Patents Examined by Lynne Anderson
  • Patent number: 9375367
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes front and rear portions and a fastener for connecting side edges of the front and rear portions. The fastener includes a grasping element attached to an outer surface of the fastener to provide for grasping by the wearer or caregiver. The grasping element may be formed of flexible material and may have a variety of configurations, including a tube, a flange, a tunnel or a pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Nelson, Jeremy Fogel
  • Patent number: 9375355
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to absorbent articles and signaling devices for use therewith. The signaling device includes one or more non-invasive sensors configured to detect the presence of a substance, such as a body fluid, in the absorbent article. The signaling device can provide an audible and/or visible alert to the user of the absorbent article when it detects the presence of a substance. The absorbent article includes one or more identifiable characteristics the presence of which permits operation of the signaling device. In this manner, the present disclosure provides for product and signaling device matching for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Ales, Sudhanshu Gakhar, Andrew Mark Long, Davis-Dang H Nhan
  • Patent number: 9370224
    Abstract: A fastening system comprising a closure member (tab) and one or more of an elastic/stretch member (ear), a release tape, and a landing member. The landing member is non-rectangular, and may be actual or perceived. The shape of the landing member is defined by the orientation of its medial portion. The system provides for improved fit of an absorbent article about the article's wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: George Christopher Dobrin, Amy Lynn Tally, Elizabeth Ann Peterson
  • Patent number: 9364374
    Abstract: An absorbent article to be worn the lower torso is provided. The absorbent article comprises a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core, and a pair of longitudinal barrier cuffs attached to the chassis. Each of the longitudinal barrier cuffs comprises a web of material. The web of material comprises a first nonwoven component layer, and a second nonwoven component layer. Each of the longitudinal barrier cuffs comprises a longitudinal zone of attachment where each of the longitudinal barrier cuff attaches to the chassis, a longitudinal free edge, and a plurality of mechanical bonds disposed between the longitudinal zone of attachment and the free edge. The plurality of mechanical bonds attach one of a first portion of the web of material to a second portion of the web of material, and the web of material to a portion of the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Calvin Hoi Wung Cheng, Rajeev Chhabra, Olaf Erik Alexander Isele, DeeAnn Ling Nelson
  • Patent number: 9364619
    Abstract: Described herein are interactive apparatus and methods for sensing and measuring real-time characteristic patterns of a subject's use of a dry powder inhalation system. The devices can be used in a wired or wireless communication mode to communicate with a display to assess the subject's usage of the inhalation system, to evaluate the performance of the inhalation system and/or to detect the characteristics profile of a dry powder formulation emitted from the inhalation system in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis Overfield, Carl R. Sahi, Benoit Adamo, P. Spencer Kinsey, Scott McLean, John M. Polidoro, Chad C. Smutney
  • Patent number: 9339615
    Abstract: A breath-powered, dry powder inhaler, a cartridge, and a pulmonary drug delivery system are provided. The dry powder inhaler can be provided with or without a unit dose cartridge for using with the inhaler. The inhaler and/or cartridge can be provided with a drug delivery formulation comprising, for example, a diketopiperazine and an active ingredient, including, peptides and proteins such as insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 for the treatment of diabetes and/or obesity. The dry powder inhaler is compact; can be provided in various shapes and sizes, colors, and comprises a housing, a mouthpiece, a cartridge placement area, and a mechanism for opening and closing the medicament cartridge. The device is easy to manufacture, provides a pre-metered single unit dose, it is relatively easy to use, and can be reusable or disposable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Chad C. Smutney, P. Spencer Kinsey, Carl R. Sahi, Benoit Adamo, John M. Polidoro, Scott McLean, Dennis Overfield, Anthony Bryant
  • Patent number: 9339424
    Abstract: An absorbent assembly includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent structure disposed between the liner and the backsheet. A pair of laterally opposed containment flaps is integrally formed from the bodyside liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Marcille Faye Ruman, Kathleen Irene Bennett, Aster E. Kammrath, Andrew Neubauer, Joseph J. Sina, Joseph Daniel Coenen, Lori Roocks
  • Patent number: 9339425
