With Means For Securing Pad To Garment Or Person Patents (Class 604/385.03)
  • Publication number: 20030135188
    Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article including: a main body portion having an ability to absorb and retain a liquid; a front support member extending forward beyond a front edge of the main body portion; and a rear support member extending rearward beyond a rear edge of the main body portion. The individual front and rear support members produce an elastic contractive force in a stretched state. The individual front and rear support members are provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer for securing each support member to the skin of a wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Yoshimasa
  • Patent number: 6592561
    Abstract: A sanitary absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, or incontinence pad having a cover layer that is fluid permeable, an absorbent system and a liquid-impervious barrier layer under the absorbent system to prevent collected liquid to escape therefrom. The fluid-permeable cover layer is attached to the liquid-impervious barrier layer to form a flange seal enclosing the absorbent system. The flange seal includes two zones, namely a first zone and a second zone separated by a common boundary, each zone manifesting different mechanical properties. The first zone that resides closer to the outer edge of the flange seal is more resistant to shear stresses than the second zone residing near the inner edge of the flange seal. This arrangement reduces the likelihood of the flange seal being torn during use of the sanitary absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Sebastien Simard, Henri Brisebois
  • Patent number: 6585710
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin having a main body including at least three superposed functional layers, namely a fluid permeable body facing layer, an absorbent layer and a liquid impermeable undergarment facing layer. The sanitary napkin has flaps adapted to be folded around the edges of an undergarment of a wearer. The flaps are physically associated with respective longitudinal sides of the main body and are characterized by a rigidity sufficient to cause the longitudinal sides to fold upwardly when the flaps are parted to receive between them the crotch portion of the undergarment of the user. The upwardly folded longitudinal sides form upstanding barriers to limit the likelihood of failure as a result of side leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
    Inventor: Henri Brisebois
  • Patent number: 6582412
    Abstract: A disposable, one-piece swimsuit for girls includes a bodice attached to a chassis. The bodice is designed to provide upper torso coverage while the chassis can include absorbent and containment features. The upper torso coverage contributes to social decency and also protects the wearer's skin against excessive exposure to the sun. The absorbent and containment features can either be integrated within the chassis or can be in the form of a separate, pant-like, absorbent garment covered by the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah L. Christoffel, Catherine M. Hancock-Cooke, Marci E. Sojka, Laurie Couture-Dorschner, Louise C. Coe
  • Publication number: 20030114822
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a silhouette including a first end, a second end, wherein the second end being in opposite relation to the first end, and a first longitudinally extending edge opposed to a second longitudinally extending edge, the first and second longitudinally extending edges connecting the first end and the second end; and a layered portion having a body-facing layer and a garment-facing layer, wherein the absorbent article is drapeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Santos H. Collando, Maria Elaine P. de Velez, Jutta S. Haarer, Barbara Ann Ludwig, Ana Maria Elena R. Marcelo, H. Michael Moscherosch, Rita Renee Pilate, Jennifer L. Sturgeon
  • Patent number: 6572602
    Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a liquid permeable surface sheet; a backing sheet; and an absorbent layer located between the surface sheet and the backing sheet. The backing sheet includes a liquid impermeable base sheet and a layer of continuous filaments individually extending along a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article and stacked on an outer surface of the base sheet. The base sheet and the continuous filament layer are partially fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kodai Furuya, Hiroo Hayashi, Takamitsu Igaue, Shinya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6565548
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent shield for men which arranged to be worn in an undergarment to trap and collect small amounts of leaking urine. The shield has a flexible chassis and a pair of side-by-side adhesive stripes on it to releasably mount it within the undergarment. The adhesive stripes are initially covered by a removable release strip until the shield is ready for use. The chassis includes a front portion arranged to be located over the penis and contiguous lower abdominal region and a crotch portion arranged to be located in the crotch and between the legs. The chassis is made up of an outer cover, an inner liner and a liquid absorbent core interposed therebetween. The chassis is a very thin planar flexible structure having a modified T-shaped periphery including an upper transverse portion forming the upper portion of the chassis and a downwardly extending longitudinal portion forming the crotch portion of the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Retail Services AG
