Patents by Inventor Patricia A. Mitchler

Patricia A. Mitchler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8226622
    Abstract: An interlabial absorbent article configured for disposition primarily within the vestibule of a female wearer includes a generally liquid permeable cover sheet, a generally liquid impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent material disposed between the cover sheet and the back sheet. A time-delayed water soluble adhesive combination joins the cover sheet and back sheet together with the absorbent material sandwiched therebetween. The adhesive combination is configured so as to maintain structural integrity of the article for a time period of at least about two hours after the article is immersed in water by being flushed while ensuring that the article breaks up within about 24-72 hours after flushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia Mitchler, Heather Sorebo, Susan Weyenberg, Ann Marie Przepasniak
  • Patent number: 7514591
    Abstract: An interlabial absorbent article configured for disposition primarily within the vestibule of a female wearer includes a generally liquid permeable cover sheet, a generally liquid impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent material disposed between the cover sheet and the back sheet. The back sheet has a water vapor transmission rate that is at least about 20% of a water vapor transmission rate of the cover sheet. The cover sheet and said back sheet may have a contact angle mismatch of less than about 25%. The absorbent material may have a density greater than water. Upon being flushed, the article has an initial neutral buoyancy and subsequently sinks within about 7 days from being flushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ann Marie Przepasniak, Susan M. Weyenberg, Patricia A. Mitchler, Heather A. Sorebo, Wilfred E. Riddell
  • Patent number: 7115116
    Abstract: An absorbent article (40) such as a labial pad configured for disposition within the vestibule (42) of a female wearer. The absorbent article (40) may be worn by females for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection or both. The absorbent article (40) has an absorbent (66) which may include one of various means formed on at least the upper surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hlaban, Laura J. Keely, Mary L. McDaniel, Patricia A. Mitchler, William G. Reeves, Heather A. Sorebo, Susan M. Weyenberg
  • Publication number: 20050148959
    Abstract: An interlabial absorbent article configured for disposition primarily within the vestibule of a female wearer includes a generally liquid permeable cover sheet, a generally liquid impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent material disposed between the cover sheet and the back sheet. The back sheet has a water vapor transmission rate that is at least about 20% of a water vapor transmission rate of the cover sheet. The cover sheet and said back sheet may have a contact angle mismatch of less than about 25%. The absorbent material may have a density greater than water. Upon being flushed, the article has an initial neutral buoyancy and subsequently sinks within about 7 days from being flushed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Ann Przepasniak, Susan Weyenberg, Patricia Mitchler, Heather Sorebo, Wilfred Riddell
  • Publication number: 20040122403
    Abstract: An interlabial absorbent article configured for disposition primarily within the vestibule of a female wearer includes a generally liquid permeable cover sheet, a generally liquid impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent material disposed between the cover sheet and the back sheet. A time-delayed water soluble adhesive combination joins the cover sheet and back sheet together with the absorbent material sandwiched therebetween. The adhesive combination is configured so as to maintain structural integrity of the article for a time period of at least about two hours after the article is immersed in water by being flushed while ensuring that the article breaks up within about 24-72 hours after flushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Patricia Mitchler, Heather Sorebo, Susan Weyenberg, Ann Marie Przepasniak
  • Publication number: 20040087924
    Abstract: An absorbent feminine care article (40) can include a liquid-permeable cover (62); and an absorbent member (66) which is operatively joined with the cover (62). The cover (62) can include a hydrophilic first layer portion (68) operatively joined with a relatively less hydrophilic, second layer portion (30). The second layer portion (30) can be positioned on a bodyside of the article (20); and the first layer portion (28) can be positioned between the second layer portion (30) and the absorbent member (66).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle May Sroda, Brian D. Babcock, Patricia A. Mitchler, Heather Ann Sorebo
  • Publication number: 20020188272
    Abstract: An absorbent article (40) such as a labial pad configured for disposition within the vestibule (42) of a female wearer. The absorbent article (40) may be worn by females for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection or both. The absorbent article (40) has an absorbent (66) which may include one of various means formed on at least the upper surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: James J. Hlaban, Laura J. Keely, Mary L. McDaniel, Patricia A. Mitchler, William G. Reeves, Heather A. Sorebo, Susan M. Weyenberg
  • Patent number: 5437653
    Abstract: An absorbent article having two coapertured layers and a method of making the absorbent article are disclosed. The absorbent article includes first and second layers formed from nonwoven materials. The first layer has an open pore structure and has an average fiber denier greater than about 2.5. The second layer has a finer pore structure than the first layer. The first layer overlays the second layer and both layers have a plurality of coaxially aligned apertures formed completely therethrough. The apertures allow body fluid, especially viscous fluid like menses, which is deposited on the first layer to rapidly pass down through both layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Gilman, Patricia A. Mitchler
  • Patent number: 5248309
    Abstract: A thin sanitary napkin is disclosed along with its method of manufacture. The napkin has a liquid-impermeable baffle and an absorbent retained on the baffle. The absorbent has a longitudinally-extending central absorbent zone with a width of less than about 2 inches. The central zone is capable of absorbing at least 20 grams of body fluid which is discharged from the vaginal cavity and deposited onto the napkin. The central zone also has a greater stiffness than adjacent portions of the napkin so as to resist twisting and bunching during use. The sanitary napkin further has a caliper of less than about 5 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Serbiak, David R. King, Patricia A. Mitchler, Alice Y. Romans-Hess, Thomas W. Van Den Bogart, Robert J. Peerenboom, Valerie V. Finch, James J. Hlaban
  • Patent number: D438956
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Herb F. Velazquez, Patricia A. Mitchler
  • Patent number: D440398
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia A. Mitchler, Herb F. Velazquez, Richard L. Rothe
  • Patent number: D468426
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Edens, Richard J. Hantke, James J. Hlaban, Laura J. Keely, Thomas P. Keenan, Sylvia B. Little, Mary L. McDaniel, Patricia A. Mitchler, Stephen L. Nunn, William G. Reeves, Heather A. Sorebo, Susan M. Weyenberg
  • Patent number: D472629
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Edens, Richard J. Hantke, James J. Hlaban, Laura J. Keely, Thomas P. Keenan, Sylvia B. Little, Mary L. McDaniel, Patricia A. Mitchler, Stephen L. Nunn, William G. Reeves, Heather A. Sorebo, Susan M. Weyenberg
  • Patent number: D475849
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia A. Mitchler, Herb F. Velazquez, Richard L. Rothe
  • Patent number: D425985
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Herb F. Velazquez, Patricia A. Mitchler
  • Patent number: D425986
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Herb F. Velazquez, Patricia A. Mitchler
  • Patent number: D426304
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia A. Mitchler, Herb F. Velazquez, Richard L. Rothe
  • Patent number: D433131
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia A. Mitchler, Herb F. Velazquez, Richard L. Rothe
  • Patent number: D433132
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Herb F. Velazquez, Patricia A. Mitchler