And Waist Opening Patents (Class 604/385.29)
  • Publication number: 20120116343
    Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided with an outer body including a belly side portion and a back side portion, and an inner body. The belly side portion and back side portion of the outer body each has a plurality of waist elastic members extending in parallel to each other in the transverse direction. The outer body has an annular waist gather region, a belly side pressing region, a back side pressing region, and an annular tightening region. The area of the back side pressing region is smaller than the area of the belly side pressing region, and the contractile force of the back side pressing region is smaller than the contractile force of the belly side pressing region, and is no greater than 0.35N, and the contractile force per unit width of the tightening region is no less than 0.45N/25 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiyasu YOSHIOKA, Yoshio ONO, Shunsuke MASAKI
  • Patent number: 8128609
    Abstract: An absorbent article is provided that includes a top sheet and a back sheet joined to form side seam regions. An absorbent core is disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet; and laterally oriented elastics are disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet. The elastics include a first elastic region disposed adjacent to the front end and a second elastic region disposed adjacent the first elastic region. The second elastic region includes one or more elastic elements that extend between the side seam regions. The elastic elements have internal cuts adjacent the side seams in a configuration that relieves elastic tension adjacent the side seams regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: First Quality Retail Services, LLC
    Inventors: Edward P Erdman, Nicole DiVittore
  • Patent number: 8123734
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Christian Almberg
  • Patent number: 8114059
    Abstract: An absorbent article is provided having opposite longitudinal sides and opposite lateral ends therebetween. The absorbent article comprises a topsheet, backsheet, and an absorbent core comprising about 60 percent superabsorbent polymer material between the topsheet and backsheet. The article has front and back waist regions, and a crotch region therebetween. A barrier cuff strip extends longitudinally from front to back waist regions along the topsheet and includes front and back ends and proximal and distal edges connecting the front and back ends. The distal edge is attached at a cuff end bond region having an outer bond edge and an inner bond edge spaced longitudinally from the outer bond edge. A longitudinal distance from the inner bond edge to the laterally extending side at the one of the front and back waist regions is about ½ or more of a longitudinal length of the front or back waist regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bruno Johannes Ehrnsperger, Andrew James Sauer, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 8105305
    Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article having a composite sheet with a plurality of gathers on an inner surface facing a wearer's body, which fits and adheres comfortably to the wearer's skin. The composite sheet is provided which includes a stretchable non-woven fabric which expands and contracts in at least one direction, a non-stretchable non-woven fabric, a junction which binds intermittently the stretchable non-woven fabric to the non-stretchable non-woven fabric in the stretching direction, and a plurality of gathers which is formed by loosening a unbounded area of the non-stretchable non-woven fabric in a contracted state, and is arranged along a direction intersecting the stretching direction, in which an apex of each gather does not reach the neighboring gather when the gathers lean to one side of the stretchable direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Tsuji, Hirotomo Mukai, Kenichi Sasayama, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Kei Wakasugi
  • Publication number: 20120022489
    Abstract: A diaper includes a chassis, a liquid-absorbent structure and containment cuffs. An inner sheet in the chassis includes a plurality of ridges and grooves extending in a longitudinal direction Y. Between a rear end of the liquid-absorbent structure and rear waist elastics, a spacing zone is defined. Cuff elastics are attached in a contractible manner to cuffs' inner side edges wherein opposite ends of the cuff elastics are spaced from cuffs' front and rear ends, respectively. Upon contraction of the cuff elastics, the cuffs' inner side edges is pulled inward in the longitudinal direction Y and folded about the inner ends of the respective inner bond zones toward the wearer's body so as to form a folded crest. Formation of the folded crest makes a portion of the inner sheet closer to its rear end than the folded crest to form a folded trough on the garment-facing side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kei Wakasugi, Toshiya Yago, Yasuhiro Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8100877
    Abstract: An absorbent article including a chassis having a front body and a back body with a waist opening and leg openings, and an absorbent body of higher stiffness than that of the chassis. The front body and the back body consist of a composite sheet stretchable in the width direction WD. A line DL and a line CL2? form an angle in the range of 0 to 50 degrees. DL is a line connecting a bottom-most point PI on the connection between the front body and back body edge portions, and point P2 where the back body meets a crotch portion. CL2? is a line in the transverse direction of the article which passes through the end point P2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Tsuji, Hirotomo Mukai
