Patents by Inventor Georgia L. Zehner

Georgia L. Zehner 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: 10610421
    Abstract: An absorbent article (10) can include a fastening system including a primary fastening system (82) and a secondary fastening system (84). The primary fastening system (82) can include at least one primary first fastening component (86) and at least one primary second fastening component (88). The secondary fastening system (84) can include a first secondary first fastening component (96) and at least one secondary second fastening component (98). The absorbent article (10) can also include a pocket (64) disposed in the front waist region (12) such that at least one primary first fastening component (86) is configured to engage the pocket (64) when engaging the at least one primary second fastening component (88) in the fastened condition of the absorbent article (10) and the first secondary first fastening component (96) can engage the at least one secondary second fastening component (98) in the fastened condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: David F. Bishop, Sara Stabelfeldt, Nicole J. Barna, Nancy E Dawson, Jeffrey A DeBroux, John T. Hahn, Eric D. Johnson, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Patent number: 10517779
    Abstract: An absorbent article (10) can include a pocket (64) disposed in the front waist region 12. The pocket (64) can include a first side edge (70), a second side edge (72), an upper lateral edge (74), and a lower lateral edge (76). The pocket (64) can be closed with respect to the absorbent assembly (44) at least at the first side edge (70) and the second side edge (72) and can be open with respect to the absorbent assembly (44) at least at the lower lateral edge (76). In one embodiment, at least a portion of the upper lateral edge (74) can be closer to the front waist edge (22) of the absorbent article (10) than is the first end edge (40) of the absorbent body (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Nicole J. Barna, Sara Stabelfeldt, David F. Bishop, Nancy E. Dawson, Robert M. Hill, Eric D. Johnson, Paul A. Weber, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Publication number: 20170246058
    Abstract: An absorbent article (10) can include a pocket (64) disposed in the front waist region 12. The pocket (64) can include a first side edge (70), a second side edge (72), an upper lateral edge (74), and a lower lateral edge (76). The pocket (64) can be closed with respect to the absorbent assembly (44) at least at the first side edge (70) and the second side edge (72) and can be open with respect to the absorbent assembly (44) at least at the lower lateral edge (76). In one embodiment, at least a portion of the upper lateral edge (74) can be closer to the front waist edge (22) of the absorbent article (10) than is the first end edge (40) of the absorbent body (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Nicole J. Barna, Sara Stabelfeldt, David F. Bishop, Nancy E. Dawson, Robert M. Hill, Eric D. Johnson, Paul A. Weber, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Publication number: 20170239103
    Abstract: An absorbent article (10) can include a pocket (64) disposed in the front waist region 12. The pocket (64) can include a first side edge (70), a second side edge (72), an upper lateral edge (74), and a lower lateral edge (76). The pocket (64) can be closed with respect to the absorbent assembly (36) at least at the first side edge (70) and the second side edge (72) and can be open with respect to the absorbent assembly (36) at least at the lower lateral edge (76). The pocket (64) can be configured such that it has improved accessibility for a caregiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Paul A. Weber, Sara Stabelfeldt, Nicole J. Barna, Nancy E. Dawson, Jeffrey A. DeBroux, John T. Hahn, Eric D. Johnson, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Patent number: 8317767
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid intake region, a liquid retention region, a barrier region, and plural strips of microlayer material located adjacent to the liquid retention region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Vukos, Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Thomas W. Odorzynski, Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet, Georgia L. Zehner, Duane G. Uitenbroek, Richard W. Tanzer
  • Patent number: 7658732
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in structure of disposable garments. The disposable garments of the invention may include an outer layer and an elastic inner layer. The elastic inner layer has an elastic inner layer perimeter and defines an opening, which may be in the form of a slit or aperture, located in an internal position to the elastic inner layer perimeter. The elastic inner layer perimeter may be bonded to the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Patent number: 7569042
    Abstract: A disposable garment including a dual fastening system. The dual fastening system includes at least two first fasteners and at least two second fasteners, at least a portion of each second fastener being located in the front waist region and situated inboard from each longitudinal side edge of the front waist region, each second fastener being configured to engage at least a portion of the bodyfacing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Patent number: 7344523
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in structure of disposable garments. The disposable garments of the invention may include an outer layer and an elastic inner layer. The elastic inner layer has an elastic inner layer perimeter and defines an opening, which may be in the form of a slit or aperture, located in an internal position to the elastic inner layer perimeter. The elastic inner layer perimeter may be bonded to the outer layer. The elastic inner layer may include a front piece, a back piece and a crotch piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Patent number: 7329794
