Patents by Inventor Dean M. Wydeven

Dean M. Wydeven 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: 9018434
    Abstract: Absorbent articles are disclosed that have been printed with active graphics alone or in combination with permanent graphics to create a wetness indicator. Different active graphic compositions and/or permanent graphic compositions are combined so as to make the wetness indicator very prominent on the article. In addition, when the absorbent article is wetted, the active graphics undergo a change that is easily noticed by the wearer or the caregiver for the wearer. In one embodiment, for instance, active graphics are positioned within a distinctive frame. The frame focuses a person's attention onto the active graphics. The active graphics fill most of the surface area of the frame such that when the absorbent article is wetted, a clearly noticeable change occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcille Faye Ruman, Shannon K. Melius, Eric Donald Johnson, Tami L. Kurtz, Marty J. Granius, Dean M. Wydeven, Anita M. Gilgenbach, Aaron D. Schilpp, Michael Donald Sperl, Paula K. DeBruin, Thomas Michael Ales, Joy Patricia Bauman, Steven Carl Strubbe
  • Patent number: 8987544
    Abstract: An absorbent article has a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a first major surface which forms a body-facing surface of the absorbent article, and a second major surface disposed distally from the first major surface which forms a garment-facing surface of the absorbent article. The article includes an absorbent core positioned between the first major surface and the second major surface. The article also includes at least one heat-activatable expandable structure. The at least one heat-activatable expandable structure is disposed on or below the first major surface. Application of heat to the heat-activatable expandable structure causes the heat-activatable expandable barrier structure to form distinctive designs, barriers and/or channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Poruthoor, Rebecca Griffin, Lei Huang, Balaji K. Kandadai, Suzanne Murray, Hue Scott Snowden, Herb Velazquez, Dean M. Wydeven, Ali Yahiaoui
  • Patent number: 8740869
    Abstract: An absorbent article, for example, a diaper, a training pant, a swimming pant, or a feminine care article, and so forth, includes a topsheet, which forms a body-facing surface of the absorbent article, a backsheet disposed distally from the topsheet, which forms a garment-facing surface of the absorbent article, an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a heat-activatable expandable treatment on the garment-facing surface. The heat-activatable expandable treatment is present on the garment-facing surface in a visually distinctive shape or pattern and provides visual and/or tactile cues to a user of the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Herb Velazquez, Tom Flicker, Duane McDonald, Suzanne Murray, Katherine C. Wheeler, Dean M. Wydeven, Lisha Yu
  • Publication number: 20120232511
    Abstract: An absorbent article, for example, a diaper, a training pant, a swimming pant, or a feminine care article, and so forth, includes a topsheet, which forms a body-facing surface of the absorbent article, a backsheet disposed distally from the topsheet, which forms a garment-facing surface of the absorbent article, an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a heat-activatable expandable treatment on the garment-facing surface. The heat-activatable expandable treatment is present on the garment-facing surface in a visually distinctive shape or pattern and provides visual and/or tactile cues to a user of the absorbent article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Herb Velazquez, Tom Flicker, Duane McDonald, Suzanne Murray, Katherine C. Wheeler, Dean M. Wydeven, Lisha Yu
  • Publication number: 20120157952
    Abstract: An absorbent article has a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a first major surface which forms a body-facing surface of the absorbent article, and a second major surface disposed distally from the first major surface which forms a garment-facing surface of the absorbent article. The article includes an absorbent core positioned between the first major surface and the second major surface. The article also includes at least one heat-activatable expandable structure. The at least one heat-activatable expandable structure is disposed on or below the first major surface. Application of heat to the heat-activatable expandable structure causes the heat-activatable expandable barrier structure to form distinctive designs, barriers and/or channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Simon Poruthoor, Rebecca Griffin, Lei Huang, Balaji K. Kandadai, Suzanne Murray, Hue Scott Snowden, Herb Velazquez, Dean M. Wydeven, Ali Yahiaoui
  • Publication number: 20120035563
    Abstract: Absorbent articles are disclosed that have been printed with active graphics alone or in combination with permanent graphics to create a wetness indicator. Different active graphic compositions and/or permanent graphic compositions are combined so as to make the wetness indicator very prominent on the article. In addition, when the absorbent article is wetted, the active graphics undergo a change that is easily noticed by the wearer or the caregiver for the wearer. In one embodiment, for instance, active graphics are positioned within a distinctive frame. The frame focuses a person's attention onto the active graphics. The active graphics fill most of the surface area of the frame such that when the absorbent article is wetted, a clearly noticeable change occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Marcille Faye Ruman, Shannon K. Melius, Eric Donald Johnson, Tami L. Kurtz, Marty J. Granius, Dean M. Wydeven, Anita M. Gilgenbach, Aaron D. Schilpp, Michael Donald Sperl, Paula K. DeBruin, Thomas Michael Ales, Joy Patricia Bauman, Steven Carl Strubbe
  • Patent number: D583146
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean M. Wydeven
  • Patent number: D590592
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Inventor: Dean M. Wydeven