Patents Examined by Jacqueline F. Stephens
  • Patent number: 10722408
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a wearable article continuous in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction comprising a main body comprising an outer cover layer at the most garment-facing side and a backsheet attached to the skin-facing surface of the outer cover layer, wherein the main body has a front waist panel, a back waist panel and a crotch panel between the front waist panel and the back waist panel, and wherein the longitudinal length of the outer cover layer is longer than the longitudinal length of the crotch panel and shorter than the longitudinal length of the backsheet; a ring-like belt comprising a front belt and a back belt, wherein each of the front belt and the back belt comprises an inner sheet, an outer sheet and a plurality of elastic strands sandwiched therebetween; a front waist graphic region disposed on the front waist panel where the outer cover layer is absent, and a back waist graphic region disposed on the back waist panel where the outer cover layer is absent, whe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Koichi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 10716717
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article having a facing layer joined to a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the facing layer and the backsheet, is described herein. The facing layer is a composite material having a plurality of apertures extending through the facing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Lee Hammons, Susan Nicole Lloyd, Stewart Lawrence Taub
  • Patent number: 10709806
    Abstract: A biodegradable, disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper, having a non-woven inner layer of natural fibers and a non-woven outer layer of natural fibers and a treatment applied to at least one surface thereof. The treatment includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of waxes, urethanes, silicones, fluorocarbons, and non-fluorochemical repellents. The absorbent article has a core of natural fibers or fibrous material, and optionally polyacrylate superabsorbent particles, positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. The article may contain polylactic acid films between the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Everyone's Earth Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole M. Richards, Thomas C. Kallish
  • Patent number: 10702419
    Abstract: Dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed, in some embodiments, that involve treating a tissue site with reduced pressure. In one embodiment, a reduced-pressure dressing may include a dressing bolster, a retention pouch, and a sealing member. The dressing bolster may be adapted to apply a compressive force to the tissue site capable of closing a wound or incision therein. The retention pouch may be adapted to retain and manage fluid extracted from the tissue site to keep the tissue site substantially free of fluid and to prevent clogging of the reduced-pressure dressing. The sealing member may provide a seal over the retention pouch, the dressing bolster, and a portion of the epidermis of the patient. Other dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Colin John Hall
  • Patent number: 10702428
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of providing a disposable product with a contoured leg opening. In this method at least one chip is removed from at least one ear of a disposable product. The chip may be removed from an ear prior to attaching the ear to the chassis web. Alternatively, the chip may be removed from the ear after the ear is attached to the chassis web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. McCabe, Jeffrey W. Fritz, Robert E. Andrews
  • Patent number: 10702424
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a wearable article comprising a front region, a back region, a crotch region, and a main body covering the entire crotch region and at least part of the front and back regions, wherein at least one of the front and back regions comprises a first graphic provided by a first material, and a second graphic provided by a second material wherein the first material and the second material differ from each other, and the first and second graphics are not disposed in the main body. The present disclosure is also directed to a wearable article comprising a main body covering the entire crotch region and at least part of the front and back regions, wherein at least one of the front and back regions comprises a first graphic provided by a first material which is liquid when applied to provide the first graphic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Koichi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 10695230
    Abstract: A tampon applicator barrel includes an insertion tip at a forward end of the barrel, a main body section that extends from the insertion tip, and a reverse taper section that is joined to the main body section so that the main body section is between the insertion tip and the reverse taper section. The main body section tapers toward the insertion tip section. The reverse taper section tapers in a direction away from the insertion tip section. A finger grip section extends from the reverse taper section to a plunger receiving end of the barrel opposite the forward end. The barrel is straight from the forward end to the plunger receiving end that receives a plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: EDGEWELL PERSONAL CARE BRANDS, LLC