  • Publication number: 20120016334
    Abstract: A disposable diaper using elastic sheet materials so that a contact surface pressure may be locally enhanced and thereby the diaper may be prevented from being noticeably displaced on the wearer's body during used thereof is provided. Of first and second waist regions at least the first waist region is contractible. The first waist region includes waist auxiliary elastic sheets extending in a direction of a transverse axis between opposite side edges of the first waist region and leg auxiliary elastic sheets extending along front peripheral edges of leg-openings. The waist auxiliary elastic sheets and the leg auxiliary elastic sheets overlap one another in areas of the opposite side edges of the first waist region adjacent to the leg-openings respectively. With the diaper put on the wearer's body, these areas come in contact with upper lateral regions of the wearer's iliac bones inclusive of the vicinity thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaiyo Nakajima, Toshimitsu Baba, Ryuichi Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 8066686
    Abstract: A fastener (10) comprising an attachment section (30) for permanent attachment to an anchoring area, a target section (60) for permanent attachment to a landing area, and a fastening section (40) for selective attachment and detachment from the target section (60). A breakable connection (70) initially connects the fastening section (40) and the target section (60), and this connection (70) is broken to disconnect the fastening section (40) from the target section (60) when fastener (10) is converted from a closed condition to an opened condition. A single fingerlift (80) can be gripped both when converting the fastener (10) from an installed condition to the closed condition, and when converting the fastener (10) from the closed condition to the opened condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Michel Coomans
  • Patent number: 8066684
    Abstract: This invention provides disposable pants usable as both pants and a diaper, which ensure excellent stretchability to facilitate raising/lowering when putting them on, and the like. The disposable pants have functions of both pants and a diaper, and a left front abdominal part and a right front abdominal part can be expanded to the left and right by breaking left and right breaking parts. The left front abdominal part and right front abdominal part are provided with adhesive pieces attached/detached to/from an adhesive part of a central front abdominal part. The ratio between a lateral dimension of the front abdominal section in a stretched state and a lateral dimension between positions to which the left and right adhesive pieces are bonded, respectively, is set to fall within a range of 0.05?X2/X1?0.55, which ensures stretchability of the front abdominal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Fujioka
  • Patent number: 8057456
    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 passing over 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: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Daio Paper Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuko Shirai, Akira Kamori, Masamichi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8052665
    Abstract: A pant type absorbent article such as a pant diaper, a sanitary pant or incontinence pant, the article having a core region including an absorbent core and a chassis region surrounding the core region. The article at least in part of the chassis region has an outer coversheet in the form of an elastic laminate having a Softness (S) according to Kawabata of at least 20. The laminate includes first and second layers of fibrous material and an elastic film layer located between the first and second fibrous layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Jan Wastlund-Karlsson, Margareta Wennerback
  • Patent number: 8038662
    Abstract: An incontinence article comprising front and back belly sections connected at side seams forming belly and back bands, continuous in the hip direction having a hip opening closed in the hip direction, and a crotch section comprising an absorbent body, extending longitudinally between and permanently attached to the bolly and back sections, wherein the crotch, belly, and back sections define leg openings, the belly and back sections have an edge contour extending towards a transverse center axis, wherein first elastification means in the belly and back sections extend parallel to each other in the hip direction and wherein, in the belly and back sections, second elastification means extend from two side seam areas towards a longitudinal center axis of the article in a curved shape, thereby fanning out with increasing separation from each other, where the second elastification means fan out, the restoring force from extensive stretching of this area is smaller than that from extensive stretching of an area on t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fridmann Hornung, Benjamin Wenzel, Wolfgang Ostertag
  • Patent number: 8029488
