Leg Opening Patents (Class 604/385.25)
  • Publication number: 20100179499
    Abstract: Reusable outer covers for wearable absorbent articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Donald Carroll Roe
  • Publication number: 20100168706
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing absorbent articles in which first and second stabilizing strips confer stability during the manufacturing process by controlling the position of side panels with respect to absorbent structures. In the thus manufactured articles, material of the stabilizing strips remain on the side panels to provide a region of material having consistent properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Dragorad Vasic
  • Publication number: 20100168708
    Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention includes: a folding section 2 for folding a web W in two so that opposite side edges Wa and Wb of the web W are brought into a predetermined positional relationship with each other by bringing the web W into contact with an abutting member 4; a pair of carrying means 10A and 10B arranged along opposite sides of the web W for carrying the web W in the longitudinal direction X; a plurality of holding means 20 provided in each of the carrying means 10A and 10B wherein the holding means 20 can be displaced in the transverse direction D of the web W; displacement means 30 for displacing the holding means 20 in the transverse direction D upstream of the abutting member 4 so as to correct a positional relationship between the web W and the abutting member 4; detection means 3 for outputting positional information regarding a position of the web W in the transverse direction D; and control means 200 for controlling the displacement means 30 based on the positional information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Toyoshi Umebayashi, Takahiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 7736351
    Abstract: A simple disposable absorbent article including a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The chassis includes a water-impermeable sheet folded laterally inward at both of its side edges to form opposing side flaps. Each side flap is attached to the interior surface of the chassis adjacent to its end edges. Each side flap has a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge. The absorbent assembly is smaller in width and in length than the chassis. The side edges and end edges of the absorbent assembly may be disposed proximally relative to the respective side edges and end edges of the chassis. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that may contain superabsorbent particles, which may be contained inside pockets. The chassis may be extensible. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern to the chassis to allow portions of the chassis to extend laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Pankaj Nigam, Gary Dean LaVon, Theodora Beck
  • Publication number: 20100137823
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a chassis extending about a longitudinal axis and having a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent structure disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The chassis has a first transverse axis dividing the absorbent structure into a front body panel terminating in a front waist region and a rear body panel terminating in a rear waist region. The rear waist region has a first elastic region. The chassis is delimited by opposed longitudinal edges and opposed transverse edges. In the rear waist region, the absorbent structure terminates at a first distance from the transverse edge and the first elastic region extends substantially parallel to the transverse edge and spaced therefrom by a second distance and spaced from the absorbent structure by a third distance. The third distance is greater than said second distance or substantially equal thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Helena Corneliusson, Rozalia Bitis, Ingrid Stjernholm
  • Publication number: 20100108554
    Abstract: Disposable absorbent articles product designs tailored to the differing needs and preferences of males and females are disclosed. In particular embodiments, an array of gender-specific, disposable, absorbent articles comprises a package of first disposable absorbent articles, the package bearing indicia indicating that the articles therein are adapted to be worn by females, and a package of second disposable absorbent articles, the package bearing indicia indicating that the articles therein are adapted to be worn by males. The first disposable absorbent articles differ from the corresponding second disposable absorbent articles in any of a variety of aspects to customize the products for each gender. In certain embodiments, the array includes one product adapted for use by one gender, and a unisex product adapted for use by either gender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Shannon Kathleen Melius, Amanda Jean Simon, Marie Elizabeth Luna, James R. Schermerhorn, Marcille Faye Ruman, Wayne David Beyer, Todd William Wilkes, Katherine C. Wheeler, Patsy A. Krautkramer
  • Patent number: 7704243
