Patents by Inventor Robert Lee Popp

Robert Lee Popp 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: 9126372
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing body adhering absorbent articles orientated in the cross-machine direction, body adhering absorbent article having reduced or eliminated curl. The articles are manufactured with reduced curl by selectively reducing or eliminating the shell elastic tension in regions where components of the body adhering absorbent article are to be attached to form the composite absorbent article web. In certain aspects the body adhering absorbent articles are manufactured by supplying an elastic web of shell material having a longitudinal and transverse direction, that is stretchable only in the transverse direction, attaching at least one component to form a composite web material, and cutting the composite web material to form a body adhering absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Jay David Gottleib, Joseph Daniel Coenen, Gary Alan Turchan
  • Publication number: 20150216743
    Abstract: An absorbent article is provided that can include a fastening system configured to attach the rear waist region to the front waist region to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The fastening system can comprise a primary fastening system and a secondary fastening system, the secondary fastening system including at least one secondary first fastening component and at least one secondary second fastening component. A region of flexibility can be provided between adjacent components of the absorbent article between the at least one secondary first fastening component and the bodyside liner in an area under the at least one secondary first fastening component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, David Fleger Bishop, David John Enz, Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke, Wendy Lynn VanDyke, Alanna Nicole Haessler, Jeffrey Alan DeBroux
  • Patent number: 9089458
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner for facing the wearer, an outer cover for facing away from the wearer, and an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover. A primary fastening system is provided for securing the article in a wear configuration having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings spaced from the waist opening. A secondary fastening system comprises a pair of tabs having a fastener region selectively attachable to the article and an attachment region defining a portion of the primary fastening system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Faulks, Robert Lee Popp, Michael D. Sperl, Nancy Meetz, Sandra M. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9089454
    Abstract: Absorbent articles are disclosed having extended waistbands. More particularly, the absorbent articles include a back waistband and/or a front waistband that encircle a portion of the circumference of the waist opening. The absorbent article includes a front portion attached to a back portion by a pair of stretchable side areas. Each of the side areas are made from at least two panels that are connected together along a vertical attachment area. In accordance with the present disclosure, a waistband is incorporated into the article that extends over the entire front portion or the entire back portion and terminates at opposite ends on opposing side areas. Each end of the waistband, however, terminates prior to the vertical attachment areas leaving a gap in between. The presence of the gap has been found to provide various benefits and advantages including improved stretch properties for donning the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Andrew Mattingly, Sherry A. VanDyke, Michael Donald Sperl, Lisa L. Bushman, Robert Lee Popp, Valerie V. Finch, Thomas E. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20150182390
    Abstract: An absorbent article is provided. The absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly having a liquid permeable inner layer, an outer layer, and an absorbent body between the inner and outer layers. A pair of ears extend transversely outward from opposite sides of the absorbent assembly in a back waist region, each of the ears having a primary first fastening-component that is selectively engagable with a primary second fastening-component in a front waist region. There is a pair of spaced-apart secondary first fastening-components disposed on the outer layer in the front waist region, each of the secondary first fastening-components being selectively engageable with the secondary second fastening-components. Each secondary first fastening-component fits into a fastener region, wherein each fastener region is defined by an outline. Each outline has a waist edge and an opposite leg edge connected by an outer edge and an inner edge. The length of the outer edge is shorter than the length of the inner edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Enz, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Robert Lee Popp, David Fleger Bishop, Wendy Lynn Vandyke
  • Publication number: 20150126950
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a pair of ears secured to and extending transversely outward from opposite sides of a back portion of the article. Each of the ears is stretchable in at least a transverse direction of the article from a relaxed position to an extended position. A waistband includes a waist elastic disposed in at least the back portion. The waist elastic has an in product load loss of less than 60 percent according to a four-hour hold stress relaxation test. A fastening system has a primary fastening system and a secondary fastening system. In a wear configuration of the absorbent article, the secondary fastening system secures each of the ears of the pair of ears in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Catherine Hancock-Cooke, David Fleger Bishop, Robert Lee Popp, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Wendy Lynn VanDyke
  • Publication number: 20150126947
    Abstract: An absorbent article has a pair of leg cuffs adapted to fit about the legs of a wearer and a pair of containment flaps adapted to provide a barrier to the lateral flow of body exudates. Each containment flaps includes a seam bonding the respective containment flap to the article and at least one elastic member spaced from the seam. A fastening system includes a primary fastening system and a secondary fastening system. The secondary fastening system comprises a pair of secondary first fastening components and a pair of secondary second fastening components. Each of the secondary first fastening components is laterally located relative to one of the containment flaps such that an outboard-most longitudinal edge of the secondary first fastening component is spaced laterally inward from the seam and an inboard-most longitudinal edge of the secondary first fastening component is spaced laterally outward from the elastic member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, David Fleger Bishop, Robert Lee Popp, Wendy Lynn VanDyke
