Abstract: A hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web is disclosed. This nonwoven pulp fiber web has a mean flow pore size ranging from about 18 to about 100 microns, and a Frazier porosity of at least about 100 cfm/ft.sup.2. The web may also be characterized by a specific volume ranging from about 8 to about 15 cm.sup.3 /g. The nonwoven pulp fiber web may contain a significant proportion of low-average fiber length pulp and still have a total absorptive capacity greater than about 500 percent and a wicking rate greater than about 2 centimeters per 15 seconds. The hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web may be used as a hand towel, wipe, or as a fluid distribution material in an absorbent personal care product. Also disclosed is a method of making the hydraulically needled nonwoven pulp fiber web.

Abstract: Hand or wiper towels are made according to a process which includes the steps of: forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers; depositing the furnish on a traveling foraminous belt, thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the traveling foraminous belt; subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web; and removing the dried fibrous web from the traveling foraminous belt. The dried fibrous web is not creped. These hand towels possess superior levels of absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, softness, and strength to other prior art hand or wiper towels with the same or about the same basis weight. Embossing of the hand or wiper towels enhances the superior qualities of the towels. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transfer of the fibrous web from a foraminous belt of a higher speed to a foraminous belt of a lower speed produces a towel with enhanced strength and softness.

Abstract: There is disclosed a multi-layered absorbent, protective nonwoven web which has one or more center layers of melt-blown polypropylene microfibers which are naturally hydrophobic. The center layers are sandwiched between one or more melt-blown surface layers on each side which surface layers are composed of melt-blown polypropylene microfibers which have been rendered hydrophilic by addition of a nonionic surfactant during formation of the surface layer microfibers.

Abstract: This application relates to a lighted display chamber for momentos, gimcracks, trophies and the like, and preferably translucent or transparent ones since the device of this invention includes a blinking light means to transmit light from the base through the display object. The blinking light is actuated by a predetermined positioning of the top of the display chamber.