text:
Bringing the Green Button program to Ontario: Enabling innovation in the energy data space
"Data is the oil of the 21st century and application programming interfaces (APIs) are the gas stations. Infrastructure around this data will change the way we live."
These are bold and moving words from Ron Dembo, the founder and CEO of Ontario's Zerofootprint Software Inc. Zerofootprint, a MaRS client, builds APIs that make energy data valuable.
On October 24, 2012, a panel of experts discussed "The Market Impact of Accessible Energy Data," a white paper authored by Jesika Briones.
Ron Dizy, president and CEO of Enbala Power Networks moderated a discussion among Dembo, Carol Stimmel, research director at Pike Research, and Michael Winters, senior vice-president and chief information officer at Hydro One. A video of this timely conversation can be found at the bottom of this post.
This graphic explains the energy data landscape in Ontario:
Questions addressed by the panel included:
- So we have made an investment in smart meters, now what?
- What is the value to the utility?
- What is the Green Button program?
- What is the cost of implementing something like Green Button in Ontario?
- What evidence is there that making data accessible has had the consumer uptake that was expected?
The United States' Green Button program is an industry-led effort to provide electricity customers with energy data usage information in a consumer- and computer-friendly format. The program was launched less than a year ago and the US now has 33 million customers with access. Green Button has two steps: "Download My Data," which changes the data format to a common format and downloads the information from the utility to the customer, and "Connect My Data," which provides real-time data from the utility to a third party with customer consent.
Yesterday, Ontario's Minister of Energy Chris Bentley announced that the Green Button initiative is, in fact, coming to Ontario. MaRS and the province are leading a working group to investigate implementing a common data format for Ontario utilities. This would enable software developers to produce websites and apps that could display energy data to consumers in a user-friendly way, with the aim of enabling consumers to save energy and money through better energy management.
In Ontario, we basically have "Download My Data" already as we have smart meters and the Meter Data Management and Repository (MDM/R).
According to Pike Research, the worldwide market for smart-grid data analytics is expected to grow steadily through 2020, with cumulative worldwide spending from 2012 through 2020 totalling just over $34 billion. Given that Ontario has already made the first step in investing in both smart meters and MDM/R, and is now turning its attention to making this data accessible and in a standard format with the Green Button initiative, we could have a real opportunity here to lead the way in innovation in this sector. At last month's panel, Stimmel stated that "smart-grid data analytics are key to fully realizing the investment made in the smart grid."
The difference between what we have and what Green Button could bring to Ontario is the difference between pull and push. Right now, our smart meters send data every 15 minutes that is stored in the MDM/R and is accessible for consumers to download 24 hours later in an hourly format. However, only 1 to 2% of Hydro One customers are accessing this data, and only about .001% are actually playing around with the data in a spreadsheet.
In Ontario, a Green Button initiative would allow for multiple APIs to be developed using a common format. Consumers could then access their data through an app that shows them what they want to see.
"We already have APIs in Ontario," said Winters. "We are at Step 9 in creating that de facto standard."
The Green Button initiative would be the permission that consumers could give to allow third parties to access their data, basically serving as an "I agree" button. The program would also make data accessible beyond the "spreadsheet jockeys," those .001% of Hydro One customers playing around with their energy data.
Green Button would enable a broader consumer segment to interact with their energy data in a variety of ways at the push of a button, unlike the one-size-fits-all, multi-step process seen thus far in Ontario.
While the meters themselves are not real-time ready in Ontario, data is hourly and MDM/R contains data from the previous day – at the front end, data is recorded every 15 minutes. It may not take much to improve to that level.
We've already made the investment, now we just have to capitalize on it. As stated above, we have smart meters and we have the MDM/R infrastructure already. With the Green Button initiative, we now have a collaborative effort set in motion to make this data accessible in a standard format.
A report released Tuesday, October 30, 2012 by Pike Research forecasts that more than 23 million households worldwide will participate in demand response programs by 2018, which is double the number of households that do so today. By the sounds of last month's discussion and yesterday's announcement, Ontario could be well on its way to leading this charge.
Check out the event video:
Lynda O'Malley
Lynda is a cleantech industry analyst with the Market Intelligence team, helping cleantech and advanced materials entrepreneurs and startups get the market intelligence they need to grow their companies. See more…


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CrossFit Espanol is a short and simple English to Spanish guide for Crossfitters. It is designed to make training new Spanish-speaking CrossFitters easier and more understandable. It has three main... More > sections; Body Parts, Terminology and Equipment, and Cues. It is designed with the English reader in mind but is useful for anyone wishing to increase their Spanish Vocabulary and their ability to Coach and Train effectively.< Less
Perception, Goodness, and CrossFit
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This is a short essay describing the application of my concept of the Telearchic Cross to CrossFit. The concept of the Cross is explained, and is its utilization. The underlying intent is to... More > improve the process of perception in a somewhat systematic way. In my formulation, Goodness is impossible without perception, as there cannot BE any abstract referent to the word "Goodness". It is always contextual, and always involves an effort to perceive available options, and to choose from those options that which best leads to sustainable human happiness. My email is firstname.lastname@example.com if you have any questions.< Less
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Average to AMAZING Crossfit is the best and most complete book out there for any crossfitter who is looking for better results. With the perfect combination and inspiration you will be on the path to... More > greatness. The author Mariana Correa is a former professional athlete and certified sports nutritionist that competed successfully all over the world. She shares years of experience both as an athlete and a coach bringing a priceless perspective. This book goes beyond the subject of crossfit. It inspires you to excel, and dare to dream beyond your abilities. Every aspect to succeed is explained including mental training, hydration, nutrition and much more with a clear and easy way to understand. After reading this book you will be on your way to be healthier, fitter and happier.< Less
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Mandalay Bay offers text alerts to consumers interested in receiving property discounts as well as event and information related to Mandalay Bay. A message will be sent to your mobile device for verification.
Up to 8 messages per month. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP to 31449 for help. Text STOP to 31449 to cancel. You will be unsubscribed from our SMS text messaging service immediately. Once you have cancelled, you will not receive any additional messages unless you re-register.
By joining this subscription program you authorize Hipcricket to send you future automated marketing text messages on behalf of Mandalay Bay at the mobile number you have provided. You also acknowledge that your agreement to receive these messages isn't required as a condition to purchase goods or services.
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text:
Liberty revamp to meet new Premier League guidelines
Posted: February 26, 2013|
PLANS for a major revamp of the Liberty Stadium's main entrance, a new press area and hundreds of extra seats have been revealed.
Swansea City FC chairman Huw Jenkins wants to alter the central section of the West Stand to comply with new Premier League broadcasting requirements for next season.
If the plans are given the go-ahead by Swansea Council, a new glass-fronted entrance will be built, flanked by two pillars: one with the Swans club logo on it, the other with the Ospreys logo.
The current press section will be moved to a new fourth floor area to accommodate 120 journalists.
Related content
An extra 705 seats will be added for fans, plus associated hospitality and new staircases.
But the actual stadium "bowl" as you see it now won't be altered.
It is understood Swansea Council has requested a transport study to be submitted by the Europe-bound football club. Mr Jenkins has previously spoken about proposals for up to 12,000 new seats in the east, north and south stands.
A planning application is due to be submitted in the not too distant future.
A design and access statement submitted as part of the current application said better media facilities were required as part of new broadcasting arrangements. Premier League clubs are in line for millions of pounds more revenue next season, with around half of all broadcasting income now coming from overseas media companies.
A design and access statement submitted as part of the application cited a Cardiff University report which said the Swans' first season in the Premier League contributed some £58 million to the local economy.
It said the football club and the Ospreys were a big part of Swansea and the surrounding area.
"Their success contributes to a sense of pride that residents have in their city," said the report.
It pointed out most Swans home matches were sell outs and that there was a waiting list for season tickets.
The stadium also hosts concerts, corporate events and weddings and is run by the Stadium Management Company, which has Swans, Ospreys and council representatives on its board.
"The Stadium Management Company have been key in advising on these requirements and programming to ensure that works can be completed with minimal disruption," added the report.


text:
Nel 1967 ho venduto come sistemista queste macchine alle banche come data entra con risultati eccezionali in confronto alle schede perforate.
Un risultato de 523 rispetto alla de 521 con una cassetta .
Ottimo sistema che supportata anche la linea telefonica.
Michele Di Marco
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Word Processing System - Olivetti, Model DE 523, circa 1975 Reg. No: ST 042138
- Summary:
- Olivetti Model DE 523 word processor, comprising integrated unit with screen, 2 cassette tape drives and keyboard in single casing. Keyboard has 24 special function keys devoted to word processing. Made by Olivetti in Italy about 1975.
This unit had a "futuristic" design, with the monochrome monitor supported by an arm reaching up from behind the keyboard, Unfortunately the design dated rapidly.
- Description:
- Comprising integrated unit with screen, 2 cassette tape drives and keyboard in single casing.
Cassette tape jammed in left hand cassette drive.
