Patents Examined by Michele Kidwell
  • Patent number: 7972316
    Abstract: A disposable diaper (1) has a waist opening portion and a pair of leg opening portions and contains an absorbent body including a topsheet and an absorbent core. The absorbent core (4) is composed of a central absorbent member (41) and a pair of side absorbent members (42) disposed on both sides of the central absorbent member (41). The central absorbent member (41) is discrete from the side absorbent members (42) in at least the crotch portion (C). Each side absorbent member has a raising elastic member which is provided near its outboard edge along the longitudinal direction, so that the side absorbent member (42) rises while worm. The diaper is configured to exert a higher wearing pressure in its regions (91) that are to be applied to a wearer's body part between the iliac crests and the anterior superior iliac spines than in its waist opening portion while worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Haruko Toyoshima, Jun Sasaki, Michiko Otsuka, Mina Tomita
  • Patent number: 7967800
    Abstract: An apparatus for disinfecting surfaces and in particular human and animal wounds, includes a contractor for accumulating concentrated ozonated water and systems to deliver ozonated water from the reservoir to a nozzle having one or more jets for delivering a spray of ozonated water on to the surface to be treated. The nozzle has an encircling shroud and systems are provided for withdrawing ozonated gas liberated at the nozzle from around the nozzle. A collection tray is provided which is located under the surface/wound to be treated to receive ozonated water flowing from the treatment region and where any residual ozone is broken down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Bioquell UK Limited
    Inventor: John George Chewins
  • Patent number: 7942859
    Abstract: A wearing article includes a flexible chassis and a semi-rigid absorbent panel laid on inner surface of the chassis. A liner defining an innermost layer of the chassis is bonded to the absorbent panel in a fixed zone defined in a crotch region. A passage is formed through the liner at a position put aside from the fixed zone toward a rear waist region to guide feces through this passage. A first elastic member extends along a peripheral edge of the passage so as to be stretchable and contractible. A second elastic member and a third elastic member are paired and laid outside opposite side edges of the passage so as to be stretchable and contractible in a longitudinal direction in a vicinity of the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kaiyo Nakajima, Naoko Takada, Hironao Minato
  • Patent number: 7938812
    Abstract: An insert for use together with an absorbent article such as a diaper, an incontinence product, a sanitary towel, a panty liner or the like. The insert is substantially non-urine-absorbing and comprises a support sheet (2) which has a first surface (12) and a second surface (13), the first surface (12) being treated with a skincare agent (14), and the second surface (13) being substantially impermeable to the skincare agent. The insert further includes at least one spacing and liquid-receiving sheet (3) placed against the second surface (13) of the support sheet (2). The spacing and liquid-receiving sheet facilitates the intake of liquid through the topsheet when the insert is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Barbro Moberg-Alehammar, Bo Runeman, Ingemar Fernfors, Peter Rünnberg, Ponrus Winqvist
  • Patent number: 7935098
    Abstract: An applicator for intravaginal devices includes an elongate handle, an insertion sleeve, and an intravaginal device support member. The elongate handle has an open first end that defines a cavity extending into the handle. The insertion sleeve extends from the open first end of the handle; it is arranged and configured to slide into the cavity of the handle and to accommodate an intravaginal device; and it has associated therewith a trigger. The intravaginal device support member is disposed in the cavity of the handle; it is operatively connected to the handle; and it has a bearing surface disposed proximate the open first end of the handle. The applicators are useful to ensure that intravaginal devices are placed in the appropriate position to be effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Bartning, Mari Hou, Raymond J. Hull, Jr., Kirsten Freislinger Luehrs, Scott M. Russell, Paul B. Swick, Pramod Mavinkurve
  • Patent number: 7935859
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has a topsheet, a backsheet joined to at least a portion of the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between at least a portion of the topsheet and the backsheet, an acceptance element, and a fecal storage element. The acceptance element is disposed adjacent to a body surface of the absorbent core. The acceptance element has one or more apertures each having an effective aperture size of between about 0.2 square mm to about 25 square mm. The fecal storage element is disposed between at least a portion of the acceptance element and the absorbent core and is separate from the absorbent core. The fecal storage element has compressive resistance of at least about 70 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Cheryl D. Fox, Aleksey M. Pinyayev
  • Patent number: 7931637
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of hemostasis, including methods, compositions, and devices that can be employed to achieve hemostasis at an increased rate. More specifically the present invention relates to hemostatic compositions that achieve a hemostatic effect at a distance from the site of application of the composition, and a method for administering such a composition to effectively reduce localized vascular complications associated with treating a breach or puncture in a vein or artery and reduce the time to achieve hemostasis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Marine Polymer Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Vournakis, Sergio Finkielsztein