    Inventors: Frank S. Glaug, Jean A. Serafino
  • Patent number: 6558499
    Abstract: An absorbent article including one or more graphics thereon and a method for making the same are provided according to the present invention, wherein the reference markers used to cut the graphics are not included on the final absorbent article. Further, a variety pack of absorbent articles and method for making the same are provided, wherein each absorbent article in the pack includes a graphic thereon which differs from the graphics on the other absorbent articles in the pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunita Pargass, Joseph B. Vergona
  • Publication number: 20030083633
    Abstract: Absorbent articles with friction-inducing substances at one or more predetermined application zones, as well as methods for using the absorbent articles and methods for preparing the absorbent articles, are disclosed. The absorbent articles have unexpectedly superior fit, distribution, comfort, leak protection, skin protection, absorbency and/or cost-efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Betsy Johnson
  • Patent number: 6554813
    Abstract: An absorbent sanitary protection device, designed so as to be worn intralabially, includes an absorption body with a first surface which is intended to face a wearer during use and a second surface which is intended to face away from the wearer during use. The absorption body of the sanitary protection device is made from a preformed, dehydrated hydrogel and is in the shape of a spoon with a cup-shaped portion arranged on the first surface and an elongate handle-shaped portion which, by way of the preforming, includes a portion which, on wetting, swells and forms a raised portion on the first surface of the protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Ewa Kölby-Falk
  • Patent number: 6554815
    Abstract: Disposable under-shorts having a fit-gather laminate that are capable of being produced at high speeds without complicating the construction of a production device. The disposable under-shorts comprise a fit-gather laminate (2) formed by disposing an elastic member (1) between a pair of upper and lower non-woven fabric sheets (6, 7) in the width direction, fixing the elastic member (1) to portions of the non-woven fabric sheets (6, 7) except in a width-wise center part of the non-woven fabric sheets (6, 7) and cutting the elastic member (1) in the region of the width-wise center parts of the sheets (6, 7). The disposable under-shorts further comprise a reinforcing sheet (3) fixed to the under-side of the width-wise center parts of the fit-gather laminate (2), an absorber (4) disposed on the upper-side of the laminate (2), and a back sheet (5) disposed on the under-side of the reinforcing sheet (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
    Inventor: Toyoshi Umebayashi
  • Publication number: 20030078555
    Abstract: Body-activated adhesives having adhesive properties which increase with exposure to temperature and humidity approximating the temperature and humidity proximate to the human body, particularly the temperature and humidity of the human crotch. The adhesive compositions are useful as adhesive coatings or layers in various personal care products, such as pantiliners. Pantiliners containing the adhesive compositions can be manufactured without a peel strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: John Kerins, Dave A. Soerens, Richard W. Tanzer, William S. Pomplun
  • Publication number: 20030078554
    Abstract: The invention relates to an absorbent product, such as a sanitary towel, a panty liner or an incontinence pad, comprising a liquid-permeable surface layer (102), a liquid-impermeable surface layer (103), and an absorption body (104) arranged between the two surface layers (102, 103). The product also has a front portion (109) and a rear portion (110), and fastening arrangements (113a, 113b, 113c) comprising an adhesive attachment-means zone (120a, 120b, 120c) to be attached to the body of a wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Solgun Drevik
  • Patent number: 6547774
    Abstract: An absorbent disposable undergarment includes an outer garment, such as pants, in combination with a detachable absorbent pad attached inside thereof. First suspending flaps hang down from an inner side of a stretchable waist-opening peripheral edge of the pants toward a crotch section of the pants. The first suspending flaps are provided with first fastener elements that are disposed remote from the waist opening of the pants. Second suspending flaps extend upwardly from longitudinally opposite ends of the absorbent pad. The second suspending flaps are provided with second fastener elements, that are adapted to mate with the first fastener elements, and are disposed remote from the core of the pad. These second fasteners are releasably engaged with the first fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Ono, Yoshihisa Fujioka, Yoshikazu Takigawa
  • Patent number: 6547772