- Acquisition Information:
- Donation from Toyota Australia Pty Ltd, 1993
|460 mm (Height), 480 mm (Width), 480 mm (Length)
More information
|Tagged with:
|computing, computers, microcomputer systems, word processors, electric typewriters
|Themes this item is part of:
|Information & Communication Collection
|Primary Classification:
|Secondary Classification:
|Digital Computing
|Tertiary Classification:
|word processors
|Label on front: olivetti DE 523
Right hand cassette drive: 0765219
Left hand cassette drive: 751507
Cassette: (handwritten) Side B 26-7-82 / (Olivetti logo)
|Olivetti, Italy, 1975
Glenn Johnson Posted on 05 May 2014 2:25 AM
I used to work for the United Friendly Insurance Company Head Office, Southwark, London, UK and during the late 1970s we had 2 of the Olivetti DE523 systems installed in our Secretariat department for a few years. We used to key data to one of the cassette tape while the other cassette tape loaded up the program. Ted Brown of our Data Processing Department used to write the program cassettes for us and read the keyed data into his Redifon (later ROCC) Seecheck System. The 2 DE523's ware eventually replaced by 2 Redifon Terminals.
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text:
sneaker + net. See sneaker running shoe, and Internet.
sneakernet (countable and uncountable, plural sneakernets)
- (computing, informal, humorous) A method of transferring a computer file from one computer to another by copying it to a floppy disk or some other external storage, carrying the disk to the other computer and installing it there, in contrast with electronic methods used by networked computers to transfer data.


text:
VDPAU -> pixel snow on screen until reboot
4 Attachment(s)
Geforce 9400GT, driver versions when problem has occured: 260.19.44-1, 270.30-1 (from Debian Sid/Experimental respectively). Before 260.19.44-1, I used 195.36.31-7, which was the previous version in Debian Sid.
Quite randomly (after a week's uptime or so) when viewing video with VDPAU, a lot of pixel artefacts begin to appear, not only on the video surface. Thereafter there are a lot of pixel artefacts all over the screen in X until reboot (just restarting X doesn't help).
See pictures:
http://tinypic.com/r/2s79dzk/7 - glxgears
http://tinypic.com/r/s16cdu/7 - video and glxgears (which looks better this way, for some reason)
Also notice that the pixel corruption isn't localized to glxgears/the video window. The Pidgin conversation looks obfuscated, but that's not deliberate. All areas of the screen are affected. (An interesting personal note is that Google Chrome has a lot more obfuscation problems than e.g. Opera, which I guess has something to do with GPU rendering.)
"Quite randomly" I said: it might be connected to incomplete video files and such, but I can't tell for sure. The last time it happened it was with a regular xvid file I've encoded myself, which has played without any problems before.
After the snow has appeared once during a session, subsequent video file playbacks are much more likely (certain?) to fail. Since I can't predict when it will happen the first time, I haven't gotten a bug trace of the initial occurence, but several of the subsequent playback crashes.
Sometimes it hangs the entire X session. ssh shows that X takes ~100% CPU during these hangs. Sometimes MPlayer exits by itself. Sometimes it is possible to press "q" to quit MPlayer with a couple of seconds delay.
I attach MPlayer bug traces with VDPAU_TRACE=1 and VDPAU_NVIDIA_DEBUG=3. I took three bug traces since the crash appeared in some different ways. I ran "startx -- -logverbose 6".
-nvidia-bug_trace-mplayer_catch.txt - I could switch to the terminal window and kill MPlayer with Ctrl+c.
-nvidia-bug_trace-mplayer_all_by_itself_1.txt - MPlayer exited by itself.
-nvidia-bug_trace-mplayer_all_by_itself_2.txt - MPlayer exited by itself, but in a slightly different way message-wise.
It has occured with very different video files. Once it has started to snow, any file seems to be able to reproduce the freeze behaviour.
I experience a), d) and e) of http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=148113 , but the problem didn't exist for me with the mentioned driver version, so I guess only the symptoms and not the causes are related.
Re: VDPAU -> pixel snow on screen until reboot
Try the beta driver, it solves all these recent VDPAU issues for me (except a few flash issues).
Re: VDPAU -> pixel snow on screen until reboot
I've experiencing the same problem with my config on VDPAU video.
X restart doesn't help too.
Hardware :
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G84 [GeForce 8600 GT] (rev a1)
Software :
Archlinux x86_64
libvdpau 0.4.1-1
nvidia 270.30-3
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text:
Posted: 2013-04-30
Students at Greater Johnstown High School involved in the Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) club are working on a fundraiser to increase cancer awareness. SADD is dedicated to providing students with the best prevention tools possible to deal with the issues of underage drinking, drug use, risky and impaired driving, and other destructive decisions. Johnstown High School's more than 80 SADD students have committed themselves to a cause which has not only had an impact on their lives but on those in the surrounding community. Members of SADD have been hard at work making bracelets to support and remember those who fought and are fighting the battle against cancer. Bracelets are available in various colors to signify the many types of cancer. Included with each bracelet are the words "Worn to salute our survivors, honor those fighting, and in memory of those we lost". The students will also be seeking donations through a district wide faculty dress down day and "I Am Every Patient" Hope Support Cure t-shirt die cuts. Bracelets are available to purchase for $3.00 and all donations raised will be used for the "greatest patient needs" of local cancer patients being treated through Conemaugh Cancer Care Center. To purchase a bracelet, contact Lisa Miller at (814) 533-5601 ext 4, or email@example.com.
About Conemaugh Memorial Medical CenterConemaugh Memorial Medical Center (CMMC), the flagship hospital of the Conemaugh Health System, is a regional referral hospital known for clinical excellence. Memorial has received HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence award for 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008 and 2007, for clinical outcomes which are among the Top 5% in the nation. Learn more at the Conemaugh Health System's all new website, www.conemaugh.org.
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text:
A method of making mutually-reinforced elastic strand/film composites and laminates in which film breakage, strand breakage, and strand alignment problems are minimized or avoided. The method includes casting an elastomeric adhesive film onto a chill roll, extruding elastic strands onto the film while the film is on a chill roll, and stretching the film and strand composite. The stretched composite may be laminated between two facing sheets. Additionally, tension in the composite may be controlled through film composition, strand composition, add-on rate, stretching the composite, and combinations of any of these approaches.
1. A method of making an elastomeric composite, comprising:
casting a continuous non-foamed elastomeric adhesive film directly onto a first chill roll;
separately extruding a plurality of continuous elastic strands directly onto the non-foamed film to create a continuous strand-reinforced composite; and
stretching the continuous composite as a single unit.
2. The method of
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15. A method of making an elastomeric composite, comprising:
casting a continuous non-foamed elastomeric adhesive film directly onto a first chill roll;
extruding a plurality of continuous elastic strands directly onto the non-foamed film to create a continuous strand-reinforced composite;
stretching the continuous composite as a single unit; and
laminating the stretched composite between a first facing sheet and a second facing sheet.
16. The method of
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22. A method of making an elastomeric composite laminate, comprising:
casting a continuous non-foamed elastomeric adhesive film directly onto a first chill roll;
passing the continuous non-foamed elastomeric adhesive film onto a second roll;
extruding a plurality of continuous elastic strands directly onto the non-foamed film while the film is on the second roll to create a continuous mutually-reinforced strand/film composite;
stretching the continuous composite as a single unit;
laminating the continuous stretched composite between a first facing sheet and a second facing sheet; and
controlling tension in the elastomeric composite through at least one of: selection of film composition, selection of strand composition, add-on rate, stretching the composite, and combinations thereof.
This invention is directed to a method of making elastic composite materials including elastomeric adhesive film reinforced with elastic strands which significantly improves tension decay and adhesion properties of the material.
Personal care garments often include elasticized portions to create a gasket-like fit around certain openings, such as waist openings and leg openings. Laminates made from conventional elastic strands and elastic attachment adhesive are often used to create such elasticized portions. However, such laminates can be rough and uncomfortable. Furthermore, such laminates may cause red-marking on a wearer's skin if the fit is too tight and may result in leakage from the garment if the fit is too loose.
Elastomeric adhesive compositions are multifunctional in the sense that they function as an elastomer in a nonwoven composite while also serving as a hot melt adhesive for bonding substrates. Elastomeric adhesive compositions in the form of elastomeric adhesive films are currently recognized as suitable for use in the manufacture of personal care articles. More particularly, elastomeric adhesive compositions can be used to bond facing materials, such as spunbond, to one another while simultaneously elasticizing the resulting laminate. The resulting laminate can be used to form an elastomeric portion of an absorbent article, such as a region surrounding a waist opening and/or a leg opening.
Non-woven elastic adhesive film laminates may require high output of adhesive add-on to achieve a tension target for product application. High add-on of the film laminate may generate a bulky, thick feel and appearance, and high cost. Furthermore, the high adhesive output requirement for the film formation would make on-line processing even more difficult due to the limitation of hot melt equipment output capacity. Also, such film lamination processes are relatively complex and need more precise control than strand lamination since a film edge thinning effect may cause the film to break during stretching.
Some elastomeric adhesive compositions lose their adhesiveness when the compositions are stretched and then bonded between two nonwoven substrates. The elasticity of these elastomeric adhesive compositions (in terms of tension decay) is negatively affected when laminates including the compositions are aged at elevated temperatures.
One type of elastomeric adhesive composition having improved elastic and adhesion properties that also provides adequate tension for product application is made up of a combination of extruded reinforcing strands and elastomeric adhesive film. A layer of spunbond or other facing material can be laminated along both surfaces of the film to provide elastic composite laminates. The combination of reinforcing strands and the elastomeric adhesive film significantly and advantageously reduces the rate and extent of tension decay, as well as improving adhesion properties of the spunbond laminates compared to spunbond laminates including elastomeric adhesive film without reinforcing strands.
