Patents Examined by Larry I. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 7083569
    Abstract: An ostomy cartridge for use in host device in a mammal includes a body formed at elastomeric partially of polymeric material and a stem. The stem is secured to the body and is operable to permit insertion of the body into the host device and removal of the body from the host device. The stem and the body cooperate with one another and the host device to prevent flow of liquid and solid waste through the host device to the exterior of the mammal with which the host device is associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Zassi Medical Evolutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Boulanger, Peter M. von Dyck, Steven White
  • Patent number: 7077834
    Abstract: A pant-like disposable garment for absorbing human discharge is disclosed. The pant-like garment includes a front panel, a back panel, and an absorbent assembly. The absorbent assembly includes a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent positioned therebetween. The absorbent assembly further including a pair of end edges and is secured to the front panel and to the back panel. The front and back panels are joined together by a pair of seams to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The garment also includes a pair of perforation lines formed in the front panel with each being aligned non-parallel to one of the seams. The garment further includes a pair of attachment members which overlap the pair of perforation lines. The pair of perforation lines and the pair of attachment members function to allow the waist opening to be easily opened and closed more than once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Fleger Bishop, Bridget Ann Balogh, Mary Jo Meyer
  • Patent number: 7066917
    Abstract: A kit includes all the materials necessary for oral gastric lavage in a single pouch. The components, many of which are common hospital supplies, may thus be pre-selected to work together in critical applications and to resist clogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: Anthony R. Talamonti
  • Patent number: 7037301
    Abstract: A disposable body fluid absorbent wearing article such as a disposable diaper includes elastic members 12 associated with leg-holes each having a plurality of elastic members which are placed along cutouts of side flaps 6 to surround a wearer's thighs. The elastic members 12 associated with the leg-holes are converged into respective single bundles along first elastic zones S of a crotch region 10 and diverged in second and third elastic zones F, B extending forward and backward from the first elastic zones S so that the elastic members 12 associated with the leg-holes may have a tensile stress not higher along the first elastic zones S than in the second and third elastic zones F, B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Ohashi, Nariaki Shimoe
  • Patent number: 7033340
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable absorbent article which does not substantially impact the surface tension of the acquired liquid and thus allows to combine good liquid acquisition performance with a liquid handling structure having large open pores. The disposable absorbent article of the present invention comprises the topsheet, a backsheet, the liquid storage structure intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet and a liquid handling structure intermediate the topsheet and the liquid storage structure. The liquid handling structure and features large open pores in order to readily accept high viscosity liquids such as faces as well as low viscosity liquids such as urine. The various components of the absorbent article of the present invention do not substantially reduce the surface tension of the acquired liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andreas Muscat, Mattias Schmidt, Carola Elke Beatrice Olschewski
  • Patent number: 6997915
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin has a strip that extends rearwardly to reside in the intergluteal crevice. The pad is sized and configured to fit snugly against the wearer's body without penetrating the vaginal orifice. The strip provides improved body contact thus providing similar protection with a smaller pad and a discretion benefit to the user. The invention provides various alternative mechanisms for varying the length of the strip by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Carol B. Gell, Safiyya Shabazz-Houston, James P. Barr, Tara Glasgow, Raymond J. Hull, Jr., Marina Nikitina, Pramod S. Mavinkurve, Kenneth Anthony Pelley, Kendra S. Rose, Martha Taylor
  • Patent number: 6994702
    Abstract: A modified vacuum assisted wound closure system adapted for concurrent applications of phototherapy having a foam pad for insertion substantially into the wound site and a wound drape for sealing enclosure of the foam pad at the wound site. The foam pad includes an optical pigtail, whereby desired wavelength of light may be directed into and about the wound site. The foam pad is placed in fluid communication with a vacuum source for promotion of fluid drainage. The foam pad is made of a highly reticulated, open-cell polyurethane or polyether foam for good permeability of wound fluids while under suction and is also embedded with an optical pigtail. The optical pigtail comprises an optical fiber that has been formed to fan into a plurality of sections. The fibers of the most distal fanned sections, which are implanted in the foam pad at its base, are provided with tiny optical slots, oriented away from the foam pad and toward the wound site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventor: Royce W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6991622
