Patents Examined by Jamisue Webb
  • Patent number: 6627791
    Abstract: A resilient, three dimensional, perforated plastic webs which allow passage of water vapor and preferably air, and are resistant to the transmission of aqueous fluids at least in one direction. According to the present invention the perforated plastic webs consist of a liquid impervious polymeric film having open and closed capillaries. More than half of the capillaries are closed and preferably shorter than the capillaries with aperatures, and provide the resilient three dimensional web with an increased resistance crush and to collapse the capillaries under compression. The resilient, three dimensional, perforated plastic webs can be used as one of the layers of a backsheet in an absorbent articles, such as, sanitary napkins, pantiliners. baby diapers, adult incontinence, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Paolo Veglio, Luigi Marinelli, Amedeo Franco D'Incecco, Giovanni Carlucci, Carmine Cimini
  • Patent number: 6627790
    Abstract: “A collection device for self-collecting bodily substances can take the form of a sanitary napkin comprising a porous outer sleeve opened at one end thereof and including upper and lower sheets. The lower sheet is outwardly provided with an impermeable sheet coated with an adhesive covered with a removable protective peel-off strip. The sanitary napkin comprises between the upper and lower sheets an absorbent layer and a removable sampling filter. The filter is slidably received in the outer sleeve, extends between the upper sheet and the absorbent layer and is removable from the sanitary napkin once bodily substances have collected thereon for being then sealingly packaged and stored until its analysis. The sampling strip can also be made more or less integral with the sanitary napkin such that the complete napkin is forwarded by the end user to the laboratory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Exy-Detek (EDI) Inc.
    Inventors: CĂ©line Bouchard, Carol Morin, Michel Fortier
  • Patent number: 6623468
    Abstract: A disposable sanitary article having elastic members extending to be associated with leg-openings secured under tension to the article along transversely opposite side edge portions of the sanitary article. The transversely opposite side edge portions respectively have first elastic zones extending across a crotch region in the longitudinal direction along a desired length, second elastic zones extending from the first elastic zones into a front waist region along a desired length and third elastic zones extending from the first elastic zones into a rear waist region along a desired length. The sections of the elastic members extending along the second elastic zones and the third elastic zones has values of stretch stress represented by a relationship of the second elastic zones<the third elastic zones or the third elastic zones<the second elastic zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Nariaki Shimoe
  • Patent number: 6624341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles such as baby diapers or sanitary napkins having a breathable yet liquid leakage retarding backsheet which comprises an inner and an outer layer. The inner layer being closer to the absorbent structure of the article is a formed film with directional liquid transport characteristics while the outer layer is a fibrous fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Co.
    Inventors: Michael Depner, Michael Divo
  • Patent number: 6623465
    Abstract: An absorbent article that includes a topsheet, a backsheet that is at least partially joined to the topsheet and an absorbent core that lies between the topsheet and the backsheet are described. A water activatable adhesive that, when activated, can adhere to a wearer's skin is also deposited on at least part of the absorbent article is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald C. Roe, Mark J. Kline
  • Patent number: 6620146
    Abstract: The garment of the present invention has a waist region for fitting around a wearer's waist and a crotch region that extends between the wearer's legs. Shaping elastics are attached to the garment in one or more regions to cause the wearer's body to take on a more desirable shape, and may improve the comfort of the garment. Thus equipped, the garment may also provide physically therapeutic benefits to a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernadette Mary Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6616644
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin provided on its upper surface along transversely opposite side portions with a pair of barrier flaps, respectively. Each of the barrier straps are stretchable outward transversely of the napkin and so that a wearer's thighs and peripheral edges of an undergarment adjacent leg-openings are protected from being soiled with body liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 6613954
    Abstract: Provided are highly dispersible absorbent products, comprising an absorbent structure and preferably a water soluble barrier layer, wherein the absorbent products have a high rate of dispersibility, can exhibit low residual by-product in urinals upon flushing, resist strikethrough of absorbed fluid onto the hand of the user, and can absorb a sufficient amount of fluid without becoming overloaded or leaking. In one embodiment, provided is a ring rolled cellulosic sheet having a water soluble polymeric film laminated thereto. Also provided is a method of making such dispersible absorbent products comprising mechanically weakening an absorbent structure. Also provided are packaged products comprising a package and a plurality of dispersible absorbent products or articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: James Cameron Horney, Mark Dawson Midkiff
  • Patent number: 6610904
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a topsheet and an absorbent core material. The acquisition distribution layer is located between the topsheet and the absorbent core material. The acquisition distribution layer is made of a three dimensional apertured. film that defines a large void volume space between the acquisition distribution layer and the absorbent core material. The acquisition distribution layer provides high void volume for lateral spillage during repeated insult moments because the topsheet, which is in contact with the user, is held away from dispersing fluid that is unabsorbed by saturated core material. The void volume space provides a pathway for unabsorbed fluid to flow over the top plane of saturated core regions to. unsaturated regions of the core material for absorption. The void volume space allows this migration of fluid to occur without the fluid coming into contact with the topsheet, thereby avoiding a feeling of wetness for a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Eugene Thomas, Thomas Patrick Marsh
  • Patent number: 6603053
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet, of which the surface to be in contact with the skin of a wearer has a mixture layer. The mixture layer includes (a) an oily ingredient which is liquid or semi-solid at 25° C., and (b) an ester compound of dextrin with a fatty acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Hisanaka