It is known to make such strand-reinforced composites and laminates by extruding the elastomeric adhesive film and the reinforcing strands separately, followed by independent stretching prior to lamination between nonwoven facing materials. However, there are several shortcomings associated with independent stretching of strands and film elements. These shortcomings include a need for more equipment to control/stabilize the process, plus the strands need to be aligned to have uniform spacing. Additionally, frequencies of film or strand break are high especially in high stretch ratio and high web speed. Such drawbacks make the laminate production process difficult and complex.
With the foregoing in mind, it is a feature and advantage of the invention to provide a method of making strand-reinforced elastic composites and laminates with improved processability in which film breakage, strand breakage, and strand alignment problems are minimized or avoided.
In response to the discussed difficulties and problems encountered in the prior art, a new method of making strand-reinforced elastomeric composites and laminates has been discovered.
The present invention is directed to a method of making strand-reinforced elastic composites, and laminates incorporating such elastic composites. The method provides improved processability and minimization or avoidance of film breakage, strand breakage, and strand alignment problems.
The method of the invention includes casting an elastomeric adhesive film onto a chill roll. The film may be passed onto a second chill roll. In any case, a plurality of elastic strands is extruded onto the film while the film is on a chill roll to create a strand-reinforced composite. The strand-reinforced composite is then stretched, suitably by at least 200%. The stretched composite can be laminated between two facing sheets to form a strand-reinforced composite laminate.
Stretching the film and strand components as a single unit affords the added benefits of a more robust manufacturing method. The ability to control processability is especially critical for converting line operations where start/stop situations need to be minimized for economic reasons. Furthermore, by extruding the elastic strands directly onto the film, the strands are self-aligning on the film in the machine direction without moving in the cross direction or breaking. While the film reinforces the strands, the strands also provide reinforcement to the film, especially along the edges of the film. The elastic composite made from the mutually reinforced strand and film combination is much stronger and resistant to breaking than elastomeric adhesive film alone or elastic strands alone. Additionally, the composite made according to the method of the invention can be stretched even higher and the web speed can be run even faster than strand-reinforced elastomeric composites made by separately stretching the film and the strands, with a lesser chance of film or strand breakage or strand alignment problems.
The method of the invention is simplified, compared to methods that involve separate stretching of the film and the strands. The simplified process is important for ensuring quality and productivity for high speed manufacturing operations. Also, the method of the invention is designed to work on a converting line using film and strand material supplied from melt tanks as well as off-line where strand and/or film roll material may be extruder processable.
Tension and retraction properties of the composites can be tuned by varying the ratio of strands to film amount as well as controlling the amount of stretch of the single unit composite. Tension may also be controlled and enhanced through selection of the film composition, selection of the strand composition, selection of the substrate, the add-on rate, and combinations of any of these controlling factors, without risking web breakage problems and without encountering strand misalignment issues.
With the foregoing in mind, it is a feature and advantage of the invention to provide a method of making strand-reinforced elastomeric composites and laminates with enhanced productivity and quality in view of a reduction or elimination of web and/or strand breaks, and strand self-alignment.
Within the context of this specification, each term or phrase below will include the following meaning or meanings.
"Bonded" refers to the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, or the like, of at least two elements. Two elements will be considered to be bonded together when they are bonded directly to one another or indirectly to one another, such as when each is directly bonded to intermediate elements.
"Elastic tension" refers to the amount of force per unit width required to stretch an elastic material (or a selected zone thereof) to a given percent elongation.
"Elastomeric" and "elastic" are used interchangeably to refer to a material or composite that is generally capable of recovering its shape after deformation when the deforming force is removed. Specifically, as used herein, elastic or elastomeric is meant to be that property of any material which, upon application of a biasing force, permits the material to be stretchable to a stretched biased length which is at least about 50 percent greater than its relaxed unbiased length, and that will cause the material to recover at least 40 percent of its elongation upon release of the stretching force. A hypothetical example which would satisfy this definition of an elastomeric material would be a one (1) inch sample of a material which is elongatable to at least 1.50 inches and which, upon being elongated to 1.50 inches and released, will recover to a length of less than 1.30 inches. Many elastic materials may be stretched by much more than 50 percent of their relaxed length, and many of these will recover to substantially their original relaxed length upon release of the stretching force.
"Elongation" refers to the capability of an elastic material to be stretched a certain distance, such that greater elongation refers to an elastic material capable of being stretched a greater distance than an elastic material having lower elongation.
"Extruded" refers to a material that is processed through an extrusion die or a slot coat die connected to an extruder or a melt tank.
"Film" refers to a thermoplastic film made using a film extrusion process, such as a cast film or blown film extrusion process. The term includes apertured films, slit films, and other porous films which constitute liquid transfer films, as well as films which do not transfer liquid.
"Garment" includes personal care garments, medical garments, and the like. The term "disposable garment" includes garments which are typically disposed of after 1-5 uses. The term "personal care garment" includes diapers, training pants, swim wear, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and the like. The term "medical garment" includes medical (i.e., protective and/or surgical) gowns, caps, gloves, drapes, face masks, and the like. The term "industrial workwear garment" includes laboratory coats, cover-alls, and the like.
"Layer" when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements.
"Machine direction" as applied to a film, refers to the direction on the film that was parallel to the direction of travel of the film as it left the extrusion or forming apparatus. If the film passed between nip rollers or chill rollers, for instance, the machine direction is the direction on the film that was parallel to the surface movement of the rollers when in contact with the film. "Cross direction" refers to the direction perpendicular to the machine direction. Dimensions measured in the cross direction are referred to as "width" dimensions, while dimensions measured in the machine direction are referred to as "length" dimensions.
"Meltblown fiber" refers to fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converging high velocity gas (e.g., air) streams which attenuate the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which may be to microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers. Such a process is disclosed for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Butin et al. Meltblown fibers are microfibers which may be continuous or discontinuous, are generally smaller than about 0.6 denier, and are generally self bonding when deposited onto a collecting surface.
"Mutually-reinforced" refers to a laminate in which each component provides reinforcement to the other component(s).
"Nonwoven" and "nonwoven web" refer to materials and webs of material having a structure of individual fibers or filaments which are interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner as in a knitted fabric. The terms "fiber" and "filament" are used herein interchangeably. Nonwoven fabrics or webs have been formed from many processes such as, for example, meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, air laying processes, and bonded carded web processes. The basis weight of nonwoven fabrics is usually expressed in ounces of material per square yard (osy) or grams per square meter (gsm) and the fiber diameters are usually expressed in microns. (Note that to convert from osy to gsm, multiply osy by 33.91.)
"Polymers" include, but are not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, such as for example, block, graft, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, etc. and blends and modifications thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term "polymer" shall include all possible geometrical configurations of the material. These configurations include, but are not limited to isotactic, syndiotactic and atactic symmetries.
"Spunbond fiber" refers to small diameter fibers which are formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine capillaries of a spinnerette having a circular or other configuration, with the diameter of the extruded filaments then being rapidly reduced as taught, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 to Kinney, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,763 to Hartmann, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,538 to Petersen, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al., each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Spunbond fibers are quenched and generally not tacky when they are deposited onto a collecting surface. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and often have average deniers larger than about 0.3, more particularly, between about 0.6 and 10.
"Strand" refers to an article of manufacture whose width is less than a film and is suitable for incorporating into a film, according to the present invention.
"Stretchable" means that a material can be stretched, without breaking, by at least 50% (to at least 150% of its initial (unstretched) length) in at least one direction, suitably by at least 100% (to at least 200% of its initial length), desirably by at least 150% (to at least 250% of its initial length). The term includes elastic materials as well as materials that stretch but do not significantly retract. The percentage stretch of strands and films is calculated by the percentage difference between a primary chill roll speed and a final nip roll speed. For example, in
"Thermoset" describes a material that is capable of becoming permanently cross-linked, and the physical form of the material cannot be changed by heat without the breakdown of chemical bonds.
"Vertical filament stretch-bonded laminate" or "VF SBL" refers to a stretch-bonded laminate made using a continuous vertical filament process, as described herein.
These terms may be defined with additional language in the remaining portions of the specification.
The present invention is directed to a simplified method of making strand-reinforced elastic composites and laminates having superior elastic and adhesion properties. The composites and laminates can be incorporated into any suitable article, such as personal care garments, medical garments, and industrial workwear garments. More particularly, the elastic composites and elastic composite laminates are suitable for use in diapers, training pants, swim wear, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, protective medical gowns, surgical medical gowns, caps, gloves, drapes, face masks, laboratory coats, and coveralls.
A number of elastomeric components are known for use in the design and manufacture of such articles. For example, disposable absorbent articles are known to contain elasticized leg cuffs, elasticized containment flaps, elasticized waist portions, and elasticized fastening tabs. The elastic composites and laminates made according to the method of this invention may be applied to any suitable article to form such elasticized areas.
