Patents Examined by Michele Kidwell
  • Absorbent article having openings in the absorbent body
    Patent number: 7795492
    Abstract: An absorbent article such as a nappy or an incontinence pad, with a liquid-permeable surface layer, a liquidtight surface layer, and a first absorbent body arranged between the surface layers and extending in longitudinal and transverse directions along the surface layers and also in a through-direction from the liquid-permeable surface layer towards the liquidtight surface layer. The first absorbent body has openings which extend in the through-direction. A second absorbent structure is arranged on that side of the first absorbent body facing away from the liquid-permeable surface layer. The liquid-permeable surface layer is attached to the second absorbent structure through the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Kent Vartiainen
  • Nonwoven fabric for a female component of a fastening system
    Patent number: 7789870
    Abstract: A fastening system includes an engaging component and a receiving component. The engaging component has a plurality of engaging elements capable of engaging the receiving component. The receiving component includes a nonwoven fabric having composite fibers, an embossed section, and a non-embossed section. The composite fibers are bonded together in the embossed sections. The composite fibers include a first propylene polymer and a second propylene polymer, wherein the first and second propylene polymers extend continually in a longitudinal direction and are arranged such that the second propylene polymer is associated with the first propylene polymer such that the composite fiber forms a crimp therein. The embossed sections have a plurality of zigzag unit patterns arranged in a machine direction which have a ratio of W1/W2 in the range of about 0.5 to about 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas Alexander Horn, Mark James Kline, Kazuhiko Masuda, Hisashi Morimoto
  • Disposable garment with biaxially stretchable inner layer
    Patent number: 7785309
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment having an inner layer with a first end panel, a second end panel, and a pair of side panels formed separate from the first and second end panels. The first and second end panels are stretchable in at least the lateral direction of the garment. The side panels extend longitudinally between the first and second end panels in laterally spaced relationship with each other such that the end panels and side panels together define a central opening of the inner layer. The side panels are each secured to the first and second end panels and are extensible in at least the lateral direction of the garment. The garment includes an outer layer is in opposed relationship with the inner layer and an absorbent assembly disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Theodore Van Gompel, Gary Alan Krueger, Lu Ann Marie Beckman
  • Wound irrigation basin with active drain
    Patent number: 7785303
    Abstract: A wound irrigation kit includes a basin for collecting irrigation fluid that is configured to closely fit the specific body part that is to be irrigated. The kit optionally includes a grommet that can be readily incorporated into the basin to allow for active draining of the basin during the irrigation procedure. The kit also optionally includes a flexible irrigation shield that can be attached to an existing irrigation device and that can be readily modified to vary its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Dilip Tapadiya, M.D., Inc.
    Inventor: Dilip Tapadiya
  • Pant-type absorbent article
    Patent number: 7785307
    Abstract: A pant-type absorbent article having an absorbent assembly having an absorbent core and a chassis, wherein the front and back portions are joined to each other along two opposite longitudinal side edges to define a waist-opening and a pair of leg-openings, at least one of the front and back portions has an elastic web material, a crotch portion located between the front portion and the back portion in the longitudinal direction of the article, the front portion having a length in the longitudinal direction, the back portion having a length in the longitudinal direction, and the crotch portion having a length in the longitudinal direction, the absorbent assembly overlapping a distance with both the front and back portions, the article having a longitudinal and a transverse direction, wherein the absorbent assembly overlaps no more than 20% of the surface area of each of the front and back portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Magareta Wennerback
  • Absorbent article
    Patent number: 7781641
    Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article capable of suppressing rash of skin in regions which come into contact with a gather portion of the absorbent article, by applying a water-soluble skin care agent and oily skin care agent on the gather portion to be contacted with the skin of a wearer in wearing the absorbent article, and allowing at least a part of the above mentioned oily skin care agent to be transferred to the skin of a wearer when wearing before the above mentioned water-soluble skin care agent is transferred to the skin of a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Kasai
  • Paper diaper and method for manufacturing extensible sheet used in the diaper
    Patent number: 7777094
