Patents Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9814630
    Abstract: Generally, a vaginal insert device used to treat urinary incontinence is disclosed. The vaginal insert device includes a support portion, a stabilizing portion, a removal device, and at least one fluid passageway extending though the support portion. The substantially cylindrical support portion has a distal end and a proximal end. In addition, the support portion has a plurality of foldable areas extending from the distal end to the proximal end. Desirably, the plurality of foldable areas helically curve as the plurality of foldable areas extend from the distal end to the proximal end. The largest outer circumference of the support portion has an insertion diameter when the plurality of foldable areas are compressed and foldable inward and an in-use diameter wherein the plurality of foldable areas are extended outward into a maximum in-use diameter position. Desirably, the in-use diameter is larger than the insertion diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimberly Louise Ellefson, Jason Robert Boon, Garry Roland Woltman, MaryAnn Zunker, Patricia Ann Samolinski, Walter George Bauer, Vivian Kate Barad, Nicole Sarah Kahn, Gina Lynn Romero, Elger Oberwelz, James Rolfe Yurchenco, Jonah Lawrence Houston, Tiffany Heather Card, Martin Schnitzer
  • Patent number: 9816233
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a containerboard packaging material comprising at least one non-wood alternative pulp material wherein said non-wood alternative pulp material is present in an amount of from about 5% to about 100% and wherein said material replaces at least a portion of conventional fiber materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Shi, Mark M. Mleziva, Brent M. Thompson, Robert J. Zelenak
  • Patent number: 9814632
    Abstract: A feminine care absorbent article includes an absorbent structure configured for disposition adjacent a female wearer's vaginal region to absorb bodily fluids discharged by the wearer. A shell is provided for supporting the absorbent structure at the vaginal region. The shell has a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface. The body-facing surface has an adhesive thereon for adhering the shell directly to the wearer's body. The adhesive has a non-uniform adhesive pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Carmen Lira, Candace Dyan Krautkramer, Melissa Jean Dennis
  • Patent number: 9808381
    Abstract: A liquid absorbent structure is made by dry laying a fibrous web having incorporated therein a superabsorbent material, and applying an aqueous composite stabilizer to at least one surface of the web. The aqueous composite stabilizer imparts integrity to the resulting structure without substantially impairing the effectiveness of the superabsorbent material to absorb liquid while forming the absorbent structure without removing the water from aqueous composite stabilizer or drying out the absorbent structure. The absorbent composite absorbs the water from the aqueous composite stabilizer. The absorbent composite comprises about 70% by weight of a superabsorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Fell, Steven Michael Hurley, Donald LeRoy Smith, Kendell Jean Williams, Nicholas Alan Kraft, Johanna Marie Buss, David John Paulson, Thomas Gerard Vercauteren, Sara Lynn Rosack, James George Van Himbergen
  • Patent number: 9809931
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a dispersible moist wipe comprising hydroentangled fibers and a binder composition. The moist wipe demonstrates high initial wet strength while maintaining effective dispersion in an aqueous environment. The moist wipe has potential application as a flushable surface cleaning product and/or a flushable cleansing cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Nathan John Vogel, WanDuk Lee, Joseph Kenneth Baker, Colin Ackroyd
  • Patent number: 9802392
    Abstract: Stronger elastic laminates having an improved microtextured appearance, as well as methods of preparing the laminates, are disclosed herein. Particularly, the present disclosure is directed to multilayered elastic laminates including at least one thermoplastic elastomeric film layer and at least one plastic layer coextruded together, stretched and then relaxed. The prepared laminates have enhanced overall strength and elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: WanDuk Lee, Peiguang Zhou, Davis-Dang Hoang Nhan, Alphonse Carl DeMarco
  • Patent number: 9803100
    Abstract: A superhydrophobic surface includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated composition, the composition including a hydrophobic component free of fluorine; a filler particle; and water, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion. The superhydrophobic surface alternatively includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated composition, the composition including a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine; an exfoliated graphite filler particle including acid functional groups; water; and a stabilizing compound, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic polymer is in an aqueous dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Qin, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Constantine M. Megaridis, Thomas M. Schutzius, Ilker S. Bayer
  • Publication number: 20170306540
    Abstract: A coform nonwoven web that contains a composite matrix formed from a combination of synthetic fibers and an absorbent material is provided. A plurality of thermally expandable beads are also contained within the composite matrix. By selectively controlling various aspects of the thermal activation of the beads, as well as the particular manner in which the beads are incorporated within the nonwoven web, the present inventors have discovered that the resulting coform web can achieve an increased bulk that remains relatively stable even in a wet condition. Thus, the resulting coform web can be readily employed in a wet wipe without losing its bulk and overall texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon K. Poruthoor
  • Patent number: 9795775
    Abstract: In one aspect a drug delivery device may include a reservoir containing a liquid drug formulation and a microneedle assembly in fluid communication with the reservoir. The microneedle assembly may include a plurality of microneedles, with each microneedle defining an open channel for receiving a drug formulation. The open channel may have a normalized hydraulic radius ranging from about 0.1 to about 0.8. The open channel may also have a liquid-to-solid interfacial energy and a liquid-to-vapor interfacial energy when a fixed volume of the drug formulation is received therein. In addition, the drug formulation and a cross-sectional geometry of the open channel may be selected and configured such that the liquid-to-solid energy exceeds the liquid-to-vapor energy as the length of the fixed volume of drug formulation is increased within the open channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Baker, Russell F. Ross, Sridhar Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 9788694