As shown in
It will be appreciated that the strands 24 may be laid out periodically, non-periodically, and in various spacings, groupings, and sizes, according to the effect desired from the composite 20 and the use to which it is put. As shown in
The elastomeric adhesive film 22 is suitably made up of an elastomeric, hot melt, pressure-sensitive adhesive having an adhesive bond strength, as determined by the test method set forth below, of at least 50 grams force per inch (2.54 cm) width, suitably of at least 100 grams force per inch (2.54 cm) width, alternatively of at least 300 grams force per inch (2.54 cm) width, alternatively of at least from about 100 grams force per inch (2.54 cm) width to about 400 grams force per inch width. An example of a suitable elastomeric adhesive film 22 may be made up of 35 wt % PICOLYTE S115 and 65 wt % KRATON G2760. The elastomeric, hot melt, pressure-sensitive adhesive may be applied to a chill roll or similar device, in the form of a strand or ribbon. The strand or ribbon is then minimally stretched and thinned to form the film 22. The film suitably has a thickness of about 0.001 inch (0.025 mm) to about 0.05 inch (1.27 mm), alternatively of from about 0.001 inch (0.025 mm) to about 0.01 inch (0.25 mm), and a width of from about 0.05 inch (1.27 mm) to about 3.0 inches (7.62 cm), alternatively of from about 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) to about 1.5 inches (3.81 cm). The elastomeric, adhesive film 22 may also be capable of imparting barrier properties in an application.
Suitable elastomeric, hot melt, pressure-sensitive adhesives from which the elastomeric adhesive film 22 may be made include elastomeric polymers, tackifying resins, plasticizers, oils and antioxidants.
One particular formulation of the elastomer adhesive film 22 includes a base polymer and a tackifier resin. The composition may also include additional additives. The choice of polymer and tackifier is important, as is the ratio of polymer or copolymers to tackifier. Another important consideration is the ratio of additives to tackifier.
The base polymer suitably has a styrene content of between about 15% and about 45%, or between about 18% and about 30%, by weight of the base polymer. The base polymer may achieve the styrene content either by blending different polymers having different styrene co-monomer levels or by including a single base polymer that has the desired styrene co-monomer level. Generally, the higher the styrene co-monomer level is, the higher the tension is.
The base polymer may include polystyrene-polyethylene-polypropylene-polystyrene (SEPS) block copolymer, styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) block copolymer, as well as combinations of any of these. One example of a suitable SEPS copolymer is available from Kraton Polymers of Belpre, Ohio, under the trade designation KRATON� G 2760. One example of a suitable SIS copolymer is available from Dexco, a division of Exxon-Mobil, under the trade designation VECTOR™. Suitably, the film composition includes the base polymer in an amount between about 30% and about 65% by weight of the composition.
The tackifier may include hydrocarbons from petroleum distillates, rosin, rosin esters, polyterpenes derived from wood, polyterpenes derived from synthetic chemicals, as well as combinations of any of these. A key element of the film composition is a tackifier. An example of a suitable tackifier is available from Hercules Inc. of Wilmington, Del., under the trade designation PICOLYTE™ S115. Suitably, the composition includes the tackifier in an amount between about 30% and about 70% by weight of the composition.
Other additives may be included in the film composition as well. In addition to the adhesion provided by the tackifier, various additives may provide instantaneous surface tackiness and pressure sensitive characteristics as well as reduced melt viscosity. One example of a particularly suitable low softening point additive is PICOLYTE™ S25 tackifier, available from Hercules Inc., having a softening point in a range around 25 degrees Celsius, or paraffin wax having a melting point of about 65 degrees Celsius may also be used.
Additionally, an antioxidant may be included in the film composition, suitably in an amount between about 0.1% and about 1.0% by weight of the composition. One example of a suitable antioxidant is available from Ciba Specialty Chemicals under the trade designation IRGANOX™ 1010.
The elastomeric adhesive film 22 suitably has an elongation of at least 50 percent, alternatively of at least 150 percent, alternatively of from about 50 percent to about 200 percent, and a tension force of less than about 400 grams force per inch (2.54 cm) width, alternatively of less than about 275 grams force per inch (2.54 cm) width, alternatively of from about 100 grams force per inch (2.54 cm) width to about 250 grams force per inch (2.54 cm) width. Tension force, as used herein, is determined one minute after stretching the film to 100% elongation. A method for determining elongation is described in detail below.
The elastomeric adhesive film 22 is capable not only of introducing a degree of elasticity to facing materials but is also capable of providing a construction adhesive function. That is, the film 22 adheres together the facing materials or other components with which it is in contact. It is also possible that the film does not constrict upon cooling but, instead, tends to retract to approximately its original dimension after being elongated during use in a product.
Materials suitable for use in preparing the elastic reinforcing strands 24 include raw polymers, a mixture of polymers, as well as tackified polymers. More specifically, the elastic reinforcing strands 24 may include diblock, triblock, tetrablock, or other multi-block elastomeric copolymers such as olefinic copolymers, including ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS), or styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene (SEPS), which may be obtained from the Kraton Polymers of Belpre, Ohio, under the trade designation KRATON� elastomeric resin or from Dexco, a division of Exxon-Mobil, under the trade designation VECTOR� (SIS polymers); polyurethanes, including those available from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours Co., under the trade name LYCRA� polyurethane; polyamides, including polyether block amides available from Ato Chemical Company, under the trade name PEBAX� polyether block amide; polyesters, such as those available from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours Co., under the trade name HYTREL� polyester; polyisoprene; cross-linked polybutadiene; and single-site or metallocene-catalyzed polyolefins having density less than about 0.89 grams/cubic centimeter, available from Dow Chemical Co. under the trade name AFFINITY�. The elastic reinforcing strands 24 may also include a tackifier. The tackifier may include hydrocarbons from petroleum distillates, rosin, rosin esters, polyterpenes derived from wood, polyterpenes derived from synthetic chemicals, as well as combinations of any of these.
A number of block copolymers can also be used to prepare the elastic reinforcing strands 24 used in this invention. Such block copolymers generally include an elastomeric midblock portion B and a thermoplastic endblock portion A. The block copolymers may also be thermoplastic in the sense that they can be melted, formed, and resolidified several times with little or no change in physical properties (assuming a minimum of oxidative degradation). Alternatively, the elastic strands 24 can be made of a polymer that is not thermally processable, such as LYCRA� spandex, available from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours Co., or cross-linked natural rubber in film or fiber form. Thermoset polymers and polymers such as spandex, unlike the thermoplastic polymers, once cross-linked cannot be thermally processed, but can be obtained on a spool or other form and can be stretched and applied to the strands in the same manner as thermoplastic polymers. As another alternative, the elastic strands 24 can be made of a thermoset polymer, such as AFFINITY�, available from Dow Chemical Co., that can be processed like a thermoplastic, i.e. stretched and applied, and then treated with radiation, such as electron beam radiation, gamma radiation, or UV radiation to cross-link the polymer, or use polymers that have functionality built into them such that they can be moisture-cured to cross-link the polymer, thus resulting in a polymer and the enhanced mechanical properties of a thermoset.
Endblock portion A may include a poly(vinylarene), such as polystyrene. Midblock portion B may include a substantially amorphous polyolefin such as polyisoprene, ethylene/propylene polymers, ethylene/butylenes polymers, polybutadiene, and the like, or mixtures thereof.
Suitable block copolymers useful in this invention include at least two substantially polystyrene endblock portions and at least one substantially ethylene/butylenes mid-block portion. A commercially available example of such a linear block copolymer is available from Kraton Polymers under the trade designation KRATON� G1657 elastomeric resin. Another suitable elastomer is KRATON� G2760. Yet another suitable elastomer is an SIS triblock copolymer available from Dexco, a division of Exxon-Mobil, under the trade designation VECTOR�.
The elastic reinforcing strands 24 may also contain blends of elastic and inelastic polymers, or of two or more elastic polymers, provided that the blend exhibits elastic properties. The strands 24 are substantially continuous in length. The strands 24 may have a circular cross-section but, as previously mentioned, may alternatively have other cross-sectional geometries such as elliptical, rectangular, triangular or multi-lobal. In one embodiment, one or more of the elastic reinforcing strands 24 may be in the form of elongated, rectangular strips produced from a film extrusion die having a plurality of slotted openings.
The ratio of film to strands in the composite may be adjusted to control tension in the composite. For example, the elastic strands may account for between about 5% and about 50%, or between about 10% and about 35%, or between about 15% and about 25% by weight of the composite.
By stretching the composite 20 as a unit, namely with the film 22 and strands 24 combined, as opposed to stretching the film and the strands separately, a more robust manufacturing method can be carried out. More particularly, the strands 24 and the film 22 reinforce one another, thereby minimizing or avoiding film breakage and strand breakage. Thus, the composite 20 may be considered a mutually-reinforced strand/film composite. Strand alignment problems are also minimized or avoided because the method of the invention forces the strands 24 to align themselves on the film 22 in the machine direction without moving in the cross direction or breaking. The alignment of the strands 24 also reinforces the film 22, especially along the edges of the film.
The mutually reinforced strand and film combination allows the composite 20 to be stretched considerably during the process, and the web speed can be run at a considerably high speed. Furthermore, the process is essentially simplified, which is important for ensuring quality and productivity for high-speed manufacturing operations. The ability to control processability is especially critical for converting line operations where start/stop situations need to be minimized for economic reasons.
