The Procter Gamble Company

John Kit Carson

John Geoffrey Chan

Geneva Gail Otten

Xiaole Mao

Richard Emil Hildebrand, Iv

John David Norcom

Elizabeth Ann Brown Reno

Steven Michael Schennum

Li Wen

Kenneth Stephen McGuire

Peter W Hamilton

Richard Tweddell, Iii

Uwe Jungnickel

Benedikt Heil

Matthew Lloyd Newman

James C Horney

Jochen Ganninger

Holger Schulz

Andreas Reuschenbach

Andreas Bresselschmidt

Joerg Kotitschke

Mattthew Lloyd Newman

Cathy Wen

An injection-molding process and an apparatus for making a multi-component hollow article, and the article made thereby. The process comprises molding, from a first plastic material, a hollow body having a wall with at least one vent therethrough and at least one flap molded in an area adjacent to the vent. The flap is molded in a first position in which the vent is open. The flap is hingedly movable from the first position to a second position in which the vent is closed by the flap. After the flap is folded into the second position, the hollow body, including the folded flap, is at least partially overmolded with a second plastic material, wherein the second material is essentially precluded from leaking into the hollow body through the vent. The apparatus comprises a first mold bar for molding a hollow body, a second mold bar for overmolding the hollow body with a second plastic material, and a closing tool for moving, and optionally retaining, the flap in the second position. The resulting article has no second material inside its hollow body.

Process and apparatus for making multi-component hollow article and article made thereby

An oral-care implement including a filament comprising an external material and at least a first internal material. The filament includes an elongated flexible body having a length, a longitudinal axis, and a longitudinal outer surface comprising the external material, the elongated body terminating with a tip having a tip surface comprising the external material, wherein the tip surface has therein a plurality of craters distributed throughout the tip surface in a predetermined pattern, each of the craters having a surface edge of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape, walls extending longitudinally from the surface edge and comprising the external material, and a bottom comprising the at least first internal material and situated at a depth from the surface edge, the surface edge being formed by the walls and the tip surface.

Filament having unique tip and surface characteristics

A filament for use in a brush implement comprises an external material and at least a first internal material. The filament includes an elongated flexible body having a length, a longitudinal axis, and a longitudinal outer surface comprising the external material, the elongated body terminating with a tip having a tip surface comprising the external material, wherein the tip surface has therein a plurality of craters distributed throughout the tip surface in a predetermined pattern, each of the craters having a surface edge of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape, walls extending longitudinally from the surface edge and comprising the external material, and a bottom comprising the at least first internal material and situated at a depth from the surface edge, the surface edge being formed by the walls and the tip surface.

A process for making a filament for use in a brush implement comprises providing a composite filament comprising an external material and at least one internal material, wherein the tip surface comprises the internal material surrounded by the external material, the internal material having longitudinal shrinkage characteristics that differ from those of the external material; and causing the internal material to shrink inside the external material, whereby the internal material comprising the tip surface sinks relative to the external material comprising the tip surface so that at least one crater is formed at the tip surface of the filament, the at least one crater comprising a bottom formed by the internal material and walls formed by the external material, the at least one crater having a surface edge of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape.

Process for making filament having unique tip and surface characteristics

A cut-resistant and shred-resistant absorbent sheet material including an absorbent substrate and cut-resistant particles distributed through the substrate. Preferably, the absorbent substrate comprises cellulosic material and the particles comprise polymeric materials having an average size of at least about 100 micrometers, and most preferably between 100 and 1000 micrometers. It is also preferred that the absorbent substrate is provided in an amount of at least 50 percent by weight and is substantially free of inorganic free filler particulate. In addition, it is preferred that the sheet material has a basis weight of at least 100 pounds per 3000 ft , and that the particles are provided in an amount of between about 10 percent and about 50 percent by weight of the sheet. The sheet material can be made using typical paper making processes. Preferably, heat and/or pressure are applied to the sheet material to cause the particles to at least partially flow, so as to bond to the absorbent substrate. It is also preferred that the sheet material exhibit an absorbent efficiency of at least 0.2, a cut-resistance at least 30 kgf/cm, a wet abrasion loss of less than about 400 mg/100 revolutions, and a dry abrasion loss of less than about 300 mg/100 revolutions.

Absorbent sheet material having cut-resistant particles and methods for making the same

A multi-purpose sheet material comprising an absorbent layer and a cut-resistant material in contact with the absorbent layer. The cut-resistant material can comprise a cut-resistant support system, such as cut-resistant support element formed in the absorbent layer for example. The cut-resistant material may alternatively comprise cut-resistant particles, such as polymer particles having an average size of at least about 100 micrometers for example. Preferably, the sheet material exhibits an absorbent efficiency of at least about 0.2 and a slice resistance of at least about 30 kgf/cm, and more preferably an absorbent efficiency of at least about 1.0 and a slice resistance of at least about 40 kgf/cm. It is also preferred that sheet material exhibit a cut-resistance of at least about 30 kgf/cm, an absorbent efficiency of at least about 0.2, and a wet abrasion loss of less than about 400 mg per 100 revolutions.

Multi-purpose absorbent and cut-resistant sheet materials

The present invention provides a liquid absorbent fibrous substrate having a plurality of discontinuous cells in which a second material is disposed. This second material is selected from a broad variety of organic or inorganic solids which may provide a reinforcing effect such that a sharp instrument is prevented from passing through the new composite structure. The reinforcing materials are disposed in a discontinuous array, in a cellular form in the fibrous substrate thus providing a path for liquids to be absorbed into said fibrous substrate, while said reinforcing materials provide resistance to penetration by sharp edged instruments. When disposed in this manner, flexibility is maintained since the reinforcing materials are not disposed in a continuous pattern. Preferably, the pattern disposed is free of linear regions that provide a continuous line of penetration for sharp edges. More preferably, the pattern is designed with a pattern of interlocking shapes which constrain said linear regions to essentially short lengths. The reinforcing cellular pattern may be embossed above said absorbent fibrous substrate or may be substantially co-planar with said fibrous substrate. The composite substrate may also be backed with a liquid impervious layer, either as a separate layer applied thereto the bottom surface, or as an applied coating. The liquid impervious surface may be usefully selected with a high co-efficient of friction to provide a non-skid surface.

Flexible, cut resistant, and absorbent fibrous sheet materials

Growing community of inventors

Fairfield, OH, United States of America

John Kit Carson