Inflatable Component Patents (Class 604/385.12)
  • Patent number: 11801171
    Abstract: A defecation detection device (2) is adapted to communicate with a receiver (4) and includes a mounting seat (21), a resilient member (22) having a fixed end (221) that is connected to the mounting seat (21) and a free end (222) that is spaced apart from the mounting seat (21), a first conductive sheet (51) that is disposed on the free end (222) of the resilient member (22), a second conductive sheet (52) that is disposed on the mounting surface (211) of the mounting seat (21), and a transmitter module (6). When the free end (222) of the resilient member (22) is pressed to move toward the mounting seat (21), the first conductive sheet (51) is in contact with the second conductive sheet (52), and the transmitter module (6) is configured to wirelessly transmit a signal to the receiver (4) to allow the receiver (4) to output a notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: I-DING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hung Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 8716547
    Abstract: A stretch laminate having a first substrate is adhesively attached to an elastic film. The adhesive is applied in a continuous manner to the substrate in a first tack down region which is disposed proximate to an end of the stretch laminate. The adhesive is applied as a plurality of adhesive stripes in an activation region which is interior of the first tack down region. The adhesive stripes have a width and a distance between adjacent adhesive stripes. The ratio of stripe width to distance between the adhesive stripes is in the range of less than about 1 or greater than about 0.33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Anand Rudra Venkitaraman, George Stephen Reising
  • Patent number: 8663182
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article comprising an absorbent core having a garment surface and an opposed body surface, which surfaces meet along at least one longitudinal edge and at least one end edge; a liquid permeable topsheet positioned adjacent the body surface of the absorbent core and having a pair of opposed longitudinal edges; a liquid impermeable backsheet positioned adjacent the garment surface of the absorbent core; and a waistcap/waistband disposed adjacent to at least one projection associated with the absorbent core, wherein the waistcap/waistband is capable of absorbing moisture and subsequently deforming to fill at least a portion of space between the article and a portion of the wearer's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Masaharu Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8324445
    Abstract: Absorbent articles having a pouch for the collection of bodily waste are generally disclosed. The pouch can generally be located on or within the wearer contacting surface of an absorbent article. The pouch can have an opening ready to receive the bodily waste or can include a pouch opening mechanism. Additionally, a pouch closing mechanism can be included within the absorbent article to close the opening of the pouch upon collection of the bodily waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: John Gavin MacDonald, Andrew Mark Long, Jessica Sara Van Handel
  • Patent number: 8157791
    Abstract: A system and method for post-operation care for a liposuction procedure including a compression garment and a set of absorptive garments that includes a first absorptive garment and a second absorptive garment. The compression garment includes a first portion and each absorptive garment includes an absorptive material, a fluid resistant material, and a fastener. The first absorptive garment is coupled to the body of the patient and fastened to envelop the first portion of the absorptive garment and the second absorptive garment is couple to the body of the patient and fastened to the first portion of the absorptive garment upon removal of the first absorptive garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventor: Gwen Mancuso
  • Patent number: 8157779
    Abstract: A contoured and shaped feminine sanitary device (10) comprising a substantially fluid-impermeable bottom layer (26), a substantially fluid-absorbent core (24), and a substantially fluid-permeable top layer (28), with at least one raised area (18) and at least one of back or front extensions (14,16) for facilitating and enhancing fluid absorption in certain areas and during certain activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventor: Jacquelyn Lowden Williams
  • Patent number: 8039684
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes at least one liquid-permeable layer material (105) and an absorbent structure (106), the absorbent structure (106) having the ability to expand on wetting, which entails that the absorbent structure (106) displays a first volume in dry condition and a second volume in completely expanded wet condition, the second volume being greater than the first volume. The liquid-permeable layer material (105) encloses the absorbent structure (106) so that the absorbent structure (106) is prevented from reaching complete expansion during wetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Ted Guidotti, Gunnar Edvardsson