    Abstract: A leg wrap structure is provided in a disposable absorbent garment such as a diaper or training pants. The leg wrap structure has a base layer, a top layer, and an elastic construction disposed therebetween. The elastic construction includes a plurality of spaced apart (e.g. generally equally spaced apart) elastic elements (e.g. strands or threads) that are aligned in a generally in generally parallel relation. Further, the top and base layers define a region of inelasticity. The leg wrap structure provides for the efficient formation of a reservoir and a plurality of fluid dams each capable of capturing a quantity of fluid to minimize the occurrence of fluid leaks from the absorbent article. Methods of forming such absorbent articles are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu Edward Chang, Anne Smid, Patrick King Yu Tsang, Ian Walker, Andrew Wright
  • Patent number: 7699827
    Abstract: A pant shaped garment having a rear portion, a front portion, and a crotch portion, a waist opening with a waist edge and two leg openings bordered by a leg edge having a front part located generally on the front portion and a rear part located generally on the rear portion and on the crotch portion. Front and rear portions are mutually connected in two side joins which run from the waist opening to each leg opening. An elongated elastic element is pre-stretched along the rear part of the leg edge of each leg opening. The front portion comprises an elastically extensible material and the elongated elastic element constricts the rear part of the leg edge, thereby stretching the elastic material along the front part of the leg edge. The side joins exhibit a curvature in a direction towards the rear portion that increases in a direction from the waist opening towards the leg opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Cecile Sandin, Katarina Eriksson, Sofia Hermansson, Catarina Linner
  • Publication number: 20100094239
    Abstract: A disposable pants-type diaper of the present invention comprises a diaper main body including a front portion, a back portion, and a crotch portion positioned therebetween, and having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings formed by joining the front portion and the back portion; an absorbent core disposed in the crotch portion; a first elastic means disposed along an upper part of an edge of the both leg openings; and a second elastic means disposed in a middle part in a front-back direction of the crotch portion, extending in a diaper width direction to near the edge of the both leg openings, and having straight side edge portions. According to the disposable pants-type diaper of the above, a foot is hardly caught by the edge of the leg opening in wearing, resulting in easily wearing; and a fitting property of the crotch portion is excellent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Kenji NAKAOKA, Yuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7695463
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes two laterally opposing longitudinally extending barrier cuff strips attached to an absorbent assembly in laterally opposing attachment zones. Each barrier cuff strip includes an upper layer and a lower layer at least between its proximal edge and the attachment zones. A longitudinally extending elastic gathering member is attached to each barrier cuff strip adjacent to its proximal edge. When the article is worn, the elastic gathering members contract and raise the barrier cuff strips to form side barriers. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that may contain superabsorbent particles, which may be contained inside pockets. A portion of the absorbent assembly such as the portion that lies between the barrier cuff strip attachment zones may be extensible and may include a water-impermeable layer. The laterally opposing attachment zones may act as dams preventing a lateral flow of liquid bodily waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Kevin Michael Smith
  • Patent number: 7686794
    Abstract: A feminine hygiene device offers full protection from heavy menstrual flow by securely covering the inner thigh, buttocks and pelvic area against menstrual leakage. The hygiene device is in the nature of a pair of shorts having vertical elastic seams on each side to hold the device snug on the wearer's pelvic region and legs. Elastic elements on the bottom of each leg of the short secure against downward leakage. The short is made of a liquid impervious cloth having an absorbent cotton blend layer and an outer plastic layer. Additional absorbent padding is incorporated in the short to provide normal coverage in the vaginal region. An elastic waist element aides in supporting the device on the wearer. The cloth may be vapor permeable and the side vertical seams air permeable for cooling effects. A diaper may be readily fashioned of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventor: Diane M. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20100069873
