Abstract: A table cover for covering a top surface and open side areas of a table. The inventive device includes a top cover web having opposed top cover longitudinal edges thereof placable over the top surface of an associated table structure. A first side drape web is coupled to a first edge of the top cover so as to hang downwardly therefrom to cover a first open side area of the table. A second side drape web is similarly coupled to a second edge of the top cover to hang downwardly therefrom to cover a second open side area of the table. The table cover is formed by a process resulting in an inherent placement of the table cover in a folded condition for rolling into a supply roll, whereby a suitable length of the table cover can be dispensed from the roll and cut to fit a particular length of the associated table. The table cover is preferably formed of contrastingly colored webs and may additionally include a valance extending along a juncture of the first side web and the top cover web.

Abstract: A composite fabric and its method of disposal after use. Garments, linens, drapes, towels and other useful articles are provided as the composite of a reusable first component and a woven, non-woven, knitted or otherwise formed fabric of thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol polymer as a second component. The second component is water soluble in temperatures above approximately 140.degree. F. After use, the composite is subjected to water of sufficient temperature to substantially dissolve the thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol component but not the reusable first component.

Abstract: An absorbent underpad for use on an article of bedding includes a liquid impervious backing sheet, a liquid permeable upper facing sheet adhered to the backing sheet about the edges thereof, and an interior absorbent pad combination comprising upper and lower tissue layers generally coextensive with the boundarees of the underpad, a pair of spatially separated barrier strips formed of super-absorbent material between the tissue layers, and a non-woven transfer layer along the central region of the upper tissue layer adjacent the upper facing sheet. The plies of the tissue layer are formed with a crepe-like irregular surface oriented to develop a wicking action directed along the layers in a transverse direction, toward the absorbent barrier strips.

Abstract: An improved patient transfer sheet device includes a thin first sheet, having a low coefficient of friction for contacting inner surfaces thereof and substantially higher coefficients of friction for other surfaces contacting the first sheet, and a thin second sheet, fixedly connected to the first sheet. The device has a plurality of corner cuffs for releasably securing the device to a first supporting structure. A perforation, medially spaced lengthwise of a patient lying on the device, penetrates the first and second sheets such that the device can be divided and removed from under the patient without rolling or lifting the patient. A first modified transfer device provides a thin band having additional lengthwise perforations such that the device can be placed such that a patient can be transferred sidewise in a pre-selected direction and, subsequently, be transferred in the reverse direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved sheeting system for covering an operating table which includes a main body section with a head section and a foot section pivotally coupled about horizontal axes to the main body section, and with sidearms pivotally coupled about vertical axes to the main body section, the sheeting system including a single large sheet positionable over the main body section, head section and foot section formed of a non-woven fabric having an enlarged planar portion, downwardly turned edges and an inwardly turned periphery with elastomeric material coupled to at least portions of the periphery whereby the edges and periphery accommodate the bending of the sheet along its side edges with the bending of the operating table; and a pair of small sheets positionable over the side arms.

Abstract: A bed covering has connectable panels which are connected at overlapping borders by complementary fasteners. When used to make up a bed, one panel can be hidden by the bed's blanket while the other is folded over the upper portion of the blanket, or the foregoing appearance can be simulated, to provide an aesthetically pleasing visible effect.

Abstract: A disposable fitted birthing sheet is provided for a mattress which consists of a covering having a contoured shape to fit about the mattress. A first mechanism is in the bottom surface of the covering for providing an access so that the mattress can fit into the covering. A second mechanism is in the top surface of the covering, for keeping a patient dry and infection free during a pre-birthing and birthing process.

Abstract: A disposable article of bedding comprises a piece of non-woven foldable material which when flat is generally rectangular. A coating of mildly sticky material is adhered to one side only of the piece of material and may occupy the entirety or a portion only of the side to which it is adhered. In either event, the coating may be solid or in pattern form. A continuous method of making disposable articles of bedding comprises the steps of moving a web of non-woven material past a work station, and applying a coating of mildly sticky material to one surface only of the web at the work station.

