Patents by Inventor Bruce Reed Shafer

Bruce Reed Shafer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6551294
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis, at least one fit panel, a pair a primary fasteners and an integral waist size adjustment mechanism. The fit panel is located in one of the waist regions of the absorbent chassis and defines a waist edge, a pair of laterally opposed outboard edges which are located laterally beyond the side edges of the absorbent chassis, and an inward edge which is located longitudinally inward from the waist edge. The pair of primary fasteners are located on the laterally opposed outboard edges of the fit panel and are configured to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent chassis to provide the disposable absorbent article. The waist size adjustment mechanism may include a secondary fastener tab which is integral with the fit panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide
    Inventors: Laura Linda Elsberg, Brian Walter Angielski, June Marie De Valk, Tim Joseph Janssen, Patrick Sean McNichols, Jennifer Elizabeth Pozniak, Bruce Reed Shafer, James Bennington Stopher, Gary Lee Travis
  • Patent number: 6524293
    Abstract: A prefastened, refastenable, disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis, at least one stretch panel, and a pair a primary fasteners. The absorbent chassis defines a pair of longitudinally opposed end edges and a pair of laterally opposed side edges. The stretch panel is located in one of the waist regions and defines a waist edge, a pair of laterally opposed outboard edges which are located laterally beyond the side edges of the absorbent chassis, and an inward edge which is located longitudinally inward from the waist edge. The pair of primary fasteners are located on the laterally opposed outboard edges of the stretch panel and are releasably prefastened to an opposite waist region of the absorbent chassis to releasably engage a front waist region to a rear waist region to provide the prefastened disposable absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Linda Elsberg, Brian Walter Angielski, June Marie De Valk, Tim Joseph Janssen, Patrick Sean McNichols, Jennifer Elizabeth Pozniak, Bruce Reed Shafer, James Bennington Stopher, Gary Lee Travis
  • Publication number: 20020173768
    Abstract: A prefastened, refastenable, disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis, at least one stretch panel, and a pair a primary fasteners. The absorbent chassis defines a pair of longitudinally opposed end edges and a pair of laterally opposed side edges. The stretch panel is located in one of the waist regions and defines a waist edge, a pair of laterally opposed outboard edges which are located laterally beyond the side edges of the absorbent chassis, and an inward edge which is located longitudinally inward from the waist edge. The pair of primary fasteners are located on the laterally opposed outboard edges of the stretch panel and are releasably prefastened to an opposite waist region of the absorbent chassis to releasably engage a front waist region to a rear waist region to provide the prefastened disposable absorbent article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Laura Linda Elsberg, Brian Walter Angielski, June Marie De Valk, Tim Joseph Janssen, Patrick Sean McNichols, Jennifer Elizabeth Pozniak, Bruce Reed Shafer, James Bennington Stopher, Gary Lee Travis
  • Patent number: 6429350
    Abstract: An absorbent article having relatively light weight and less bulk includes a liquid permeable top layer, an inner surge layer, and a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover. A plurality of pockets are formed in at least one of the surge layer and the outer cover material. The pockets contain a superabsorbent material. The surge layer or outer cover material containing the pockets functions as an absorbent layer, thereby eliminating the need for a separate (often bulky) absorbent layer between the surge layer and the outer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Warren Tanzer, Bruce Reed Shafer