    Abstract: Absorbent article, in particular a diaper or an incontinence product, includes an absorbent structure (1) including a back-sheet (20), a top-sheet (22) and an absorbent core (24) there between. The absorbent structure (1) has a front portion (10) defining a front lateral edge (16), a rear portion (14) defining a rear lateral edge (18) and a crotch portion (12) situated between the front portion and the rear portion. A pair of belt sections (30, 32) is present for fastening the absorbent article to the waist of a wearer, the belt sections being fixedly attached to the rear portion of the absorbent structure. The absorbent article has a maximum lateral extension B between the respective lateral-most edges (302, 322) of the belt sections that is governed by the following expression: 0.3<A/B<0.7 where A is the maximum lateral extension of the front lateral edge of the absorbent structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Camilla Elfsberg, Pontus Winqvist, Kent Hermansson
  • Publication number: 20100057032
    Abstract: A diaper wherein at least one of the waist band, side panels, leg cuffs and fastening system landing zone includes a textile material of stitch bonded construction. The textile material includes selectively applied zones of stitches formed from elastomeric yarns with adjacent zones having stitches formed from inelastic yarns. The textile material provides stretch of a desired degree in the cross-machine direction while maintaining substantial dimensional stability in the machine direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Michelis Hardegree
  • Publication number: 20100057036
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article comprises a first crotch elastic member adjacent a first crotch edge and a second crotch elastic member adjacent a second crotch edge, each crotch elastic member extending generally in a longitudinal direction, each crotch elastic member having a front terminal point and a rear terminal point. In one embodiment, at least one of the terminal points of the first crotch elastic member is positioned transversely inward from a remaining portion of the first crotch elastic member, and at least one of the terminal points of the second crotch elastic member is positioned transversely inward from a remaining portion of the second crotch elastic member. In another embodiment, front end portions of the first and second crotch elastic members or rear end portions of the first and second crotch elastic members converge transversely inward toward each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Donald Sperl, Seth Newlin, Michael J. Faulks, Gregory John Jansen
  • Patent number: 7670325
    Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided, including an absorber, a top sheet disposed to cover an upper surface of the absorber and at least partially formed of a liquid permeable material, and a back sheet disposed to cover a lower surface of the absorber and formed of a liquid impermeable material. The disposable diaper further includes a skin contact sheet disposed above the top sheet and formed with a stool passing opening, which is an opening capable of passing a stool therethrough, and to the both sides of the skin contact sheet, at least a pair of standing gathers are formed, which are leakage prevention walls capable of standing three-dimensionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignees: Oji Nepia Co., Ltd., Oji Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sugiyama, Izumi Tashiro, Kahori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7670324
    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 and having longitudinally disposed regions of liquid permeability and liquid impermeability on the same surface. The replaceable absorbent core component may be removed and a like component may be substituted 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Theodora Beck, Gerald Alfred Young, Stephen Lebeuf Hardie, Thomas Henrich, Edward John Milbrada
  • Patent number: 7666176
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the improved prevention of leakage of body exudates from a disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper, by providing a pair of standing leg cuffs on both sides of the absorbent core of the article. The cuffs are preferably ribbon cuffs attached to the diaper or fashioned from the top sheet of the diaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: First Quality Retail Services, LLC
    Inventors: Edward P. Erdman, Mariela Muniz
  • Patent number: 7658732
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in structure of disposable garments. The disposable garments of the invention may include an outer layer and an elastic inner layer. The elastic inner layer has an elastic inner layer perimeter and defines an opening, which may be in the form of a slit or aperture, located in an internal position to the elastic inner layer perimeter. The elastic inner layer perimeter may be bonded to the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Publication number: 20100022983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a pant-type disposable absorbent hygiene article (2), comprising a waist edge (20), sealed all around the periphery thereof, forming a waist opening and with leg openings (8), wherein longitudinal side edge sections (16), 18) of a front piece (6) and a back piece (4) are joined together by the manufacturer to form the waist edge (20), sealed all around the periphery thereof and the leg openings (8), and having an absorbent body (22) and elasticizing means (38) at least in the region of the leg openings (8). The aim of the invention is to improve the wearing comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Manuela Bittner, Sascha Jovanov, Fridmann Hornung
  • Patent number: 7641641
