Patents Examined by Dennis Ruhl
  • Patent number: 6540730
    Abstract: A brief assembly with a full front panel opening and an inner elasticized support panel includes two half width segments superposed in overlapping relationship, with a portion of the overlapped central area between rear portions of the segments bonded to form a unitary rear panel. The other half of the overlap is left unbonded to provide the full opening in the front panel. The outer margin of the opening can be reinforced by enclosure within a V-folded strip. Portions of outer side margins on each segment are removed to form an hourglass-shape. Overlapped segments are held together by a releasable fastener means that joins the two front panel half width segments. Tensioned elastic strands are attached to a support panel at spaced intervals. The support panel is secured to the inner surface of the overlapped segments. Tapes or other fasteners protrude from the side margins and are used to complete the waist and leg apertures after the front half is folded upward around a user's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: William P. Niedermeyer
  • Patent number: 6541679
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to reducing the build up or accretion of adhesive, alone or in combination with other materials, on the surfaces of equipment used to ultrasonically treat a workpiece (e.g., ultrasonically bonding various components or pieces to one another.) Thus the invention encompasses composites, absorbent products, and methods of making said composites and products where an adhesive composition having certain identified properties is used to reduce the build up or accretion of the adhesive on ultrasonic bonding equipment. In one embodiment of the invention, a composite includes an adhesive having a capillary-viscosity value of about 7 Pas.sec or greater and a Shore-OO-Hardness value of about 65 or greater, whereby the relative accretion value is less than about 1, and more particularly less than about 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwode, Inc.
    Inventors: Chinmay Suresh Betrabet, Davis Dang Hoang Nhan
  • Patent number: 6540729
    Abstract: A men's disposable urine holding bag that includes a base sheet which is intermittently bonded to define a bond zone along transversely opposite side edges thereof which edges are placed flat together so as to define an opening for receiving a penis. A body fluid absorbent panel is attached to an inner side of the base sheet. The bond zone has a water pressure resistance of about 50 to 1500 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Wada, Kozo Abe, Noriyuki Kurita
  • 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: 6533764
    Abstract: Apparatus for instilling a medicament into an eye includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and a chamber disposed in the housing for containing a medicament. A nozzle is provided for instilling a dose of medicament into an eye and an actuator meters doses of medicament from the chamber to the nozzle and forces each metered dose through the nozzle upon axial displacement of the actuator along housing longitudinal axis. A spring causes the axial displacement of the actuator upon release of the spring from a compressed state. A collar disposed for rotation about the housing longitudinal axis is provided by compressing the spring by twisting the collar about the housing longitudinal axis and a trigger disposed in a housing is provided for releasing the compressed spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Haffner, Patrick A. Myall, Bill Evans
  • Patent number: 6533771
    Abstract: Provided is a sanitary tampon including an absorbent wrapped by a liquid-pervious sheet. The absorbent is a mass of a plurality of compressed, small fiber agglomerations. At least the small fiber agglomerations located in the peripheral region of the absorbent are bonded to each other via hydrogen bonding therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Ayami Suga, Mitsuhiro Wada
  • Patent number: 6533748
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tampon applicator, comprising an elongated outer cylinder, a tampon contained therein and a plunger by which the tampon can be pushed out through a forward delivery opening of the outer cylinder. In order to facilitate handling the applicator is, on the rearward end, opposite to the delivery opening (12), provided with a recess (6) extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the applicator, the cross-sectional contour of the recess (6) being shaped to receive a finger in a finger seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson GmbH
    Inventor: Herve Buzot
  • Patent number: 6530374
    Abstract: Air filter device comprising at least one filter element provided with means in the form of a mouthpiece allowing the user to grip and retain the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Fausto Ferraro
  • 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: 6526973
    Abstract: According to the invention, methods and devices for increasing cardiopulmonary circulation induced by chest compression and decompression when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation are provided. Cardiopulmonary circulation is increased according to the invention by impeding airflow into a patient's lungs to enhance the extent and duration of negative intrathoracic pressure during decompression of the patient's chest. Enhanced extent and duration of negative of intrathoracic pressure thus promotes venous blood flow into the heart and lungs from the peripheral venous vasculature. In one embodiment, impeding the airflow into the patient's lungs is accomplished by placing a ventilation tube in the patient's airway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: CPRX LLC
    Inventors: Keith G. Lurie, Michael Sweeney, Barbara Gold
  • Patent number: 6528698