    Abstract: A disposable pull-on diaper having a wearer-facing surface and a garment-facing surface; a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline; a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the front and back waist regions. The front waist region and back waist region of the pull-on diaper interconnect to form a waist opening and leg openings. The pull-on diaper includes an absorbent assembly and an elastic belt. The absorbent assembly includes a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. The elastic belt may exhibit less than about 80% of the maximum force after 15 seconds as measured by the Percent Release Test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Eiro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8025652
    Abstract: An incontinence article comprising front and back belly sections connected at side seams forming belly and back bands, continuous in the hip direction having a hip opening closed in the hip direction, and a crotch section comprising an absorbent body, extending longitudinally between and permanently attached to the belly and back sections, wherein the crotch, belly, and back sections define leg openings, the belly and back sections have an edge contour extending towards a transverse center axis, wherein first elastification means in the belly and back sections extend parallel to each other in the hip direction and wherein, in the belly and back sections, second elastification means extend from two side seam areas towards a longitudinal center axis of the article in a curved shape, thereby fanning out with increasing separation from each other, where the second elastification means fan out, the restoring force from extensive stretching of this area is smaller than that from extensive stretching of an area on t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fridmann Hornung, Benjamin Wenzel, Wolfgang Ostertag
  • Patent number: 8016806
    Abstract: An incontinence article comprising front and back belly sections connected at side seams forming belly and back bands, continuous in the hip direction having a hip opening closed in the hip direction, and a crotch section comprising an absorbent body, extending longitudinally between and permanently attached to the belly and back sections, wherein the crotch, belly, and back sections define leg openings, the belly and back sections have an edge contour extending towards a transverse center axis, wherein first elastification means in the belly and back sections extend parallel to each other in the hip direction and wherein, in the belly and back sections, second elastification means extend from two side seam areas towards a longitudinal center axis of the article in a curved shape, thereby fanning out with increasing separation from each other, where the second elastification means fan out, the restoring force from extensive stretching of this area is smaller than that from extensive stretching of an area on t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fridmann Hornung, Wolfgang Ostertag, Benjamin Wenzel
  • Patent number: 8016805
    Abstract: A pull-on disposable diaper 1 has, between a waist opening 5 and leg openings 6, a region 71 having a width of 15 to 35 mm in each of a front section A and a rear section B. The region 71, while worn by a wearer, applies a pressure of 1.1 to 2.5 kPa to the wearer's body. With the diaper 1 opened and stretched out, the distance from the longitudinal centerline of the diaper to the widthwise middle of the region 71 in the front section A is 180 to 220 mm, and the distance from the longitudinal centerline of the diaper to the widthwise middle of the region 71 in the rear section B is 180 to 220 mm. A waist portion around the waist opening 5, while worn by a wearer, applies a pressure of 0.3 to 1.5 kPa to the wearer's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: KAO Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Sasaki, Taeko Kanai, Michiko Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7993320
    Abstract: An incontinence article comprising front and back belly sections connected at side seams forming belly and back bands, continuous in the hip direction having a hip opening closed in the hip direction, and a crotch section comprising an absorbent body, extending longitudinally between and permanently attached to the belly and back sections, wherein the crotch, belly, and back sections define leg openings, the belly and back sections have an edge contour extending towards a transverse center axis, wherein first elastification means in the belly and back sections extend parallel to each other in the hip direction and wherein, in the belly and back sections, second elastification means extend from two side seam areas towards a longitudinal center axis of the article in a curved shape, thereby fanning out with increasing separation from each other, where the second elastification means fan out, the restoring force from extensive stretching of this area is smaller than that from extensive stretching of an area on t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fridmann Hornung, Benjamin Wenzel, Wolfgang Ostertag
  • Patent number: 7981100
    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 are cut so as to have reduced contractile forces. 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: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Masaru Fujioka
  • Publication number: 20110172628
    Abstract: An elasticized structure suitable for use as a legband or waistband in a wearable article. The elasticized structure includes an inelastic sheath and an elastic component bonded at least three points. The bond points are selected to influence aesthetics, force distribution, and gathering of the inelastic sheath about the elastic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Elaine Mary Wiggins
  • Publication number: 20110172629