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin with a pair of wings includes a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween, the wings including a portion of the backsheet extending bilaterally of the napkin and a breathable sheet material bonded to the portion by means of bonding lines extending in a transversely direction of the napkin and arranged intermittently in a longitudinal direction of the napkin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Suekane, Tatsuya Tamura, Kazuya Nishitani
  • Patent number: 6540730
    Abstract: A brief assembly with a full front panel opening and an inner elasticized support panel includes two half width segments superposed in overlapping relationship, with a portion of the overlapped central area between rear portions of the segments bonded to form a unitary rear panel. The other half of the overlap is left unbonded to provide the full opening in the front panel. The outer margin of the opening can be reinforced by enclosure within a V-folded strip. Portions of outer side margins on each segment are removed to form an hourglass-shape. Overlapped segments are held together by a releasable fastener means that joins the two front panel half width segments. Tensioned elastic strands are attached to a support panel at spaced intervals. The support panel is secured to the inner surface of the overlapped segments. Tapes or other fasteners protrude from the side margins and are used to complete the waist and leg apertures after the front half is folded upward around a user's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: William P. Niedermeyer
  • Publication number: 20030060795
    Abstract: An absorbent article such as a diaper and an incontinence guard provided with a pair of belt members (10a, 10b) attached to the rear portion (6), alternatively to the front portion, of the article and which are intended to be fastened together around the waist of the wearer by fastening means (11,12) and where the front portion (5), alternatively the rear portion, is provided with fasteners (8,9) intended to be fastened to the belt members (10a, 10b), in such a way that the article will assume a pantlike shape, where the belt members (10a, 10b) form a part of the waist portions of the pant. The belt members (10a, 10b) include a flexible laminate of at least two layers of fibrous material bonded together in a bonding pattern (13) provided by ultrasonic, laser and/or heat, the bonding pattern having a bonding area of no more than 10%, and the laminate having a tear strength of at least 22 N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Christian Almberg
  • Publication number: 20030050618
    Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article elongated to have longitudinally opposed front and rear edges and transversely opposed left and right edges. The absorbent article includes a stack of: a backsheet having a liquid barrier effect; a liquid absorbent layer; a hydrophilic intermediate sheet including fibers; and a hydrophilic topsheet including fibers. The absorbent article has a central region of a predetermined width, which is spaced apart from the left and right edges and formed with a plurality of liquid passage holes continuously extending from the topsheet to the intermediate sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Kondo, Jun Kudo
  • Patent number: 6527757
    Abstract: An absorbent article and method are disclosed for providing side leakage protection for an undergarment and absorbent article positioning guidance for proper placement on the undergarment. In one embodiment, an absorbent cuff pad is configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman with cuffs for receiving a crotch portion of an undergarment. In one embodiment, an absorbent pad and liquid-impermeable baffle are provided with stiffening means for a pair of garment-attachment nesting ridges for receiving an loans arcuately shaped crotch portion of an undergarment. In one embodiment, an absorbent configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman, a liquid-impermeable baffle, and stiffening means for multiple pairs of garment-attachment nesting ridges receive and protect an arcuately shaped crotch portion of an undergarment. Arcuately shaped pleats on a bottom lateral side surface of the absorbent article form the nesting ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Wanda W. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6524291
    Abstract: The invention relates to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence guard, or a panty-liner, which article has a substantially elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and also exhibits two side edges (9, 10), a front edge (11) and a rear edge (12), a front portion (6) and a rear portion (7), and a crotch portion (8) situated between the front portion (6) and the rear portion (7), which article furthermore exhibits a liquid-impervious surface (2) and a liquid-impervious surface (3). At least within the front portion (6) and the crotch portion (8), the article exhibits high bending stiffness against bending along transversely extending bending lines, whereby the front portion (6) and the crotch portion (8) of the article exhibit high shape permanence during use of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Camilla Björklund, Urban Widlund, Ann Samuelsson, Solgun Drevik, Anders Gustafsson
  • Publication number: 20030023222