A strand-reinforced elastomeric composite laminate 30, or mutually-reinforced elastomeric strand/film composite laminate, may be formed by laminating a first facing sheet 32 and a second facing sheet 34 to opposite surfaces of the stretched elastomeric composite 20. Examples of such laminates 30 are illustrated in
If the facing sheets 32, 34 are to be applied to the composite 20 without first being stretched, the facing sheets may or may not be capable of being stretched in at least one direction in order to produce an elasticized area. For example, the facing sheets 32, 34 could be necked, or gathered, in order to allow them to be stretched after application of the elastic composite 20. Various post treatments, such as treatment with grooved rolls, which alter the mechanical properties of the material, are also suitable for use.
In order to form the elastic composite laminate 30, first and second rolls 56 and 58, respectively, of spunbond facing material or other suitable facing material are fed into the nip 48 on either side of the elastic composite, as shown in
Tension and retraction properties within the elasomeric composite 20 or laminate 30 may be controlled, or tuned, during the process through percentage stretch of the composite prior to adhesion to the facing sheets, through the ratio of strands to film, and/or through the amount of strand add-on or thickness, with greater stretch and greater add-on or thickness each resulting in higher tension. Tension can also be controlled through selection of the film composition, selection of the strand composition, substrate selection, and/or by varying strand geometries and/or spacing between strands.
The method of the invention is designed to work on the converting line using film and/or strand material supplied from melt tanks as well as off-line where strands and/or film material obtained on a supply roll, or other method of storage, may be extruder processable.
The resulting elastic composites and elastic composite laminates are considerably strong and resistant to breaking and are therefore particularly useful in providing elasticity in personal care absorbent garments 76, as shown in
In another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in
A second film 94 may be cast through a second film die 96 over the strands or ribbons 86 on top of the first film 84 as the first film is stretched, thereby encapsulating the strands 86 between film layers 84, 94. The second film 94 may instead be a foam, or a foamed film, that is foamed inline on top of the first film and strands. Polyurethane film does not set up right away and would therefore foam easily.
Additionally, one or more facing materials 98, 99 may be laminated to the film or films. The facing material(s) may include any of the previously discussed facing materials, such as a necked material. The laminate 82 resulting from this embodiment of the method of the invention may have different stretch in the machine direction than in the cross direction. Furthermore, the laminates may be "zoned," with different elastic properties along the length and/or width of the laminate which may be created through zoning the film and/or the strands. Additionally, adhesive 100 used to bond the facing materials 98, 99 to the film may be zoned to create additional functionality.
The film 84, 94 in this embodiment need not be limited to elastomeric adhesive films, but instead may include any suitable elastomeric film, or even a foamed elastomer such as polyurethane. The film may be filled with calcium carbonate, for example, or any other suitable filler to impart breathability to the film upon stretching. The strands 86 may include strands of elastomer, for example, such as any of the strand materials described in the previous embodiments.
Most laminates currently have one layer of elastomeric material or at most two that are integrated upon extrusion and not handled separately green before they are integrated together. As used herein, the term "green" refers to a material that has never been rolled up or otherwise placed in storage. The ability to handle the film and strands or film ribbons and strands or strand and foams separately, but in the same process, provides benefits to forming new elastic structures beyond those currently practiced.
Similar to the embodiments described above, by fixing the strands 86 onto the green film 84 the occurrence of strand slippage is greatly reduced. Since the film is pressure-sensitive and tacky when the strands are applied to the film, the need for adhesive between the film 84 and the strands 86 is eliminated, and, in addition, strand slippage is prevented. Additionally, the strands 86 may be at least partially embedded in, or encapsulated by, the layer of green film 84.
Another advantage of this embodiment is that the cast and annealing rolls 90, 92 in the process can be run independent of each other in terms of temperature and speed, which means that the elastic film 84 can be annealed or cooled as desired to introduce properties such as latency, deadening of the elastic, or even enhancing the setting of the elastomer for more immediate elastic properties.
Another benefit of this embodiment is the point at which the facings 98, 99 are introduced into the process. If the first facing 98 is laminated to the elastic film/strand layer on the second roll 92 and the second facing 99 is laminated later at the nip point 101, then a two stretch-to-stop laminate can be generated. A laminate having two stretch-to-stop points has unique properties.
The material resulting from this embodiment of the invention can be used for side panels, ears, waist bands, leg elastics, and the like, or for outer covers incorporating elastic and breathable properties. Any of the elements of this embodiment can be combined with any of the elements of the preceding embodiments.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the invention includes a multi-layer elastic or at least extensible laminate made from film (filled or monolithic) and fibers with possible subsequent lamination to at least one facing material which may be a necked material, a mesh material, or other substrate to form a biaxial stretch laminate. The laminate may have different stretch properties in the machine direction than in the cross direction. The film can be either continuous or discontinuous, such as in the form of ribbons.
In one particular embodiment, for example, the laminate may include an extensible film, filled with calcium carbonate or other suitable filler to provide breathability upon stretching. The laminate may also include an inherently extensible or elastic nonwoven layer, such as a bicomponent spunbond web, or adhesively laminated layers of such materials. Between the film and the nonwoven layers is an extruded elastic mesh structure, which can be made with an elastomer and can also provide bias stretch due to the structure. An illustration of apparatus for creating the mesh layer is provided in
In another particular embodiment, for example, the laminate may include a breathable cross-direction-extensible film, or a very low basis weight monolithic film, with an elastomer printed onto a surface of the film in stripes or bars. The elastomer provides sufficient stretch and recovery. The film is then laminated to an inherently extensible and/or elastic film.
In yet another particular embodiment, for example, the laminate may include a 3-layer film with outer film layers that are breathable and extensible or elastic and a middle layer of elastic strands between the two outer film layers. Facing sheets are either adhesively or thermally bonded to the outer film layers. Each of the film layers is extruded through a die, with the middle layer extruded through a die designed to create strips or ribbons of elastomer. If the two outer film layers do not fully marry, or bond to one another across the entire contact surface, gaps are formed which may serve as a built-in spacer layer. Alternatively, the outer film layers may be treated with a humectant or water-vapor-absorbing coating or particulate on the surface in contact with the middle layer to minimize water vapor transfer through the laminate, thereby potentially eliminating dampness concerns at high breathability levels.
These laminates are particularly suitable for providing outer covers with breathability, cross-direction extensibility, and possibly dampness control. Any of the elements of this embodiment can be combined with any of the elements of the preceding embodiments.
In still another embodiment of the invention, a machine capable of carrying out both vertical filament laminate (VFL) processes and neck bonded laminate (NBL) processes can be used to carry out any of the methods of the invention. Because the two processes are so similar, this combination machine results in lower capital cost and increased asset flexibility compared to having two separate machines. This machine has unique characteristics that allow it to process machine direction, cross direction and bi-axial stretch materials.
Both NBL and VFL laminates may include similar facings, such as spunbond or other suitable nonwoven webs, with the facings in the NBL being neck-stretched. Furthermore, the facings in both the NBL and VFL processes may be adhesively or thermally bonded to an elastic core. The elastic core may be either a cast film for NBL or filament strands for VFL.
The combination machine is based on a conventional VFL platfonm including a filament die 106 for extruding the elastic core 108 onto a first chill roll or forming roll 110, and a second roll 112 which passes the elastic core 108 to a nip 114 with the facings 116, 117 applied to the elastic core 108 prior to passing through the nip 114 and onto a winder 118. Additional equipment is added to the VFL platfonm to enable the production of NBL. The additional equipment includes ovens 120, 121 for neckstretching the facings 116, 117 and a film die 122 mounted adjacent the filament die 106. The similar throughputs of NBL and VFL, based on elastic basis weight and web width, enable the two processes to be combined into one machine while utilizing the same extruder 124 and pellet handling systems, or alternatively, conventional hot-melt equipment such as a melt tank or an extruder. One embodiment of the machine is illustrated in
Alternatively, the machine may be set up such that one of the facings 116 is guided onto the first forming roll 110 such that the elastic core 108 is extruded onto the facing 116. This embodiment of the machine is illustrated in
Any of the elements of this machine can be combined with any of the elements of the preceding embodiments.
Adhesive Bond Strength
The adhesive bond strength of the elastomeric adhesive film of the present invention is determined as follows. A test sample of the elastic composite laminate having dimensions of about 2.0 inches (5.08 cm) wide by about 4.0 inches (10.16 cm) long, or as large as possible up to this size, is used for testing. The adhesive bond strength is determined through the use of a tensile tester, such as a SINTECH tensile tester commercially available from the Sintech Co., Carry, N.C., Model No. 11. A 90 degree peel adhesion test is run in order to determine the grams of force needed to pull apart the first and second layers of facing sheet of the laminate. Specifically, 1.25 inches (3.175 cm) or more of the 4-inch length of the test sample has the first and second layers of facing sheet peeled apart. The first facing sheet is then clamped in the upper jaw of the tensile tester, and the second facing sheet is clamped in the lower jaw of the tensile tester. The tensile tester is set to the following conditions:
Crosshead speed: 300 millimeters per minute
Full-scale load: 5,000 grams
Start measurements: 10 millimeters
Gauge length (jaw spacings): 1.0 inch (2.54 cm)
The Instron tensile tester is then engaged. The test is terminated after approximately 100 millimeters on a 2-inch by 2-inch sample. Twenty data points per second are collected for a total of about 400 data points. The average of these data points is reported as the adhesive bond strength. The results from the tensile tester are normalized to a sample having a width of 1 inch. At least three test samples are subjected to the above testing with the results being averaged and normalized to produce the reported adhesive bond strength.
