Patents Examined by Melanie J Hand
  • Patent number: 7662137
    Abstract: A disposable diaper is formed in one of front and rear waist regions with first wings which are elastically stretchable in a waist-surrounding direction and these first wings are provided on respective body facing surfaces with first fastener elements. The other waist region is provided on its undergarment facing surface with, in addition to second fastener elements, anti-slip zones exhibiting a desired average kinetic frictional force relative to the body facing surface of the first wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Sayama, Hironao Minato, Koichiro Tani, Koichiro Mitsui, Kengo Ochi, Masato Isono
  • Patent number: 7659440
    Abstract: The present invention provides an article to be worn about a wearer including features that glow in the dark, are illuminative, are light emitting, or are reflective. These features may assist in the identification, location, entertainment, or changing of the wearer, as well as assist in the location of a fresh diaper for changing in a low light environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jose Rodriguez, William Joseph Toerner, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 7655000
    Abstract: A urology catheter is provided that includes an elongated body extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The body defines at least one lumen. A tip has a proximal end that is disposed in abutting relation with the distal end of the body such that the body is fixed with the tip. The tip defines a lateral opening that is defined by a wall including an external radius disposed in transition with an outer surface of the tip and an internal radius disposed in transition with an inner surface of the tip. The external radius has a non-perpendicular profile with the outer surface of the tip. An expandable member has a proximal portion disposed about the body and a distal portion disposed about the tip. A method of manufacturing the urology catheter is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Jim Walls, Cliff Karl, Kurt Green, Tony Sacchetti, Robert A. Morris, Rita Ann Morris, legal representative, Chris Dubeau, Stephen Murray
  • Patent number: 7654994
    Abstract: A disposable garment including a dual fastening system. The dual fastening system includes at least two first fasteners and at least two second fasteners, at least a portion of each second fastener being located in the front waist region and situated inboard from each longitudinal side edge of the front waist region, each second fastener being configured to engage at least a portion of the bodyfacing surface. Additionally, the bodyfacing surface comprises indicia in the rear waist region guiding a user fitting the disposable garment regarding the positioning of the second fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paula C. Winkel, Timothy J. Probst, Kellie M. Goodrich, Joseph P. Fell
  • Patent number: 7641642
    Abstract: An absorbent article 1 having a liquid retentive absorbent layer and a liquid impermeable leak preventive layer and including, in its longitudinal direction, an excretion portion facing section A which is placed opposite a wearer's liquid excretion portion, when in wear, and a rear section B which is placed more on the back side than the excretion portion facing section A, when in wear, wherein a leak preventive wall 5 is disposed on opposite side portions in the longitudinal direction, the leak preventive wall 5 having a basal wall portion and a planar elastic expansible/contractible portion connected to an upper end portion of the basal wall portion and being raised in the excretion portion facing section A and in the rear section B, and wherein a distance from an upper end portion of the basal wall portion to the leak preventive layer in the rear section is shorter than a comparable distance in the excretion portion facing section A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Murai, Tetsuya Kusagawa, Miyuki Kondo, Mitsugu Hamajima
  • Patent number: 7637898
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent pant having refastenable seams that minimize the product's potential for tearing when forces are applied to separate the refastenable seams. More particularly, the refastenable seams have a shear separation strength that is less than a tensile or tear strength of the outer cover and/or side panels. Also, the bonding strength between a fastening component and the portion of the chassis to which the fastening component is bonded may be greater than the shear separation strength of the refastenable seams. Additionally, the shear separation strength of the refastenable seams may be greater than the peel separation strength of the refastenable seams to enable easy unfastening of the garment through the application of peel forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Wordwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Kuen, Robert Lee Popp, Heather Schenck Mortell
  • Patent number: 7625362
    Abstract: A system for treating a wound with suction is provided. The system comprises a wound cover, a pump having an input port and an output port, the input port providing suction to the wound via the wound cover, and a reservoir coupled to the output port of the pump. The reservoir is adapted to receive effluent from the wound and the pump is capable of maintaining a controlled level of suction at the wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Boehringer Technologies, L.P.
