breaching the barrier layer after the casting step so that the foam layer and second absorbent layer are in fluid communication. The absorbent foam composites can be used in a variety of applications, including personal hygiene articles, medical bandages, pet pads and agricultural pads.

Abstract: A method of making a structured surface and a mechanical fastener precursor are disclosed. The method includes providing a thermoplastic backing with spaced-apart, upstanding posts with base portions attached to the thermoplastic backing and distal tips; deforming the distal tips to form caps on at least some of the spaced-apart, upstanding posts to provide capped posts, wherein at least some caps upon forming touch at least one adjacent cap; and separating the capped posts. Typically, the at least some caps upon forming are shaped at least partially by the at least one adjacent cap. The mechanical fastener precursor includes a thermoplastic backing and upstanding male fastening elements with bases attached to the thermoplastic backing and distal caps larger in area than the cross-sectional area of the bases, wherein the bases of the male fastening elements are spaced apart, wherein at least some of the distal caps touch at least one adjacent distal cap.

Abstract: Provided are adhesive articles and assemblies that include a flat and at least partially elastic backing along with a patterned adhesive coating on each side of the backing. When viewed from directions perpendicular to the backing, the adhesive on one side of the backing does not substantially overlap the adhesive on the opposing side of the backing. As a result, it is possible to use a stretch removable adhesive article that uses, for example, an aggressive adhesive to provide a reliable bond but still remove cleanly and easily from delicate substrates that would otherwise be damaged or destroyed if bonded with conventional adhesive constructions.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a chassis and a laminate. The chassis has a topsheet side, a backsheet side, and first and second opposing longitudinal edges extending from a rear waist region to an opposing front waist region. The laminate includes a carrier having a first face and a second face and a fastening patch on a portion of the first face of the carrier. The laminate is wrapped around the first longitudinal edge of the chassis in the rear waist region so that the second face of the carrier contacts the topsheet side and the backsheet side of the chassis. The fastening patch includes fastening elements that are exposed on the topsheet side of the chassis. A method of making the absorbent article is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disposable absorbent articles comprising an absorbent material and an antimicrobial composition are disclosed. The antimicrobial composition includes a carrier comprising fatty alcohol and a poly(alkyleneoxy) polymer, and an antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial composition may be coated on to component substrates such as nonwovens and films, that are incorporated into disposable absorbent articles, such as disposable infant diapers, adult incontinence articles, feminine hygiene articles such as sanitary napkins, wound dressings, bandages, panty liners and tampons, personal care wipes and household wipes to provide odor control, and control of microbial growth.

Abstract: An absorbent article, the absorbent article being a personal hygiene article, comprising a liquid permeable top sheet, a liquid impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent core enclosed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and a fluid flow control member arranged between the top sheet and the backsheet, said fluid flow control member being of a nonwoven material comprising a three dimensional network of fibres, said fibres having a thickness of 200-700 ?m, said nonwoven material having a strain of max 50% at 5 kPa.

Abstract: An assembled intermediate is described comprising a fluid transport element proximate an absorbent material. The fluid transport element comprises a thermoplastic nonwoven web comprising a plurality of coiled filaments having an average diameter of 200 to 500 microns interengaged by means of intermittent bonds. The web preferably has certain properties such as a thickness of 3 to 20 mm, a density ranging from 0.02 to 0.10, and a work of compression of no greater than 20 kJ/m3. Also described are articles comprising such assembled intermediate.

Abstract: An assembled intermediate is described comprising a fluid transport element proximate an absorbent material is described. The fluid transport element comprises a thermoplastic nonwoven web comprising a plurality of bonded staple fibers having an average diameter of 20 to 500 microns and the web has a thickness of 3 to 20 mm, a density ranging from 0.01 to 0.10 g/cm3, and a work of compression no greater than 20 kJ/m3. Also described are articles comprising such assembled intermediate.

Abstract: Presently described are methods of making nonwoven webs, nonwoven web articles, assembled intermediate articles comprising such nonwoven webs in combination with another substrate, and articles comprising the nonwoven webs or intermediates. The method comprises providing a first thermoplastic nonwoven web comprising a plurality of coiled filaments wherein the coiled filaments have an average diameter of at least 50 microns and are interengaged with intermittent bonds, and stretching the web. The thermoplastic nonwoven web comprises a plurality of stretched coiled filaments having an average diameter of at least 50 microns interengaged with intermittent bonds.

Abstract: A method of making a structured surface is disclosed. The method includes providing a thermoplastic backing with multiple rows of upstanding elements. The upstanding elements include stems with proximal ends attached to the thermoplastic backing and distal caps, and each distal cap has an overhanging portion that extends beyond the stem in a first direction. For at least some of the multiple rows, an implement is passed between two adjacent rows, wherein the implement contacts the overhanging portion of at least some of the distal caps in the two adjacent rows such that at least part of the overhanging portion is turned in a second direction, different from the first direction. A structured surface that can be prepared by the method is also provided along with a fastening laminate that includes a carrier and the structured surface and an absorbent article that includes the fastening laminate. A tool useful for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A reticulated mechanical fastening laminate is disclosed. The reticulated mechanical fastening laminate includes a loop material having a regular pattern of spaced apart geometric shaped openings joined to a carrier. At least the portion of carrier to which the loop material is joined has up to a ten percent elongation. A reticulated mechanical fastening web including the loop material is also disclosed, in which the loop material is not joined to an elastic or pleated extensible carrier. A method of making the mechanical fastener constructions is also disclosed. The method includes providing interrupted slits in a loop material, with each interrupted slit interrupted by at least one intact bridging region of the slit loop material; spreading the slit loop material to provide at least one opening; and fixing of the loop material in a spread configuration.

Abstract: A method of making a mechanical fastening strip and a reticulated mechanical fastening strip are disclosed. The method includes providing a backing having upstanding posts; providing interrupted slits through the backing, the interrupted slits being interrupted by at least one intact bridging region; spreading the slit backing to provide multiple strands separated from each other between at least some of the bridging regions to provide at least one opening; and fixing the multiple strands of the backing in a spread configuration. The reticulated mechanical fastening strip includes multiple strands of a backing attached to each other at bridging regions in the backing and separated from each other between the bridging regions to provide openings. Upstanding posts on each of the multiple strands have bases attached to the backing, and each of the multiple strands has a width that is greater than that of the bases of its attached upstanding posts.

Abstract: Composite webs having one or more elastic composite structures located on a substrate, methods of manufacturing the composite webs, and articles including the elastic composite structures and substrates are disclosed. The elastic composite structures may preferably include one or more elastic components attached to anchors at two or more locations, wherein the anchors are themselves attached to the substrate. The anchors may preferably be constructed of inelastic polymeric material (and/or exhibit limited to no elasticity in use) and the elastic components may preferably be constructed of elastomeric polymeric material.