    Abstract: A urine bag for a male human has a pouch with an opening defined in the pouch, a fastener mounted around a periphery defining the opening, and an arcuate piece mounted between the arcuate piece and the periphery. The pouch is composed of a permeable layer, an absorbent layer, and a waterproof layer. The urine bag can be worn to collect urine from a user who does not have convenient access to a toilet, and the urine bag is disposable after use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Tsai-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 6511464
    Abstract: There is disclosed an absorptive article including: a body including a liquid-permeable top sheet, a back sheet and an absorbent layer sandwiched between the top sheet and the back sheet; and wing members disposed on two side portions of the body and extending outwards in the widthwise direction from the body. The wing members are jointed to the two side portions of the body while being sandwiched between the top sheet and the back sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Suekane
  • Publication number: 20030004478
    Abstract: Incontinence pouch, male pantieshield. Its flat shape enables it to be stored in a pocket from which it can be retrieved and applied with one hand, such that it automatically grips the penis above the glans and is retained in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Lars Mattsson
  • Publication number: 20020193766
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin has a strip that extends rearwardly to reside in the intergluteal crevice. The pad is sized and configured to fit snugly against the wearer's body without penetrating the vaginal orifice. The strip provides improved body contact thus providing similar protection with a smaller pad and a discretion benefit to the user. The invention provides various alternative mechanisms for varying the length of the strip by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Carol B. Gell, Safiyya Shabazz-Houston, James P. Barr, Tara Glasgow, Raymond J. Hull, Marina Nikitina, Pramod S. Mavinkurve, Kenneth Anthony Pelley, Kendra S. Rose, Martha Taylor
  • Publication number: 20020193768
    Abstract: An absorbent article and method are disclosed for providing side leakage protection for an undergarment and absorbent article positioning guidance for proper placement on the undergarment. In one embodiment, an absorbent cuff pad is configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman with cuffs for receiving a crotch portion of an undergarment. In one embodiment, an absorbent pad and liquid-impermeable baffle are provided with stiffening means for a pair of garment-attachment nesting ridges for receiving an arcuately shaped crotch portion of an undergarment. In one embodiment, an absorbent configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman, a liquid-impermeable baffle, and stiffening means for multiple pairs of garment-attachment nesting ridges receive and protect an arcuately shaped crotch portion of an undergarment. Arcuately shaped pleats on a bottom lateral side surface of the absorbent article form the nesting ridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Wanda W. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20020183710
    Abstract: A system and method for securing the removal element of a catamenial device, i.e. the withdrawal string of a tampon, to a surface, and more specifically to an undergarment or bathing suit, is provided. Generally, the withdrawal string is secured to a surface to prevent undesirable projection of the withdrawal string outside, for example, a bathing suit when the user is at a beach or pool. Further, the withdrawal string is secured to a surface during use of the tampon to prevent fluids from coating the withdrawal string, thereby improving sanitary use of a tampon. The system comprises an adhesive element that occurs along the removal element such that the removal element is secured when pressed against a surface. The adhesive element comprises at least one adhesive tab attached to a withdrawal string, and in another form an adhesive coating over at least a portion of a withdrawal string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Olivia Kostadimas
  • Patent number: 6489534
    Abstract: There is provided a disposable personal article with a polymer having a glass transition temperature ranging between 25 and 45° C. The polymer is tacky over the temperature range, which is approximately that of the body, and results in better sealing of the personal care product to the wearer and so a decrease in the amount of bodily exudates that escape to soil the clothing of a wearer. The preferred polymer has a main chain, lateral perfluoroalkyl groups and lateral alkyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard Cohen
  • Publication number: 20020177830
    Abstract: A user adaptable absorbent article having a symmetrical silhouette with a first end and a second end, wherein the second end being in opposite relation to the first end, and a first longitudinally extending edge opposed to a second longitudinally extending edge, the longitudinally extending edges connecting the first end and the second end; a layered portion having an absorbent core with an asymmetric shape and a backsheet; and means for folding a portion of the absorbent article located either from or between at least one of the longitudinally extending edges and at least one of the ends, wherein the fold avoids the absorbent core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Elena Fernandez-Kleinlein, Sophie Mangin