    Abstract: A disposable diaper having: an elastic portion where a plurality of elastic members is provided along a width direction with an interval of not more than 7.0 mm in a longitudinal direction, and a non-elastic portion wherein the non-elastic portion is in a center of at least one of a front side and a back side and the elastic portion is provided in a region including right-and-left side portions except the non-elastic portion, and a difference between a maximum product width obtained when the body peripheral region is extended to a limit of extension in a product width direction and a contracted product width obtained when the body peripheral region is in a non-extended contraction state is from 100 to 250 mm in a state where the front side and the back side are overlapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Daio Paper Corporation, Daio Paper Converting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Mori, Keiji Torigoshi, Hideki Saiga
  • Absorbent article comprising disposal fastening means
    Patent number: 7771405
    Abstract: An absorbent article including an inner cover sheet, an outer cover sheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the inner coversheet and the outer coversheet, said article further including at least one disposal fastener, the disposal fastener having a fastening element adapted to fasten to at least a portion of the outer coversheet which allows the article to be secured in a configuration that provides a convenient disposal after the article has been used, the disposal fastener further including a pull-tab, the article further including a pocket formed by at least one of the inner cover sheet and the outer cover sheet, one end of said disposal fastener being attached to the one of the inner cover sheet and the outer cover sheet at a location within the pocket and the pull-tab protrudes from the pocket so that the disposal fastener can be pulled out from the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Mikael Andersson, Karin Stübner, Ingemar Fernfors, Anna-Gerd Doverbo
  • Manufacturing method of absorbent body and absorbent body for disposable diaper obtained by the method
    Patent number: 7772457
    Abstract: A pair of rollers 2 and 3 are provided to be opposed to each other with a predetermined distance wherein at least one of the rollers 2 and 3 is a press print processing roller 2 that has a plurality of processing projections 2a with a predetermined layout on a circumference surface, and a stripe-shaped absorbent body base 1 including an absorbent element 7 obtained by mixing at least pulp 8 with super absorbent polymer 9 is sent and transferred between the pair of rollers 2 and 3 so that at least one surface of the absorbent body base 1 has a plurality of linear pattern elements 1a provided by being squeezed by the processing projections 2a, so as to have a groove-like shape when seen from the top, and are individually spaced from one another and dispersed in a staggered manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Daio Paper Corporation
    Inventors: Yoji Ohtsuka, Isao Mori
  • Drapeable absorbent article
    Patent number: 7771404
    Abstract: An absorbent article including a cover layer, a barrier layer and an absorbent system arranged between the cover layer and the barrier layer, the absorbent article being drapeable and possessing the absorbency attributes required of a sanitary napkin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard G. Rosenfeld, Hien V. Nguyen
  • Method for making reusable disposable article
    Patent number: 7766887
    Abstract: A method for making absorbent articles such as diapers and training pants having a pocket for receiving a removable core component is provided. Absorbent articles having removable absorbent core components are further provided. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article comprises providing a wearer facing portion and a garment facing portion, and providing a first absorbent core component with either the wearer facing portion or the garment facing portion. The wearer facing portion and the garment facing portion are associated such that an openable chassis pocket is formed there between, the wearer facing portion and the garment facing portion being separable to create an access opening to the openable chassis pocket for receiving a replaceable absorbent core component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Glasgow Burns, Jr., Clifford Theodore Papsdorf, Darrell Ian Brown, Stephen Lebeuf Hardie
  • Wetness indicator for alerting a wearer to urination
    Patent number: 7767875
    Abstract: A toilet training wetness indicator for alerting a wearer to urination and a garment incorporating such an element. The toilet training wetness indicator, which may be an insertable wetness indicator or integrated directly into a garment, such as training pants, comprises a liquid permeable enclosure having a liquid absorbent body enclosed therein. The liquid absorbent body absorbs liquid within the pants and applies hydraulic pressure to the enclosure upon absorption of a preselected amount of liquid. The enclosure limits expansion of the absorbent body so that the wetness indicator stiffens as liquid is absorbed. The wetness indicator has a first stiffness and is relatively pliable when dry and a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness upon absorption of the preselected amount of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Olson, Larry H. Sawyer, Shirlee A. Weber
  • Diaper for capturing and isolating bodily waste
    Patent number: 7763003