The elongation of an elastic composite laminate according to the present invention is suitably determined as follows. A 1-inch wide by 4-inch long sample of the laminate is provided. The central 3-inch (7.62 cm) area of the sample is marked. The test sample is then stretched to its maximum length, and the distance between the marks is measured and recorded as the "stretched to stop length." The percent elongation is determined according to the following formula:
If a 1-inch by 4-inch area is not available, the largest sample possible (but less than 1-inch by 4-inches) is used for testing with the method being adjusted accordingly.
Tension Force
The tension force of an elastic composite laminate according to the present invention is determined on a test sample of the laminate having a width of 1 inch (2.54 cm) and a length of 3 inches (7.62 cm). A test apparatus having a fixed clamp and an adjustable clamp is provided. The adjustable clamp is equipped with a strain gauge commercially available from S. A. Micier Co. under the trade designation Chatillon DFIS2 digital force gauge. The test apparatus can elongate the test sample to a given length. One longitudinal end of the test sample is clamped in the fixed clamp of the test apparatus with the opposite longitudinal end being clamped in the adjustable clamp fitted with the strain gauge. The test sample is elongated to 90 percent of its elongation (as determined by the test method set forth above). The tension force is read from the digital force gauge after 1 minute. At least three samples of the elasticized area are tested in this manner with the results being averaged and reported as grams force per inch width.
In this example, an elastomeric composite containing mutually reinforced elastomeric adhesive film and strand elements was prepared in accordance with the method of the invention. An elastomeric adhesive composition containing 40 wt % Dexco VECTOR 4111 SIS block polymer, 15 wt % Dexco VECTOR 4411 SIS block polymer, 45 wt % ESCOREZ 5340 tackifier, and 0.5 wt % Ciba IRGANOX 1010 antioxidant was blended in a Sigma mixer. The elastic adhesive (Brookfield viscosity=47,000 cps @385 degrees Fahrenheit) was extruded from a melt tank as a film on a primary chill roll at 48 grams per square meter (gsm) before stretching. The melt tank temperature was in the range of 380-400 degrees Fahrenheit and the chill roll temperature was 11 degrees Celsius. The primary chill roll speed was 4 ft per min (fpm) and speeds for second, third, and nip rolls were respectively 7, 17, and 32 fpm.
The elastic strands were extruded onto the air side of the film on the second chill roll and immediately adhered on the film thereby forming a single unit composite. The strands were extruded at a spacing of 12 strands per inch from a filament die having orifice diameters of 0.030 inches. The strand output for the 12-inch wide die was 30 grams per minute (gpm). The strands were extruded from a twin screw extruder using a dryblend having the following composition: 90 wt % Dexco VECTOR 4111, 10 wt % Dexco ESCOREZ 5340. The melt temperature profile of the extruder was 120� C./175� C./190� C. and hose and die temperatures were respectively 200 degrees Celsius and 355 degrees Fahrenheit.
This composite containing the adhesive film and strands adhered to it was stretched as a unit (amounting to 8 times the initial length of the film) and then laminated between two layers of 0.5 osy Prism spunbond at a nip pressure of 95 psi. Neither the elastic film nor the strand showed breaks and the strands were self-aligned during the lamination process. The laminate made in this way appeared soft and gentle and exhibited high tension. The tension as measured shortly after production was 420 grams for a 2-inch wide sample which was stretched to 100% elongation from an initial length of 5 inches. No delamination was observed after aging at 130 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 week. The laminate also retained excellent elastic properties as evidenced by beneficially low and similar hysteresis loss factor values before and after aging, namely 19% before and 23% after aging, as well as high stretch-to-stop values in the range of 400%. Hysteresis loss factor was measured by the percentage difference between first cycle extension and second cycle retraction at 50% elongation.
It will be appreciated that details of the foregoing embodiments, given for purposes of illustration, are not to be construed as limiting the scope of this invention. Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention, which is defined in the following claims and all equivalents thereto. Further, it is recognized that many embodiments may be conceived that do not achieve all of the advantages of some embodiments, particularly of the preferred embodiments, yet the absence of a particular advantage shall not be construed to necessarily mean that such an embodiment is outside the scope of the present invention.
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The aim of antimicrobial efficacy testing (AET) performed during cosmetic product development is to predict microbial stability and consumer safety during use. The AET design includes referenced microbial strains and acceptance criteria. However, such tests do not include specific situations resulting from consumer use; for example, microbial flora encountered in normal environments; repeated insults; environmental condition variability; the impact of accessories and packaging; and the possibility of localized inoculation, e.g., via caps.
Therefore, it was deemed necessary to develop an additional test to strengthen the investigation. Here, the authors propose an approach to assess the microbial stability of a product during use, referred to as the Microbiological Use Test (MUT), and apply this analysis in a few case studies to predict the microbiological risk of commercial products. The described test has been used successfully in the development process of cosmetic products.
Experimental Design
The MUT test assesses, during the product development phase, the ability of a product to prevent its own microbial contamination during "standard" conditions of use. The aim is to perform a quantitative and qualitative assessment of potential contamination after a specified period of use. To ensure results, some parameters must be fixed; for example, blind testing, to ensure the product is used under conditions close to reality. Panelists should not be informed of the aim of the study—especially that the product will be microbiologically tested upon return. Also, packaging must be as close as possible to the final form, including being comprised of the same materials and utilizing the same closure system. This is a key point, as packaging plays an important role during product use and, therefore, in product contamination.
Timing and conditions also are important. Samples should be returned directly to the microbiological laboratory without extra manipulation prior to testing. The time between the last use and the first test must be fixed, e.g., 72 hr, to limit the recovery of transient microbes but allow for the detection of the more critical persistent contaminants. Further, it is necessary to have at least 20 samples involved to ensure a relevant assessment.
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The first evening of our married life may have been all crisp October air and gorgeous golden leaves and a giant tent filled with our closest friends and family, but that first week was something altogether different. The morning after the wedding, we flew to what felt like worlds away from Chicago or Nashville or anything we knew and went from a night of grass-fed filet mignon, roasted potatoes, homemade cookies from friends and family and pumpkin wedding cake made by my mom, to eight beautiful nights in a land of avocados, starfruit, apple bananas and coconuts that you crack open and drink with a straw.
We honeymooned in Hawaii: seven nights in a fully equipped condo on the island of Kauai's north shore and one last night in a beachfront hotel in the Waikiki Beach area of Honolulu on Oahu. And while I loved what Hawaii was—tropical, relaxed, with both jungles and canyons, sandy beaches and rugged coastlines—I loved most what it wasn't: no more emails or phone calls, no work, nothing left to plan. People ask us what we did there, and there's not much to say—not much besides drive around in our hard-top jeep convertible, find things to eat, lay by the water, get used to each other in our new life as man and wife.
So first, there was Kauai, an island that at least four other couples have recently told us was their honeymoon destination as well, chosen for its Jurassic Park-level beauty, lesser commercialization, rich topography and jaw-dropping Napali Coast.
For us, Kauai was a destination chosen more by accident. We had talked about Italy, but it's expensive, and when I go to Italy, I want to go to Italy, which would be hard when you're already so exhausted you can't remember your name (let alone that it just changed!). Then we'd toyed with the East Coast: I've always wanted to visit Cape Cod, and there was a farmhouse rental with a gorgeous kitchen and real sheep (!!) that almost won our hearts, but it would be cold there in October, and that made us think about a beach in North Carolina, but North Carolina's not very far, and we could probably go there in the next few years, and then, one day, I thought, what about our friends' condo? It's in Hawaii! And we asked, and they offered a great rate, and we booked it. Learning about Kauai came later.
So here's what we now know: Kauai's beautiful—like, crazy beautiful. Of Hawaii's islands, it's the most private and rugged, with no buildings anywhere that are taller than a palm tree, and it's also diverse: here a tropical rainforest, there a hot beach beneath clear blue skies.
This time of year, the beaches on the north shore can be a little breezy and overcast, and several spots are pretty rocky, enough so that I started to wonder if all Hawaii beaches would require a sweater with my bathing suit, no kidding, but the south shore (we especially liked Poipu Beach) was amazing: hot weather! soft sand! crystal clear water!
While I'd soak up sun on a towel, Tim would take out the snorkel mask and go exploring, and every time he'd come back to me, his eyes would be a little wider and more excited about the fish he'd seen.
And at the risk of killing you with sappiness, I'll go ahead and tell you we called this place, this trip, this island, our own little love bubble, away from everything and everyone, where we were free to process everything that had happened in the last few days and imagine what would come in the next, and we honestly felt like we'd pulled off some great escape. I'd look at Tim driving the car, and he'd have this huge, goofy smile on his face, like he was so happy he couldn't hide it, and I'd just want to freeze time right there.
Then there was the food.
I'm not going to sugar-coat it for you: it's expensive to eat well in Hawaii, much more than it is here. However, we found some good options: The best deals were on produce at farmer's markets. We bought ten kumquats for $1, avocados for $0.25 each, passionfruit and starfruit and apple bananas for hardly anything.
Since the condo had a full kitchen, we ate most breakfasts at home, including one giant omelet morning Tim was in charge of on our one-week anniversary.