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article worn about the lower torso of a wearer includes at least one pair of side panels connecting a first waist region to a second waist region forming a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. Each side panel includes a waist region, a hip region and a leg region wherein the waist region, the hip region and the leg region differs structurally, functionally and visually to provide an improved initial fit and sustained fit while exhibiting a garment-like appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Barry Robert Feist, Krista Beth Comstock, Lisa Jane Goodlander
  • Patent number: 7972319
    Abstract: A wearing article capable of suppressing the occurrence of a loss of materials and an increase of the cost of facilities and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. A wearing article includes a waist portion (3) formed in a ring shape capable of continuously surrounding the waist of the wearer and using one of openings as a waist opening (9), and a crotch portion (4) joined to the waist portion (3) across an opening on the opposite side to the waist opening (9) so that the crotch portion (4) and the waist portion (3) define a pair of leg openings (10) for the wearer to put through his legs individually. Shirring is formed in the crotch portion (4) so as to shorten the distance between the mutually opposing inner surfaces of the waist portion (3) connected to each other by the crotch portion (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
    Inventors: Toyoshi Umebayashi, Shuhei Kurata
  • Publication number: 20110160692
    Abstract: A method to incorporate leg elastic members into pant-like disposable absorbent garments, and garments made thereby. In particular embodiments, the method includes supplying elastomeric film laminate first and second body panel webs spaced apart from each other. A continuous first leg elastic member is attached to the first body panel web, and a continuous second leg elastic member is attached to the second body panel web. A continuous leg elastic covering web is attached to both the first body panel web and the second body panel web so as to sandwich the first and second leg elastic members between the leg elastic covering web and the respective body panel web, thereby creating a composite web. In particular embodiments, the present invention can provide an efficient and process friendly technique to cover and hold in place leg elastic members in a pant-style disposable garment that employs elastomeric film laminates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Todd W. Wilkes, Lacey L. Poole, Joseph A. Mlinar, Marlene R. Dins, Russell E. Thorson, Brian K. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7963953
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes a main body, a sleeve-like member extending adjacent the waist edge of the front or rear portions, and an adjustable elastomeric waist belt having a central portion and a pair of opposite free ends each defining ear-like projections. The central portion of the elastomeric member can be disposed in a sleeve-like member with each ear-like projection extending out from opposite sides. The central portion can be attached to the sleeve-like member and/or the main body near a longitudinal axis of the main body or adjacent the waist edge of the main body. The ear-like projections can be attachable to each other or the main body to form the desired waist size of the wearer of the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: First Quality Retail Services, LLC
    Inventors: Edward P. Erdman, Michael J. Naughton, Stacy J. Driskell
  • Patent number: 7947029
    Abstract: An underpants type disposable diaper cover capable of firmly holding an absorbent pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Daio Paper Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuhiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20110092943
    Abstract: A method is presented for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article having multiple components including selecting a first material appropriate for use as an outer cover; producing a chassis including the outer cover, the outer cover including an outer cover central region having an outer cover central region appearance; selecting a second material appropriate for use as an elastic panel, wherein the second material is different from the first material; and producing a first elastic panel having a first elastic panel central region. The method also includes printing the first elastic panel central region with a first elastic panel printed graphic; and attaching the first elastic panel to the chassis, wherein the selecting and printing are performed such that the first elastic panel central region gives the appearance of being substantially similar to the outer cover central region appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: David Fleger Bishop, Patsy Ann Krautkramer, Julia Hartono, Katherine Carol Wheeler, Marcille Faye Ruman, Daniel Robert Schlinz, Kimberly Marie Downs, Tami Lynn Kurtz
  • Patent number: 7918840
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes an upper, liquid-permeable cover sheet, a lower, liquid-impermeable cover sheet, and an absorption body arranged between the cover sheets. The article includes first and second side barriers along the respective longitudinal sides of the article. Each side barrier has at least one longitudinal elastic element. The side barriers define a shape which narrows in the direction towards the front portion so that the distance, in the transverse direction of the article, between the elastic elements is greater in the rear portion than in the front portion. Each side barrier is arranged such that, when it is secured in contact with the front portion, each side barrier and the upper cover sheet define a folded structure of substantially Z-shaped cross section with a fold directed towards the inside of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Helena Corneliusson
