Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has a liquid impermeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent structure therebetween. The backsheet defines a liquid barrier zone on both sides of the absorbent structure, and a pair of liquid impermeable containment flaps overlie the liquid barrier zones. Leg elastic members are disposed along the side edges of the backsheet, and flap elastic members are disposed in the liquid impermeable containment flaps. A liquid barrier is in each liquid barrier zone, and extends between the front edge and back edge of the liquid impermeable backsheet. Each liquid barrier is desirably between a respective leg elastic member and flap elastic member.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 29, 1996
Date of Patent:
July 24, 2001
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
David Arthur Kuen, John Irvin Van Deurzen
Abstract: A method for improving the effectiveness of a child's toilet training regime utilizes a progress scale to evaluate the child's current level or stage of toilet training. Recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the child's training regime are divided into a plurality of unique groups corresponding to a plurality of stages of toilet training. The child's toilet training progress value, determined using the progress scale, is matched to a particular stage of training and the unique group of recommendations corresponding to the child's stage of training are selected. Methods for comparing the effectiveness of various toilet training regimes are also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 8, 1999
Date of Patent:
June 26, 2001
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas Mathias Kolb, Timothy Russell Schum, James Andrew Walter
Abstract: A process and apparatus for controllably registering two continuously moving layers of material is provided. One of the layers is elasticized and has a plurality of reference marks representing a plurality of separate and distinct components, and the other of the continuously moving layers has a respective plurality of components thereon. The process and apparatus controls the distance between reference marks to a selected distance, and controllably registers each reference mark to a respective component of the continuously moving second layer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 24, 2000
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2001
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Joseph Daniel Coenen, Robert Griffiths Brandon, Louis Maurice Chapdelaine, Scott Lee Kastman, Robert Lee Popp, Devertt DeWayne Woolwine
Abstract: A printing process prints a continuously moving substrate with elongate, semi-tone graphics. The printed substrate is incorporated into a composite elastic material, in which the substrate is contracted, thereby forming a desired full-tone graphic from the semi-tone graphic.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 20, 1994
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2001
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Joseph Schleinz, Daniel James Conrad, Joseph S. Kucherovsky
Abstract: A soft uncreped throughdried tissue product includes a distribution of surface deposits of an additive composition adapted to reduce skin irritation and redness or otherwise deliver a benefit to the user. An array of primary delivery zones with a relatively high additive add-on amount in combination with supplementary delivery zones with a relatively lower add-on amount effectively maximize consumer benefit while minimizing the total amount of additive on the tissue.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 19, 1997
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2001
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Lee Patrick Garvey, Robert Timothy Drozd, Cynthia Watts Henderson, Marc David Couture
Abstract: An air press for noncompressively dewatering a wet web to consistency levels not previously thought possible at industrially useful speeds without thermal dewatering.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 24, 2000
Date of Patent:
May 8, 2001
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Frank Stephen Hada, Michael Alan Hermans, Brian Wade Isenhart, Lowell Everett Thoms, Charles Robert Tomsovic
Abstract: A soft tissue product includes deposits of a surface additive composition disposed in primary and supplementary delivery zones having different add-on levels. The supplementary add-on level is greater than 0 and less than the primary add-on level. For example, the supplementary add-on level may be from about 0.5 to about 80 percent of the primary add-on level. In particular embodiments, the primary delivery zones cover from about 30 to about 90 percent of the tissue and the supplementary delivery zones cover from about 10 to about 70 percent of the tissue. The different add-on levels effectively maximize consumer benefit while minimizing the total amount of additive on the tissue.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 19, 1997
Date of Patent:
April 17, 2001
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Lee Patrick Garvey, Robert Timothy Drozd, Cynthia Watts Henderson, Marc David Couture
Abstract: A method for making a textured tissue sheet on a conventional tissue making machine using a conventional cylindrical drum dryer creates a product that is remarkably bulky, soft, and wet resilient. A combination of rush transfer and sheet molding with three-dimensional fabrics is combined with the step of web inversion to ensure that the surface of the web which was molded onto a first textured transfer fabric is the surface which is placed against the surface of the cylinder dryer. Web inversion improves machine productivity and enhances physical properties of the web.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 31, 1997
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2001
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Shan Liang Chen, Michael Alan Hermans, Sheng-Hsin Hu, Richard Joseph Kamps, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay
Abstract: A method of using a conventional wet-pressed creped tissue machine produces a textured tissue sheet that is dried on a conventional cylindrical drum dryer to create an uncreped product with throughdried-like properties. Machine modifications and a proper balance of adhesive compounds and release agents permit a textured sheet to be dried on a Yankee drier and then pulled off without use of a crepe blade.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 31, 1997
Date of Patent:
February 13, 2001
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Frank Gerald Druecke, Shan Liang Chen, Michael Alan Hermans, Sheng-Hsin Hu, Richard Joseph Kamps
Abstract: An absorbent garment includes an outer cover defining opposite waist regions and an elastically suspended absorbent assembly. The absorbent assembly, which has a longitudinal axis and opposite longitudinally spaced ends, includes an absorbent core and a moisture barrier. The garment also includes a tummy band formed of an elastic material and operatively joined to the outer cover adjacent at least a portion of one of the waist regions. In one embodiment, the tummy band is capable of stretching in first and second substantially perpendicular directions and elastically connects one end of the absorbent assembly and the outer cover. In an alternate embodiment, the tummy band elasticizes a portion of one waist region and a suspension member elastically connects one end of the absorbent assembly and the outer cover.
Abstract: An uncreped tissue sheet having improved softness results from supplementally dewatering a wet web to a consistency of greater than about 30 percent using noncompressive dewatering techniques prior to a differential speed transfer and subsequent throughdrying. An air press particularly well suited for providing the supplemental noncompressive dewatering incorporates side and/or end seals to minimize escape of pressurized fluid. A creped tissue sheet can be produced with a variety of manufacturing benefits using the air press.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 31, 1997
Date of Patent:
November 21, 2000
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael Alan Hermans, Mark Alan Burazin, Frank Stephen Hada, Sung Ho Hong
Abstract: An air press for noncompressively dewatering a wet web to consistency levels not previously thought possible at industrially useful speeds without thermal dewatering. The air press has an air plenum and a vacuum collection device, each on opposite sides of two support fabrics that sandwich the paper web. There are cross machine sealing blade(s) that impinge upon the support fabrics and is opposed on the other side of the support fabrics by a sealing member formed of deformable material. The air plenum and vacuum collection device are movable relative to one another so that the sealing blade and deformable sealing member form a seal in the operating position of the air press.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 17, 1998
Date of Patent:
November 7, 2000
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Frank Stephen Hada, Michael Alan Hermans, Charles Robert Tomsovic, David V. Lange, Roger A. Kanitz, Richard D. Hauser, Patrick W. Murry, Doug A. Rounds, Robert L. Clarke