    Abstract: A diaper is adapted for capturing and isolating bodily waste of a wearer. The diaper is constructed of a fabric blank folded to form front and rear waistlines of the diaper, a crotch region located between the front and rear waistlines, and a pair of leg openings. The fabric blank includes an outside shell and an adjustable inside panel. The inside panel is movable during wear from a normal wear position, wherein the crotch region is substantially uncovered by the panel, to a waste-isolating position, wherein the crotch region is substantially covered by the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Rhonda Yip
    Inventor: Jennifer Yip
  • Absorbent article with improved surface material
    Patent number: 7763770
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprises an absorbent body, a liquid-permeable covering layer arranged over a first surface on the absorbent body, and a liquid-permeable liquid-transfer layer arranged between the absorbent body and the liquid-permeable covering layer. The liquid-permeable covering layer comprises a nonwoven material with a pore volume distribution curve with a maximum at a pore radius greater than or equal to 50 ?m and with a wetting angle of at least 120°. The liquid-transfer layer comprises a fibrous layer with a pore volume distribution curve with a maximum at a pore radius of from 105 to 325 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Barbro Moberg-Alehammar, Anna Nihlstrand, Anna-Karin Storm, Anna Bagger-Sjöbäck
  • Disposable wearing article
    Patent number: 7758559
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article has longitudinally extending side edges of a front waist region. The side edges are defined by a pair of hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric layers having mutually opposed surfaces tightly bonded to each other. Fastening zones are formed by an adhesive applied on longitudinally extending side edges of the rear waist region. Landing zones are formed from plastic film strip tightly bonded to the side edges of the front waist region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoko Sugito
  • Device for collecting bone material during a surgical procedure
    Patent number: 7758556
    Abstract: A collection device for collecting bone material during a spinal fusion surgical procedure so that the bone material can later be used as a graft material for the fusion procedure. The device includes a container that collects the bone and other material that is removed from the patient during the surgical procedure through a suction hose. The device includes a plunger having a filter plate sealed to the inside of the container. The plunger is pushed down into the collected material in the container so that blood and other liquids are forced through the plate to be separated from the bone material. A cover at the bottom of the container can be removed to remove the collected bone material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventors: Miguelangelo J. Perez-Cruet, John R. Pepper, John A. Miller
  • Drapeable absorbent article
    Patent number: 7753897
    Abstract: An absorbent article including a cover layer, a barrier layer and an absorbent system arranged between the cover layer and the barrier layer, the absorbent article being drapeable and possessing the absorbency attributes required of a sanitary napkin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard G. Rosenfeld, Hien V. Nguyen
  • Body conforming absorbent garment and methods for the use and manufacture thereof
    Patent number: 7749211
    Abstract: An absorbent garment includes a chassis having first and second layers and an elastic core sandwiched therebetween. The chassis defines front and rear body panels each having elastic regions exhibiting a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10% when elongated 80% for a period of 30 minutes at 37° C. and 60% relative humidity and then allowed to relax under a zero applied force. An absorbent composite is coupled to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Jacqueline A. Gross, Yung H. Huang
  • Compact disposable diaper changing kit packaging
    Patent number: 7749209
    Abstract: A compact diaper changing kit packaging comprising a single sheet of flexible waterproof material enclosing a disposable diaper and pre-moistened wipes. The wipes are stored within a waterproof pouch formed by folding and sealing the enclosing sheet over upon itself. The enclosing sheet is wrapped around the diaper enclosing and protecting the diaper from contaminants. Method of use comprises unfolding the enclosing sheet to reveal disposable diaper and the waterproof pouch containing wipes. The unfolded enclosing sheet may be used as a clean changing surface. A dirty diaper and spent pre-moistened wipes may be stored away or disposed by wrapping them in the enclosing sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Miroslav Vuckovic
  • Odor control nether garment, method of making same and method of controlling odor
    Patent number: 7745684
    Abstract: A nether garment for adsorbing odor to be worn close to at least one body part of a user having at least one outer fabric material layer and an inner layer of fiber fabric material for adsorbing odor, such that the nether garment conforms to a shape of the at least one body part of the user thereby providing one or more of a lightweight, flexible, breathable, washable, regenerative and reusable apparatus. Also described is a method of making an odor control nether garment and an improved method of controlling odors, including various body odors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventors: James P. Huza, Sharron Ann Huza