    Abstract: Inventive disposable underpants are provided with an underpants member formed of a first sheet as an outermost layer and a second sheet located inside the first sheet; an absorbent member provided on the second sheet at the inner side of the underpants member; and a trunk fittable elastic member for fitting the trunk tightly held between the first and second sheets, wherein absorbent member fixing sheets each folded to form an upper and a lower portions are transversely arranged below the absorbent member, and the upper portions of the absorbent member fixing sheets are joined with a lower surface of the absorbent member, whereas the lower portions thereof are joined with an upper surface of the second sheet. Thus, even if the disposable underpants were formed using a thin absorbent member, the absorbent member could suppress a lateral leak of urine without being twisted while the disposable underpants were worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakaoka, Masaru Fujioka, Satoshi Maeda, Kazuyo Mori
  • Patent number: 6989006
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article adapted to be worn about a lower torso of a human body and having a chassis, a non-removable absorbent core component disposed in a crotch region of the chassis, and one or more replaceable absorbent core component or components disposed in capillary liquid communication with the non-removable absorbent core component. The replaceable absorbent core component may be removed and a like component may be substituted in place of the removed component without the removal of the absorbent article from the wearer. The replaceable absorbent core component may be disposed inside an openable chassis pocket, with access for its removal and replacement provided by an aperture in a garment-facing layer, an openable end of an external pocket, or an openable end of an internal pocket formed at an area of a waist end edge where the garment-facing layer and a wearer-facing layer may be separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean Lavon, Gerald Alfred Young, Theodora Beck
  • Patent number: 6987210
    Abstract: A protective undergarment including an integrally formed undergarment body formed of a liquid impermeable material, and an absorptive pad associated with the integrally formed undergarment body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: TamiCare Ltd.
    Inventor: Tamar Giloh
  • Patent number: 6986762
    Abstract: Provided is a sanitary panty having a waist band in a waist part, leg bands in leg openings, and a napkin fitting portion in a crotch part. In a three-dimensionally shaped condition as worn, a dimensional ratio between a center front length from the crotch part to the waist part and a minimum total length from the leg opening to the waist part is in a range of 80 to 200 in the total length, as taking that the center front length is 100. In a back part, an elastic lifting member extending from the crotch part to the waist part is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Wada, Ayami Suga
  • Patent number: 6984225
    Abstract: Method for directed drainage of fluids emerging in a localized manner, and further absorbent article which comprises: a front region; a rear region; a central region between the front and rear regions; an upper layer permeable to body fluids and which faces the body of the user when the absorbent article is in use; a lower layer impervious to body fluids and which is remote from the body of the user when the absorbent article is in use; a fluid-distribution layer disposed between the fluid-permeable layer and the impervious layer, the fluid-distribution layer extending from the front region to the rear region; and a fluid-storage layer disposed between the lower layer and the fluid-distribution layer. The absorbent article comprises one or more transport layers transferring fluid from the fluid-distribution layer at least into the part of the fluid-storage layer located in the front and/or rear region of the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hakle-Kimberly Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Maria Raidel, Franz Aschenbrenner
  • Patent number: 6981289
    Abstract: An external change aid having engaging means which can engage with a landing member on an absorbent article and having a specific peel force and/or shear force when engaged with such an absorbent article. Also provided are combinations of such external change aids and absorbent articles and methods for applying an absorbent article by use of the external change aid. Also provided are external change aids having specifically designed engaging means structures and absorbent articles with specifically designed engaging means structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Joerg Mueller, Mattias Schmidt, Lars Westerheide, Mark James Kline
  • Patent number: 6979324