    Abstract: A product line of absorbent articles includes a first absorbent article with a first elective component secured to the first absorbent article in a first configuration of the component. The first elective component is selectively configurable to a second configuration different from the first configuration of the component. A second absorbent article of the product line has a second elective component that is selectively configurable from a first configuration of the second elective component to a second configuration different from the first configuration of the second elective component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Dana L. Ramshak
  • Publication number: 20090299319
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes a sheet member, an absorbent core, at least one front leg elastic member, and at least one rear leg elastic member. The leg elastic members intersect at left and right intersections located in a crotch region of the sheet member. The left and right intersections are placed at any position on the outer side in the lateral direction relative to the vicinity of left and right side edges of the absorbent core in the crotch region. The front leg elastic member has left and right front leg contraction-reduced sections located on the outer side in the lateral direction relative to the left and right intersections. The left and right front leg contraction-reduced sections have reduced contractile forces by cutting up. The rear leg elastic member has left and right front leg contraction-reduced sections located on the outer side in the lateral direction relative to the left and right intersections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Masaru Fujioka
  • Patent number: 7618404
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes two laterally opposing longitudinally extending backsheet strips attached to an exterior surface of an absorbent assembly in laterally opposing attachment zones. Each backsheet strip may include a water-impermeable layer and may be extensible. The absorbent assembly includes a lower covering sheet that is doubled by folding and thereby includes a first layer and a second layer. The absorbent assembly also includes laterally opposing side flaps which are formed by folding doubled portions of the lower covering sheet laterally inward. A longitudinally extending elastic gathering member is attached to each side flap adjacent to its proximal edge. When the article is worn, the elastic gathering members contract and raise the side flaps to form side barriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Kevin Michael Smith
  • Publication number: 20090275909
    Abstract: A high-density region-containing sheet having a high-density region and a low-density region, a sheet member produced by joining the high-density region of the high-density region-containing sheet to an elastic member, and a disposable diaper using the sheet member as its chassis are provided. A sheet in a soft state by imparting preheat is pressed between a pair of opposed shaping rolls and having a toothed region and rotatable. Thus, a high-density region-containing sheet where high-density regions and low-density regions are formed is produced. Such two high-density region-containing sheets are joined through an extended elastic member to form a projection/recess pattern. In such a way, a high-density region-containing sheet can be produced. A sheet member in which at least one of two sheets is a high-density region-containing sheet, the high-density regions are joined through an extended elastic member, and a projection/recess pattern can be formed when the elastic member is contracted is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoru Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 7608069
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a leg elastic member captured between a biaxially extensible outer cover and a biaxially extensible bodyside liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Georgia Lynn Zehner, Duane Girard Uitenbroek, John Philip Vukos
  • Patent number: 7591811
    Abstract: A diaper with legs is a lower torso garment worn by a user to retain excreted waste matter. The diaper may have fasteners to close the waist and legs, or may be of the pull-on type. The diaper includes a flat sheet wrapped around the torso with legs extending from the sides of the sheet. A front waist arch and a rear waist arch are disposed at an upper portion of the edges of the sheet. The arches extend the height of the diaper in front and back. An elastic material is disposed at the waist arches, at the junction between the legs and the central portion of the diaper, and at the end of the legs. The elastic material disposed at the end of the legs and at the junction between the legs and the central portion provides double leak protection at the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventor: Lisa Diane Crislip Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20090216209