  • Patent number: 6485478
    Abstract: A disposable undergarment that has a pair of tape fasteners attached to transversely opposite side edge portions of a rear waist region and a non-stretchable target tape strip attached to the outer surface of a front waist region. The front and rear waist regions and a crotch region are elastically stretchable in length and width. The tape strip includes a flexible plastic sheet having transversely opposite side edges extending longitudinally and upper and lower edges extending transversely of the undergarment and a plurality of long fibers extending longitudinally on the outer surface of the sheet between the upper and lower edges. The sheet is formed with a plurality of perforated lines arranged to be transversely spaced one from another by a predetermined dimension and to extend between the vicinity of the upper edge and the vicinity of the lower edge. The target tape strip is attached to the front waist region being substantially in non-stretched state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeo Imai, Toshimitsu Baba
  • Publication number: 20020169431
    Abstract: A strong, easy to use tab and slot fastening device suitable for use with disposable absorbent articles. The fastening device preferably includes a tab member and a slot member. The slot member has an inboard portion, an outboard portion and a slot. The inboard portion located laterally inboard of the outboard portion and the slot located between the inboard portion and the outboard portion. The tab member has a length, a proximal edge, a distal edge and a lip portion. The tab portion is passed through the slot of the slot member to engage the fastening device. Once passed through the slot, at least the lip portion of the tab member pivots such that it overlaps the outboard portion of the slot member to prevent the tab member from disengaging from the slot member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Mark J. Kline, Tracey E. Beckman, Thomas Henrich, David J.K. Goulait, Miguel A. Robles, Constance L. Fisher
  • Patent number: 6478787
    Abstract: A combination of an absorbent article and a waist belt for supporting the article has coacting hook and loop fabric tape elements thereon by which the absorbent article and the waist belt are releasably secured to each other. The hook fabric tape elements are provided on one of the waist belt and the absorbent article, and the loop fabric tape elements are provided on the other of the waist belt and the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Birgitta Ihrfelt, Terje Vigmo, Peter Rönnberg
  • Patent number: 6475202
    Abstract: The present invention relates to breathable absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and incontinence pads which are adhered by adhesive to an undergarment during use. More particularly the present invention relates to articles which have an air permeable or breathable back sheet, which have a flexibility in a longitudinal direction, and which are particularly well adhered to the undergarment in order to provide improved comfort to the wearer of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Uwe Thomas M. H. Hirsch
  • Patent number: 6475203
    Abstract: A feminine hygiene pad having a wide absorbent front portion and a narrower, elongated rear portion of sufficient length to be retained between the buttocks of a user to better fit against the user's body and thereby control rearward leakage of fluid. The hygienic pad is smaller and better fitting and can be worn more discreetly with small sized and tight fitting garments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Ilse Rubio
  • Patent number: 6468256
    Abstract: An article for disposal of body wastes includes a liquid-pervious inner sheet, a liquid-impervious outer sheet and a liquid-absorbent core disposed therebetween; tapered front and rear end sections and a pair of intermediate sections extending therebetween; and a bottom, a peripheral wall consisting of a front peripheral wall portion with its pointed front end, a rear peripheral wall portion with a pointed rear end and a pair of intermediate peripheral wall portions spaced from each other so that a distance therebetween gradually decreases toward the front and rear peripheral wall portions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Mishima
  • Publication number: 20020147439
    Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a pants member and a body fluid absorbent pad lying inside the pants member. The pad is connected to elastic first and second suspender members extending in a circumferential direction of the diaper and joined under extension in the circumferential direction of the diaper to the pants member. Front and rear ends of the pad are joined to the suspender members in middle zones of these suspender members of which transversely opposite side edges are joined to transversely opposite side edges of front and rear waist regions. Inner and outer ends of the suspender members are joined to the front and rear waist regions in a joining zones arranged intermittently in the circumferential direction of the diaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Tanaka, Hirotomo Mukai
  • Publication number: 20020147438
    Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a cover member having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region and a liquid-absorbent panel disposed inside the cover member. The panel is joined to the cover member on inner surfaces of the front and back waist regions by an elastic band which extends in an elastically contractible condition in a circumferential direction of a wearer's waist. At least a portion of a clearance existing between the cover member and the elastic band is closed by a sheet material having extensibility back and forth of the diaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Tanaka, Hirotomo Mukai
  • Patent number: 6461344
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an absorbent article in the form of a pants diaper or a sanitary panty starts from a flat blank which includes an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond the body on the opposite sides thereof. The method includes the step of folding the blank about a transverse axis so that the end edges of the side parts lie edge-to-edge. The front and rear side parts of the blank which oppose one another in the folded state of the blank are joined together by a releasable and refastenable fastener. A pants diaper can be manufactured in accordance with this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Urban Widlund, Anders Gustafsson
  • Publication number: 20020143313
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article has a pad member provided a pair of elastic thigh-tightening bands lying on transversely opposite side edges thereof. Front ends of first free zones and rear ends of second free zones of the respective elastic thigh-tightening bands are connected to the transversely opposite side edges in the vicinity of a waist-hole of pant member so that middle zones and first and second free zones of these thigh-tightening bands extend generally parallel to the respective leg-holes so as to substantially form loops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Tomoko Tsuji, Takako Uosawa
  • Publication number: 20020143316
    Abstract: An absorbent insert for use with an absorbent garment has a body-facing outer surface and a garment-facing outer surface. The garment-facing outer surface is at least partially permeable to fluids. The insert also includes one or more absorbent layers and one or more delay layer(s) adapted to substantially affect the flow of fluid through the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Earle Harry Sherrod, Stephen Bradford Cook, David Arthur Fell, Cornelis Jacobus Bosselaar, Courtney M. Nelson, Paul Joseph Datta, Mary Anne Bruemmer-Prestley
  • Patent number: 6459015
    Abstract: This invention consists of a disposable, absorbent article which absorbs animal perspiration. The article is characterized by the following features: an absorbent layer, and at least one reinforcing layer in order to insure article strength during use. Preferably, the absorbent layer is a flat layer having at least one superabsorbent material and either a non-woven fabric or at least one pad of fibers, and has an absorption capacity of at least 150 g of perspiration per m2 of the absorbent layer. Preferably, the at least one reinforcing layer is at least a pair of gas-permeable reinforcing layers respectively bound to each side of the absorbent layer, and the at least one reinforcing layer is made of a microperforated film or a non-woven fabric. Preferably, each layer of the article is liquid permeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Sweet Horse International
    Inventor: Marie-Françoise Lyon
  • Patent number: 6454751
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has an absorbent chassis and a fastening system. The fastening system includes a pair of first fastening components disposed in one waist region and at least one second fastening component disposed in an opposite waist region. The first fastening components include at least one hinge area that transversely bisects the first fastening components, allowing the fasteners to bend in conformity with the movements of the wearer's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Peter Olson
  • Patent number: 6454752
    Abstract: A pant-like, prefastened, refastenable, disposable absorbent article includes a pair of fasteners which provide refastenable side seams and at least one waist size adjustment means. The prefastened absorbent article defines a pair of laterally opposed side edges and a pair of longitudinally opposed waist edges. The fasteners are permanently attached to the side edges of one of the waist edges and engage the side edges of the opposed waist edges to form the refastenable side seams defining a waist opening and a pair of leg openings in the prefastened absorbent article. The fasteners are further configured to provide a waist size adjustment means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Yung Hsiang Huang, Thomas Harold Roessler, Gary Lee Travis, Paul Theodore VanGompel
  • Patent number: 6448466
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin and particularly an intimate woman's sanitary napkin is disclosed. The sanitary napkin is provided with a conveying element, capable of conveying the flow of vaginal exudates to a central area of the sanitary napkin, thus minimizing the possibilities of side leakage. The conveying element is vertically aligned and disposed along the longitudinal axis of the sanitary napkin above the absorbent element, and being substantially laminar and orthogonal to the surface of the sanitary napkin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Industria E Comercio LTDA
