Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Matthew P. Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 6831050
    Abstract: Basic cleaning compositions using toxicologically-acceptable ingredients for cleaning fruits and vegetables are provided. Liquid formulations comprising detergent surfactant, such as oleate, alcohol ethoxylates, etc., and neutralized phosphoric acid are sprayed onto apples, lettuce and the like to remove soil and unwanted deposits, especially wax. Articles for applying the compositions to produce by spraying are disclosed. Use of the compositions for disinfectancy/sanitization of produce and cleaning/disinfectancy/sanitization of non-food inanimate surfaces are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bruce Prentiss Murch, Brian Joseph Roselle, Kyle David Jones, Keith Homer Baker, Thomas Edward Ward, Toan Trinh
  • Patent number: 6821940
    Abstract: Premoistened wipes containing a substrate and a cleaning composition using toxicologically-acceptable ingredients for treating food such as produce, e.g., fruits and vegetables, edible animal proteins, toys baby high chairs and the like, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Steven S. Bullock, Nicholas A. Ahr, Jenna Heil, Brian J. Roselle, Heather L. Moster, Dorothee Helene Davenet, Jean Wevers
  • Patent number: 6811842
    Abstract: The present invention is a Liquid transport member with significantly improved liquid handling capability, which has at least one bulk region and a wall region that completely circumscribes said bulk region, and which comprises a port region, whereby the bulk region has an average fluid permeability kb which is higher than the average fluid permeability kp of the port regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bruno Johannes Ehrnsperger, Mattias Schmidt, Karl Michael Schumann, Fred Naval Desai, Gary Dean Lavon, Gerald Alfred Young, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 6763944
    Abstract: An array of disposable absorbent article configurations is provided comprising a sequence of designs corresponding to a wearer's stages of development. A merchandising system facilitates consumers' selection of an absorbent article configuration by appropriately matching an absorbent article configuration with a particular wearer's stage of development. The system includes indicia exhibiting pictorial representations of the absorbent article configurations fitted to wearer's at corresponding stages of development enabling a consumer to choose the appropriate absorbent article configuration for a particular wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Karl P. Ronn, Barry R. Feist, Mary L. Carr, Kathy O. Ames-Ooten, Danielia T. Wilkins, Merlene A. Cummins, Ooma B. Rampersad-Cutler, Monica J. Mohlenkamp, Vicki L. Streithorst
  • Patent number: 6727403
    Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent structure to be used in an absorbent article such as a diaper, a training pant, an adult incontinence absorbent article, a bed mat, or the like, and the respective absorbent article. The absorbent structure of the present invention is able to rapidly acquire urine even against gravity as is quantified by the liquid drip off test defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bruno Johannes Ehrnsperger, Georgious Poursanidis, Mattias Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6713661
    Abstract: An absorbent article having improved fit and comfort. The absorbent core is designed such that fluid is moved substantially from the crotch region to the waist regions. Preferred absorbent covers have an acquisition region, a distribution region, and a storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Silke Arndt, Bruno Johannes Ehrnsperger, Mattias Schmidt, Gary Dean Lavon, Carsten Heinrich Kruezer, Claus Peter Stoelzel
  • Patent number: 6702796
    Abstract: Absorbent interlabial devices are disclosed. Preferably, the absorbent interlabial device has a liquid pervious topseet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The device preferably also has a grasping tab joined to the backsheet. The tab preferably has at least a first zone and a second zone where the stiffness of the first zone is greater than the stiffness of the second zone. Preferably, the tab is made up of multiple layers. These layers are preferably laminated to each other in the first zone and are not laminated to each other in the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ronald Ray McFall, Richard George Coe, Julie Michelle Lohre
  • Patent number: 6673057
    Abstract: The present invention is a liquid transport member with significantly improved liquid handling capability, which has at least one bulk or inner region with a high average permeability, completely circumscribed by a wall region. The wall region further comprises at least one port region with a lower permeability than the inner region, and with a ratio of its permeability to its thickness of at least 10−7 m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bruno Johannes Ehrnsperger, Mattias Schmidt, Karl Michael Schumann, Fred Naval Desai, Gary Dean Lavon, Gerald Alfred Young, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 6671695
    Abstract: An apparatus, program product, and method utilize “dynamic” groups to represent collections of individuals in a computer environment. With a dynamic group, a group membership criterion and a set of member identifiers are associated with one another within a dynamic group data structure, such that the set of member identifiers identifies those users from a plurality of users that meet the group membership criterion for the dynamic group. Dynamic updates are performed periodically and/or in response to predetermined events, such that the set of member identifiers for a dynamic group are updated to reflect modifications to the plurality of users, and thereby maintain the identification of members in the dynamic group current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Terrence Paul McFadden
  • Patent number: 6652500
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, adult incontinence devices, and the like, that have components that are bonded for improved integrity and an unbonded window on their body-facing side for improved acquisition are disclosed. The absorbent articles comprise a topsheet that is fused to an underlying liquid pervious or absorbent layer at a plurality of individual bonded areas. The absorbent articles have an unbonded window that is substantially free of bonded areas, which is surrounded by regions of the absorbent article that contain bonded areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Dean Jeffrey Daniels, Tana Marie Kirkbride, Stephanie Tych Craig, Anne Holland Bruce