Here are a few other highlights:
Dinner at Postcards, Dessert at Postcards, 5-5075 Kuhio Hwy Kalihiwai, HI 96754:
In a cute little cottage-style building in Hanalei, Postcards was one of our favorite restaurants in Kauai. Lots of fresh, organic ingredients. No refined sugar in the desserts. We liked it so much, we went twice!
Lunch at Living Foods Market in Poipu Beach, 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka #24, Koloa, Hawai'i, 96756:
We accidentally happened upon Living Foods Market while looking for another restaurant, but as soon as we stepped inside, we knew we'd found something good. Kind of like Whole Foods but smaller and with a large cafe/bakery section, it was an excellent lunch stop: margherita pizza and a big salad.
(Splurge!) breakfast at the St. Regis, 5520 Ka Haku Road, Princeville, Kauai:
This hotel was (long-)walking distance from our condo, and with its window-filled lobby, made a great spot for catching ocean/mountain views. One morning, we treated ourselves to breakfast on the patio, which, at about $50 total(!!!), was a huge splurge, but a great memory. Organic blueberry pancakes, organic banana walnut pancakes, fresh coffee and homemade grapefruit juice.
An amazing dinner at Mediterranean Grill, 5-7132 Kuhio Highway, Hanalei Colony Resort, Hanalei, Kauai:
Tim gets all the credit for finding this place, which was my all-time favorite from the trip. Our oceanfront meal included rainbow beet salad, spinach fatayers and rosemary rack of lamb.
Crispy avocado tacos at Merriman's, 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka Street #G-149, Koloa, Kauai:
After chips and guacamole, I got the crispy avocado tacos, and Tim got the fish of the day: blue striped marlin. I let my meal's picture speak for itself.
And after Kauai, we spent one quick night on Oahu, where credit card rewards meant FREE hotel (and we got ugpraded to an ocean view!) and FREE car. Loved that.
We visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial Site:
And had one last excellent meal, at Downtown at the Hisam, located in the Hawaii State Art Museum, 250 Hotel Street, 1st Floor, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813:
We were talking this past weekend about our honeymoon, just as we officially hit four full weeks of marriage, and remembering the food and the condo and how we'd watched a sunset together, sitting on a concrete wall by the ocean. It was such a nice love bubble there, it really was, and now it already feels so long ago, almost like it never happened, and that makes me a little sad.
But then I look at Tim, driving us around Nashville, with that same silly, happy grin on his face, and I wake up next to him every morning, and I share life with him every day, and I remember: honestly, the best part of Hawaii is something that hasn't changed. The best part of Hawaii was him.
7 Nights on Kauai
Kauai Condo: Our friend's amazing 2BR/2BA fully equipped rental in Princeville (it's available!) // Favorite Meal: Mediterranean Grill // Best Deal: Hanalei Farmers Market
24 Hours on Oahu
Honolulu Hotel: Marriott Waikiki (free with credit card rewards!) // Favorite Meal: Downtown at the Hisam
This Post Has 26 Comments
congratulations a million times over! you both look so incredibly happy and Kuai looks gorgeous! Your photo of the Mediterranean Grill looks travel brochure worthy.
Best of luck in the future!
Sweet recap of a wonderful trip. I'm glad you are still sporting the goofy grins. Get ready for a lifetime of that, Lord willing I spent a few days on Kauai & I'm pretty sure that I've been to the
St. Regis (isn't that awful that I can't remember for sure?!). But what I do remember is the incredible beauty of Kauai. I'm so glad you guys got to experience it!
You guys are adorable. And you make me want to go to Hawaii RIGHT NOW!
Many many congratulations on getting married! Very exciting times (mine is coming up in a few months!). Thank you for sharing these gorgeous photos with us, I sure hope to visit Hawaii one day! x
Love bubble! That's the best phrase for honeymoons. And you're right–pieces of that feeling (the biggest piece of that feeling) stay with you. Ahhhhh! I'm still so excited for you two.
Yeah, so those last two sentences totally made me cry.
We can blame the pregnancy. : )
Hi! I recently stumbled upon your blog and love love it! Congrats to you two love birds as newlyweds! This post about your honeymoon is beautiful. I wish you and Tim, your husband, the best of luck!
Tanya Griffin
Congratulations! I am so excited for you and Tim. I love how God answered your prayers. Your wedding and honeymoon was magical!
Tanya! You are so sweet to still come over here. I miss you and our Monday night studies. Thanks for your encouragement and prayer. : ) I feel so blessed!
yum yum yum!!! and what a GREAT time you had!
Thank you all for the sweet comments!
andrea devon
what a lovely story! the last two sentences made me cry too! i am a hopelessly romantic kinda lady and your story is so charming. stoked you had a beautiful time on Kauai, and next time you come to Oahu hit me up! I'll share some good food places with you (although downtown is one of the best!). aloha, andrea
I am so happy you enjoyed Kauai!! How could you not?? Love that you now have the best part of Hawaii at home!
Your photos look gorgeous and I'm so hoping that we can visit Hawaii this winter! Your tips and links will be awesome in case we do end up going. Congratulations!!
So sweet, Shanna. Will and I went to Kauai in 2008 and had such a great time on our first Real Grown-Up Vacation By Ourselves (no friends, no families, just us, in an exotic destination we had to fly to). Kauai truly is a magical place.
Kauai looks like such an amazing spot. I've been to Oahu but have always wanted to visit it.
I just came across a link to this post and loved seeing the beautiful, beautiful pics! (I went to Northland as well). I've been seeing so many people post your recipes lately, I need to keep up on your writings more closely! Several of us went to Hawaii for Matt & Margaret Summer's wedding, if you remember them. Such a magical place. So excited to hear of the great success of your book – can't wait to try some delish recipes.
Hi Shanna & Tim,
My name is Jane and I'm with Dwellable.
I was looking for blogs about Princeville to share on our site and I came across your post…If you're open to it, shoot me an email at jane(at)dwellable(dot)com.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Pingback: PUMPKIN PIE SMOOTHIE (made with squash!) | Stories + Real Food Recipes | Food Loves Writing


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This military strategy game from the makers of Sensible Soccer was a staple of many Amiga collections, including that belonging to our very own Danny O'Dwyer. Join us as we relive the dense jungle and frozen tundras of Cannon Fodder.
This live stream contains strong sexual content, nudity, strong language, the use of drugs, and most controversially of all, Danny O'Dwyer.
To follow our Twitch channel for more live videos, simply click here!


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Wet Dream is the new and highly anticipated surf film about Tyler Warren and his travels in search of good waves. It's shot entirely on Super 8 film by Japanese photographer and filmmaker Tatsuo Takei.
Check out the Full Library of SWELL Surf Cinema
Locations: California, Hawaii, Mexico and Central America (more…)Thank you for visiting the Swell blog. Visit us on www.facebook.com/swell for more exclusive fan offers, giveaways and more.


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While you Listen...Send a message in support of the protesters in Wisconsin (Link opens in a new window so you can keep listening).
There are not many American rock and roll bands that stand in solidarity with the union movement as much as the Dropkick Murphys.
So it comes as no surprise that the band has released an advanced stream of a new song "Take 'Em Down" in support of the thousands of Wisconsin union workers and supporters protesting the draconian budget plan put forth by the state's governor.
As part of the band's efforts to support the workers, they are working with SEIU and other unions and labor federations to have the song available to be played at rallies across the country. Listen to it here:
The band, in a statement released today, said,
"[We] would like to take a moment to acknowledge the struggles of the working people of Wisconsin and to pledge our support and solidarity by releasing the song 'Take Em Down' from our upcoming album. We think it's appropriate at the moment and hope you like it... The Dropkick Murphys Stand With Wisconsin!!!!!"
While this is a fantastic show of support and solidarity, the group didn't stop there -- they've also created a limited edition "Take 'Em Down" T-shirt. Sales of the shirt will benefit the Workers' Rights Emergency Response Fund. The shirt is available for purchase at their site's merchandise page here.
Send your own message of support to SEIU members and everyone fighting for their rights in Wisconsin (link opens in a new window so you can keep listening).


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Negative - State Electricity Commission, Morwell, Victoria, circa 1920s-1960s Reg. No: MM 048631
- Summary:
- Part of a large photographic collection of glass plate and film negatives, photographic prints and photo albums, relating to the development of the electric power supply industry in Victoria, operated by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV) from 1919 to 1993 and various predecessor private and municipal power supply enterprises dating back to the late 1880s.
- Description Of Content:
- Morwell Power Station.
More information
|Tagged with:
|chimneys, conveyors, power stations
|Themes this item is part of:
|Engineering Collection, State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV) Collection
|Primary Classification:
|Secondary Classification:
|Images (To Be Classified)
|Tertiary Classification:
|images (to be classified)
|Negative: Black & White
|Place Depicted:
|Morwell, Latrobe Valley, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia
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Gift Shop
The gift shop offers seals and sealing wax – made by Waterstons of Edinburgh for the Bank of England since 1752 – as well as early 19th century "penny" ink bottles and quill pens. Postcards and note cards are available, including in-house productions. Also for sale are books on Canadian postal history and many titles about Toronto past and present – its people, its architecture, its rivers and ravines – and ways to get to know them better.