    Abstract: A double gusset cloth diaper including an inner surface and an outer surface forming an hourglass shape, having a groin area proximate a center line of the reusable diaper and defining at least one recess therebetween. A fluid absorbent material is removably located in the recess through the opening. A first gusset is attached to the reusable diaper to form a first seal between the inner surface and the legs of the user. A second gusset is attached to the reusable diaper proximate the first gusset. The gussets are formed of an elastic material attached to the wrong side of the inner surface in a channel formed by stitching the inner surface to form channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: KANGA CARE, LLC
    Inventor: Julie Ekstrom
  • Patent number: 7572250
    Abstract: An absorbent product has a fluid permeable top sheet, a fluid impermeable backing sheet, and an absorbent core having an upper side, a bottom side, two longitudinally running sides and two laterally running sides. The product further has two longitudinally running barrier flaps at the longitudinally running sides of the absorbent core. The top sheet covers the upper side of the absorbent core. The top sheet, with the upper side of the absorbent core, also covers the longitudinally running sides of the absorbent core and part of the bottom side of the absorbent core, the top sheet extending between at least a portion of the bottom side of the absorbent core and the backing sheet. The top sheet is connected to the backing sheet at the bottom side of the absorbent core. The barrier flaps are connected to the backing sheet at the longitudinally running sides of the absorbent core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Urban Widlund, Eva Simmons, Anders Gustafsson
  • Publication number: 20090198205
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent incontinence diaper (2) has a main part (4), comprising a front area (6) with front lateral longitudinal edges (42), a rear area (8) with rear lateral longitudinal edges (41) and a crotch area (10) which is disposed therebetween in the longitudinal direction (28) and comes to rest between the legs of a user, wherein the main part (4) comprises an absorbent core (12), and with rear side sections (20) joined on both sides to the rear area (8) and front side sections (22) joined on both sides to the front area (6), which extend in the transverse direction (30) past the lateral front and rear longitudinal edges (42, 41) of the main part (4) and connect the front area (6) and the rear area (8) when the disposable incontinence diaper has been applied, wherein, at least on the side facing the crotch area (10), the front and rear side sections (20, 22) are designed in such a fashion that they extend at an inclination with respect to the longitudinal direction (28) or are curved for forming leg
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Paul Hartmann AG
    Inventors: Krzysztof D. Malowaniec, Wolfgang Ostertag
  • Publication number: 20090187157
    Abstract: The invention concerns an incontinence article (2) in the form of pants, for receiving body excrements, comprising a front belly section (4) and a rear back section (6) which are connected to each other at side seam areas (14) on both sides during production to form a belly and back band, which is continuous in the transverse or peripheral hip direction and has a hip opening (18) which is closed in the peripheral hip direction, and a crotch section (8) comprising an absorbent body (7), which extends in a longitudinal direction (9) between the belly section (4) and the back section (6) and is permanently attached to the belly section (4) and the back section (6), wherein the crotch section (8) as well as the belly section (4) and the back section (6) define leg openings (19) of the incontinence article, and the belly section (4) and the back section (6) have an edge contour (32, 34) for this purpose, which extends in the direction towards a transverse center axis (30) of the crotch section (8) and differs from
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Fridmann Hornung, Benjamin Wenzel, Wolfgang Ostertag
  • Publication number: 20090187156
    Abstract: A diaper comprising adjustable leg openings, which inhibit leakage through the leg openings. The diaper may be a pull-on type diaper or a sheet structure comprising a front waist portion and rear waist portion that attach to each other in a manner that allows the sheet structure to form a pair of leg openings and a waist opening. The diaper may comprise an elastic structure adjacent to or abutting the leg openings and the waist opening. In any variation of the diaper the periphery of the leg openings are adjustable. Furthermore, the diaper may include strips that seal the leg openings to a thigh of a person wearing the diaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Melanie K. Anzalone
  • Publication number: 20090182298
    Abstract: Front and rear waist regions of a diaper having a waist-hole of which a peripheral edge is elastically stretchable in a circumferential direction respectively include covering zones and elastic zones adapted to be stretchable beyond lengths of the covering zones in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kumasaka
  • Publication number: 20090149828