    Inventors: Jessica LeMay, Kathryn Bennett, Keith Edgett, Dane Jackson, Mario Turchi, Susanne Weber
  • Patent number: 10687989
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable wearing article which can effectively prevent lateral leakage of body exudates by planarly fitting an outer flap positioned laterally outside of an absorbent core included in an absorbent panel on the body of a wearer with the outer flap pulled laterally outside of the article. In the article, the absorbent panel includes the absorbent core extending to front and rear waist regions centering on a crotch region and a pair of outer flaps extending laterally outside of the absorbent core. At least the front waist region of the front and rear waist regions includes a waist elastic area which is elastically contractible in the lateral direction and a pair of elastic strips which is elastically contractible, and the elastic strips each have an outer fixing end fixed on the body facing surface of the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mari Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10687992
    Abstract: An absorptive device includes a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core between the topsheet and the backsheet, and an acquisition distribution layer between the topsheet and the absorbent core. The acquisition distribution layer includes a formed film having a plurality of lands that contact a bottom surface of the topsheet and define an irregular array of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: TREDEGAR FILM PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Paul Eugene Thomas
  • Patent number: 10687993
    Abstract: An absorbent hygiene article for placement in underwear is provided, including a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet is of a translucent material and is provided with a colored pattern defining at least one background region and at least one colored region having a first inherent color. The topsheet-facing side of the backsheet has a second color; and a background region located in an inner area has a higher L*-value than a background region located in the edge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Marcus Rudén, Stina Lindlöf, Peter Rönnberg
  • Patent number: 10675194
    Abstract: An absorbent article has a planar direction and a thickness direction. The absorbent article includes a volatile first functional component, a volatile second functional component, water-disintegrable microcapsules that contain the second functional component, and a solvent that keeps the second functional component contained inside the microcapsules. Between a liquid-permeable layer and an absorption layer, the absorbent article has functional composition coated regions that extend in the planar direction and that are coated with the functional composition, and has adhesive coated regions that extend in the planar direction and that are coated with an adhesive. The adhesive coated regions have an adhesive region that directly or indirectly joins the liquid-permeable payer and the absorption layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Kudo, Toshiyuki Tanio, Yuji Takahashi, Asami Shima, Tomoyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 10675187
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core having at least two longitudinally extending channel-forming areas and a wetness indicator. The core wrap comprises a top side and a bottom side, which are attached to each other through areas substantially free of absorbent material, so that when the absorbent material swells upon absorption of a liquid the core wrap forms channels along these areas substantially free of absorbent material. The wetness indicator is placed between the channel-forming areas or between at least one channel-forming area and at least one longitudinally extending side edge of the article, as seen for the exterior of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Laveeta Joseph
  • Patent number: 10667962
    Abstract: A patterned apertured web is disclosed. The patterned apertured web includes a plurality of land areas in the patterned apertured web and a plurality of apertures defined in the patterned apertured web. At least some land areas of the plurality of land areas surround at least some apertures of the plurality of apertures. The patterned apertured web has an Effective Open Area in the range of about 3% to about 30%, according to the Aperture Test herein. The patterned apertured web has a plurality of Interaperture Distances, according to the Aperture Test herein. The Interaperture Distances have a distribution having a median and a mean, wherein the mean is different than the median. The plurality of apertures include a first set of apertures defining a first shape and a second set of apertures defining a second shape. The first shape is positioned within the second shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Timothy Ian Mullane, Kelyn Anne Arora, Jill Marlene Orr, Donald Carroll Roe, Jennifer Schutte, John Brian Strube, Ann Cecilia Tapp, Rachael Eden Walther, Amanda Margaret Bicking, Jennifer Lynn Dusold, Margaret Elizabeth Porter
  • Patent number: 10646384
