Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Jeffrey Jennings Krueger

Fred R Radwanski

Sridhar Ranganathan

Renette E Richard

Paul Francis Tramontina

Richard Paul Lewis

Ali Yahiaoui

Ann Louise McCormack

Timothy James Blenke

Kaiyuan Yang

Andrew Thomas Baker

Jeffrey Eldon Fish

Oomman Painummoottil Thomas

Donald Eugene Waldroup

Edward A Colombo

Stanley Roy Kellenberger

Charles Wilson Colman

Michael Joseph Garvey

John Herbert Conrad

Lei Huang

Hoa La Wilhelm

Mark G Reichmann

Frances Wynn Mayfield

Joseph Earl Pierce

Charles Herbert Goerg

Jenny L Day

Gregory Marc Lefkowitz

Peter Robert Elliker

David A Lilley

Mary F Mallory

Mark G Kupelian

Jacqueline B Martin

Ray A Sterling

Ann L Mccormack

Frances W Mayfield

A nonwoven web that contains a plurality of fibers formed from a polyolefin composition is provided. The polyolefin composition contains a rigid propylene polymer that has a relatively high melting temperature and modulus of elasticity, which can provide good strength and durability to the nonwoven web. The polyolefin composition also contains a ductile propylene polymer that has a relatively high melt flow index, which can help achieve relatively fine fibers that minimize the stiffness of the web. In addition to a rigid and ductile polymer, the polyolefin composition also contains a slip additive (e.g., fatty acid derivative). Among other things, such an additive can even further enhance the overall softness of the composition.

Soft and durable nonwoven web

A hybrid absorbent foam includes an integrated hybrid foam layer having an open surface, a closed surface, and a foam body extending between the open and closed surfaces. The integrated hybrid foam layer has an open-cell content of at least 50%, while the closed surface provides a barrier to aqueous liquids. The integrated hybrid foam layer is formed as a single layer, and has a substantially uniform polymer composition throughout its thickness. The integrated hybrid foam layer combines the functions of liquid absorbency, retention, and barrier into a single layer, and is useful in a wide variety of absorbent articles.

Hybrid absorbent foam and articles containing it

A composition which exhibits a reversible non-linear reduction in opacity as the composition is stretched from a first length to a second length is disclosed. One embodiment is a film comprising an elastomeric polymer medium and regions having crystalline properties disposed in the polymer medium, where the film exhibits the reversible non-linear reduction in opacity upon being stretched.

Films and articles with reversible opacity change upon stretching, and methods of making and using same

An absorbent structure expands to a greater extent along one surface than along an opposite surface when in the presence of a liquid. The absorbent structure may include a single layer, or two or more layers intimately bonded to one another. When in the presence of a liquid, the more expandable surface causes an increase in concavity in the X-Y plane of the structure, with the concavity being in the direction of the less expandable surface. One or both surfaces can be treated to adjust the respective level of expandability. By inducing a formed shape upon hydration swelling, a trough shape can be generated to facilitate absorbent properties, containment, and fit. The invention includes absorbent articles having such an absorbent structure incorporated therein.

Differentially expanding absorbent structure

A portable partition system includes an air permeable nonwoven sheet material as the primary isolation material. An elongated support member with an attachment device are used to erect the sheet material. The attachment device includes a head with opposed separable clamping surfaces having a hook material provided thereon. The sheet material is inserted between the clamping surfaces so as to be engaged directly by the hook material on opposite sides of the sheet material upon erecting the system into a portable partition.

Portable breathable dust partition system

A soft, flexible, low-density, open-cell, thermoplastic, absorbent foam formed from a foam polymer formula including a balanced amount of a plasticizing agent and a surfactant in combination with a base resin. Thermoplastic elastomers can be added to the foam polymer formula to improve softness, flexibility, elasticity, and resiliency of the resulting foam. The surfactant may be either a single surfactant or a multi-surfactant system. The foam possesses a number of qualities, such as softness and strength, which render the foam particularly suitable for use in a variety of personal care products, medical products, and the like.

Low-density, open-cell, soft, flexible, thermoplastic, absorbent foam and method of making foam

A low density, flexible, resilient, absorbent open-cell thermoplastic foam includes a combination of thermoplastic elastomer, ethylene ionomer, stiff polymer, and surfactant selected to provide various advantageous properties. The foam is useful in personal care absorbent articles, medical absorbent articles, absorbent wiping articles, and a variety of other applications.

Low density flexible resilient absorbent open-cell thermoplastic foam

Growing community of inventors

Marietta, GA, United States of America

Jeffrey Jennings Krueger