  • Patent number: 7927321
    Abstract: A reliable, private and sanitary device is provided for capturing human waste in the wilderness. A small double ended bag contains a roll of toilet paper in one end and an extendable padded strap in the other. A user pulls the padded strap from the bag, loops it around a tree and around the user's body, and attaches its end to the other end of the strap after extending that end of the strap from the other end of the bag. Then the user can lean back against the padded strap, and deposit bodily waste in a collection bag. The device is light, portable, reusable, and suitable for use by hikers, rafters, and other outdoor enthusiasts in areas where human waste is carried out rather than left behind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventor: Scott Kenneth Marland
  • Patent number: 7922704
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable nursing pad having a layered structure of a liquid-permeable sheet, an absorbent body, and a liquid-impermeable sheet. The liquid-permeable sheet and the liquid-impermeable sheet are adhered to each other. This prevents the liquid-permeable sheet from becoming detached from the absorbent body, and provides a nursing pad having an improved capacity to maintain its three-dimensional shape. A pair of pad pieces 2 and 3, each of which has a layered structure of a liquid permeable sheet piece, an absorber, and a liquid-impermeable sheet piece, is joined so as to form a nursing pad 1 having an approximately conical shape. With the nursing pad 1, a connection portion 4 where pad pieces are joined forms a ridge which serves as the center line of the nursing pad 1. The nursing pad 1 can be folded along the ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Sakaguchi, Ayami Suga
  • Patent number: 7918839
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a barrier cuff strip extending in a longitudinal direction from the front waist region to the back waist region along the topsheet. The barrier cuff strip has a distal edge attached to the topsheet at a cuff end bond region. The barrier cuff has an outer bond edge spaced longitudinally from an inner bond edge. The disposable absorbent article includes a side panel that extends laterally beyond a side of the chassis and is joined to the chassis at a panel joint region extending between an outer panel joint edge and an inner panel joint edge. The longitudinal distance from the lateral axis to the inner panel joint edge is at least about ¼ of a longitudinal distance from the lateral axis to the inner bond edge of the cuff end bond region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bruno Johannes Ehrnsperger, Andrew James Sauer, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 7919666
    Abstract: Personal care articles are provided having odor control patches thereon. The patches include a cavity that house one or more fragrant materials or odor absorbing materials. A portion of the patch is detachable in order to expose and release the odor control materials contained therein. The patches can be removably-attached to the personal care article thereby allowing the patch to be affixed to the personal care articles at the time of manufacture or by the consumer just prior to use. The personal care articles are provided with an air-permeable pocket to house the patch and cover odor absorbing materials when the cavity is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Walter Odorzynski
  • Patent number: 7919668
    Abstract: The present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles including one or more discrete components. Representative discrete components include the nonwoven layer of the outer cover, the barrier film layer of the outer cover, the absorbent core, the bodyside liner, fasteners, ears and attachment panels. The discrete components include a continuous detector material. A representative continuous detector material may be an optical brightener. The discrete components also include a masking block. The masking block may decrease or eliminate the detectable presence of an optical brightener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Russell Belau, Robert David Forrester, Michael John Flattum, Bernhardt Edward Kressner
  • Patent number: 7915476
    Abstract: In a method of a caregiver interactively toilet training a wearer of a disposable absorbent article, in response to liquid insult of the article a tactile signal is perceptible from within the article, a corresponding similar tactile signal is perceptible from an exterior of the article, and an active graphic is visually perceptible at the exterior of the article which relates to both the tactile signal and the corresponding tactile signal to thereby communicate the insult event to the caregiver and provide an interactive toilet training opportunity. An absorbent article of the present invention generally has a tactile signal tactilely perceptible from the inner surface of the article and a corresponding tactile signal tactilely perceptible from the exterior of the article. An active graphic is located adjacent the outer cover and is externally visually perceptible and relates to both tactile signals to provide an interactive toilet training opportunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Long, Christopher P. Olson
  • Patent number: 7901391