  • Publication number: 20150119840
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a body-facing side and a garment-facing side generally comprises a chassis, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent structure, a front bodyside waist elastic member, a rear bodyside waist elastic member, a front garment-side waist elastic member, and a rear garment-side waist elastic member. The chassis has a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front waist region and the back waist region. The front and rear bodyside waist elastic members are disposed on the body-facing side of the absorbent article, and the front and rear garment-side waist elastic members are disposed on the garment-facing side of the absorbent article. At least one of the garment-side waist elastic members and the bodyside waist elastic members are configured to fully extend around a waist opening of the absorbent article when the absorbent article is in the wear configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Kathleen Irene Bennett, Marcille Faye Ruman, Thomas Harold Roessler, Joseph Daniel Coenen, Robert Lee Popp
  • Publication number: 20150032079
    Abstract: An absorbent article can include a fastening system configured to attach the rear waist region to the front waist region to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The fastening system can include a primary fastening system and a secondary fastening system. The primary fastening system can include at least one primary first fastening component and a primary second fastening component. The secondary fastening system can include at least one secondary first fastening component and at least one secondary second fastening component. The absorbent article can further include a strip coupled to the outer cover. The strip can include the primary secondary fastening component. The at least one secondary first fastening component can be coupled to a first carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worlwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Enz, Robert Lee Popp, David Fleger Bishop, Wendy Lynn VanDyke, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke
  • Publication number: 20150032076
    Abstract: A folded absorbent article is provided. The folded absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly having a liquid permeable inner layer, an outer layer, and an absorbent body between the inner and outer layers. The folded absorbent article further includes a pair of ears extending outward from absorbent assembly in the back waist region, with each ear including a loop fastening component, and a pair of spaced-apart hook fastening components on the outer layer in the front waist region. A pair of longitudinally extending foldlines are also provided in the front waist region. An outboard-most longitudinal edge of each of the hook fastening components is spaced apart from a respective side of the absorbent assembly, and an inboard-most longitudinal edge is spaced apart from a respective longitudinally extending foldline at least a distance equal to a predetermined process range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, David F. Bishop, David J. Enz, Alanna Haessler, Catherine Hancock-Cooke, Robert Lee Popp, Thomas H. Roessler, Wendy Lynn VanDyke
  • Publication number: 20150032077
    Abstract: An absorbent article is provided. The absorbent article includes a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent core between the liner and the outer cover. The absorbent article further includes a pair of ears extending outward from the opposite sides of the absorbent article, and a fastening system having a primary fastening system and a secondary fastening system. The primary fastening system includes a primary first fastening component disposed on each of the pair of ears and a primary second fastening component disposed on the outer surface of the article. The secondary fastening system includes a secondary second fastening component on each of the pair of ears and a corresponding secondary first fastening component on the outer surface of the article. Each of the secondary first fastening components has a stiffness in the longitudinal direction of the article of less than 185 milligrams according to a Gurley Stiffness Test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Catherine Hancock-Cooke, David F. Bishop, Jeffrey DeBroux, David J. Enz, Alanna Haessler, Robert Lee Popp, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Wendy Lynn VanDyke
  • Publication number: 20150032075
    Abstract: A folded absorbent article is provided. The folded absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly including a liquid permeable inner layer, an outer layer, and an absorbent body. Each of a pair of ears extend outward from the back waist region and include a loop fastening component. A pair of spaced-apart hook fastening components are located on the outer layer in the front waist region, each being selectively engageable with a respective one of the loop fastening components in a wear configuration of the article. The absorbent article is folded such that the hook fastening components engage the back waist region, and such that a peak force required to disengage each of the hook fastening components from the back waist region is less than 120 grams-force when measured using a Diaper Opening Force Test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, David F. Bishop, Alanna Haessler, Catherine Hancock-Cooke, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt
  • Publication number: 20150027624
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an absorbent article including a fastening system having a primary fastening system and a secondary fastening system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method can include providing an absorbent assembly, providing a web of primary second fastening component material, and providing a carrier web including a secondary first fastening component material. The method can further include coupling the carrier web to the web of primary second fastening component material to form a composite web, cutting the composite web to form a discrete composite web component, and coupling the discrete composite web component to the outer cover of the absorbent assembly, with the discrete composite web component forming the primary second fastening component of the primary fastening system and the at least one secondary first fastening component of the secondary fastening system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Enz, Robert Lee Popp, David Fleger Bishop, Wendy Lynn VanDyke, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke
  • Patent number: 8905991