  • Publication number: 20110071489
    Abstract: A pant-type wearing article configured so as to prevent a lateral zone of a front waist region and an associated lateral zone of a rear waist region which should remain fastened together from being needlessly disengaged from each other. In the pant-type wearing article an outer surface of a base sheet strip constituting a front fastener component is bonded to a fixed region defined on an inner surface of a front lateral zone. The front lateral zone includes a free region to which the base sheet strip is not bonded. The free region normally takes a posture folded back in a waistline direction so that an outer surface of the front lateral zone lies inside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Natsuko Aoyagi, Kayoko Tanaka, Yasuhiko Kenmochi
  • Publication number: 20110060306
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a pants type disposable diaper free from noticeable gathers formed on the innermost side of the crotch region. In the crotch region of the pants type disposable diaper, the bodily fluid-absorbent core is sandwiched between the liquid-permeable inner sheet and the liquid-impermeable outer sheet. Further inside the inner sheet, the innermost sheet is provided and this innermost sheet prevents the inner sheet from coming in contact with the wearer's skin. The innermost sheet is joined, in the regions extending in the vicinity of the ends thereof opposite in the front-back direction A, to at least one of the inner sheet and the outer sheet. The innermost sheet includes, in its region defined on the transverse center line P of the diaper, the tuck extending downward toward the inner sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Publication number: 20110046598
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an improved wearing article allowing the dimension of the leg-openings to be adequately large without causing leakage of urine. A chassis is formed in a crotch region with an opening extending through inner and outer sheets in the thickness direction. The opening extends across the crotch region in a longitudinal direction partially into front and rear waist regions and also extends through parts of respective waist region elastic sheets in the thickness direction. An absorbent panel functioning as a liquid-absorbent structure is attached to the skin-facing surface of the chassis to cover the opening. The liquid-absorbent panel is joined along both side edges thereof to the inner sheet and the waist region elastic sheets by bonding or sealing technique and along front and rear ends thereof to the waist region elastic sheets by bonding or sealing technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Publication number: 20110040277
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a three dimensional disposable panty, subassemblies of the panty, and an apparatus and methods for making the panty and subassemblies. The panty is designed to hold a primary absorbent sanitary pad. The panty may have elasticized leg and waist openings and be stretchable about the hip and stomach regions of a user. the panty provides backup protection to control egress of fluids that leak or seep around or through the primary sanitary pad. The panty includes a secondary absorbent positioned in the crotch area and extending into the body of the disposable panty, front and back, and preferably over the leg elastics to trap, inside the panty, leakage from the primary absorbent, and to prevent strike through onto e.g. outer clothing and bed linen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Rajala, Steven C. Gehling, Paul D. Suke
  • Patent number: 7887526
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Russell E. Thorson, Jacqueline A. Gross
  • Patent number: 7883498
    Abstract: Absorbent articles suitable for use as diapers or other hygiene products are provided. The absorbent articles have one or more closure system features including dual elasticity, rear closure, and the use of co-adhesives for the fasteners. Products according to the invention may provide any of several benefits, including a high level of comfort in use, resistance to tampering by the wearer, and relatively quiet attachment and detachment of the closures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: First Quality Retail Services, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Waksmundzki, Carol Erdman, Frank S. Glaug
  • Publication number: 20110022019
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable diaper improved so as to prevent body waste from leaking sideways without sacrificing a bodily fluid absorbing capacity of a liquid-absorbent structure and to assure appropriate fitness to the wearer's body. In each of front and rear waist regions 13, 14, a disposable diaper 10 comprises an upper elasticized region 18 extending in a vicinity of a waist-opening periphery 16a, lower elasticized regions 20A, 20B, intermediate elasticized region 19 extending between the upper elasticized region 18 and the lower elasticized regions 20A, 20B and outside longitudinally opposite ends 12a, 12b of a liquid-absorbent structure 12, and, at least in the front waist region 13 of the front and rear waist regions 13, 14, a non-elasticized region 30 opposed to a central zone of a liquid-absorbent core wherein a tensile stress of the intermediate elasticized region 19 is lower than a tensile stress of the upper elasticized region 18.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Takaaki Shimada, Akiko Yagi, Hideaki Maki