    Abstract: An absorbent article can utilize a chassis design comprising a unitary inner layer and an expandable absorbent assembly attached to the inner layer, with the inner layer including elasticized portions so that the absorbent article conforms to the body of a person wearing the article. The expandable absorbent assembly can be minimally attached to the garment side of the inner layer and, in some embodiments at an aperture or opening in the inner layer that allows exudates to pass into the absorbent assembly. The article can further comprise an extensible outer layer attached to the garment side of the inner layer so that the outer layer covers the absorbent assembly and elastics, with the outer layer attached at the perimeter of at least portions of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Lu Ann Beckman, Paul VanGompel
  • Publication number: 20090143757
    Abstract: The invention concerns an incontinence article (2) in the form of pants, for receiving body excrements, comprising a front belly section (4) and a rear back section (6) which are connected to each other at side seam areas (14) on both sides during production to form a belly and back band, which is continuous in the transverse or peripheral hip direction and has a hip opening (18) which is closed in the peripheral hip direction, and a crotch section (8) comprising an absorbent body (7), which extends in a longitudinal direction (9) between the belly section (4) and the back section (6) and is permanently attached to the belly section (4) and the back section (6), wherein the crotch section (8) as well as the belly section (4) and the back section (6) define leg openings (19) of the incontinence article, and the belly section (4) and the back section (6) have an edge contour (32, 34) for this purpose, which extends in the direction towards a transverse center axis (30) of the crotch section (8) and differs from
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Fridmann Hornung, Benjamin Wenzel, Wolfgang Ostertag
  • Patent number: 7527615
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonwoven web comprising a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions comprised of the same material and being visually distinct from each other, wherein the first regions will exhibit resistive forces in response to an applied elongation along at least one axis before a substantial portion of the second regions develop significant resistive forces to the applied elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, David Joseph Kenneth Goulait, Sheila Snyder Rodriguez, Edward Paul Carlin, Kimberly Ann Dreier, Carolyn Mae Jasper, Dean Jeffrey Daniels
  • Publication number: 20090088718
    Abstract: A disposable diaper (1) has a waist opening portion and a pair of leg opening portions and contains an absorbent body including a topsheet and an absorbent core. The absorbent core (4) is composed of a central absorbent member (41) and a pair of side absorbent members (42) disposed on both sides of the central absorbent member (41). The central absorbent member (41) is discrete from the side absorbent members (42) in at least the crotch portion (C). Each side absorbent member has a raising elastic member which is provided near its outboard edge along the longitudinal direction, so that the side absorbent member (42) rises while worm. The diaper is configured to exert a higher wearing pressure in its regions (91) that are to be applied to a wearer's body part between the iliac crests and the anterior superior iliac spines than in its waist opening portion while worn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Haruko Toyoshima, Jun Sasaki, Michiko Otsuka, Mina Tomita
  • Patent number: 7511186
    Abstract: An absorbent article such as a disposable diaper is provided with an indicator adapted to become visible as soon as bodily fluid is discharged. The indicator includes a composite nonwoven fabric composed of a hydrophilic melt blown nonwoven fabric layer and a hydrophilic spun bond nonwoven fabric layer on which a display element is depicted and laminated on one surface of the hydrophilic melt blown nonwoven fabric layer. A first surface of the composite nonwoven fabric facing an absorbent core of the diaper is held together with the display element and a second surface of the composite nonwoven fabric facing a backsheet of the diaper is held in close contact with the inner surface of the backsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kyo Kikuchi, Yoshitaka Mishima
  • Publication number: 20090048573
    Abstract: A disposable undergarment includes a front body panel having a pair of opposite first side edges, a first waist edge and a first crotch edge spaced from said first waist edge. A rear body panel has a pair of opposite second side edges, a second waist edge and a second crotch edge spaced from said second waist edge. The crotch edges of each of the front and rear body panel webs includes at least one peak and at least one valley. Each of the front and rear body panels have a minimum rise defined between the valley of each of the respective front and rear body panels and the first and second waist edges respectively. The valleys defining the minimum rises form at least in part leg opening portions of the front and rear body panels. The crotch edges of the front and rear body panels are spaced apart and form a gap therebetween in a non-overlapping relationship. A crotch member bridges the gap and has opposite end portions connected to the front and rear body panels respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Russell E. Thorson, Jacqueline A. Gross
  • Publication number: 20090043272
