Patents Examined by C. Lynne Anderson
  • Patent number: 6531643
    Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article including a liquid-pervious top sheet to be in contact with the skin of a wearer, a back sheet, and an absorbent core sandwiched between the top sheet and the back sheet. A layer of silicone compound is formed on the surface of one of a side sheet provided on each side of the absorbent core, and a side portion of the back sheet extending outwardly from each side of the absorbent core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Sachiyo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6524269
    Abstract: A lubricated tampon applicator having a sanitary wrapper. The applicator comprises a tubular body having a lubrication cell near its insertion end. The lubrication cell is scored to preferentially fail first at the interior cell membrane, and then the exterior cell membrane as the tampon is expelled from the applicator. The tampon has a lesser circumference about the leading portion than the trailing portion, thereof. In another embodiment the cell is a cage having a scored inner membrane and a leading surface of discrete petals. The cage is covered by an elastic membrane which is turned inward at the central axis and extends through an opening formed by the petals, flares radially outward, and seals against the inner membrane. The sanitary wrapper contains a portion for maintaining the applicator tip coated with lubricant. An adhesive bonds the wrapper to the applicator, effectively containing the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventor: Sean P. McNamara
  • Patent number: 6524422
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing absorbent articles (17) in the form of sanitary napkins, panty liners or incontinence protectors for women, includes the step of cutting a web (5) of protective layer material with a sequence of pairs of cuts (8, 9) which are so spaced apart so that when the web (5) of protective layer material is placed on a web (1, 3, 4) of article blanks the two cuts (8, 9) in each pair of cuts in the sequence of pairs of cuts will lie linearly between the points of connection of flaps (23, 24) with the longitudinal edges of each article. The thus cut web (5) of protective layer material is then placed on the web (1, 3, 4) of article blanks and individual articles (17) are cut from the composite web (1, 3, 4, 5) in a second cutting step that defines the periphery of the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Bror-Inge Helmfridsson, Hakan Persson, Solgun Drevik, Frantisek Solar
  • Patent number: 6509513
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article, e.g., a diaper, arranged to be worn by a wearer to trap and collect fluid waste products. The article has a flexible chassis made up of a top-sheet, a two layer fluid acquisition system, and a fluid absorbent core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Retail Services AG
    Inventors: Frank S. Glaug, William H. Cook, Joan Rodgers, Ruth Levy
  • Patent number: 6475204
    Abstract: A diaper construction wherein one or more baby wipes is included in the diaper so that the child care giver always has a baby wipe to change the diaper. To prevent removal of the baby wipes by the baby, the baby wipe is contained within a cavity of a sealed pocket member provided within the diaper that is accessible only by tearing an access opening through an outer layer of the diaper and then rupturing a wall of the pocket member to gain access to the baby wipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Doris A. Walker
  • Patent number: 6471679
    Abstract: A portable nasal, mucus removing device includes a case having an internal empty space for receiving parts, and a motor placed within the case and rotated by receipt of driving power from a battery. A power transmission unit is connected to the motor to convert the rotating movement of the motor into a reciprocating movement. A vacuum generator is connected to the power transmission unit to generate a vacuum pressure by introducing an external air or discharging the introduced air. A storage tank is connected to the case from the outside such that the storage tank can be separated from the case. The storage tank air-communicates with the vacuum generator via an air-introducing tube. An entrance tube is externally combined with the storage tank to introduce a nasal mucus. A guide tube is attached to an inner wall of the storage tank to guide the introduced nasal mucus into the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: G-Intek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-Joo Suh
  • Patent number: 6428521
    Abstract: A female external catheter device collects and then channels urine away from the human body to a collection drain. The device minimizes urinary track infections, nosocomial infections and reduces a patient's risk of infection complications. The device also reduces usage of indwelling urinary catheters. It is characterized by a ladle-like geometry in which the spoon thereof is an intra-labial collection cup and the handle is a hollow neck and nob that is secured within the vagina. Apertures with the nob enable venting of vaginal fluids thru a fluid egress channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Droll
  • Patent number: 6419665
    Abstract: A male undergarment for incontinence, including undergarment shorts having front and back panels with a waistband at the top of the garment and thigh encircling leg portions at the bottom of the shorts with a crotch portion between the leg portions. A pocket protection cage of resilient plastic material is provided with an opening at the top and is secured to the inside of the front panel of the shorts and is positioned for natural protrusion of the male penis of the wearer into this opening. This pocket protection cage has portions which are positioned at an angle whereby the device protrudes downwardly into one leg portion of the undergarment to the side of the crotch. A disposable, flexible and water tight pocket is removably retained in the cage and is also provided with a top opening that is secured for conforming to the top opening of the cage for protrusion of the penis into this top opening of the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Morton H. Cohen
  • Patent number: 6410821
    Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article having a first waist region, an opposed second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and the second waist region. The absorbent article preferably comprises a liquid impervious backsheet material, an absorbent core and a directionally preferential waste passage member. The waste passage member has a body facing surface and an opposed garment facing surface, at least a portion of the body facing surface of the waste passage member including a soluble material capable of dissolving when contacted by bodily exudates so as to permit the bodily exudates to pass through the waste passage member in a direction generally away from the wearer's skin. At least a portion of the garment facing surface of the waste passage member includes a barrier material which resists penetration by the bodily exudates in a direction opposite from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Donald C. Roe
  • Patent number: 6394990
    Abstract: A feminine hygiene article and method of making same so that back-attached wings have adhesive areas for attachment to an undergarment, that are substantially offset from the adhesive areas of the main body portion, also used to attach the undergarment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Geller Rosenfeld, Pramod Shantaram Mavinkurve, Henri Brisebois, Roger Boulanger