A blow-molded plastic structure has a hollow interior portion formed during a blow-molding process, and includes first and second outer portions that are spaced apart from each other, with the hollow interior portion disposed there between. The structure includes a pattern of structural stiffening features that are integrally formed in the second outer portion. The pattern of structural stiffening features includes a plurality of tripodal depressions disposed in rows and columns and a plurality of convex regions disposed in rows and columns between the plurality of tripodal depressions. Each convex region has a maximum height between the first and second outer portions. Each of the tripodal depressions extends into the hollow interior portion, includes three indentations disposed adjacent the first outer portion, and includes an island spaced away from the first outer portion. The island has three sides, each of which is disposed adjacent one of the three indentations.

Apparatus and methods of forming selected portions of integral sheets of material are disclosed. Unformed portions of the sheets may remain undistorted during the forming process, allowing them to contain text, art work, or other desired information without material risk of the information being degraded or becoming unintelligible during the forming process. This result may be accomplished, moreover, with less trim than usually occurs in conventional forming processes.

A filtering apparatus formed by a plurality of channel systems. Each of the channel systems include an inlet port formed on an inlet side of the plate; no more than one outlet port formed on an outlet side of the plate; and a channel formed in the plate, the channel coupled to the inlet port and to the outlet port, wherein the ratio of the product of the capture area of the inlet ports of a channel system with the first transmissivity associated with the inlet ports to the product of the capture area of the outlet ports of a channel system with the second transmissivity associated with the outlet ports is greater than one. The channel system is configured to interact with objects of interest on a scale which is smaller than a value several orders of magnitude larger than the mean free path of an object of interest. Some plate embodiments are configured to interact with particles, such as air molecules, water molecules, or aerosols. Other plate embodiments are configured to interact with waves or wavelike particles, such as electrons, photons, phonons or acoustic waves.

A composite core with non-traditional geometries includes multiple elongate tubes arranged in a two-dimensional array. Each tube is made of a composite material. Each tube includes multiple curved sides. Each curved side inwardly curves toward a longitudinal axis passing through a geometric center of the tube to form a valley on an outer surface of the tube. An end of a first curved side connects to an end of a second curved side to form a crest on the outer surface of the tube. At least one crest formed on an outer surface of a first tube in the two-dimensional array contacts at least one valley formed on an outer surface of an adjacent second tube in the two-dimensional array.

A filtering apparatus formed by a plurality of channel systems. Each of the channel systems include an inlet port formed on an inlet side of the plate; no more than one outlet port formed on an outlet side of the plate; and a channel formed in the plate, the channel coupled to the inlet port and to the outlet port, wherein the ratio of the product of the capture area of the inlet ports of a channel system with the first transmissivity associated with the inlet ports to the product of the capture area of the outlet ports of a channel system with the second transmissivity associated with the outlet ports is greater than one. The channel system is configured to interact with objects of interest on a scale which is smaller than a value several orders of magnitude larger than the mean free path of an object of interest. Some plate embodiments are configured to interact with particles, such as air molecules, water molecules, or aerosols. Other plate embodiments are configured to interact with waves or wavelike particles, such as electrons, photons, phonons or acoustic waves.

A blow-molded plastic structure has a hollow interior portion formed during a blow-molding process, and includes first and second outer portions that are spaced apart from each other, with the hollow interior portion disposed there between. The structure includes a pattern of structural stiffening features that are integrally formed in the second outer portion. The pattern of structural stiffening features includes a plurality of tripodal depressions disposed in rows and columns and a plurality of convex regions disposed in rows and columns between the plurality of tripodal depressions. Each convex region has a maximum height between the first and second outer portions. Each of the tripodal depressions extends into the hollow interior portion, includes three indentations disposed adjacent the first outer portion, and includes an island spaced away from the first outer portion. The island has three sides, each of which is disposed adjacent one of the three indentations.

According to some illustrative embodiments, a protective product is provided that includes: at least one expandable slit paper sheet, said at least on expandable slit paper being expanded between opposing ends of said slit paper; a first embossed paper sheet facing said expanded slit paper sheet and a second paper sheet facing an opposite side of said at least one expanded slit paper sheet, at least one of said first embossed paper sheet and said second paper sheet being fixed to said expanded slit paper sheet at the opposing ends of said expanded slit paper sheet and thereby maintaining said expanded paper in its expanded state, said first embossed paper sheet having a plurality of embossings that increase the rigidity of said embossed paper sheet, whereby inhibiting deformation of said embossed paper sheet that is fixed to said expanded slit sheet paper.

A blow-molded plastic structure has a hollow interior portion formed during a blow-molding process, and includes first and second outer portions that are spaced apart from each other, with the hollow interior portion disposed there between. The structure includes a pattern of structural stiffening features that are integrally formed in the second outer portion. The pattern of structural stiffening features includes a plurality of tripodal depressions disposed in rows and columns and a plurality of convex regions disposed in rows and columns between the plurality of tripodal depressions. Each convex region has a maximum height between the first and second outer portions. Each of the tripodal depressions extends into the hollow interior portion, includes three indentations disposed adjacent the first outer portion, and includes an island spaced away from the first outer portion. The island has three sides, each of which is disposed adjacent one of the three indentations.

An absorbent article can have a topsheet layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer. The absorbent article can further include an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned on a body facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a first component which defines an opening for direct passage of body exudates into the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a second component which at least partially overlaps the first component of the exudate management layer and further extends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in a direction towards the posterior region of the absorbent article.

A blow-molded plastic structure has a hollow interior portion formed during a blow-molding process, and includes first and second outer portions that are spaced apart from each other, with the hollow interior portion disposed there between. The structure includes a pattern of structural stiffening features that are integrally formed in the second outer portion. The pattern of structural stiffening features includes a plurality of tripodal depressions disposed in rows and columns and a plurality of convex regions disposed in rows and columns between the plurality of tripodal depressions. Each convex region has a maximum height between the first and second outer portions. Each of the tripodal depressions extends into the hollow interior portion, includes three indentations disposed adjacent the first outer portion, and includes an island spaced away from the first outer portion. The island has three sides, each of which is disposed adjacent one of the three indentations.