  • Patent number: 6596920
    Abstract: An absorbent swimwear garment having a fluid draining mechanism included in the layers of the garment. The swimwear garment includes a body side liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent assembly between the body side liner and the outer cover. Between the absorbent assembly and the outer cover is a layer of water-dispersible material, such as a film or a nonwoven web, coated on a surface facing the absorbent assembly with a barrier coating. During initial product use, the absorbent swimwear garment is able to contain urine and bowel movements, similar to ordinary diapers and training pants. When the swimwear garment is submersed in swim water, such as pool or lake water, the water-dispersible material becomes soluble and allows swim water, but not bowel movements, to drain out through the outer cover of the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason K. Wehner, John E. Kerins
  • Patent number: 6595976
    Abstract: A disposable pull-on diaper includes a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. In any one of front and rear waist regions of the diaper, second elastic members are disposed between the core and the backsheet to extend under tension circumferentially of the waist region and secured to the inner surface of the backsheet only at their portions extending outward beyond transversely opposite side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corp.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Jitoe, Nariaki Shimoe, Yoshinori Kumasaka
  • Patent number: 6585712
    Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a support body for confronting an external wear; a liquid absorbing member positioned on the liquid-receiving side of the support body; and two side wall sheets disposed on two sides of the support body lying opposite one another in the widthwise direction. The side wall sheets extend longitudinally of the support body and are attached at their root ends to the support body. The liquid absorbing member is attached between and supported by the opposite side wall sheets but is not attached directly to the support body so that the liquid absorbing member is movable over the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Yoshimasa
  • Patent number: 6586654
    Abstract: An absorbent article aritcle for women includes an absorbent body which is sandwiched between a liquid-permeable outer sheet and a liquid-impermeable outer sheet. The article has a front part, which is intended to face forwards when the article is worn, and a rear part. The absorbent body has a length of 140-260 mm and tapers rearwardly from a section of greatest width situated in the front part of the article to the end of the rear part of the article. The absorbent body has a widest width of 60-80 mm in its front part, and a smallest width of 5-20 mm in its rear end, and includes a layer of dry-formed cellulose fibers having a density of at least 250 g/dm3 and extending over essentially the whole surface of the absorbent body, out to the front and side edges of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Solgun Drevik
  • Patent number: 6585713
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a garment having opposite waist regions separated by a crotch region. At least one of the waist regions includes an expansion panel adapted to elongate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the garment. The absorbent article also includes a pair of elastomeric strap members that are adapted to attach to the waist regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn Kirkpatrick LeMahieu, David Arthur Fell, Sarah Jane Marie Freiburger, Marianne Keevill Leick, Michael Tod Morman
  • Patent number: 6576809
    Abstract: A backsheet of a disposable diaper comprises a stretched plastic film containing grains of inorganic filler wherein the backsheet presents surfaces roughed by the presence of the grains and has a moisture permeability of 800-3000 g/m2·24 hr and a total light transmissivity of 60-85%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Inoue, Naoto Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6575952
    Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a thin incontinence pad or pantyliner, is disclosed which has a multilayered absorbent core for providing protection against involuntary urine loss. The absorbent article includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner, a liquid-impermeable baffle, and first and second absorbents positioned between the liner and the baffle. The first absorbent is a stabilized material containing a superabsorbent and has a predetermined basis weight. The second absorbent is positioned below the first absorbent and contains a different superabsorbent from the superabsorbent present in the first absorbent. The second absorbent has a basis weight that is equal or greater than the basis weight of the first absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Rex Kirk, Jody Dorothy Suprise
  • Patent number: 6572600
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet joined with at least a portion of the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between at least a portion of the topsheet and the backsheet; and an adhesive capable of adhering of the absorbent article to the skin of the wearer during use or a portion of the absorbent article to itself during use. The adhesive is deactivatable by the wearer or caregiver to facilitate easy and comfortable removal of the product from the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald C. Roe, Mattias Schmidt, Patrick J. Allen, Mark J. Kline, Namy M. King
  • Patent number: 6572601
    Abstract: A prefastened disposable absorbent article includes a pair of primary fasteners which are located on the opposed side edges in one the waist regions of the article. The primary fasteners overlap and releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent article to provide the prefastened absorbent article. The prefastened disposable absorbent article further includes at least one secondary fastener and a belt which are configured to provide a pretensioned waistband and are capable of elongating to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent article to further conform the waist regions of the article to a wearer's body after the article has been pulled on over the hips of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Dorothy Suprise, Gary Lee Travis
  • Patent number: 6570055
    Abstract: An apertured film cover for an absorbent article is disclosed. The cover has an additive combination comprising a hydrophilic agent and a lyophilic agent applied thereto. The additive combination provides surprisingly improved fluid transfer across the cover. It can also provide a benefit by reducing frictional forces during the manufacture of a tampon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc
    Inventors: Ching-Yun Morris Yang, Dietmar Van Loyen, Anthony DiSalvo