  • Patent number: 8029486
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article is provided with a skin-contactable panel laid in a front half of a crotch region of the article and a liquid-impervious partition laid in a vicinity of a transverse center line of the article. The panel has transversely opposite side edges bonded to transverse opposite side portion of the article and a intermediate region defined between these side edges. The partition has an upper edge bonded to the panel, a lower edge bonded to a topsheet of the article transversely opposite side edges bonded to the side portions of the article and a middle portion defined between the upper and lower edges. The intermediate region of the panel describes an upward convex circular arc above the topsheet and the middle portion of the partition is unfolded in a thickness direction of the article so as to form a pocket-like barrier against movement of bodily wastes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kaiyo Nakajima, Yoshitaka Mishima
  • Publication number: 20110028934
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for achieving hemostasis in patients who have received skin-penetrating wounds to the body in regions such as the shoulder, pelvis, neck, or groin, where standard bandages are difficult to apply and where large blood vessels exist which can hemorrhage severely. Such haemostatic packing devices and methods are especially useful in the emergency, trauma surgery, or military setting. The devices utilize packing pillows that are held in place by rigid structures that can cause the packing pillows to be brought into the wounds and be held in place while the packing pillows are inflated to fill the wounds, prevent bleeding, and tamponade hemorrhaging large blood vessels exposed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Robert F. Buckman, Jay A. Lenker
  • Publication number: 20110009845
    Abstract: A system and method for post-operation care for a liposuction procedure including a compression garment and a set of absorptive garments that includes a first absorptive garment and a second absorptive garment. The compression garment includes a first portion and each absorptive garment includes an absorptive material, a fluid resistant material, and a fastener. The first absorptive garment is coupled to the body of the patient and fastened to envelop the first portion of the absorptive garment and the second absorptive garment is couple to the body of the patient and fastened to the first portion of the absorptive garment upon removal of the first absorptive garment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventor: Gwen Mancuso
  • Patent number: 7749208
    Abstract: An insert for use together with an absorbent article such as a nappy, an incontinence product, a sanitary towel, a panty liner or the like. The insert has an first side, a second side and an essentially non-urine-absorbing spacer element adapted to keep a portion of the absorbent article at a distance from the skin of a wearer during use. The insert also includes an essentially non-urine-absorbing liquid-permeable retaining layer located against the spacer element, the retaining layer being capable of retaining feces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Barbro Moberg-Alehammar, Anna-Gerd Doverbo
  • Patent number: 7727218
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article adapted to be worn about a lower torso of a human body and having a chassis, a non-removable absorbent core component disposed in a crotch region of the chassis, and a replaceable absorbent core component disposed in capillary liquid communication with the non-removable absorbent core component. The replaceable absorbent core component may be removed and a like component may be substituted in place of the removed component without the removal of the absorbent article from the wearer. The replaceable absorbent core component may be disposed inside an openable chassis pocket, with access for its removal and replacement provided by an aperture in a backsheet, an openable end of an external pocket, or an openable end of an internal pocket formed at an area of a waist end edge where the backsheet and a topsheet may be separated. Additional replaceable absorbent core components may also be incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean Lavon, Theodora Beck, Gerald Alfred Young, Stephen Lebeuf Hardie, Thomas Henrich
  • Patent number: 7537586
    Abstract: An active external change aid that comprises elements which act upon an article to be attached to a wearer to perform a useful function. The active external change aid helps the caregiver or wearer obtain the optimum fit and performance of the product by performing steps for the caregiver or wearer during the application or removal of the product. The article optionally includes elements which work in conjunction with elements of the change aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Donald Carroll Roe, Ann Marie Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7458959