  • Publication number: 20110022020
    Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article 1 that does not easily warp in a leg-surrounding portion. The absorbent article 1 includes an absorbing member 2 in an elongated shape arranged along a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, and a stretchable chassis 3 having a leg-surrounding portion 3a recessed inward in a width direction. At least a part of the chassis 3 is composed of a composite sheet 13 obtained by affixing a stretchable sheet 15 and a non-stretchable sheet 16 to each other by a plurality of adhesive portions 18. The leg-surrounding portion 3a has an intersection crossing an expansion and contraction direction of the chassis 3 at a predetermined angle. The plurality of adhesive portions 18 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the expansion and contraction direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Wakasugi, Hirotomo Mukai, Tomoko Tsuji, Kenichi Sasayama, Tatsuya Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7872169
    Abstract: A non-elastic thermoplastic film having a noise abatement region and a fastening component. The noise abatement region has a plurality of apertures, wherein each of the plurality of apertures has an area of between about 4 mm2 to about 75 mm2. The fastening component is disposed within the noise abatement region such that the fastening component is surrounded by the noise abatement elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Oscar Antonio Ruiz, John Carroll Molander
  • Patent number: 7857801
    Abstract: A disposable diaper including a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The chassis includes laterally opposing side flaps formed by laterally inwardly folded portions of the chassis and deployable chassis ears formed by other laterally inwardly folded portions of the chassis. Each chassis ear is held laterally inwardly folded until being released and unfolded laterally outward so as to project laterally outward beyond the adjacent side flap. An elastically extensible stretch waistband overlies portions of the laterally opposing chassis ears and extends laterally across the waist region between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Michael Hamall, Gary Dean LaVon, Kevin Michael Smith
  • Patent number: 7833207
    Abstract: A pants-type wearing article includes front and rear waist regions connected to each other by a fastener member in a detachable and refastenable manner. Each of the fastener member includes a sheet-like supporting element adapted to be folded in a Z-shape or an inverted Z-shape as the front and rear waist regions are put flat together and a fastener element. The supporting element has a top section, a bottom section and an intermediate section connecting the top and bottom sections. Between opposed surfaces of the bottom section and the intermediate section, a sheet-like liner section is provided so as to extend from a bottom section's openable end of the bottom section along these opposed surfaces toward a top section's joint end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kenmochi, Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Natsuko Aoyagi, Kayoko Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20100249743
    Abstract: In a disposable pants-type wearing article, a body fluid absorbent panel provided in a crotch region extends in a longitudinal direction A and is fixed to a sheet member defining inner surfaces of front and rear waist regions. The body fluid absorbent panel is formed along its opposite side edges with flaps and free edges of the respective flaps are provided with crotch region elastic members attached under tension thereto. The front and rear waist regions are provided along peripheral edges of leg-openings with lower elastic members attached under tension thereto. Regions of the side flaps in which the free edges of the flaps developed in a transverse direction overlap the associated lower elastic members are affixed to respective inner surfaces of the front and rear waist regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Takino
  • Publication number: 20100228212
    Abstract: An outer cover for a disposable absorbent article including waist regions elastically stretchable in the cross machine direction and activated in the cross machine direction, activated leg cuff regions elastically stretchable in one or more directions other than the cross machine direction, and an inelastic crotch region having a nonwoven crotch patch for providing the outer cover with suitable tensile strength, opacity, and poke-through properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Fred Naval Desai, Khalid Qureshi, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Publication number: 20100198180
    Abstract: An absorbent articles, such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence articles, feminine protection articles and the like having a specific elasticated topsheet comprising multitude of elasticated areas and one or more openings to receive e.g. feces, the elasticated areas being typically straight, but the elasticated areas operating jointly to provide a diverting-like elastic behavior, and the elasticated areas having optionally different elastic properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Blanca Arizti, Darrell Ian Brown, Cornelia Beate Martynus, Ekaterina Anatolyevka Ponomarenko
  • Publication number: 20100191212