    Abstract: A method for projecting leakage performance for an absorbent article includes applying a liquid insult to a first sample article on a testing apparatus and recording leakage, applying a liquid Insult to a second sample article on the testing apparatus and recording leakage, and calculating a projected frequency of actual leakage for the absorbent article according to a linear regression formula. A method of designing an absorbent article includes determining a maximum acceptable frequency of overnight leakage for the article, calculating a target Static Retention Index, testing the absorbent article to determine an average mannequin leakage value, and modifying the absorbent article structure to adjust the average test mannequin leakage value until the average test mannequin leakage value is substantially equal to the target Static Retention Index. A training pant includes a core having a Static Retention Index of less than about 1.4 g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: TYCO HEALTHCARE RETAIL SERVICES AG
    Inventors: DANE JACKSON, MARIELA MUNIZ
  • Publication number: 20090005751
    Abstract: To prevent a paper diaper reliably from slipping down at a body liquid absorbing time, and to bring the paper diaper into close contact along the line of a body thereby to improve the wearing comfortableness. An armoring sheet includes: waist portion elastic members, and so on; hip surrounding elastic member groups, and so on arranged at the front F and the back B; and a plurality of curved elastic member groups extending, at each of the front F and the back B, from one side jointing edge to the crotch side, reaching the other side jointing edge while bypassing the crotch side, and arranged at a spacing without intersecting with each other. The curved elastic member groups have their starting/trailing ends connected at a predetermined spacing substantially over the range from the upper portion to the lower portion of the side portion jointing edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Atsuko Shirai, Akira Kamori, Masamichi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20080300567
    Abstract: A disposable garment includes a nonwoven backsheet formed by melt-blowing. The melt-blown nonwoven web has a basis weight of from about 3 g/m2 to about 60 g/m2 and an air permeability value of at least about 15 cm3/cm2/sec. The melt-blowing web is made by fine fibers having an average fiber diameter of from about 3 ?m to about 10 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ohnishi, Hiroyuki Ohgata
  • Publication number: 20080287899
    Abstract: Disposable protective undergarments and methods for manufacturing the same, wherein the undergarments include a front portion and a back portion longitudinally spaced from one another, each of the front and back portions having a waist area, a leg area longitudinally spaced from the waist area and a belly area positioned between the waist area and the leg area are provided, in which the belly area includes an ultrasonically bonded, stretchable film. A crotch insert bridges a gap between the front and back portions. Alternatively, protective undergarments including ultrasonic bonds fixing the crotch insert to the front portion and the back portion is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Linda Morrell-Schwartz, Loida Guzman Reyes
  • Patent number: 7449014
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article is provided with leg elastic elements. The leg elastic elements include first leg elastic elements extending from transversely opposite margins of a front waist region to a front half of a crotch region and second leg elastic elements extending from transversely opposite margins of a rear waist region toward a rear half of the crotch region across a rear half of the crotch region. The first elastic elements extend generally in a transverse direction while the second elastic elements extend in a direction orthogonal to a transverse center line in such a manner that these elastic elements get nearer to a longitudinal center line as these elastic element extend from the rear waist region toward the crotch region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Oba, Takanori Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7449015
    Abstract: A pants-type disposable wearing article includes leg-circumferential first elastic members attached to crotch region's lateral margins of an outer sheet and waist-circumferential second elastic members attached to waist regions' upper margins of the outer sheet. The elastic members are joined to the sheet while the sheet and the second elastic members are stretched at given extension ratios, respectively, in a transverse direction and the first elastic members is stretched at a given extension ratio in the leg-circumferential direction so that the sheet and the first elastic members may have substantially the same leg-circumferential dimensions after these sheet and first elastic members have been relaxed and the sheet and the second elastic members may have substantially the same transverse dimensions after these sheet and second elastic members have been relaxed. In addition, the waist regions' upper margins and the crotch region's lateral margins are substantially planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Shunsuke Takino
  • Patent number: 7442188