    Abstract: A dispensing container for dispensable wipes generally comprises a base at least partially defining an internal compartment for storing the wipes and a dispensing partition connected to the base. The dispensing partition comprises a flexible material having an aperture defined therein through which the wipes are individually removable. The dispensing partition is configured to move from a first position to a second position when one of the wipes is removed from the container through the aperture. The dispensing partition is biased towards the first position, and is at least partially inverted from the first position when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert M. Hill, Kevin Christopher Possell, Christopher Martin Pieper
  • Patent number: 9789013
    Abstract: An absorbent article having improved leakage protection when the wearer of the absorbent article is lying on their side. The absorbent article has a surge layer in liquid communication with a portion of the garment facing region and a portion of a side edge of the absorbent core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC
    Inventors: David Fleger Bishop, Brooke Ashley Berg, Angela Ann Johnston, Marcille Faye Ruman, Stephen Carl Baumgartner, Mary Alice Berceau, Joseph Daniel Coenen, Richard Norris Dodge, II, Adrienne Rae Loyd, Connie May McMorrow, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Katherine Carol Shaw
  • Patent number: 9789010
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover, a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region extending between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions, and a tear away section configured to be torn from the absorbent article when at least a threshold force is applied to the tear away section. The front and back waist regions are attached to each other by side panels at least partially defining leg openings and a waist opening of the absorbent article. The tear away section extends from the waist opening to a respective leg opening and is defined by at least one line of weakness. The tear away section has a tear strength greater than the threshold force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Long, Julie Paveletzke
  • Patent number: 9782244
    Abstract: A method of manufacture for a vaginal insert. The vaginal insert may have a core, a cover, and a removal element. In various embodiments, the cover can be conformed to the vaginal insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt G. Krupka, Jesse J. Pasterski, Chadwick I. Romzek, Scott A. Ainsworth, Jeffrey Louis Heinen
  • Patent number: 9775752
    Abstract: The present application discloses and claims an individually packaged, absorbent article of enhanced length, and including at least two sets of wings, which article is folded into a compact package form, and which package in being unfolded by a consumer, results in less operation steps by the consumer for donning of the article, and for disposal of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyung Woo Park, Hyong Bom Kim, Sung Su Kim, Seong Dae Roh
  • Patent number: 9771689
    Abstract: The inventive tissue products have high bulk and improved surface smoothness, particularly compared to tissue products of similar basis weights. The tissue products may have a sheet bulk greater than about 15 cc/g, such as from about 15 to about 25 cc/g and a surface smoothness S90 value less than about 90 ?m. Further, the tissue products are generally strong enough to withstand use and may have a geometric mean tensile strength greater than about 2,000 g/3?. The tissue products may be converted into rolled tissue products having improved roll bulk, such as a roll bulk greater than 15 cc/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc
    Inventors: Ryan Andrew Weaver, Jeffrey Dean Holz, Mark Alan Burazin, Lynda Ellen Collins
  • Patent number: 9744083
    Abstract: An outer cover for an absorbent article includes a nonwoven component having a plurality of apertures formed therein and a film bonded to the apertured nonwoven component. The apertures in the nonwoven component are formed by needling prior to the film being bonded to the nonwoven component. A method of making the outer cover includes feeding a web of nonwoven material to a needling station, needling the web of nonwoven material to form a plurality of apertures therein to define an apertured web of nonwoven material, and bonding the apertured web of nonwoven material to a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Kyungnak Kim, JinHo Ryu, Seungkeun Park, JinHee Lee, EoYeon Hwang, SooYong Cho
  • Patent number: 9744082
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a body side liner, a back sheet, an absorbent body positioned between the body side liner and the back sheet, and a distribution layer positioned between the absorbent body and the back sheet. The absorbent body defines a first opening having an opening length that is at least 50% the absorbent body length. The first opening has a median anterior portion width that is greater than a median central portion width that is greater than a median posterior portion width. The first opening includes a well, a channel, and a taper. The well transitions into the channel via a first convex transition and a concave transition. The channel transitions into the taper via a second convex transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc
    Inventors: Jessica Annette Ives Dieringer, Cheri Lee Paul
  • Patent number: 9744248
    Abstract: The invention relates to creped prebiotic tissue products. The tissue products comprise prebiotics in sufficiently high amounts to have a prebiotic effect in use, without negatively affecting tissue product properties, such as tensile strength, stiffness or softness. Thus, in certain embodiments the present invention provides soft, durable creped prebiotic tissue products that are able to improve the growth of healthy bacteria such as Bifidobacterium spp. or Lactobacillus spp. without promoting growth of enteropathogenic bacteria. The tissue products provide these benefits yet have a GMT greater than about 500, a Stiffness Index less than about 20 and a TS7 value less than about 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Jeffrey Janne Johnson, David William Koenig, Amy Lynn Vanden Heuvel, David Andrew Moline, Rebecca Ann Vongsa, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup
  • Patent number: 9745702
    Abstract: Spirally wound paper products are disclosed having desirable roll bulk, firmness and softness properties. The rolled products can be made from single ply tissue webs formed according to various processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Wayne Stage, Jennifer Leigh Jeschke, Richard Joseph Behm, Donald John Slayton, Jeffrey Dean Holz, Mark William Sachs, Kevin Joseph Vogt, Mark Alan Burazin, Lynda Ellen Collins, Richard Allen Zanon, Joseph Walter Buyeske
  • Patent number: D800995
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeanne Marie Gatto, Christina Mae Chingren Seward