    Abstract: A disposable diaper having a neat appearance. The diaper 101 includes: a liquid-permeable top sheet 111 which covers a use surface side; a leakage preventing sheet 112 which covers a non-use surface side; an absorbent body 113 interposed between the top sheet and the leakage preventing sheet; and an external sheet 120 disposed on an outer surface side of the leakage preventing sheet, wherein three-dimensional gathers BS are formed along leg surrounding portions, and leg cut-out portions of the external sheet which form leg openings are located in a portion of the minimum width of a crotch portion, at a position nearer to a central side than places outward by 5 mm from rising start points of the three-dimensional gathers BS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji TORIGOSHI, Yosuke MORI
  • Publication number: 20100191206
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprising at least one topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet joined with the topsheet; an absorbent core interposed between the topsheet and backsheet; and a slow recovery elastomer. The slow recovery elastomer exhibits a normalized unload force at 37° C. of greater than about 0.04N and at least about 20% post elongation strain at 22° C. after 15 seconds of recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Bryn Hird, Robin Lynn McKiernan, Edward Joseph Urankar, Janet Neton, Mattias Schmidt, Joerg Mueller
  • Publication number: 20100185169
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article has longitudinally extending side edges of a front waist region. The side edges are defined by a pair of hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric layers having mutually opposed surfaces tightly bonded to each other. Fastening zones are formed by an adhesive applied on longitudinally extending side edges of the rear waist region. Landing zones are formed from plastic filmstrip tightly bonded to the side edges of the front waist region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoko SUGITO
  • Publication number: 20100179495
    Abstract: Reusable cover for an absorbent article providing two or more features selected from maintaining skin condition, fitting a range of wearer shapes and sizes, being easily applied, providing conforming fit, and providing sustained fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 7749212
    Abstract: A back region having extensibility in a waist direction and provided with stopper members at both ends in the waist direction, an abdominal region provided with flap portions at both ends in the waist direction, and an absorber that bridges between the back region and the abdominal region are provided. It is set in such a manner that a length of the back region in the waist direction when it is stretched is longer than a length of the abdominal region in the waist direction, and a length of the back region in the waist direction when no force is applied from the outside is almost equal to the length of the abdominal region in the waist direction or shorter than the length in the waist direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Wada
  • Publication number: 20100168705
    Abstract: An absorbent garment comprises an absorbent member and a laminate. The laminate comprises a polymeric film layer and a nonwoven layer, wherein both the polymeric film layer and the nonwoven layer extend substantially throughout the entire area of the laminate. At least a portion of the absorbent member longitudinally overlaps at least a portion of the laminate to define in the laminate an overlapped region and a non-overlapped region. At least a portion of the overlapped region of the laminate is non-elastomeric, and at least a portion of the non-overlapped region of the laminate is elastomeric. In particular embodiments, the laminate is an elastomeric film laminate having an elastomeric film layer, and at least a portion of the overlapped region of the elastomeric film laminate is deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Sara J. Stabelfeldt, Stephen Carl Baumgartner, Eric-John Raoul Gilgenbach, Suzanne M. Schmoker, Frederique Vignali
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7727207
    Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent garment subassembly for attaching to an absorbent garment, the absorbent garment having a front portion, a back portion and two side portions. The subassembly has a first carrier layer and an elastic member operatively associated with the first carrier layer. The elastic member has a center portion and two end portions. The center portion has a greater area than either of the end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Paragon Trade Brands, LLC
    Inventor: Carol L Erdman
  • Patent number: 7727216
    Abstract: A diaper for adults includes a front waist region, a rear waist region and a crotch region extending therebetween, wherein side edge portions of the front and rear waist regions are detachably connected to each other so as to form a waist hole and a pair of leg holes, the side edge portions have a dimension of at least 150 mm as measured in a longitudinal direction, and a position correcting system to correct relative position of first and second fastening components when the first and second waist regions are connected to each other comprises at least one spacing zone defined between setting zones for tow or more fastening components into which the first fastening component is divided in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kenmochi, Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Natsuko Aoyagi, Naoto Ohashi, Makoto Ichikawa