    Abstract: As absorbent article for absorbing urine includes a topsheet which is a nonwoven fabric that has a skin-side surface having projections formed thereon. The content by percentage of fibers oriented in the thickness direction in each projection of the nonwoven fabric is greater than the content by percentage of fibers oriented in the thickness direction in sections of the nonwoven fabric other than the projections. The thickness of the nonwoven fabric when wet is greater than or equal to 85% the thickness of the nonwoven fabric when dry. The nonwoven fabric includes a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer. The first fiber layer is constituted by durable hydrophilic fibers, and the second fiber layer is constituted by durable hydrophilic fibers and non-durable hydrophilic fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayako Moriya, Hideyuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10639216
    Abstract: A disposable diaper having front and rear augmented waistband zones having a specified size and stiffness is disclosed. For relatively thinner, less bulky diapers of currently marketed designs, providing augmented waistband zones is believed to reduce mental and physical effort for the caregiver in application of the diaper. The augmented waistband zones provide a robust-feeling structure proximate the waist edges, which the caregiver may grasp at front and rear to adjust the diaper on the wearer. Caregiver perception of a need to reach deeper into the diaper structure to grasp it at a thicker area to tug at it is believed to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Astrid Annette Sheehan
  • Patent number: 10639212
    Abstract: An absorbent article having improved softness signals is disclosed. The article may include a topsheet or a backsheet including a nonwoven web. The web may have a basis weight of 30 gsm or less, may be formed of spunlaid fibers including polyolefin and up to 5 percent by weight TiO2, and may be impressed with a pattern of bond impressions to a bond area percentage of at least 10 percent forming a pattern of bonded regions and raised regions. The web may have opacity of 42 or greater; have an average height difference between bonded regions and raised regions of at least 280 ?m; be hydroengorged; and/or have a cross-machine direction tensile strength of 350 gf/cm. A nonwoven web manufactured to have a suitable combination of such features exhibits an enhanced appearance of softness, soft tactile feel and satisfactory mechanical attributes, while being relatively cost effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ronald Kanya, W. Andrew Coslett, John C. Parsons, Antonius Lambertus De Beer
  • Patent number: 10632029
    Abstract: An absorbent core for use in an absorbent article is provided and comprises a core wrap enclosing an absorbent material, the absorbent material comprising superabsorbent polymer particles. The superabsorbent polymer particles represent less than 85% by weight based on the total weight of the absorbent material. The core wrap comprises a top side and a bottom side, the absorbent core comprises one or more area(s) substantially free of absorbent material through which the top side of the core wrap is attached to the bottom side of the core wrap, so that when the absorbent material swells the core wrap forms one or more channel(s) along the area(s) substantially free of absorbent material. The superabsorbent polymer particles have a value of Absorption Against Pressure (AAP) of at least 22 g/g according to the Absorption Against Pressure Test Method and a bulk density of at least 0.5 g/ml according to the Bulk Density Test Method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Juliane Kamphus
  • Patent number: 10624800
    Abstract: A fixing member including a sheet-like base member 21 and a surface fastener 30 provided on the base member 21 is disclosed. The surface fastener 30 covers a surface of the base member 21 at a position separated from a tip end 21E1 of the base member 21 in a wrap-around direction, and minimum bending stiffness of the fixing member 20 as determined via a bending test using a Gurley tester being 150 mgf or less when measured using a test piece cut from a portion where the surface fastener 30 is provided. The surface S1 on the surface fastener 30 side of the portion 21a on the tip end 21E1 side of the surface fastener 30 of the base member 21 is a surface with reduced engagement with the surface fastener 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Matsuda, Kristopher K. Biegler, Ryan M. Luepke, Thomas J. Gilbert, Hiroshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10588794
    Abstract: An elastic panel for use in an absorbent article including a first nonwoven web layer, a second nonwoven web layer and an elastomeric film layer disposed between the first and second nonwoven layers. At least one of the first and second nonwoven web layers includes at least one group of folded portions. Each folded portion includes a first fold line and a second fold line so that the folded portion is divided into a proximal section, a distal section and a medial section disposed between the proximal and distal sections. The proximal section is directly attached to the elastomeric film layer and the medial and distal sections are not directly attached to the elastomeric film layer so that the folded portions extend to allow the web panel to stretch elastically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: First Quality Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Pierluigi Cappellini
  • Patent number: 10583053
    Abstract: An absorbent article. The absorbent article includes a topsheet having a body contacting surface, a backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core has an upper layer and a lower layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Miguel Alvaro Robles, Bruce William Lavash, Sion Agami