Abstract: A disposable protective device is securable about individuals incontinent due to ill health, mental condition, or age. The device includes an impermeable sheet underlying a cushioned liquid absorbent layer coextensive with the sheet, wherein the laminated body includes a central body portion and longitudinally aligned first and second legs, wherein the first leg includes a plurality of adhesive members to secure the first and second legs about a body portion of an individual in a surrounding manner. The laminated body may include liquid soluble deodorant tablets as an embodiment of the invention, and may further include a cushioned buttocks pad formed with an undulating upper surface for accommodating a buttocks of an individual to enhance comfort of the device.

Abstract: A liner assembly is provided for covering a support surface. The liner assembly includes a film sheet for covering the surface, the film sheet allowing rays to pass therethrough, and a dispenser for storing an unused portion of the film sheet to permit a user to dispense a section of the film sheet onto the surface prior to each use. The liner assembly ensures that the surface is in a clean and sanitary condition prior to each use.

Abstract: A disposable infant seat liner is described with shoulder strap receiving slotways and leg or crotch strap receiving slotways designed to fit infant seat liners having various strap placements. Infant carrier handle or strap receiving slotways may also be included, and may be of an arcuate shape, for receiving infant carrier handles or waist straps. The strap receiving slotways may be selectively opened by a user and may also be perforated to facilitate this selective opening.

Abstract: Materials have at least one layer comprising a mixture of thermoplastic and other fibers. This latter layer may be thermobonded together and then densified along at least a section of the eventual peripheral edge margin of an article to be formed from the material. Thermoplastic material-containing cover sheets may also be secured to the core and densified in this manner. The entire eventual peripheral edge margin of the article is typically densified. The material is cut within the densified region or slightly outside the densified region to provide a soft peripheral edge. Absorbent materials may be thermobonded within the layer and surrounded by a densified edge to fix them within the article. The composite materials are used in manufacturing infant car seat liners and other articles. In addition, sections of the material may be densified and provided with weakened areas, such as perforations, to enable users to selectively separate the articles along the perforations.

Abstract: A disposable infant seat liner in accordance with the present invention includes an upper section, a middle section and a lower section. Plural shoulder strap receiving slotways are provided in the upper section. These slotways may be accessible from side edges of the infant seat liner. In one embodiment, three shoulder strap receiving positions are provided at each side of the upper section to accommodate shoulder straps of various infant seat designs. First and second leg or crotch strap receiving slotways are also provided in a lower section of the infant seat liner. In one specific embodiment, a Y-shaped leg strap receiving slotway is positioned below an upwardly facing U-shaped slotway. In another embodiment, the lower slotway is T-shaped. Arched side cuts may also be provided in the central section of the infant seat liner to accommodate waist straps and to facilitate fitting of the infant seat liner to an infant car seat.

Abstract: A disposable infant seat liner is described with shoulder strap receiving slotways and leg or crotch strap receiving slotways designed to fit infant seat liners having various strap placements. Infant carrier handle or strap receiving slotways may also be included, and may be of an arcuate shape, for receiving infant carrier handles or waist straps. The strap receiving slotways may be selectively opened by a user and may also be perforated to facilitate this selective opening.

Abstract: An absorbent article is described which may be formed at least in part of thermoplastic and other fibers. The article is densified along a first region and has a tear line defined in the first region. A second region of lower density than the first region is provided at the termination point of the tear line to assist in stopping tearing along the tear line. In addition, densified reinforcing regions can be provided outside areas where the tear line curves or switches directions. Perforations or cuts in the tear line may extend continuously around the corner of the tear line to assist tearing around the corner.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a portable thermally insulating mattress. The mattress comprises body support means and waterproof enclosure means. The body support means is in the form of a honeycomb structure which is incompressible in a vertical direction under body weight, while being compressible in a horizontal direction to facilitate packing. The cells of the honeycomb structure are sized to balance the heat loss by radiation with the heat gain by conduction by the air in the cells, i.e. 5-15 mm mean diameter for a 5 cm thick mattress.