    Abstract: An elongate elastic member is secured to a substrate to form an elastic composite. The elastic member extends along an elastic axis between a first location on the substrate and a second location on the substrate spaced longitudinally from the first location. At least a portion of the elastic axis is generally non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the substrate. The elastic member crosses its elastic axis at least twice as it extends along the elastic axis, with the elastic member crossing itself at least once as it extends along the elastic axis. In another embodiment, the elastic member generally forms a wave pattern which defines a width of the securement path and has at least two different periods along the securement path. In yet another embodiment, the elastic member defines a continuous series of loops wherein each loop defines a closed portion having a generally tear-drop shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent A. Franklin, Valerie V. Finch, Robin K. Nason
  • Patent number: 7438707
    Abstract: An absorbent article constructed to isolate skin from absorbed moisture and promote ventilation. The article, which has particular application in the form of an absorbent garment worn to capture body wastes, has an absorbent body and liquid impermeable outer cover which stretch under the weight of the loaded absorbent body. A bodyside liner between the absorbent body and the skin of the wearer stretches, but to a lesser extent than the absorbent body and the outer cover. Accordingly, a gap between the bodyside liner and the absorbent body is created. The gap removes the moisture ladened absorbent body from the skin and forms a gap which helps air and vapor to circulate around the skin, promoting dryness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc
    Inventors: Lisa Bushman, Kay L. Konieczny, Brenda M. Nelson, Lisa L. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20080255532
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, an absorbent core disposed in between, and multiple barrier leg cuffs. The multiple barrier leg cuffs have at least one elasticized cuff and at least one non-elasticized cuff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ARQUEST, INC.
    Inventor: Charles F. Schroer
  • Patent number: 7435243
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article having a barrier leg cuff and an elasticized outer leg cuff is disclosed. The disposable absorbent article comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed therebetween, an elasticized outer leg cuff, and a barrier leg cuff. The elasticized outer leg cuff is disposed adjacent to a longitudinal side edge of the absorbent article. The elasticized outer leg cuff has a base and a gasket cuff supported by the base at a joint of the base to the gasket cuff. The gasket cuff is provided with elasticity and has an inner cuff extending laterally inwardly from the joint and an outer cuff extending laterally outwardly from the joint. The barrier leg cuff is disposed inboard of the gasketing cuff and forms a pocket by a combination of the inner cuff, the base and the barrier leg cuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Company
    Inventor: Kouichi Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20080249491
    Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a diaper, containing cuffs with a skin care composition disposed thereon. In one embodiment the cuff is a nonwoven leg cuff comprising spunbonded nonwoven material and characterized by the lack of a meltblown component, the nonwoven material having a basis weight of about 17 gsm and a hydrostatic head of at least about 95 mm. The spunbonded material comprises metallocene polypropylene fibers having a denier of less than about 1.3. In another embodiment, small amounts of meltblown fibers, for example, up to about 10% by weight, can be added to the metallocene polypropylene spunbonded material to increase production rates of the nonwoven material, without an unacceptable decrease in skin health benefits. The skin care composition disposed on the cuffs is transferable to the wearer's skin by normal contact and/or wearer motion and/or body heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Terrill A. Young, Susan L. Wilking, Thomas Edward Schulte, Laura Graves VanRijswijck Kiely, Donald C. Roe
  • Publication number: 20080195070
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to diapers having a specific elasticated anal/genital cuff, also referred to as elasticated topsheet, and having a fully stretched length of less than 465 mm, suitable for babies of typically up to 9 kg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ekaterina Anatolyevna Ponomarenko, Maja Wciorka, Cornelia Beate Martynus, Tina Brown
  • Publication number: 20080195075
    Abstract: A size adjustable washable nappy (1,201) having a crotch portion which extends between the legs of a wearer and a waistband portion which wraps around the wearer's waist. The nappy (1,201) comprises two side panels (3,5) and a central panel (7) each forming part of the waistband portion and part of the crotch portion. The side panels (3,5) are each provided with releasable attachment means for selective attachment to the other side panel or to the central panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Rosanna Ruocco