    Abstract: A disposable pants type wearing article includes a chassis folded in two halves along a folding guide extending in a transverse direction and these respective halves of the chassis are joined to each other along lateral edges thereof to form the article. Leg openings are defined by upper and lower leg opening edges formed by incisions in the chassis so that these upper and lower leg opening edges extending at a level a predetermined dimension above the folding guide. Above the upper leg opening edges, waist elastic members are attached and, below the lower leg opening edges, crotch elastic member are attached to the diaper. Under the contraction of these elastic members, a transverse dimension of the zone in which the waist elastic members are attached to the diaper 1 becomes larger than a transverse dimension of the zone in which the crotch elastic members are attached to the diaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 7901389
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for aspirating liquids from surfaces particularly during medical procedures. Apparatus for removing liquid from a surface in the region of a medical procedure such as an operating room floor responsive to a drawn vacuum of preselected magnitude includes a plenum with an interior volume defined by an elongated box element with a plurality of supports member integral thereto or by an elongated tube, the plenum being perforated so as the exterior of the plenum is in direct liquid communication with the interior of the plenum, an absorptive wicking pad secured to the plenum so as to cover the perforations, an a vacuum conduit tube in direct vacuum communication with a vacuum collection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: AVEC Scientific Design Corporation
    Inventor: Bruno Mombrinie
  • Patent number: 7901390
    Abstract: A disposable garment having a side elastomeric material and a waist elastomeric material is disclosed. The disposable garment has a front region, a back region, a crotch region between the front region and the back region. The disposable garment comprises a chassis, a waist elastomeric material, a side elastomeric material, and seams. The chassis has a topsheet, a backsheet joined with the topsheet, and an absorbent core interposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The chassis has a central panel having a waist edge and side edges, an ear panel having a waist edge, and a waistband panel in the front region and the back region. The ear panel extends laterally outwardly from each side edge of the central panel. The waistband panel extends longitudinally outwardly from the waist edge of the central panel and the waist edge of the ear panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Craig Andrew Hawkins, Frederick Michael Langdon, Eiro Fukuda, Fumito Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7896858
    Abstract: A pull-on disposable absorbent article may comprise multiple components creating multiple seams. The components may comprise multiple graphic objects that cooperate to form an appearance of a waistband around a viewable outer circumference of the pull-on disposable absorbent article. The components may further comprise multiple patterns of graphics in the form of multiple objects disposed immediately adjacent to one or more of the seams. Each of the graphic objects and patterns of graphics may be disposed on a viewable outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Michael Dale Trennepohl, Andrew James Sauer, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 7893314
    Abstract: A breathable backsheet (1) includes a water vapor permeable first layer (2) and a water vapor permeable second layer (3) for an absorbent article (4), where the backsheet (1) is water vapor permeable in a Z-direction. The backsheet (1) includes a condensation zone (7) between the two layers (2, 3). The first layer (2) is adapted to allow a first amount m1 of mass flow water vapor to pass the first layer (2) in the Z-direction, wherein the second layer (3) is adapted to allow a second amount m2 of mass flow water vapor to pass the second layer (3) in the Z-direction. The condensation zone (7) is adapted to temporary condense and shore an amount t•.mc of water vapor such that no formation of condensed of water vapor will occur on the outside (6, 11) of the backsheet (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Chatrine Stridfeldt, Solgun Drevik
  • Patent number: 7875014
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment for wear about a wearer's waist includes a garment shell and an absorbent assembly constructed to take in and retain body exudates released by the wearer, the absorbent assembly including an inner waist band. The absorbent assembly may be permanently detached from the garment shell. The garment shell has limited attachment to the absorbent assembly at front and rear attachment zones. The inner waist belt provides tension on each side of the absorbent assembly to provide effective coverage of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Cynthia H. Hendren, Kathleen I. Ratliff, Erica L. Mullen, Maria E. de Leon, Susan M. Weyenberg
  • Patent number: RE42478
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an absorbent article, and an absorbent article, in the form of a pants-type diaper or a sanitary panty, starting from a flat blank which includes an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond the body on both sides thereof. The method includes the step of folding the blank around a transverse axis so that the end edges of the side parts lie edge-to-edge. At least one folded band of flexible material is placed between each pair of front and rear side parts which lie opposite one another in the folded state of the blank, and the free ends of the bands are fastened to adjacent side parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Robert Kling, Urban Widlund, Gunilla Hedlund