    Abstract: An absorbent article having an upper, liquid-permeable cover layer (2), a lower, liquid-impermeable backsheet (4), an absorbent body (6) arranged between the cover layer (2) and the backsheet (4), and an air-exchange system arranged between the cover layer (2) and the backsheet (4) having at least one air-exchange (5; 43) and at least one air-exchange duct (10) having a longitudinal extension and a cross-sectional area, the air-exchange duct (10) constituting a communicating duct with regard to air communication between the air-exchange (5; 43) and the surroundings of the absorbent article. The air-exchange (5; 43) comprises a material which is compressible and resilient in all directions, essentially non-absorbent and air-permeable, and the air-exchange duct (10) has a compressible and resilient, essentially non-absorbent material, the air-exchange duct displaying air-permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Ingemar Fernfors
  • Patent number: 7344522
    Abstract: An absorbent easily rendered three-dimensional in the central region by water absorption is composed of a sheet-like absorbent having regions where a highly absorptive component is present and regions where it is absent, these presence and absence regions parallelly extending lengthwise of a sheet-like base material and alternating with each other, the sheet-like base material being turned back along a bending line in the highly absorptive component absence regions of the sheet-like absorbent, there being at least one band-like portion of multilayer construction where the highly absorptive component presence regions are superposed in a plurality of layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Japan Absorbent Technology Institute
    Inventors: Migaku Suzuki, Katsuhiko Sugiyama, Satomi Takematsu, Kazuyo Mori
  • Patent number: 7329246
    Abstract: Here is disclosed a disposable pull-on wearing article improved so that a body fluid absorbent core may be curved about a crotch region toward front and rear waist regions without forming thick creases creating a feeling of discomfort against a wearer, and wherein a concavity bulging downward may be quickly formed in the crotch region as the core is curved. The article includes a body fluid absorbent core which includes a first core lying on a transverse middle of a crotch region and a pair of second cores lying on both sides of the first core. Front and rear end portions of the respective second cores are spaced apart from the first core by slit-like gaps and intermediate portions extending between the front and rear end portions are contiguous to the first core. Outer side edges of the respective second cores are formed with laid down V-shape cutouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Yoshio Ono, Tomoko Tsuji, Akiko Yagi
  • Patent number: 7314967
    Abstract: Moisture responsive members are disposed outboard of the absorbent core within disposable absorbent articles. The moisture responsive members expand in response to moisture from the wearer of the absorbent article thereby creating a seal between the moisture responsive member and the wearer of the absorbent article. The moisture responsive members can be disposed along the longitudinal sides of the disposable absorbent article or along the waist edges, both front and rear, of the disposable absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Eiro Fukuda, Donald Louis Zgoda
  • Patent number: 7276054
    Abstract: A disposable diaper as a disposable wearing article has a front waist region, a rear waist region and a crotch region extending between these two waist regions. The crotch region is formed on its surface facing a wearer's body with a protrusion formed by flexible and elastic foamed plastic prepared separately of an absorbent pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Mishima, Kaiyo Nakajima, Tomoko Sugito
  • Publication number: 20070179465
    Abstract: A disposable body fluid absorbent wearing article such as a menstruation pad and a diaper includes a coolant formed from a gelatinous sheet containing water. The coolant is wrapped up with an air-impervious sheet. The article makes it possible to keep a disposable body fluid absorbent wearing article in a usable condition for a long period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiko SAKAKIBARA, Mitsuhiro WADA
  • Patent number: 7060057
    Abstract: A tampon comprising and elongated absorptive member, housing an elongated expandable member having a hollow cavity, which is expandable on insertion of air. Optionally, at least one non-absorptive member is arranged in a spaced relationship about the outside surface of the tampon material, the non-absorptive members causing a spacing between the absorptive member and vagina wall. This increases the comfort at the interface of the tampon with the vaginal walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Inventor: Nini Policappelli
  • Patent number: 7002055
    Abstract: Absorbent articles for alerting a wearer to urination are disclosed. The absorbent articles comprise a bodyside liner, an absorbent core, and a urine-permeable inflatable envelope located between the bodyside liner and the absorbent core. The envelope comprises a surfactant and a system capable of generating a gas upon being wetted with urine. Upon urination, a foam is formed in the envelope such that the envelope inflates and causes the bodyside liner to press up against the skin of the wearer to alert the wearer to urination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Long, Shirlee Ann Weber
