Pile articles (20,22), especially pile weatherstripping, and a method and apparatus (10) for making such articles where the backing (24) and the pile (26) are of unlike material, especially nylon yarn for the pile (26) and polypropylene containing material for the backing (24), wherein prior to the welding of the pile (26) to the backing (24) the pile is first pre-heated using ultrasonic energy to melt the pile in a region (65) thereof where the pile is ultrasonically welded to the backing and before the weld is made. The ultrasonic melting occurs upstream of the location where the pile (26) is welded to the backing (24) so that the ultrasonically pre-heated melted region (65) of the pile (26) can cool and become at least partially solidified. Then pile (26) at the pre-heated melted region (65) is welded to the backing (24) and causes a reactive or chemical weld to occur, thereby attaching the pile (26) to the backing (24).

Pile articles (20,22), especially pile weatherstripping, and a method and apparatus (10) for making such articles where the backing (24) and the pile (26) are of unlike material, especially nylon yarn for the pile (26) and polypropylene containing material for the backing (24), wherein prior to the welding of the pile (26) to the backing (24) the pile is first pre-heated using ultrasonic energy to melt the pile in a region (65) thereof where the pile is ultrasonically welded to the backing and before the weld is made. The ultrasonic melting occurs upstream of the location where the pile (26) is welded to the backing (24) so that the ultrasonically pre-heated melted region (65) of the pile (26) can cool and become at least partially solidified. Then pile (26) at the pre-heated melted region (65) is welded to the backing (24) and causes a reactive or chemical weld to occur, thereby attaching the pile (26) to the backing (24).

A washable, reusable mat that serves as a stimulation device for animals, the mat having a base with a pile thereon, the pile being formed from a plurality of fingers which are arranged to form a structure with a plurality of spaces. Food or treats for the animal (e.g., a dog), are placed on the mat, and the food or treats fall among the fingers and are captured within the spaces formed in the pile by the fingers. The animal locates the food or treats by employing the animal's olfactory senses, such as smell and taste, to locate the food within the mat pile. The animal may use its nose (or paws) to gain access to the captured food by tunneling among the fingers, moving the fingers aside, or other action to access the hidden food.

A textile sheet element having selectively applied arrays of surface projection elements defining raised zones across an active surface for cleaning and/or personal care, The textile sheet element is adapted for use by itself and/or for attachment to a user manipulated support with or without a handle such as a mop head or the like.

A textile sheet element having selectively applied arrays of surface projection elements defining raised zones across an active surface for cleaning and/or personal care, The textile sheet element is adapted for use by itself and/or for attachment to a user manipulated support with or without a handle such as a mop head or the like.

A washable, reusable mat that serves as a stimulation device for animals, the mat having a base a base with a pile thereon, the pile being formed from a plurality of fingers which are arranged to form a structure with a plurality of spaces. Food or treats for the animal (e.g., a dog), are placed on the mat, and the food or treats fall among the fingers and are captured within the spaces formed in the pile by the fingers. The animal locates the food or treats by employing the animal's olfactory senses, such as smell and taste, to locate the food within the matt pile. The animal may use its nose (or paws) to gain access to the captured food by tunneling among the fingers, moving the fingers aside, or other action to access the hidden food.

A unitary, single-use, sanitary sterilizing wipe for a beverage can. It has a number of can wiping interfaces incorporated into its design that matingly conforms to a standard beverage can, and uses a natural sterilizing fluid that is frictionally wiped onto the can's outer surfaces before drinking from the can. It may be used anywhere by opening the polymer seal, removing the wipe, placing it on the top of a beverage can and twisting it under pressure to sterilize the can.

A unitary, single-use, sanitary sterilizing wipe for a beverage can. It has a number of can wiping interfaces incorporated into its design that matingly conforms to a standard beverage can, and uses a natural sterilizing fluid that is frictionally wiped onto the can's outer surfaces before drinking from the can. It may be used anywhere by opening the polymer seal, removing the wipe, placing it on the top of a beverage can and twisting it under pressure to sterilize the can.

A disposable absorbent article is described herein. The disposable absorbent article includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent system disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least a portion of the has a plurality of conforming features such that the absorbent article has a blot residual value of less than 30 mg and a bending stiffness of less than 12.

A disposable absorbent article is described herein. The disposable absorbent article includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent system disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least a portion of the has a plurality of conforming features such that the absorbent article has a blot residual value of less than 30 mg and a bending stiffness of less than 12.