Abstract: Methods of making touch fasteners include forming lanes of polymeric material into a sheet-form base and forming discrete elements extending from the sheet-form base. Corresponding touch fasteners are also disclosed.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid intake region, a liquid retention region, a barrier region, and plural strips of microlayer material located adjacent to the liquid retention region.

Abstract: A wet wipe contains fibrous material, a binder composition for binding the fibrous material into an integral web, and a wetting composition containing water, a salt, and at least about 10 wt % of an organic solvent. The binder composition contains an ionic copolymer. The wet wipe is not dispersible in the wetting composition, and is dispersible in water containing up to 200 ppm of one or more multivalent ions. The ionic copolymer may be the polymerization product of a vinyl-functional cationic monomer and at least one non-ionic vinyl monomer. The ionic copolymer may be the polymerization product of a vinyl-functional anionic monomer and at least one non-ionic vinyl monomer.

Abstract: An absorbent composite contains a superabsorbent material and thermoplastic biodegradable reinforcing fibers, and may also contain pulp fibers. The superabsorbent material may be biodegradable, providing a biodegradable absorbent composite. The superabsorbent material may have a gel strength from about 500 dynes/cm2 to about 80,000 dynes/cm2. The biodegradable reinforcing fibers may contain fibers of a polyester such as poly(lactic acid). The biodegradable reinforcing fibers may be wettable, reducing or eliminating the need for treating the surface of the fibers with a wetting agent such as a surfactant, and may provide desirable performance without being bonded to the other components.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wet wipe product. The wet wipe product comprises a fibrous substrate and a triggerable binder formulation. The triggerable binder formulation is capable of binding the fibers in the fibrous substrate. The triggerable binder formulation may include acrylamide polymers, vinylamide/amine polymers, and mixtures. The triggerable binder formulation is insoluble in a wetting composition comprising an insolubilizing agent but is dispersible in disposal water.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wet wipe product. The wet wipe product comprises a fibrous substrate and a triggerable binder formulation. The triggerable binder formulation is capable of binding the fibers in the fibrous substrate. The triggerable binder formulation may include acrylamide polymers, vinylamide/amine polymers, and mixtures. The triggerable binder formulation is insoluble in a wetting composition comprising an insolubilizing agent but is dispersible in disposal water.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting a auctions. A method of conducting an auction is disclosed which involves specifying an item for sale; identifying at least two potential bidders; generating a bidder's array for each potential bidder, each bidder's array comprising at least one value; a bidder making at least one bid for the item, each bid comprising a value; and identifying values of bids, that within a specified range, match values in the bidders' arrays. Computer-based methods of conducting an auction of this type are also presented. A system for conducting an auction is taught which includes an item for sale; potential bidders; a bidder's array for each potential bidder, each bidder's array having at least one value; a bidder; a bid; and matched values, which are values of selected bids that are within a specified range of values in the bidders' arrays. Certain aspects of the invention also provide for auctions of this type that include granting prizes.

Abstract: Biodegradable aliphatic-aromatic films are disclosed. The films comprise filler particles and a copolyester. The films have high vapor permeability and tensile strength and are suitable for use in absorbent and non-absorbent products.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a laminated outer cover is disclosed. The laminated outer cover comprises an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester film including a filler material. The aliphatic-aromatic copolyester films have suitable breathability, vapor transfer and tensile strength properties while being substantially biodegradable.

Abstract: A method of making a touch fastener includes coextruding, side-by-side, a plurality of lanes of polymeric material to form a sheet-form base. The sheet-sheet form base includes a lane of a first polymeric material disposed between two lanes of a second polymeric material, the second polymeric material is different from the first polymeric material. The method further includes molding a plurality of discrete fastener element stems extending outwardly from and integral with the sheet-form base in each of the two lanes of the second polymeric mateial and forming engageable heads on the stems.

Abstract: An absorbent article for absorbing body liquids, comprising a unitary system of microlayered film constructed and arranged to carry out the multiple functions of liquid intake, liquid uptake and distribution, liquid retention and liquid barrier requisite for such an absorbent article. The unitary system comprises a series of sequentially arranged topside, inside and bottom side regions having different properties needed to perform the functions of the absorbent article.