Abstract: A disposable one-piece seat liner formed from a uniform layer of absorbant cellulosic fibers possessing sufficient integrity than it does not abrade during normal use bonded to a flexible moisture repellant backing sheet. The seat liner is designed for use on seals having a bottom, back, sidewalls and arms and has an upper and lower section with the upper section sized to cover the back of the seat with the side edges folding forward and the lower section sized to cover the bottom of the seat with the side edges folding upward along the arms of the seat joined by a fold line at the junction between the upper and lower sections. A plurality of slots are provided to accommodate the seat belts of a wide range of different care seats, strollers, carriers, highchairs and the like having attachment means passing between the legs of a person seated in the seat, coming over the shoulders or around the waist from the midpoint of the back of from the sides.

Abstract: A fitted sheet for covering a standard crib or bed mattress. The fitted sheet is developed from a single rectangular blank of non-woven fabric material, the sides of which are folded in along parallel longitudinal fold lines to form a folded-in sheet whose width corresponds to that of the mattress for which it is intended and whose length exceeds that of the mattress to an extent necessary to define the ends of the fitted sheet. Each corner of the folded-in sheet is seamed along a diagonal line to form a triangular flap which when the sides of the folded-in sheet are folded over the sides of the mattress, then defines a right angle corner that fits against the corresponding corner of the mattress. Each end of the fitted sheet is rendered stretchable by an elastic strip whereby the fitted sheet conforms snugly to the mattress.

Abstract: A fitted sheet for covering a standard crib or bed mattress, the sheet being made of synthetic plastic material having an absorbent top layer laminated to a liquid-impermeable backing film whereby when a crib or bed occupant wets the sheet, the liquid is absorbed thereby, yet the underlying mattress is maintained in a dry, sanitary condition. The fitted sheet is created from a single rectangular blank whose sides are folded in on longitudinal fold lines and whose ends are folded in on transverse fold lines, the corners of the blank being folded in on diagonal fold lines to form triangular folds that are ultrasonically sealed to the folded-in ends, thereby defining a box-like fitted sheet having reinforced right angle corners and sides and ends coextensive with those of the mattress. Each end of the fitted sheet is creased to form puckers that are joined to an elastic strip to render the end stretchable whereby the fitted sheet conforms snugly to the mattress.

Abstract: Nonwoven fabrics characterized by a superior balance of strength and softness are formed utilizing an aqueous emulsion prepared by the emulsion polymerization of a vinyl ester of an alkanoic acid interpolymerized with: 10 to 30% by weight ethylene; 15 to 40% by weight of C.sub.4 -C.sub.10 dialkyl maleate; and 1 to 5% by weight of copolymerizable N-methylol containing monomer.

Abstract: A highly absorbent sheet or pad sized to and placed onto the top of an operating table is weakened longitudinally through the center to form paired separable center-joined sections for lateral removal to respective sides of a patient lying on the sheet and centered longitudinally therewith. After surgery, the absorbent pad carrying a significant mass of blood can be quickly removed from the patient by pulling with sufficient force on the opposites sides of the pad, severing the pad centrally at the weakened portion. The weight of the patient tends to maintain one section of the pad beneath that portion of the patient as the other section is torn laterally away from the one section. The pad may comprise several layers with one or more layers being weakened by thinning the sheet material or perforating the same longitudinally.

Abstract: A bed for a hospital or the like, method of making same, and components therefor are provided wherein such bed comprises a mattress assembly, a bottom sheet covering the mattress assembly, a waterproof layer covering the central portion of the bottom sheet, and a cover over such layer wherein the layer has tails extending from its opposite ends and cover comprises a water-absorbent pad which also has tails extending from its opposite ends; and the tails are adapted to be disposed under the mattress assembly to hold the layer and pad securely on the bottom sheet with the layer and pad being readily removable from the bed for laundering thereof by pulling the tails from under the mattress assembly.

