Patents Examined by Michele M. Kidwell
  • Patent number: 10363176
    Abstract: A refastenable disposable garment defines a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, and comprises a first waist region contiguous with a first waist edge. The first waist region defines first and second side edges transversely spaced apart and defines first and second surfaces. The first waist region is elastomeric proximal both the first and second side edges. The garment can include a second waist region and a crotch region that interconnects the first and second waist regions. The garment comprises non-extensible, relatively rigid first and second fastening components attached to the first surface of the first waist region adjacent the first and second side edges, respectively. The first waist region defines first and second flange portions transversely outward of the first and second fastening components, respectively. Each flange portion is transversely curled toward the second surface. A process for making such an article is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Rhodes, Suzanne M. Schmoker, Kimberly L. Ellefson, Julie A. Paveletzke, Kimberly M. Downs, Brent C. Otis
  • Patent number: 10357395
    Abstract: A menstrual cup and applicator for use in the vagina. The menstrual cup having a receptacle for holding fluid and having a stem device connected to the top of the cup and extending through the open cavity through the bottom of the cup. The stem is configured to actuate the side and rim of the cup to allow for easier insertion and removal of the cup. The applicator may have several components and is configured to grasp a folded cup and position the cup in a deployed position within the vagina. Additionally, the applicator is designed to aid in the removal of the menstrual cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: The Flex Company
    Inventors: Andrew Ross Miller, Jane Hartman Adamé
  • Patent number: 10327963
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The absorbent assembly is formed separately from the chassis, and attached to the chassis by an attachment area. The attachment area includes a front attachment zone, a rear attachment zone, and a central attachment zone extending between the front and rear attachment zones. The front and rear attachment zones have a first width and a second width, respectively, and the central attachment zone has a third width less than the first and second widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Marcille Faye Ruman, Kathleen Irene Bennett, Michael D. Sperl, Joseph J. Sina, Frédérique Vignali, Brandon Benjamin Kussow
  • Patent number: 10322040
    Abstract: Absorbent articles and absorbent core structures with improved core strength and stability with long core end seal and channel hang times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gabriele Stiehl, Matthias Morand
  • Patent number: 10307516
    Abstract: Leak location devices and methods of using leak location devices that can be used in conjunction with negative pressure wound therapy systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, a leak location device can include a microphone for detecting sound pressure produced by a leak. Detected sound pressure can be compared to a threshold, which can correspond to background or ambient sound pressure. Background or ambient sound pressure can correspond to sound produced by a negative pressure source. The leak detection device can include a display configured to visually depict the detected sound, and a light source which creates a visual depiction of the coverage angle of the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Aceto, Kealoha Young Deutch, Joseph Gordon, Luke Hagan, William Joseph Jaecklein, Bill Kane, Dino Kasvikis, Corey Libby, Jacob A. Marks, Michael Salame, Jared Schneider
  • Patent number: 10299963
    Abstract: A combined compression and absorption dressing/bandage, which includes a short stretch compression bandage and at least one absorptive wound dressing comprising at least one absorbent layer of a non-woven fabric of any one or more of cotton, viscose and polyester fibers, the absorbent layer having an operative inner face and an operative outer face, the at least one wound dressing being bonded to the short stretch compression bandage with its inner face towards the bandage and the outer face facing away from the bandage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: IWMT Intellectual Property Holdings (PTY) LTD.