    Inventors: John R. Boehringer, John Karpowicz, Christopher L. Radl, Kevin P. Klocek
  • Patent number: 7611500
    Abstract: A wound closure apparatus is disclosed which includes a housing that contains a vacuum pump and a chamber for holding a disposable wound fluid collection canister. The canister resides within the chamber and connects at an outlet with the vacuum pump and at an inlet with a pad. The pad is placed over a wound and adhesively secured thereto. When the vacuum pump activates, it evacuates air from the canister resulting in wound fluids flowing from the wound into the canister. After the canister is filled, it is removed from the chamber and replaced with another canister to continue the removal of wound fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Cesar Z. Lina, Keith Heaton
  • Patent number: 7582077
    Abstract: A wearing article includes a chassis having front and rear waist regions, a fastener mechanism adapted to fasten transversely opposite side edges of the chassis, and an elastic adjusting element adapted to stretch or contract at least one of the front and rear waist regions in a transverse direction. The fastener mechanism includes flat and rigid male fastener panels each having a proximal end secured to the side edge of the rear waist region, and female fastener members located on the side edges of the front waist region so that the male fastener panels can be releasably engaged with the respective female fastener members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 7553306
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying negative pressure therapy to a wound site, which comprises an open celled foam pad for application to the wound, a suction tube connecting the foam pad to a collection canister having a shut-off valve which closes the outlet from the canister when it is full, a tube for connecting the canister to a wall suction point or to a vacuum bottle, and a pressure detecting device connected to the suction tube between the foam pad and the canister for indicating when the pressure in the suction tube falls below a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth William Hunt, Keith Patrick Heaton
  • Patent number: 7553303
    Abstract: A garment for the lower torso adapted to contain absorbent pads in the crotch region within the garment includes at least one laterally-oriented aperture therein for extraction or insertion of the pads and also for providing access for cleansing the soiled areas. The aperture can be either in the front or the rear of the garment, or both. The garment can support multiple pads in the crotch region in a stacked arrangement. The aperture is preferably either trapezoidal or formed from an arc-shaped cut and is constructed as a cut-out flap for selective access to the aperture. The novel aperture advantageously allows an absorbent pad to be extracted or inserted by the wearer or caregiver without removal of the undergarment or repositioning of the wearer from a prone or seated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Inventor: Jane Speak
  • Patent number: 7553300
    Abstract: An absorbent product for men, having an absorption body (5) which tapers from a front section (11) of the product towards a crotch section (12) of the product and which is enclosed in a sheath including a liquid-tight layer (4) and a liquid-permeable layer (3), both of which layers extend beyond the absorption body round about this and are mutually joined there. The absorption body (5) is arranged to extend, during product usage, from the front section of the product in the direction of the crotch section and is adapted to extend with its narrower end section to slightly below the penis of the user. On the liquid-permeable layer (3), at the narrower end section of the absorption body, a liquid barrier (17) is applied, which is arranged to prevent urine emitted by the user from leaking from the surface of the absorption body towards the crotch region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Anna-Carin Elfström, Cécile Sandin, Kenneth Strannemalm
  • Patent number: 7549982
    Abstract: A tampon for feminine hygiene that has an insertion end, a withdrawal end, a longitudinal axis, and an outer surface. The tampon is made of compressed fibrous material. The outer surface of the tampon includes a plurality of recessed portions. Each of the recessed portions includes a first width dimension x and a second width dimension y. The first width dimension x is greater than the second width dimension y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Edward Paul Carlin
  • Patent number: 7549980
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an interlabial pad that is worn by female wearers, placed in intimate contact and supported between the labia, which provides an interlabial pad that causes no discomfort to the female wearer in the body motions of the wearer. The interlabial pad of the present invention is characterized by having bending elements which allows the interlabial pad to follow the changes in form flexibly even when a force is exerted on the interlabial pad by the wearer's body motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Koichi Yamaki, Yuki Noda, Megumi Tokumoto, Akane Sakai
  • Patent number: 7540862
    Abstract: Starting from an elastic material web and an absorbent product web, the method includes removing a first material piece from the elastic material web to provide a second material piece with an aperture and applying the first piece to a first portion of the absorbent product web. The second piece is supplied to a second application station and a section of the second piece is stretched and applied to a second portion of the absorbent product web. In this way an absorbent product with elastic waist portions is manufactured efficiently and with a minimum of waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Ken Olsson, Marie Johansson, Helena Corneliusson, Robert Kling
  • Patent number: 7537584
    Abstract: The invention teaches devices and methods for chemically tanning human skin. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Safe Tan
    Inventors: Drew Waters, Brandon Shaw, Frank Verdun
  • Patent number: 7524314
    Abstract: The wearing article is provided with a fastening system adapted to releasably connecting front and rear waist regions defining a waist-opening. The fastening system includes engaging fasteners located on transversely opposite side edges of the rear waist region and landing fasteners located on transversely opposite side zones of the front waist region. Each of the engaging fasteners has an insert and an engaging portion while each of the landing fasteners has a pocket adapted to receive the insert and a landing portion which is formed on the outer surface of the pocket and with which the engaging portion is releasably engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 7521587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles comprising nonwoven fabrics, which are made hydrophilic by polymers chemically bonded to the surface of the nonwoven fabrics. Moreover, the invention relates to a process for making hydrophilic fibers, which can be formed into a nonwoven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ludwig Busam, Andreas Flohr, Christofer Fuchs, Ekaterina Anatolyevna Ponomarenko
  • Patent number: 7511187
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin including a body-facing cover layer and an absorbent system adjacent the cover layer for receiving liquid therefrom, the napkin having a masking value of less than about 115,000, an average fluid penetration time of less than about 45 seconds and an average rewet of less than about 0.05 grams according to the test procedure described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: McNeil - PPC Inc.
    Inventor: William G. F. Kelly
  • Patent number: 7503909
    Abstract: An eyedropper including a container and a cap which can be screwed onto the container unit wherein a tubular fluid instilling portion is provided at a tip of the container. An outer circumferential region of the tubular fluid instilling portion is provided with a step portion where the outer diameter of the container is smaller and whose outer diameter is substantially not reduced or changed moving towards the tip. The cap is provided with a convex seal portion, which, in the mounted condition, is in close contact with the tip and the step portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Kusu, Hiroshi Yamada