    Inventor: Antonio Carlos Ribeiro de Carvalho
  • Patent number: 6447493
    Abstract: A thin absorbent patch, similar to an incontinence pad or guard is disclosed to protect underwear from the leakage of bodily discharges of boys and men. The flexible absorbent article will protect boys and men's underwear from stains caused by excess urine, sexually transmitted diseases, semen and other discharges from the male genitalia. The flexible absorbent article comprises of a fluid-impermeable cover, a fluid-impermeable deflecting baffle and an engulfing absorbent betwixt the cover and the baffle. The flexible absorbent article also comprises of a garment adhesive that will be protected from contamination by peel or wax paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy Rodgrick Simpson, Nykesha Shameka Simpson
  • Patent number: 6447494
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin including a middle region and lateral regions lying adjacent the middle region, and a transversely middle region of the sanitary napkin being configured to have a rigidity lower than that of the lateral regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kashiwagi, Hiroyuki Harada, Akiko Ota
  • Patent number: 6447495
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sanitary napkin having flaps folded onto the topsheet of the napkin and held in this position by a unitary bridging strip. Each of these flaps has an adhesive area that is used to attach the flap to the undergarment. A release strip covers each such adhesive area. These release strips and the bridging strip each contain a cohesive layer whereby a cohesive bond is formed between the bridging strip and each release strip thereby holding the flaps in their folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: McNeill-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Luizzi, Melinda Cettina
  • Publication number: 20020123730
    Abstract: Packaged garments having pre-fastened, refastenable seams tucked in a certain position can preserve fastener performance. Such refastenable seams are particularly suitable for side seams on pant-like absorbent garments. Prior to packaging the garment, the refastenable seams are pre-fastened and tucked into the garment such that any resilient fastening components lie flat in a plane parallel to a plane in which front and back waist portions of the garment lie. When the garment is compressed and packaged, the resilient fastening components remain flat and do not become creased or crushed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Marcille Faye Ruman, Kathleen Irene Ratliff
  • Publication number: 20020120247
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hygienic absorbent article including: a back layer; an absorbent layer; and a three-dimensional portion to rise in T-shaped state over the absorbent layer due to longitudinal elastic contractive force of elastic members provided in the three-dimensional portion. The three-dimensional portion has: connecting portions fixed onto the absorbent layer; and a skin-contacting portion connected to the absorbent layer through the connecting portions and having a pair of free ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Kouichi Yamaki, Yuuki Noda
  • Patent number: 6440115
    Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed for absorbing body fluids discharged from a human body. The absorbent article includes an absorbent having first and second longitudinally-extending sides, first and second distally spaced ends and a garment-facing surface. The absorbent article includes a structure which interacts with an adjacent undergarment for retaining the absorbent in the crotch region of a human body. The structure includes at least two grooves or channels formed in the garment-facing surface of the absorbent which are sized and configured to receive the side edges of an undergarment. When the undergarment is pulled up around the torso of the user, the side edges of the undergarment will nest in the grooves or channels and hold the absorbent article securely in place, thereby decreasing the likelihood of leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas John Connelly, Joyce Ann Damico, Gary Chester Anderson
  • Publication number: 20020115978
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent thong-shaped pantiliner. The pantiliner is in the form of a generally planar pad having a longitudinal central axis and a generally wedge-shaped periphery including first and second generally concave longitudinal extending sides interconnecting a top end and a bottom end. The pad includes a fluid-pervious top sheet an absorbent core and a fluid impervious back sheet that are bonded together along a first set of non-linear, parallel lines and second set of linear parallel lines. The first set of lines have portions extending generally along each side and the top and bottom end of the pad. The first set of lines also has a fourth portion extending generally along the bottom end of the pad. The second set of lines are located adjacent the bottom end of the pad and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first set of parallel lines merge with the second set of parallel lines adjacent the bottom end of the pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Confab Services, AG
    Inventor: Robert T. Cole