    Inventor: Johannes Petrus Mouton
  • Patent number: 10292875
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core comprising channels disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a printed adhesive layer disposed between the topsheet and the absorbent core such that the printed adhesive layer is visible through the topsheet. At least a portion of the adhesive layer forms a pattern of one or more pairs of contoured lines that run lengthwise in the machine direction of the absorbent article, each pair being symmetric to its compliment across an axis of the absorbent article drawn in the machine direction and at the center of its width. The distance between the innermost pair of contoured lines is from about 15 mm to about 25 mm or the amount of adhesive comprising the printed adhesive layer is such that the pattern coverage with the adhesive is from about 15% to about 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ann Cecilia Tapp, Sarah Ann Sanborn, Rachael Eden Walther, Theodore Cory Fites, John Andrew Strasemeier
  • Patent number: 10285871
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an absorbent article for personal hygiene. More particularly, in one embodiment, the absorbent article absorbent article includes at least one property changing indicator. A detector device is also provided that includes at least one sensor. The sensor is adapted to detect the property change of the property change indicator in the absorbent article. In one particular embodiment, for example, the property changing indicator may include an optical property indicator such as a color change indicator and the sensor may include an optical sensor such as a color sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Blanca Arizti, Erik John Hasenoehrl, Jonathan Livingston Joyce, Mattias Schmidt, Faiz Feisal Sherman, Steven Jeffrey Specht, Grant Edward Anders Striemer
  • Patent number: 10285872
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an absorbent article for personal hygiene. More particularly, in one embodiment, the absorbent article absorbent article includes at least one property changing indicator. A detector device is also provided that includes at least one sensor. The sensor is adapted to detect the property change of the property change indicator in the absorbent article. In one particular embodiment, for example, the property changing indicator may include an optical property indicator such as a color change indicator and the sensor may include an optical sensor such as a color sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Blanca Arizti, Erik John Hasenoehrl, Jonathan Livingston Joyce, Mattias Schmidt, Faiz Feisal Sherman, Steven Jeffrey Specht, Grant Edward Anders Striemer
  • Patent number: 10278869
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleansing wounds in which irrigant fluid from a reservoir connected to a conformable wound dressing and wound exudate from the dressing are recirculated by a device for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing. The cleansing means (which may be a single-phase, e.g. microfiltration, system or a two-phase, e.g. dialytic system) removes materials deleterious to wound healing, and the cleansed fluid, still containing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing, is returned to the wound bed. The dressing and a method of treatment using the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Patrick Lewis Blott, Bryan Greener, Edward Yerbury Hartwell, Tina Michelle Walker, Derek Nicolini, Julian Lee-Webb
  • Patent number: 10278873
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article with which, both when dry, prior to absorbing blood, and when wet, after absorbing blood, is provided with a fit in a wearer's excretory orifice, especially the labia minora, and which is not prone to leaking. Provided is an absorbent article, including a liquid-permeable top sheet, a non liquid-permeable back sheet, and an absorbent body between the liquid-permeable top sheet and the non liquid-permeable back sheet. The absorbent article further comprises a center high part which protrudes in the thickness direction of the absorbent article in an excretory orifice contact region. The center high part further includes a portion of the top sheet, and a cushion part which is positioned between the top sheet and the absorbent body. The center high part further includes a central part, and an outer circumference part which surrounds the central part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Noda, Tatsuya Tamura, Akira Hashino
  • Patent number: 10258722
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments described herein are directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for applying a reduced pressure to a subcutaneous tissue site. In one instance, a manifold for applying reduced pressure to a subcutaneous tissue site includes a plurality of first conduits, each of the plurality of first conduits having a wall with at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture. At least one of the plurality of first conduits is operable to deliver reduced pressure to the subcutaneous tissue site. The plurality of first conduits is coupled in a spaced arrangement that forms an interior space. The manifold further includes a second conduit comprising the interior space and formed by a portion of each wall of the plurality of first conduits. The second conduit is in fluid communication with the plurality of first conduits via the at least one second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Alexander Long, Michael E. Manwaring, Douglas A. Cornet
  • Patent number: 10245191
    Abstract: An absorbent article for feminine hygiene, comprising: a body contacting layer; a garment contacting layer; and an absorbent core disposed between the body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer. The absorbent core has a core edge. The core edge defines a core region within the core edge and an outer region outside the core region. The body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer extend outward into the outer region and joined together in the outer region. The garment contacting layer may have a graphic printed on the body facing surface or the body contacting layer may have a graphic printed on the garment facing surface. The body contacting layer has a first light transmittance so that the graphic can be seen through the body contacting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Tsunetoshi Miura, Kensuke Ito, Akiko Sasaki, Yoshiko Nakao, Shuri Kondo, Koichi Tomi