    Abstract: An absorbent article has a pair of leg cuffs adapted to fit about the legs of a wearer and a pair of containment flaps adapted to provide a barrier to the lateral flow of body exudates. Each containment flaps includes a seam bonding the respective containment flap to the article and at least one elastic member spaced from the seam. A fastening system includes a primary fastening system and a secondary fastening system. The secondary fastening system comprises a pair of secondary first fastening components and a pair of secondary second fastening components. Each of the secondary first fastening components is laterally located relative to one of the containment flaps such that an outboard-most longitudinal edge of the secondary first fastening component is spaced laterally inward from the seam and an inboard-most longitudinal edge of the secondary first fastening component is spaced laterally outward from the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, David Fleger Bishop, Robert Lee Popp, Wendy Lynn VanDyke
  • Patent number: 9339419
    Abstract: In a tampon applicator, an elongated barrel has an interior chamber for housing a tampon therein, a grip region generally adjacent an outer end of the barrel, a tip region generally adjacent an inner end of the barrel, and a central region extending longitudinally between the grip region and the tip region. A plunger extends into the barrel at the outer end thereof and is moveable relative to the barrel to expel the tampon from the barrel at its inner end. The outer surface of the barrel at the grip region has a different coefficient of friction than at the central region of the barrel. In other embodiments the coefficient of friction of the barrel outer surface at the central region is different from the coefficient of friction at the tip region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Tom William VanDenBogart, Cao Hue Chi Pham, Yein Sze Ong, Franz Aschenbrenner, Du{hacek over (s)}an Pavlik, Gary Mastalish, Irina Tsareva, Lynn Ann Weggel, Anastasia Barlas, Priscilla Eng Choo Goh, EunJung Kang
  • Patent number: 9333121
    Abstract: In a disposable diaper, ends at a front waistline region side of the disposable diaper within a stretchable range in leg stretch units are configured so as to be closer to an end at the front waistline region side as compared to an end at the front waistline region side within a stretchable range in the crotch stretch unit. Ends at a rear waistline region side within the stretchable range in the leg stretch units are configured so as to be closer to an end at the rear waistline region side as compared to an end at the rear waistline region side within the stretchable range in the crotch stretch unit. A tensile modulus of the crotch stretch unit is configured so as to be greater than a tensile modulus of the leg stretch units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Sakaguchi, Yasuhiro Yamanaka, Tetsuo Okubo
  • Patent number: 9333127
    Abstract: A bodily garment assembly includes a sleeve that may be worn around a user's waist so the sleeve covers the user's crotch. An absorbing member is removably coupled to the sleeve so the absorbing member abuts the user's crotch. The absorbing member may absorb urine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Debra A. Horsley
  • Patent number: 9326897
    Abstract: A sanitary tampon 10 includes an absorber 11 and a strand member 12 extending out from a tail end of the absorber 11 in a direction of insertion inside the vagina. A hook unit 20 is configured from a member different from the strand member 12 and distended outside from a circumferential surface 12e of the strand member 12 is provided in the strand member 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9320659
    Abstract: An expandable diaper having storage for containing wipes, the diaper including a front end and a back end, opposing lateral edges extending between the front end and the back end, each of the opposing lateral edges including an inwardly curved portion configured for engaging a wearer's leg, a liquid impermeable outer layer, a liquid permeable, exposed inner layer, an absorbent material disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer, and a longitudinal fold formed in the inner layer extending between the front end and the back end and between the opposing lateral edges. An adhesive is applied within the fold, and is configured for allowing the fold to be pulled apart when desired for increasing a width of the diaper. A pocket is located about the front end of the diaper for storing a plurality of moist wipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventor: Darryl Richardson
  • Patent number: 9314383