  • Patent number: 6852102
    Abstract: A disposable adult diaper that protects against hip injuries, and in particular those resulting from impact to the bony prominence known as the greater trochanter, comprises a center panel that extends from the wearer's anterior waist, under the wearer's crotch, to the wearer's posterior waist, and ventral and dorsal wings that extend out from the center panel to cover the wearer's abdomen and backside, respectively. The ventral and dorsal wings are supplied with cushioning means and extend from the wearer's waistline to below the wearer's crotch line. The cushioning means can take the form of closely packed air filled cells, foam, or other shock-absorbing materials. The lateral aspects of the cushioned dorsal and ventral wings overlap one another and overlay the upper and lower bony prominence of the structures of the hip. The center panel may contain a moisture absorbent means to absorb moisture from human waste. Briefs and pull-ups having the same design and construction are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Inventor: Terry Alan Vernoy
  • Patent number: 6761709
    Abstract: A liquid reception device is disclosed as a component, for example, of a personal care product such as a disposable diaper, an incontinent garment, or for other applications such as, for example, an industrial soaker pad or the like. The device includes liquid activated means to move a liquid insult from a target zone to a peripheral zone. The liquid activated transport means is operated mechanically by suction created by compression or vacuum or by physical movement of a liquid container from the target zone to the peripheral zone. The disclosed device provides increased use of available liquid handling capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Tod Morman, Bryan David Haynes, Thomas Harold Roessler
  • Patent number: 6695828
    Abstract: In an absorbent article having a multi-layer material having a front section, a back section and an intermediate section connecting the front section and the back section, wherein the multi-layer material includes a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, a method for increasing the conformability and enhancing the fluid intake and distribution of the article in which at least one resilient fluid-filled chamber having at least one peristaltic element is inserted into the absorbent article into the absorbent layer or between at least a portion of the absorbent layer and the backsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph DiPalma, Alexander M. Schmidt-Foerst
  • Patent number: 6666850
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article having an expandable component. The expandable component can be inflatable, and includes a gas evolving material and an activating material separated from the gas evolving material by a breakable barrier. The barrier is broken to combine the materials and inflate the component at the point of use of the disposable absorbent article. The inflatable component can include a spacer for maintaining a fecal void space in a disposable absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Ahr, Gary D. Lavon, Brandon E. Wise
  • Publication number: 20030220625
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wrapper for individually packaging absorbent articles for personal hygiene, especially tampons. The wrapper of the present invention is provided with an opening means comprising a tear tape and a stopper, the tear tape is used for opening the wrapper and the stopper prevents the wrapper from becoming separated into more than two segments of wrapper material upon being opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Wolfgang Werner Hans Domeier, Charles John Berg, Rick Alan Pollard, Francis Michael Nicholas, Paul Lee Styles, Conrad Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 6632205
    Abstract: A personal care absorbent article, such as an infant diaper, a training pant, an incontinence garment and the like, having a structure for opening a support channel adjacent a gluteal fold when the wearer is in a sitting position. The structure having an expandable element hingedly connected to a compressible element whereby the expandable element forms the support channel upon compression of the compressible element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Barbara O. Sauer
  • Patent number: 6610038
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a multi-layer material having a front section, a back section and an intermediate section connecting the front section and the back section, wherein the multi-layer material comprises a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least one resilient fluid-filled chamber is disposed in the absorbent layer or between at least a portion of the absorbent layer and the backsheet. A body-fitting mechanism is provided which is activatable by application of a force to the resilient fluid-filled chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph DiPalma, Alexander M. Schmidt-Foerst
  • Publication number: 20030097105
    Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed comprising a central absorbent member, an outer absorbent member, and a central rising member for urging the central absorbent member toward the body of the user when compressed laterally inward by the legs of the user. The article is able to achieve good center-fill performance when in use and maintain excellent body fit. Also disclosed is a lateral wicking barrier for inhibition of wicking from the central regions of the article to an outlying outer absorbent member. The combination of a wicking barrier isolating the central absorbent member from the longitudinal sides of the article and a central rising member urging the central absorbent member toward the body yields an article with excellent absorbency and leakage protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Fung-Jou Chen, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Joseph DiPalma, Julie Marie Bednarz
  • Patent number: 6524292
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a multi-layer material having a front section, a back section and an intermediate section connecting the front section and the back section, wherein the multi-layer material comprises a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least one three-dimensional resilient fluid-filled chamber is disposed in the absorbent layer or between at least a portion of the absorbent layer and the backsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph DiPalma, Alexander M. Schmidt-Foerst
  • Publication number: 20030036736
    Abstract: An intravaginal inflatable member impermeable to fluids capable when inflated of providing sealable closure of the vaginal canal for the prevention of exit of menstrual blood from the vaginal orifice. The inflatable member can be connected to an absorbent member or can be a stand alone device. Inflation of the inflatable member can be activated manually by the user or via an intravaginal applicator which has the dual function of inserting and delivering the device into the vagina and that of actuating the source of inflation to inflate the inflatable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Filiberto P. Zadini, Giorgio Zadini
  • Publication number: 20020177834
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and a valving means, the valving means comprising at least one one-way valve and a connection means which permits the connection of a pumping means, wherein the valving means allows air to be distributed into one or more regions of the article. The valving means of the article allows air to be discharged into the article in a region between a wearer's skin and the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James Arthur Davis, Wanda Walton Jackson, Jark C. Lau, K. Y. Wang, Susan Carol Paul, Rebecca Willey Griffin, Roland Columbus Smith, David Craige Strack, Eugenio Go Varona, Marlene Rebecca Waugaman, Tamara Lee Mace
  • Publication number: 20020177835
    Abstract: A catamenial device for blood leakage prevention composed of an inflatable member and an absorbent intravaginal member such as a tampon. The inflatable member houses a resiliently expandable inflation member generally made of open cell foam, and has an opening for airflow communication between the interior of the inflatable member and the outside environment. During insertion into a vaginal canal, the inflation member is inserted in a contracted state. Upon placement to proper vaginal location, the inflation member expands by resiliency drawing air from the ouside environment into the inflatable member via the opening in the inflatable member. [An intravaginal inflatable member impermeable to fluids capable when inflated of providing sealable closure of the vaginal canal for the prevention of exit of menstrual blood from the vaginal orifice. The inflatable member can be connected to an absorbent member or can be a stand alone device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Filiberto P. Zadini, Giorgio C. Zadini
  • Patent number: 6458110
    Abstract: An absorbent article having an expandable component. The expandable component comprises a compressed, resilient element disposed within an air impermeable envelope. The compressed element provides the absorbent article with a thin, low bulk profile prior to use of the disposable absorbent article, thereby reducing shipping and storage space. The user may open the impervious envelope, thereby permitting entry of air into the envelope and expansion of the compressed element. In one embodiment the expandable component is a spacer for maintaining fecal void space in a disposable diaper. Alternatively, the expandable component can provide displacement of the topsheet relative to the backsheet along the longitudinal centerline of a sanitary napkin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary D. Lavon, William R. Vinnage, Jr., Letha M. Hines, Donald C. Roe, Brandon E. Wise
  • Patent number: 6454749
    Abstract: There is provided a bellows adapted to be actuated by the movement of a wearer's body and force air into a personal care product in a region between the skin of the wearer and the product. The bellows may be located in the periphery of the personal care product and the discharge of the bellows is directed into the personal care product so air is forced into the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jark Chong Lau, James Arthur Davis, Kenneth Yin Wang, Wanda Walton Jackson