    Abstract: A portable closed wound drainage system that uses a pouch shaped dressing which is inserted into a wound. At least a portion of the outer surface of the pouch is porous to allow exudates to enter. Exudates are removed from the pouch by flexible tubing which is secured inside the pouch at one end, and secured at the other end to a portable drain/suction unit. The pouch contains porous material, and may optionally contain beads and fillers which are antibacterial in nature. The tubing can have a single or multi-lumen structure with perforations in the side walls of the end of the tube that is inserted in the pouch to allow body fluids to enter laterally. The portable drain/suction unit is preferably a portable battery powered device. The pouch and the tube are sealed by a flexible sealing material which is applied to the outer surface of the skin around the periphery of the pouch and the tubing as it exits the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: NeoGen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Farhad Bybordi, John J. Biggie, Lydia B. Biggie, John A. Dawson
  • Patent number: 6976978
    Abstract: A disposable pant garment is made from a web by joining front and back side panels attached to the garment chassis. The side panels have diagonal edges in order to result in side seams on the garment which run diagonally on the garment side. This diagonal side seam provides superior fit and releasability, especially in the case of refastenable side seams such as may be used for training pants. One or more of the side panels may be constructed from a plurality of pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcille Faye Ruman, Kathleen Irene Ratliff
  • Patent number: 6976977
    Abstract: A drainage device comprising an improved vacuum regulator assembly is disclosed which includes an adjustable knob for indicating the degree of vacuum being applied to the device from a number of incident viewing angles. Similarly, a vacuum indicator assembly is provided for indicating the presence or absence of vacuum being applied to drainage device. The indicator assembly provides an indication of vacuum inside drainage device from many viewing angles and includes a base defining a recess having a slanted surface with a vacuum symbol which is selectively masked by a collapsible thimble when vacuum is applied or removed from the drainage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
    Inventor: Jacky Yam
  • Patent number: 6974890
    Abstract: An absorbent structure for absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence protectors, sanitary napkins, panty liners and like articles, the absorbent structure comprising at least 40 percent by weight superabsorbent material, based on the total weight of the absorbent structure in a dry state in the region or regions in which the superabsorbent is distributed, wherein the superabsorbent material is only partially neutralized. Absorbent articles that include the absorbent structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Berith Porsö, Ulrika Hagrud, Marie-Louise Lagerstedt Eidrup, Jan Hansson
  • Patent number: 6974892
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin having a first transverse end and an opposite second transverse end defining therebetween a length and a plurality of varying widths along its length, the widths being perpendicular to the length, including; (i) a first width located substantially between ? and ½ of the length as measured from the first transverse, (ii) a second width located substantially from ? to ½ of the length as measured from the second transverse end, (iii) the first width being the maximum width of the absorbent portion, the second width being less than or equal to the first width; and (iv) a central region intermediate the first width and the second width, the central region having a maximum width that is less than or equal to the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Industria E Comercio LTDA
    Inventors: Antonio Carlos Ribeiro DeCarvalho, Marcia Helena Teixeira Fajolli
  • Patent number: 6972010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, panty-liners, nursing pads, baby diapers and the like. The absorbent articles include an agent able to convey a perception to the wearer, without the need to create the external condition perceived by the wearer. Such absorbent articles are able to improve comfort, by, for example, conveying to the wearer thereof a long lasting freshness sensation upon prolonged wearing time of such articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Antonella Pesce, Daniela Meo, Giovanni Carlucci, Archille Di Cintio
  • Patent number: RE39371
    Abstract: A combination pouch and underwear pant is worn by a man for facilitating sexual activity such as lap dancing. The pouch is worn over the sex organs of a man under the underwear pant, which is adapted by an elastic waistband for compressively pinning the pouch in place. The pouch is made of a flexible and elastic material. A top edge of the pouch provides access to an interior of the pouch of a hand and wrist of the wearer so as to facilitate insertion of the wearer's sex organs into the pouch through an aperture, which encircles penis and scrotum. The aperture elastically compresses between a top surface at the base of the penis of the wearer and a bottom surface at the base of the scrotum of the wearer. With the pouch in place, the wearer is able to facilitate the capture of body fluids without fear of the pouch moving away from its preferred position relative to the torso of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Wesley K. Johnson