    Abstract: A process for providing a package of prefastened articles includes manufacturing an article having a chassis with an absorbent assembly located between an outer cover and a body side liner. The chassis also includes a first waist region and a second waist region; a refastenable seam joining a first distal portion of the first waist region to a first distal portion of the second waist region; a first refastenable bond connecting the first distal portion of the first waist region and the first distal portion of the second waist region. The first distal portion of the first waist region is folded and bonded to itself with a releasable bond having a first releasable bond peel strength. The first refastenable bond peel strength is greater than the first releasable bond peel strength. The process also includes rupturing the releasable bond and packaging the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Walter A. Mattingly, Thomas Earl Williamson
  • Publication number: 20140350508
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a first and a second containment flap each having a stem, an inner flap projection, and an outer flap projection. The absorbent article can include a first and a second folding line for packaging each being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first and second containment flaps can be positioned in the absorbent article such that the distal end of the outer flap projections can be positioned laterally inside of each folding line, the distal ends of the inner flap projections can be positioned laterally outside of each folding line, or such that the first fold line extends through at least a portion of the inner or the outer flap projection of the first containment flap and the second fold line extends through at least a portion of the inner or the outer flap projection of the second containment flap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Julie Ann Paveletzke, Michael John Faulks
  • Publication number: 20140345788
    Abstract: A method of forming a containment system for an absorbent article that includes a front end region, rear end region, a first elasticized leg cuff and a second elasticized leg cuff. The method includes providing a first containment flap and a second containment flap that can each include a stem, an inner flap projection, and an outer flap projection. The method can further include securing the outer flap projection of the first containment flap in at least a portion of at least one of the front end region and the rear end region and securing the outer flap projection of the second containment flap in at least a portion of at least one of the front end region and the rear end region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Scott Simon Craig Kirby, Rodney Allan Butler, Kylie Brooke Bridger, Jeffrey Alan DeBroux, David Fleger Bishop, Michael John Faulks
  • Publication number: 20140350504
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a first containment flap and a second containment flap each having a stem, an inner flap projection, and an outer flap projection. The stems of the first and the second containment flaps can be positioned laterally inward of the longitudinal side edges of the absorbent article. The stem can extend away from the body facing liner when the absorbent article is in a relaxed condition. The inner flap projection can extend laterally from the stem towards a longitudinal axis of the absorbent article and the outer flap projection can extend laterally from the stem away from the longitudinal axis and the inner flap projection when the article is in a relaxed condition. The outer flap projection can be bonded to the stem in at least a portion of one of the front waist region and the rear waist region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Scott Simon Craig Kirby, Rodney Allan Butler, Kylie Brooke Bridger, Jeffrey Alan DeBroux, David Fleger Bishop, Michael John Faulks
  • Publication number: 20140326390
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing body adhering absorbent articles orientated in the cross-machine direction, body adhering absorbent article having reduced or eliminated curl. The articles are manufactured with reduced curl by selectively reducing or eliminating the shell elastic tension in regions where components of the body adhering absorbent article are to be attached to form the composite absorbent article web. In certain aspects the body adhering absorbent articles are manufactured by supplying an elastic web of shell material having a longitudinal and transverse direction, that is stretchable only in the transverse direction, attaching at least one component to form a composite web material, and cutting the composite web material to form a body adhering absorbent article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Jay David Gottleib, Joseph Daniel Coenen, Gary Alan Turchan
  • Publication number: 20140305572
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of manufacturing a body adhering absorbent article oriented in the machine direction wherein the body adhering absorbent articles have reduced or eliminated curl. The articles are manufactured with reduced curl by selectively reducing or eliminating the shell elastic tension in regions where components of the body adhering absorbent article are to be attached to form the composite absorbent article web. In certain aspects the body adhering absorbent articles are manufactured by supplying an elastic web of shell material having a longitudinal and transverse direction, stretching the web of shell material in the longitudinal direction, deadening at least one region of the stretched web of shell material, attaching at least one absorbent article component to at least a portion of the longitudinal deadened zone to form a composite web material, and cutting the composite web material to form a body adhering absorbent article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Jay David Gottleib, Joseph Daniel Coenen, Gary Alan Turchan
  • Publication number: 20140238577
    Abstract: A method that includes conveying a moving web for use as a body panel on a web stability control module is disclosed. A fastener assembly is supplied that may be used to attach and connect portions of the moving web. Prior to attaching the fastener assembly to the moving web, a detection system is utilized to determine if there is a product defect on the fastener assembly. If no product defect is detected, the moving web is cut at a cutting station to completely separate a leading portion of the moving web and a trailing portion of the moving web. Then, the fastener assembly is attached to the moving web at a fastener assembly attachment station such that the leading portion and trailing portion remains bridged together. If a product defect is detected, then the moving web is not cut, and the discrete disposable absorbent undergarment is discarded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Andrew Verboomen, Bradley William Schoon, Brian Keith Rhodes, Robert Lee Popp, Patrick August Lorsung, Paul George Milbrodt, Marlene Ruth Dins, Joseph A. Mlinar