  • Patent number: 6623464
    Abstract: A liquid pervious topsheet, breathable backsheet, and an absorbent core makes up a breathable absorbent article. The absorbent core has a caliper of less than 12 mm and is positioned intermediate the liquid pervious topsheet and the breathable backsheet. The liquid pervious topsheet, absorbent core, and breathable backsheet are at least one layer. The liquid pervious topsheet has a liquid retention of less than 0.22 g for a 2.0 g load. The absorbent core has a vapor permeability of at least 200 g/ m2/24 hrs. The breathable backsheet has a liquid permeability of less than 0.16 g for 15 ml load. The liquid pervious topsheet, absorbent core, and breathable backsheet are joined such that the absorbent article has a dryness index of greater than 0.5 and a sensory index of greater than 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Christopher Philip Bewick-Sonntag, Giovanni Carlucci, Achille Di Cintio
  • Patent number: 6599279
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved absorbent tampon having improved leakage performance. Tampons, having a primary absorbent member which is constructed from an absorbent material compressed to a self-sustaining form and a mass of secondary absorbent material are disclosed. The mass of secondary absorbent material may be a multiple pieces or one piece. The secondary absorbent material may be attached to the primary absorbent member, the withdrawal cord, or both, or may be integral with one or both of these members. The withdrawal cord of the tampon may have absorbent and non-absorbent zones, especially when the mass of secondary absorbent material is attached to the withdrawal cord. The mass of secondary absorbent material preferably has a lower total absorbency than the primary absorbent member. Preferably, the mass of secondary absorbent material is provided with a driving force to direct fluid toward the primary absorbent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Fiona M. Taylor, Thomas W. Osborn, III, Karen A. Kreutz, George A. M. Butterworth
  • Patent number: 6586652
    Abstract: An absorbent article containing a liquid pervious topsheet coated with a lotion composition is disclosed. The lotion composition comprises a plastic or fluid emollient such as mineral oil or petrolatum, an immobilizing agent such as a fatty alcohol or paraffin wax to immobilize the emollient on the surface of the topsheet, and optionally a hydrophilic surfactant to improve wettability of the coated topsheet. Because the emollient is substantially immobilized on the surface of the topsheet, less lotion is required to impart the desired therapeutic or protective lotion coating benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Frank Heinrich Bakes, Alrick Vincent Warner
  • Patent number: 6582411
    Abstract: Highly efficient absorbent articles for wearing by a human female such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and adult incontinence pads. In use, the absorbent articles preferably maintain contact with and cover at least a portion of the inside surfaces of the wearer's labia, the exterior surfaces of the wearer's labia, and the supporting garment. The absorbent articles are highly flexible, having flexure resistance of less than or equal to about 100 grams. The absorbent articles may be flat or cup-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jerry Edward Carstens, Letha Margie Hines, Nicholas Albert Ahr, Diane Dunn Farris, Nona Jane Redwine, Deborah Catherine Schmitz, Cynthia Lee Alvis, John Richard Noel, Ronald Ray McFall, Thomas Ward Osborn, III
  • Patent number: 6575947
    Abstract: An individually packaged absorbent article is disclosed. The individually packaged absorbent article comprises an absorbent article and a wrapper. The absorbent article extends in a longitudinal direction and includes a main body portion having a pair of longitudinal side edges, a pair of end edges, a garment surface, and a body surface. The absorbent article includes a pair of flaps joined to the main body portion and extending laterally outward beyond the longitudinal side edges of the main body portion. The garment surface of each of the flaps has a flap fastener. The flaps are folded over the body surface of the main body portion to expose the flap fasteners. The wrapper for the absorbent article has a main wrapper sheet The body surface of the main body portion is disposed to face the main wrapper sheet. The flap fastener of the flap is releasably affixed to the main wrapper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tameishi, Nami Terada
  • Patent number: 6554814
    Abstract: A tampon showing improved leakage protection through improved expansion characteristics is disclosed. The tampons disclosed demonstrate these improved expansion characteristics particularly in the width dimension without introducing new drawbacks. Preferred tampons are described which are compressed to an initial size comparable to current tampons, but which expand to a width exceeding that achieved by current tampons. Such increased expansion is preferably accomplished without an increase in the total absorbency of the tampon. Tampons of various absorbencies are disclosed having increased total expansion in the width direction compared to current tampons. Additionally, tampons of various absorbencies which expand to a greater degree in the width direction under pressure are also disclosed. Tampons of various absorbencies which expand at a rate exceeding that achieved previously are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Raymond Kusi Agyapong, Roberto Hollander, David Joseph Caracci, Susan Rachelle Hill, Bruce Leslie Hayes, Fiona Marie Taylor, James Arthur Keighley, Kevin Charles Strong
  • Patent number: 6533765
    Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a diaper, containing cuffs with a skin care composition disposed thereon. 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. The cuffs are at least partially assembled using an oil resistant adhesive that is both material friendly and process friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ted Lee Blaney, Mark Andrew Thornton
  • Patent number: D495950
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Filiz Cotert, Lutz Stelzig
  • Patent number: D498623
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Stephen Sams, Bernard Sams, Kenneth Young, Heike Kammerer, Martin Zethoff
  • Patent number: D499021
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Norman Henry Tiilikka, Lynda Deakin, Andrew Deakin, Candice Patricia Tillitt, Tomas Owen Rogers, Dana Paul Gruenbacher