    Abstract: The purpose of this disclosure is to provide an absorptive article which can deform while following the movement of the wearer's legs and which can restore to the original shape. The absorptive article of this disclosure has the following configuration. The absorptive article (1) includes a liquid permeable top sheet (4), a liquid impermeable back sheet, and an absorption body (7). The absorptive article (1) is characterized in that the absorptive article (1) has, in the region thereof which is in contact with the excretory opening, a medium-high section (2) protruding in the thickness direction of the absorptive article (1) and including a cushion section, and in that the absorption body (7) has one or more compressed sections (3) which form a folding axis about which the absorptive article (1) is folded in the width direction thereof so that the skin contact surface of the top sheet (4) protrudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Noda, Tatsuya Tamura, Akira Hashino
  • Patent number: 9308290
    Abstract: To improve the heat retention by diapers and other absorbents, a heat retention indicator 1 of a water-absorbing resin which is defined in the present invention needs be 3.0° C./min or less and also that particular requirements need be met to satisfy this condition. If the requirements are met, a water-absorbing resin, absorbent, and absorbent article can be provided which has a heat retention indicator 1 of 0 to 3.0° C./min or less and which exhibits excellent heat retention and absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Wada, Makoto Nagasawa, Kunihiko Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 9308345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a breathing assistance device for a patient, the device including: a source of respiratory pressurised gas; a gas transmission duct comprising a distal end coupled to said source and a proximal end coupled to the patient; a gas regulating valve interposed in the gas transmission duct at a proximal location, comprising a leakage orifice and an obstruction means capable of varying the opening of the leakage orifice upon signal of controlling means and allowing a bidirectional gas flow through the leakage orifice in both expiration and inspiration phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: ResMed Paris SAS
    Inventor: Philippe Auguste Chalvignac
  • Patent number: 9308131
    Abstract: A permanently closed containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis. The sling is joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a containment flap joined with the base sheet to create a fluid-impervious pouch. The sling also includes a first transition and a second transition that are elastically extensible in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. The base sheet is a fabric laminated with polyurethane and the containment flap is a fabric laminated with polyurethane. The polyurethane surface of the base sheet is ultrasonically joined in facing relationship with the polyurethane surface of the containment flap. The permanently closed containment pant is substantially devoid of an integrated absorbent core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacy Elaine Evenson, Stephen Carl Baumgartner, Angela Ann Johnston, Marcille Faye Ruman, Kevin Leon LaBerge, Connie May McMorrow, Brooke Ann Robaidek, Katherine Carol Shaw
  • Patent number: 9301887
    Abstract: A protective undergarment includes a sling that is suspended from an outer shell. The sling forms a pocket in which a reusable or disposable absorbent pad can be positioned. The sling has arcuate, stitched end edges at both the front and the rear of the sling. The garment thus fits better will less chance that portions of the sling at opposite ends of the pocket will be exposed to moisture. The sling can also be attached to and detached from the garment by using hook and loop fasteners that can be partially covered so that abrasive corners are not exposed. The same overlying layers can be used on tabs for securing the protective undergarment around the waist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Tailored Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederica V. Coates
  • Patent number: 9301888
    Abstract: A stretch laminate includes a first layer including an elastomer film, the first layer having a surface, and a second layer including a nonwoven material, the second layer having a surface that is attached to the surface of the first layer. The tensile behavior in the transverse direction of the stretch laminate is within about 2.5 N/cm of the tensile behavior in the transverse direction of the film at an engineering strain of about 1.5, and exists independent of mechanical activation. A method of making the stretch laminate and an absorbent article having at least one region defined by the stretch laminate are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Todd Leon Mansfield
  • Patent number: 9291589
    Abstract: A wearable article for wearing by a user and comprising wetness sensing electrodes, wherein the wetness sensing electrodes are to be in contact with a wetting electrolytic liquid during normal use when the wearable article is wetted by the electrolytic liquid, and to operate as a capacitor upon application of a direct current at contact terminals of the wetness sensing electrodes when so wetted to facilitate capacitance measurement through the wetness sensing electrodes whereby wetness information of the wearable article is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ckicom Technology Limited
    Inventors: Sun Hoi Wong, Fei Xu, Hao Huang