    Abstract: Provided is an absorbent article including a back sheet, an absorbent layer, and a top sheet covering at least the absorbent layer. The top sheet includes a fiber layer, and a resin layer which is applied to the surface of the fiber layer in a plurality of band-shaped rows. At least one of the rows is a discontinuous row composed of discontinuous band-shaped portions arranged at a spacing in the axial direction of the row. The area not having the resin layer between adjacent discontinuous band-shaped portions in the axial direction of the row is located at least in the region covering the absorbent layer. Accordingly, the top sheet is liquid-permeable between the adjacent rows and in the area not having the resin layer between adjacent discontinuous band-shaped portions in the axial direction of the row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Akiko Ota, Tatsuya Tamura
  • Patent number: 6526966
    Abstract: The present invention is a nebulizer for infants which provides a respirable gas to an infant while the infant is suckling. The respirable gas may be oxygen or a respirable gas containing a medication. In a first series of embodiments, a feeding bottle is provided so that the infant may bottle feed. In a second preferred embodiment, a pacifier is provided so that the infant may suckle while the respirable gas is administered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: Marorji R. Peesay
  • Patent number: 6527734
    Abstract: A system for facilitating hemostasis of a puncture site in a blood vessel injects an absorbable sponge pledget in a hydrated state to a position at an exterior of the blood vessel puncture to facilitate hemostasis. The system includes a tract dilator for locating the puncture, an introducer, and a pusher. The introducer includes a staging chamber for receiving the absorbent sponge pledget and a delivery chamber having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the staging chamber into which a hydrated pledget passes. The pledget is hydrated and compressed within the introducer and then ejected with the pusher to the delivery site to facilitate hemostasis of the blood vessel puncture. The system delivers the absorbable sponge pledget over a guidewire to ensure the proper positioning of the pledget over the puncture. The implanted absorbable sponge once delivered expands rapidly to fill the target site and is absorbed by the body over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Sub-Q, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Cragg, Rodney Brenneman, Mark Ashby, Eduardo Chi Sing
  • Patent number: 6524288
    Abstract: A drainage reservoir support assembly for supporting a reservoir of a medical drainage device inserted in a body of a user. The drainage reservoir support assembly includes at least one container for containing the reservoir of a medical drainage device. A first end of the container includes an access opening for providing access to an interior of the container. In one embodiment of the present invention, the reservoir of the medical drainage device is removably insertable in the interior of the container. A strap is provided for removably supporting the container from the neck of a user. The strap includes a first end and a second end with each of the ends of the strap being mounted on a peripheral wall of the container such that the strap forms a loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventor: Michelle Hadley-Fruit
  • 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: 6524292
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a multi-layer material having a front section, a back section and an intermediate section connecting the front section and the back section, wherein the multi-layer material comprises a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least one three-dimensional resilient fluid-filled chamber is disposed in the absorbent layer or between at least a portion of the absorbent layer and the backsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph DiPalma, Alexander M. Schmidt-Foerst
  • Patent number: 6524291
    Abstract: The invention relates to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence guard, or a panty-liner, which article has a substantially elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and also exhibits two side edges (9, 10), a front edge (11) and a rear edge (12), a front portion (6) and a rear portion (7), and a crotch portion (8) situated between the front portion (6) and the rear portion (7), which article furthermore exhibits a liquid-impervious surface (2) and a liquid-impervious surface (3). At least within the front portion (6) and the crotch portion (8), the article exhibits high bending stiffness against bending along transversely extending bending lines, whereby the front portion (6) and the crotch portion (8) of the article exhibit high shape permanence during use of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Camilla Björklund, Urban Widlund, Ann Samuelsson, Solgun Drevik, Anders Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 6525240
    Abstract: An unitary stratified composite composed of a first stratum and a second stratum integrally connected by a transition zone is disclosed. The first stratum serves as a liquid acquisition stratum that rapidly acquires and then transfers liquid to the second stratum. The second stratum serves to withdraw liquid from the first stratum and further serves as a temporary storage stratum. Methods for forming the unitary stratified composite are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Peter A. Graef, Colin Elston, Daniel T. Bunker, Fred B. Howard, Jeffrey D. Mathews, Shahrokh A. Naieni, Charles E. Miller
  • Patent number: 6524287
    Abstract: Apparatus for instilling a medicament into an eye includes a housing, a reservoir, disposed in the housing and movable therein along a longitudinal axis, for containing a medicament and a nozzle disposed for instilling a dose of the medicament into an eye. An actuator is disposed between the reservoir and the nozzle for metering doses of medicament from the reservoir to the nozzle and forcing each metered dose through said nozzle upon acceleration of said actuator. A spring causes longitudinal displacement of the reservoir toward a housing rear upon release of the spring from a compressed state and a depressible button disposed at the housing rear that moves the reservoir in a forward direction toward a housing front to cause compression of said spring. A trigger, disposed in the housing releases the compressed spring and causes rearward movement of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Medical Optics
    Inventor: John J. Cogger
  • 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