  • Patent number: 10238552
    Abstract: A middle part in the width direction of a three-dimensional gather of an absorbent article is joined with a side edge portion of a liquid permeable surface sheet, and a folded portion folded back to a side at an inner side of the joint portion is formed. The folded portion is defined by an end area, a urinary-opening facing area, and a middle area. In the end area and the middle area, a portion on an inner side in the width direction of the folded portion is joined with the liquid permeable surface sheet, and a projection with an end of a portion on an outer side in the width direction rather than the joint portion as a free end portion is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kaori Umemoto
  • Patent number: 10238554
    Abstract: An absorber includes a concave groove-shaped body fluid inflow portion along a longitudinal direction of an incontinence pad and over a range in the longitudinal direction including a body fluid discharge portion of a wearer, and a granular powder superabsorbent resin is arranged at least on a side edge portion of the absorber and over the range in the longitudinal direction including the body fluid inflow portion. Since the body fluid flowing into the body fluid inflow portion is diffused and is absorbed and held in the superabsorbent resin on the side edge portion of the absorber, it is possible to provide an adequate absorbed amount in the absorber despite the concave groove in the absorber. Even when the superabsorbent resin becomes swollen with absorbed body fluid, the body fluid inflow portion is not blocked, with the result that the absorption speed is not reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kaori Umemoto
  • Patent number: 10219955
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing multiple different articles are provided. One apparatus embodiment includes a first intravaginal article assembly module; a second intravaginal article assembly module; and an applicator module capable of receiving and handling applicators suitable for both first intravaginal articles from the first intravaginal article assembly module and second intravaginal articles from the second intravaginal article assembly module. The apparatus only operates with one of the first intravaginal article assembly module and the second intravaginal article assembly module at one time. The first intravaginal articles are absorbent articles and the second intravaginal articles are non-absorbent articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Kevin Charles Strong
  • Patent number: 10201461
    Abstract: A disposal diaper (1) improves breathability by laminating a folded portion (46) and an opposing portion (47) to form a first waist circumferential region (407), which is an upper portion of a waist circumferential region (406). A second waist circumferential region (408) below the first waist circumferential region is formed by laminating the folded portion, an end sheet (5), a second exterior sheet (42), and the opposing portion, and a second waist elastic member (444) is joined between the folded portion and the end sheet. The folded portion has a horizontal bending resistance of 80 mm or less. This allows the second waist circumferential region to easily contract. The thickness and strength of the second waist circumferential region increase accordingly, and this makes it possible to reduce damage to an exterior sheet (4) in the waist circumferential region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: LIVEDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Emi Amano, Tomohito Uda
  • Patent number: 10201462
    Abstract: An absorbent core composite is disclosed for incorporation into a disposable absorbent article. The composite includes a first material layer and a second material layer (preferably nonwoven) partially secured to the first material layer to define at least one pocket therebetween. Preferably, multiple pockets are defined, except in the case of where a generally uniform layer or bed of absorbent is preferred or better suited fro the application. The pocket is said have a fixed initial volume. Further, an aggregate of absorbent particles is provided in the pocket(s) to occupy a portion of the fixed initial volume. The absorbent particles are preferably SAP particles and is characterized by a dry volume associated with a dry state and a swell volume associated with a liquid saturation state. In respect to or for the pocket, the aggregate is characterized by a collective dry volume and a collective swell volume, wherein the pocket has an initial configuration that retains the aggregate therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Wright, Eugenio Varona, Anne Smid, Dennis Smid
  • Patent number: 10195093
    Abstract: An absorbent article with a three-dimensional film transfer layer having an open lattice structure formed from a single film for improved user properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TREDEGAR FILM PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rickey J. Seyler
  • Patent number: 10195089
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article comprising a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region, wherein said absorbent article further comprises at least three discrete elements each comprising at least one visible surface; wherein at least three or more of the visible surfaces comprise an imparted color wherein said colors are color matched. Color matching exists when said colors are contained within a specified CIELab color space volume, have a specified hue difference, or total color difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Plaza
    Inventors: Limin Song, Kesyin Fugger Hsueh, Walter Douglas Daniels, John Joseph Litchholt