Patents Represented by Attorney H. Michael Kubicki
  • Patent number: 7608070
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an article has a mechanical fastener and configured is to be worn by a user. The article comprises a body portion configured to be worn by a user. The body portion may include a fibrous landing layer wherein the fibrous landing layer comprises a plurality of fibers. The body portion may also include a foam layer, such that the foam layer has a first surface comprising a plurality of free-stranding struts adapted for engaging at least a portion of the plurality of fibers of the landing layer. The foam layer and fibrous landing layer are capable of being engaged with a Shear Resistance of about 100 grams of force or greater per square centimeter and a Peel Resistance of about 50 grams or less of force per square centimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fung-jou Chen, Julie Marie Bednarz, Nadezhda Efremova, Sheng-Hsin Hu, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Lisha Yu
  • Patent number: 7604624
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article and method of forming the article are disclosed. The article has front and back panels, each having first and second zones. The first zone of each panel is extensible and retractable and the second zone of each panel is non-extensible and non-retractable. Each of the front and back panels has first and second side edges. An absorbent assembly is secured to the front and back panels. The absorbent assembly has a first end secured to the second zone of the front panel and a second end secured to the second zone of the back panel. The absorbent assembly is capable of being folded to enable the front panel to align with the back panel, respectively. A pair of seams join the front and back panels together to form a disposable absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Steven Veith, Paul VanGompel
  • Patent number: 7591810
    Abstract: An absorbent garment includes a front body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge and a rear body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge. The terminal crotch edge of the rear body panel is longitudinally spaced from and forms a gap with the terminal crotch edge of the front body panel. An absorbent composite bridges the gap between the front and rear body panels with first and second terminal edges overlying and connected to the front and rear body panels respectively. In one embodiment, the terminal edges of the absorbent composite are the only portion of the absorbent composite connected to the front and rear body panels. In another embodiment, the absorbent composite is further connected to the front and rear body panels at first and second attachment locations proximate a longitudinally extending centerline of the absorbent composite and longitudinally spaced from the first and second terminal edges. Methods of using the absorbent garments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Morman, James M. Carr, Yung H. Huang, Eric D. Johnson, Jennifer L. Marvin, Mary Jo Meyer, Thomas H. Roessler, Paul T. Van Gompel
  • Patent number: 7578812
    Abstract: Prefastened absorbent articles (20) may include a singular fastening mechanism that includes an oversized fastener (60), to provide stability between the front waist region and the back waist region and to maintain the prefastened configuration. The prefastened absorbent articles can include a multiple property fastener (60) that has at least one engagement zone (65) and at least one non-abrasive zone (67).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Datta, Robert Eugene Vogt, Thomas Walter Odorzynski, Cassandra Elizabeth Morris, Jennifer Elizabeth Pozniak
  • Patent number: 7569042
    Abstract: A disposable garment including a dual fastening system. The dual fastening system includes at least two first fasteners and at least two second fasteners, at least a portion of each second fastener being located in the front waist region and situated inboard from each longitudinal side edge of the front waist region, each second fastener being configured to engage at least a portion of the bodyfacing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Patent number: 7534237
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes attachment panels extending transversely outward from the absorbent assembly in one waist region and mechanical fastening components in an opposite waist region. The attachment panels cover the side hips of the wearer and define inner attachment surfaces that are adapted to refastenably engage the fastening components to maintain the absorbent article in a pant configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peter Olson, Lisa Ann Dimitrijevs
  • Patent number: 6896521
    Abstract: A method for displaying toilet training materials which includes the steps of providing a supply of at least two different types of toilet training materials, each type of toilet training material associated with at least one of a plurality of toilet training steps; providing a display having at least two regions, each of the regions associated with one of the toilet training steps; and housing the toilet training materials within the region having an equivalent toilet training step. Various embodiments of the display in the form of an in-store kiosk are illustrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Louis Underhill, David Jon Wears
  • Patent number: 6849067
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Lynn Fletcher, Lisa Ann Dimitrijevs, Christopher Peter Olson, Kathleen Irene Ratliff, Shirlee Ann Weber, Susan Lee West
  • Patent number: 6764475
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has at least one first fastening component disposed in a first waist region and at least one second fastening component disposed in an opposite second waist region. The fastening components are adapted to releasably engage one another and at least one of the fastening components comprises primary and secondary regions that have different releasable engagement properties. Together the fastening components define a refastenable, variable-location seam having a main refastenable attachment zone providing a basic level of securement and an enhanced refastenable attachment zone providing an augmented level of securement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Peter Olson
  • Patent number: 6761711
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Lynn Fletcher, Lisa Ann Dimitrijevs, Christopher Peter Olson, Kathleen Irene Ratliff, Shirlee Ann Weber, Susan Lee West
  • Patent number: 6645190
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes attachment panels extending transversely outward from the absorbent assembly in one waist region and mechanical fastening components in an opposite waist region. The attachment panels cover the side hips of the wearer and define inner attachment surfaces that are adapted to refastenably engage the fastening components to maintain the absorbent article in a pant configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peter Olson, Lisa Ann Dimitrijevs
  • Patent number: 6612846
    Abstract: A method for displaying toilet training materials which includes the steps of providing a supply of at least two different types of toilet training materials, each type of toilet training material associated with at least one of a plurality of toilet training steps; providing a display having at least two regions, each of the regions associated with one of the toilet training steps; and housing the toilet training materials within the region having an equivalent toilet training step. Various embodiments of the display in the form of an in-store kiosk are illustrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Louis Underhill, David Jon Wears
  • Patent number: 6596918
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article such as a training pant includes a liquid soluble wetness indicator and one or more, masking techniques for minimizing the likelihood of smudges appearing after activation. The techniques include masking graphics and peripherally disposed adhesive patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Thomas Wehrle, Ryan James McEnenany, Christopher Peter Olson, Joseph Earl Pierce, Kathleen Irene Ratliff
  • Patent number: 6575953
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has an absorbent chassis and a fastening system. The fastening system includes a pair of first fastening components disposed in one waist region and at least one second fastening component disposed in an opposite waist region. The first fastening components include at least one hinge area that transversely bisects the first fastening components, allowing the fasteners to bend in conformity with the movements of the wearer's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Peter Olson
  • Patent number: 6454751
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has an absorbent chassis and a fastening system. The fastening system includes a pair of first fastening components disposed in one waist region and at least one second fastening component disposed in an opposite waist region. The first fastening components include at least one hinge area that transversely bisects the first fastening components, allowing the fasteners to bend in conformity with the movements of the wearer's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Peter Olson
  • Patent number: 6447497
    Abstract: A prefastened disposable absorbent article includes child resistant refastenable seams. The absorbent article includes mechanical fastening components and mating mechanical fastening components such that the opposite waist regions can be overlapped and refastenably engaged to form refastenable mechanical seams. The overlapping waist region forms overlapping flaps outward from the refastenable mechanical seams. To inhibit child access to the refastenable seams, the overlapping flaps are adhesively bonded to the opposite waist region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Peter Olson