Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Robert C Sokolowski

Russell L Johnson

Elwood W Harke

Kurt W Ostermeier

Richard Allen Anderson

James E Fay

Glen R Fleischer

Barry B Glashagel

An elasticized non-woven fiber material is made by combining one or more textile fibers with one or more elasticizeable fibers and bonding the combined fibers together. The resultant web of bonded non-woven fibers is then heat-treated to heat-shrink the elasticizeable fiber and recover its elasticity thereby shrinking the fibers and the web of material. An elasticized non-woven fabric made by the described method is also provided.

Elasticized non-woven fabric and method of making the same

A cellulosic particle, especially useful as a cat litter, is manufactured by agglomerating a fibrous cellulosic feed material in the presence of water, compacting the surface of the agglomerated particles, and drying the particles.

Agglomerated cellulosic particles

Discrete absorbant particles, useful for example as an animal litter, are produced by joining together layers of formed paper pulp, the layers being compressed together in such a way as to remain together under normal use conditions, prior to immersion in water, but so as to wholly or partially separate upon immersion in water, so that the particles are easily flushed down a toilet after use. The product also has uses other than for animal litter, such as in floor sweeping, as a mulch, packing, or otherwise.

Particulate paper product, especially for use as animal litter

A method of making agglomerated cellulosic particles, particularly useful as a cat litter, comprises agglomerating a moist blend of fibers, aggregates of fibers, and/or fiber-sized pieces of a fibrous cellulosic material in a substantially horizontal rotating drum to form agglomerated particles; compacting surfaces of the particles; and drying the particles.

Method of making agglomerated cellulosic particles using a substantially

A nonwoven fabric-like material having a unique combination of strength, absorbency and hand consists essentially of an air-formed matrix of thermoplastic polymer microfibers having an average fiber diameter of less than about 10 microns, and a multiplicity of individualized wood pulp fibers disposed throughout the matrix of microfibers and engaging at least some of the microfibers to space the microfibers apart from each other. The wood pulp fibers are interconnected by and held captive within the matrix of microfibers by mechanical entanglement of the microfibers with the wood pulp fibers, the mechanical entanglement and interconnection of the microfibers and wood pulp fibers alone forming a coherent integrated fibrous structure. The coherent integrated fibrous structure may be formed by the microfibers and wood pulp fibers without any adhesive, molecular or hydrogen bonds between the two different types of fibers. The wood pulp fibers are preferably distributed uniformly throughout the matrix of microfibers to provide a homogeneous material. The material is formed by initially forming a primary air stream containing the melt blown microfibers, forming a secondary air stream containing the wood pulp fibers, merging the primary and secondary streams under turbulent conditions to form an integrated air stream containing a thorough mixture of the microfibers and wood pulp fibers, and then directing the integrated air stream onto a forming surface to air form the fabric-like material. The microfibers are in a soft nascent condition at an elevated temperature when they are turbulently mixed with the wood pulp fibers in air.

Growing community of inventors

Menasha, WI, United States of America

Robert C Sokolowski