Proceeds from the gift shop, as well as a small percentage of postage sales, benefit the museum and help to keep its doors open seven days a week. Your purchases at Toronto's First Post Office help to maintain an important piece of Toronto's history. For hours and how to get there, click here.
(Prices vary)
We carry a wide range of vintage reproduction postcards from early Toronto including TFPO themed postcards designed by our staff ($1.50 each + tax)
Other Unique Items
1.5" buttons made with used stamps from around the world. No two are the same!
We also make 1.5" buttons featuring our post office ($1.50 each + tax).


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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Mike Daniels was in town for a couple of media engagements, but he wasn't planning to attend Super Bowl XLVIII. The New Jersey native doesn't have time for it. He has already started working on the 2014 season and is busy making sure some of his teammates..." January 31
CBS Sports "The Packers had little to be thankful for Thursday when they were manhandled on both sides of the ball by the Lions. When it was over, Detroit cruised to a 40-10 win that included 37 unanswered points and 561 yards of offense. Green Bay is now 5-6-1 and 10th in the NFC, four spots out of the final..." November 30
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Datone Jones might be a first-round draft choice but Mike Daniels has been the Green Bay Packers' most effective pass-rushing defensive lineman in the first two games. "You could make a case for that" coach Mike McCarthy said. "He played his (expletive) off against Washington. He's been very..." September 21


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During an episode of "The X Factor," Britney Spears and will.i.am debuted the visuals for "Scream and Shout," their collaborative club-ready track that's light lyrically and relies heavily on one smart sample.
Check out the video below & let us know what you think!
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Jesse Guth
About Jesse: I was adopted from Calcutta, India when I was two years old. I have two military parents. While I was growing up, I moved all around Europe, including Germany and London. I played soccer and ran track for Peoria Notre Dame High School. I recently graduated from Illinois State University.
What activities are you involved in? Here at the College of Law, I have joined Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity, the Women's Law Caucus, and the Student Bar Association. In college, I was president of Alpha Phi Sigma (the criminal justice honors fraternity), the law club, and the criminal justice association. We participated in fundraisers and service projects, including Toys for Tots drives, canned food drives, and Trick-or-Treat for Change. Additionally, we toured state facilities such as prisons and brought professionals from the field to networking events.
What do you like the most about being at NIU Law? I chose NIU Law for various reasons. I love the small town feel, but I am close to Chicago if I ever want to experience a faster-paced environment. DeKalb offers numerous social settings and has all the necessities for college living at a reasonable price. The law school is affordable and has a great atmosphere, the professors are friendly, and the second- and third-year students are always helpful.
This interview was conducted in Fall 2012.
Graduation Year: 2015
Undergraduate Institution: Illinois State University
Undergraduate Major:
Criminal Justice
Undergraduate Minor:
Political Science
Home town:
Peoria, Illinois


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Ready to play? The Swiss Alps are waiting. Soar to majestic peaks on gondolas and funiculars. Ride cog wheel trains and cable cars to charming towns. Spin past glacier-fed waterfalls, hike through green valleys and ferry across alpine lakes. Try Trotti bikes and luge tracks. Learn the secrets of the alphorn and the world's best fondue. And after a day of adventure, wind down in luxurious chalets, hot chocolate in hand. It's Switzerland's playground - come explore!
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Terrain & ShuttlesFor the best riding in Switzerland, we've chosen a combination of small, quiet roads and some unpaved bike paths with short stretches of limited van support. Our bikes are equipped with slightly wider tires to accommodate the paths and trail surfaces.
Day 1 Fresh mountain air amid glaciers, meadows and impossibly blue lakes Commute the Swiss way: by chairlift! Hike on a ridge above Lake Oeschinen, where snowy peaks cap limestone cliffs Ready for a cup of cocoa? It's already steaming at the traditional alpine hut.
Day 2 Ride past the turquoise waters of Lake Thun en route to Interlaken Easy pedaling leads past cheery wooden chalets to lakeside Spiez Hop aboard a cog railway train bound for Grindelwald An alphorn serenade: music to a cow's ears and perhaps yours too.
Day 3 The famed Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau towering above the emerald-green landscape Hike from First Peak to Bachalpsee, one of Switzerland's most beautiful lakes Kids are all smiles - is it due to the Pfingstegg toboggan run, a thrilling summer luge ride, or the Seilpark, a challenging high ropes course? Adults explore the mountain resort of Grindelwald Let loose on an exhilarating descent by Trotti bikes into Grindelwald Valley.
Day 4 Fairy tale-perfect Swiss villages Pedal in the idyllic Lauterbrunnen Valley, home to more glacier-fed waterfalls than you can count Be awed by the sight of magnificent Trummelbach Falls, set deep inside a slot canyon Spin to turquoise Lake Brienz, then ferry to Giessbach.
Days 5-6 Tour a historic water-powered sawmill, built in 1896 Hike along the river that drains the mighty Rosenlaui Glacier Kids take to the water on kayaks while adults see stunning Reichenbach Falls Amble through the peaceful forest of Iseltwald.
Trip Highlights
- Fresh alpine air amid glaciers, meadows and impossibly blue lakes
- Rides through archetypal Swiss villages with cheery wooden chalets
- Pedal or take a scenic train ride along turquoise Lake Thun
- Kids speed down the mountain in an authentic luge
- Feast on fondue to your heart's content
Premiere Inns
Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria (1 night): Nestled in the heart of town, this family-run alpine oasis is surrounded by stunning snowcapped peaks. (pool, tennis)
Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof (2 nights): Catch stunning views of Eiger's north face form this luxurious chalet-style hotel. (pool, spa)
Grandhotel Giessbach (2 nights): Elegance and old-world charm reign at this turreted beauty in a picturesque setting by Lake Brienz and the Giessbach Falls. (pool, tennis)
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
Routes For All Abilities
|Daily Route Options
|Level 1
|Level 2
|Level 3
|Level 4
|Level 5
|feet gain
|feet gain
|feet gain
|feet gain
|feet gain
|Ropes Course or Summer Luge (2 Hours)
|Kayaking on Lake Brienz (2 Hours)
To make for the most comfortable ride to this particular trip, we've outfitted our titanium road bike with slightly wider tires. You'll appreciate this on those stretches of the route with hard-packed dirt (approximately 5% dirt and 95% paved).
* Includes a shuttle
2015 Dates & Pricing*
- 8/9-14 Price: $4398 pp dbl. occ., (+ $590 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/16-21 Price: $4398 pp dbl. occ., (+ $590 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
2016 Dates & Pricing*
- 6/12-17 Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/19-24 Price: $4298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/26-7/1 Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/3-8 Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/10-15 Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/17-22 Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/24-29 Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/31-8/5 Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/7-12 Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/14-19 Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/21-26 Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $700 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
- Recommended minimum age for the trip: 9 years
- Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 7 years
General Info on Minimum Ages:We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:
- 12+ amount of cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities, routes
- 9+ difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions, routes
- 6+ several longer dinners, routes are difficult for pulling a Burley Cub trailer and therefore not appropriate for younger children, difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions
Private Trips Options & Pricing
Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities.
You can pick from a large selection of dates for your group of 8 or more. Call us for date availability.
If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or if your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you.
Pricing for Private Trips (prices may vary based on departure date)
|2 - 3 guests from $6,798 pp dbl. occ.
|8 - 9 guests from $4,998 pp dbl. occ.
|4 - 5 guests from $5,998 pp dbl. occ.
|10 - 11 guests from $4,298 pp dbl. occ.
|6 - 7 guests from $5,398 pp dbl. occ.
|12 or more guests from $3,998 pp dbl. occ.
|2 - 3 guests from $6,898 pp dbl. occ.
|8 - 9 guests from $4,998 pp dbl. occ.
|4 - 5 guests from $5,898 pp dbl. occ.
|10 - 11 guests from $4,398 pp dbl. occ.
|6 - 7 guests from $5,298 pp dbl. occ.
|12 or more guests from $4,098 pp dbl. occ.
Please note: Youth savings do not apply to Private Trips.
Guest Trip Reviews
The memories of this trip for me and my son will last forever. Backroads took great care of all the details and everything ran very smoothly. Backroads even supplied gorgeous weather for the entire trip. Way to go! We will be back!- Millbrae, CA
I am looking forward to my next trip. This was our first family trip and I think that all of us had such a great time and for different reasons - friendships, adventures, doing things we have never done before. We will all remember the Alps!- Naperville, IL
I cannot say enough about what a great job the leaders did on this trip. They were great with the children and a pleasure to be around. If they weren't playing capture the flag with the kids they were helping the adults. You are fortunate to have such personable, knowledgeable, fun, and dedicated people in your organization.- Chagrin Falls, OH


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Home > Sports Memorabilia > NHL Team Gear & Collectibles > Dallas Stars > Dallas Stars Signature Rink Photo
Dallas Stars Signature Rink Photo
The perfect collector's item for any NHL team fan!
The Highland Mint presents NHL Signature Rinks, featuring your favorite team's home rink with players' facsimile signatures!
Each Signature Rink comes in a 12 inch x 20 inch wood frame, and each is individually numbered. Protected under durable glass, this item is a Limited Edition for the 2013 season and is officially licensed by the NHL and NHLPA. Proudly made in the USA!
Note: Player roster and rink photos may vary during the season.
Dimensions: 20"L x 1"W x 12"H; 5 lbs.
Dallas Stars Signature Rink Photo
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