  • Publication number: 20020128616
    Abstract: A liquid reception device as a component, for example, of a personal care product such as a disposable diaper, an incontinent garment, or for other applications such as, for example, an industrial soaker pad or the like. The device includes liquid activated means to move a liquid insult from a target zone to a peripheral zone. The liquid activated transport means operated mechanically by suction created by compression or vacuum or by physical movement of a liquid container from the target zone to the peripheral zone. The disclosed device provides increased use of available liquid handling capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Tod Morman, Bryan David Haynes, Thomas Harold Roessler
  • Patent number: 6423045
    Abstract: A disposable garment having a consumer-activated component that is expandable to improve the fit and function of the garment. The expandable component includes a compressed, resilient, expansible member disposed within a sealed, air-impermeable envelope. The expandable component can be activated so that the component expands in a direction toward the body of the wearer of the garment by the application of a tensile force on the garment to expose an opening in the envelope, to thereby admit air into the envelope and allow the compressed expansible element to expand to its substantially uncompressed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Brandon E. Wise, Kimberly A. Dreier, Mark J. Kline, Constance L. Fisher, Tracey E. Beckman, Donald C. Roe
  • Patent number: 6423044
    Abstract: A disposable article preferably includes a bodily waste isolation device including a pressure differentiation device having an exterior and at least one inner chamber, wherein the pressure differentiation device is capable of maintaining the inner chamber at a pressure lower than an ambient pressure. The bodily waste isolation device preferably also includes at least two resilient elements disposed in the inner chamber of the pressure differentiation device and held under vacuum compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald C. Roe, Beth A. Rhorer
  • Publication number: 20020065497
    Abstract: An absorbent product of substantially elongated form, having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a thickness direction, a liquid-permeable top side, a liquid-impermeable bottom side, two side edges extending in the longitudinal direction, includes an absorption body arranged between the top side and the bottom side. The absorption body includes an absorption part formed by a preformed, dehydrated hydrogel, which, as a result of the preforming, includes a section which, when wetted, swells in the thickness direction and forms an elevation on the top side of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Ewa Kolby-Falk
  • Patent number: 6384296
    Abstract: Disposable articles such as diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders and/or inserts, training pants, feminine hygiene garments, tampons and the like having a responsive system including an electrical actuator. The responsive system may respond continuously or discontinuously. A continuous responsive system of the present invention further includes a feedback control loop. A discontinuous responsive system of the present invention may include either a feedback control loop or an open loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald C. Roe, Patrick J. Allen, Bruno J. Ehrnsperger, Mattias Schmidt, Mikhail L. Kruchinin, Simon S. Litvin, Oleg N. Khomjakov, Karl P. Ronn
  • Publication number: 20010029359
    Abstract: This invention is a disposable absorbent article (20) for wearing adjacent a body discharge area having a longitudinal centerline, and a lateral centerline orthogonal thereto; and defining longitudinal and lateral directions, respectively. The disposable absorbent article (20) comprises a liquid pervious topsheet (24), a backsheet (26) joined to said topsheet (24), and an absorbent core (28) intermediate the backsheet (26) and the topsheet (24). The absorbent core (28) comprises an expanding layer (46) for expanding the article (20) into a tridimensional structure while being worn by a user. The expanding layer (46) is activated by body fluids, and has a predetermined profile in Z direction in the dry state prior to use. The expanding layer (46) is capable, upon activation by body fluids, of expanding into the predetermined wet profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: GIOVANNI CARLUCCI
  • Patent number: 6186991
    Abstract: Disposable articles such as diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders and/or inserts, training pants, feminine hygiene garments, tampons and the like having a responsive system. The article includes a sensor that detects an input and a mechanical actuator that is adapted to perform a responsive function upon bodily waste, a wearer, the article or a component or components thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald C. Roe, Patrick J. Allen, Bruno J. Ehrnsperger, Mattias Schmidt, Karl P. Ronn