Abstract: A bulked web composite comprises a differentially tensioned reticulated web of elastic material bonded to at least one gatherable web whereby, upon release of the tensioning forces, the gatherable web or webs are gathered by the reticulated web with different degrees of bulking in different areas due to the different tension levels of the reticulated web. Also disclosed is a method of making a bulked web composite by the steps of: forming a reticulated web of elastic material and elongating at least portions of the web by differentially tensioning it, and bonding the differentially tensioned web to at least one gatherable web to form a composite. The composite is then relaxed whereby portions of the gatherable web are gathered by the contracted reticulated web with different degrees of bulking in different areas. Bulked web composites of such type may be employed to form disposable swim wear, towels, wash cloths, and the like.

Abstract: Disposable fitted sheets and method for making them. The sheets are formed without necessitating prior cutting by folding edges of the material and attaching the folded-over edges along diagonal lines associated with each corner. Elastic bands cooperate with each pocket to maintain the fit on the corners of the mattress. The bands are fastened in a stretched condition to the folded-over edges while the sheet is in a flat state. The process of the invention is particularly adapted to continuously forming such sheets which may be formed from a variety of inexpensive materials. Sheets of the invention are particularly useful in hospitals and nursing homes where frequent bedding changes may be needed.

Abstract: An absorption pad useful for protecting a bed, furniture, or the like, includes a lower liquid impervious material layer and an upper liquid absorbent material layer laminated thereto. The liquid absorbent layer is impregnated with strings or filaments of a liquid resistant agent which does not stiffen the pad. The strings or filaments form a grid-like pattern for defining compartments between the strings over preferably the entire area of the absorption pad, thereby for limiting the spread of liquid over the pad. The layers are laminated together, and may be laminated by an adhesive. The laminating areas may be in a filament pattern corresponding to and overlapping the filament pattern of the strings of the liquid resistant agent.

Abstract: Disposable fitted sheets and method for making them. The sheets are formed without necessitating prior cutting by folding edges of the material and attaching the folded-over edges along diagonal lines associated with each corner. Elastic bands cooperate with each pocket to maintain the fit on the corners of the mattress. The bands are fastened in a stretched condition to the folded-over edges while the sheet is in a flat state. The process of the invention is particularly adapted to continuously forming such sheets which may be formed from a variety of inexpensive materials. Sheets of the invention are particularly useful in hospitals and nursing homes where frequent bedding changes may be needed.

Abstract: A stretcher for patient support which has a roll of disposable sheeting beneath an end portion of the stretcher. Individual sheets are manually separated from the roll at transverse weakened sections in the sheeting material that are longitudinally separated by a distance greater than the length of a mattress pad plus twice its thickness. In one embodiment, a roll of disposable sheeting is encased within a housing that has a pivotally mounted openable section.

Abstract: A removable and disposable back and head sheet attachable by an edge to the top of a chair or seat back and draping over the front of the seat back for engagement with the back of the head of a person sitting in the chair or seat of a mass transportation vehicle. The head and back sheet of the invention is provided with an arrangement indicating clearly whether the sheet has been placed in use by or for a person having sat in the chair or seat such that another person intending to sit in the chair or seat is informed whether the back and head sheet is fresh or used, and the personnel in charge of cleaning the vehicle is enabled to change and replace only the sheets which have been used. The use or non-use of the back and head sheet is indicated by unfolding a fold, breaking a seal and unfolding a fold, or by any other indicator such as a detector of body heat, perspiration or the like.

Abstract: An absorptive and protective patient underpad is characterized by its ability to absorb substantial volumes of liquid, while maintaining a relatively dry top surface and the underpad is further characterized by a layer between a top cushioning layer and a lower absorbent layer which will permit liquid flow into the absorbent layer and reduce to a minimum the generation and release of offensive odors from the absorbent layer.