Rolled Tissue Product Having a Flexible Core

Abstract

A rolled tissue product having a nonwoven tissue web wrapped or wound about a flexible core is generally provided. The flexible core is constructed of a polymeric sheet of synthetic polymers. The tissue sheet has a tensile strength in the machine direction that is weaker than the strength of the flexible core. For example, the flexible core can be at least twice as strong as the tensile strength in the machine direction of the nonwoven tissue web. The flexible core can include a nonwoven web of synthetic polymeric fibers, a polymeric film of synthetic polymers, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the flexible core can include a hydrophilic synthetic polymer such that the flexible core disintegrates when submerged in water. In another embodiment, the flexible core can include an elastomeric polymer that provides an elastic component to the flexible core.

1 . A rolled tissue product comprising:
 a flexible core comprising a polymeric sheet of synthetic polymers, wherein the flexible core has a strength; and   a nonwoven tissue web comprising pulp fibers wound about the flexible core to form the rolled tissue product, wherein the nonwoven tissue web and the flexible core are attached to each other at an inner layer of the nonwoven tissue web by an attachment mechanism, and wherein the tissue sheet defines a machine direction, the tissue sheet having a tensile strength in the machine direction that is weaker than the strength of the flexible core.   
   
   
       2 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible core comprises a nonwoven web of synthetic polymeric fibers. 
   
   
       3 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible core comprises a polymeric film of synthetic polymers. 
   
   
       4 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible core comprises a hydrophilic synthetic polymer such that the flexible core disintegrates when submerged in water. 
   
   
       5 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 4 , wherein the hydrophilic synthetic polymer comprises a water-soluble polymer. 
   
   
       6 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 5 , wherein the water-soluble synthetic polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxy propyl cellulose, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxy ethylcellulose, and copolymers and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       7 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible core comprises an elastomeric polymer that provides an elastic component to the flexible core. 
   
   
       8 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises a biodegradable polymer. 
   
   
       9 . A rolled tissue product comprising:
 a flexible core consisting essentially of a polymeric sheet of synthetic polymers, wherein the flexible core has a strength; and   a nonwoven tissue web comprising pulp fibers wrapped about the flexible core to form the rolled tissue product, wherein the nonwoven tissue web and the flexible core are attached to each other at an inner layer of the nonwoven tissue web by an attachment mechanism, and wherein the tissue sheet defines a machine direction, the tissue sheet having a tensile strength in the machine direction that is weaker than the strength of the flexible core.   
   
   
       10 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible core consists essentially of a nonwoven web of synthetic polymeric fibers. 
   
   
       11 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible core consists essentially of an elastomeric polymeric film of elastic synthetic polymers. 
   
   
       12 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible core comprises a hydrophilic synthetic polymer such that the flexible core disintegrates when submerged in water. 
   
   
       13 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 12 , wherein the hydrophilic synthetic polymer comprises a water-soluble polymer. 
   
   
       14 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 13 , wherein the water-soluble synthetic polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxy propyl cellulose, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxy ethylcellulose, and copolymers and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       15 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible core comprises an elastomeric polymer that provides an elastic component to the flexible core. 
   
   
       16 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 9 , wherein the synthetic polymer comprises a biodegradable polymer. 
   
   
       17 . A rolled tissue product comprising:
 a flexible core comprising an elastomeric polymeric sheet of elastic synthetic polymers, wherein the flexible core has a strength; and   a nonwoven tissue web comprising pulp fibers wrapped about the flexible core to form the rolled tissue product, wherein the nonwoven tissue web and the flexible core are attached to each other at an inner layer of the nonwoven tissue web by an attachment mechanism, and wherein the tissue sheet defines a machine direction, the tissue sheet having a tensile strength in the machine direction that is weaker than the strength of the flexible core.   
   
   
       18 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 17 , wherein flexible core is at least twice as strong as the tensile strength in the machine direction of the nonwoven tissue web. 
   
   
       19 . A rolled tissue product comprising:
 a flexible core comprising a polymeric sheet of a hydrophilic synthetic polymer such that the flexible core disintegrates when submerged in water, wherein the flexible core has a strength; and   a nonwoven tissue web comprising pulp fibers wrapped about the flexible core to form the rolled tissue product, wherein the nonwoven tissue web and the flexible core are attached to each other at an inner layer of the nonwoven tissue web by an attachment mechanism, and wherein the tissue sheet defines a machine direction, the tissue sheet having a tensile strength in the machine direction that is weaker than the strength of the flexible core.   
   
   
       20 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 19 , wherein the hydrophilic synthetic polymer comprises a water-soluble polymer. 
   
   
       21 . A rolled tissue product as in  claim 19 , wherein the polymeric sheet comprises a combination of a hydrophilic synthetic polymer and a such as PVA and a water-soluble polymer from a natural source.