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in structure of disposable garments. The disposable garments of the invention may include an outer layer and an elastic inner layer. The elastic inner layer has an elastic inner layer perimeter and defines an opening, which may be in the form of a slit or aperture, located in an internal position to the elastic inner layer perimeter. The elastic inner layer perimeter may be bonded to the outer layer. The elastic inner layer may include a fastener on an inner surface in a back waist region of the garment and the outer layer may include a fastener on an outer surface in a front waist region of the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, INc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Patent number: 7179952
    Abstract: An absorbent article for absorbing body liquids, comprising a unitary system of microlayered film constructed and arranged to carry out the multiple functions of liquid intake, liquid uptake and distribution, liquid retention and liquid barrier requisite for such an absorbent article. The unitary system comprises a series of sequentially arranged topside, inside and bottom side regions having different properties needed to perform the functions of the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Vukos, Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Thomas W. Odorzynski, Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet, Georgia L. Zehner, Duane G. Uitenbroek, Richard W. Tanzer
  • Publication number: 20030100878
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical fastening tab formed from a substrate adapted to be joined to a disposable absorbent product and a first mechanical fastener component. The fastening tab has a Gurley stiffness value of less than about 1000 milligrams in an area of the fastening tab which includes said first mechanical fastening component. Also disclosed are disposable products comprising such mechanical fastening tabs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: A. TODD LEAK, APIROMRAJ S. ROSLANSKY, PAUL T. VAN GOMPEL, GEORGIA L. ZEHNER, EDWARD H. RUSCHER, YUNG HSIANG HUANG
  • Patent number: 5605735
    Abstract: A distinctive fastening tab includes a fastener substrate having a construction-bond portion, a user-bond portion, a user-bond end section, a construction-bond end section, a pair of opposed side edge sections, a fastening surface and a user surface. A securing means connects to the fastening surface of the fastener substrate at least along the user-bond portion thereof, and a gripping member connects to the user surface at the user-bond portion of the fastener substrate. The gripping member has a distal end portion which is substantially free, and a base portion which is operably connected to the user surface of the fastener substrate. The gripping member is configured to intersect the fastener substrate at a location which is spaced from the construction-bond portion and is positioned between the construction-bond portion and the user-bond end section of the fastener substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Georgia L. Zehner, Paul T. VanGompel, Thomas H. Roessler, Yung H. Huang
  • Patent number: 5540672
    Abstract: An absorbent article has a lateral width, a longitudinal length, longitudinally extending side margins, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion, and an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions. The article comprises a backsheet layer and an absorbent retention portion superposed on the backsheet layer. A liquid permeable topsheet layer is superposed on the retention portion to sandwich the retention portion between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. An elasticizing means form elasticized gathers at leg opening portions of the article. The elasticizing means include a front set of laterally opposed, longitudinally extending leg elastic members located in the article side margins in at least the intermediate portion of the article. The front elastic members are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the article length and have a selected offset toward the front waistband portion of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Roessler, Paul T. Van Gompel, Georgia L. Zehner, Daniel R. Schlinz, Apiromraj Srisopark
  • Patent number: 5527302
    Abstract: A conformable absorbent article has a topsheet that is designed to substantially fully contact the body of the wearer to provide improved performance in managing and containing body wastes. Management and containment of body wastes are improved by several structural elements that can be utilized individually or collectively. Some of these elements are a waste-containment pocket formed between the topsheet and backsheet, an opening in the topsheet for receiving body wastes therethrough, a pair of containment flaps and a pair of side flaps, and an expandable backsheet to retain body wastes therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Dan D. Endres, Timothy J. Blenke, Robert E. Vogt, Georgia L. Zehner, Steven H. Levine, David P. Kielpikowski, John P. Vukos, Mary A. Bruemmer
  • Patent number: 5489282
    Abstract: A growth adjustable diaper for newborn babies is adjustable in length by use of a foldable absorbent panel at the front edge of the diaper and is adjustable about the waist of the baby by means of ear members that can overlap and attach to each other or not overlap and attach to the front section of the diaper. Cushion barriers are provided at the crotch section and back waist edge to protect the newborn's sensitive, tender skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Georgia L. Zehner, Paulette M. Rosch, Thomas W. Odorzynski, Bruce M. Siebers, Timothy J. Blenke
  • Patent number: 5462541
    Abstract: A diaper or absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent between the topsheet and backsheet, and an elevating device for spacing the topsheet above the absorbent to form a pocket-like shape. The topsheet can have an opening and the absorbent can have a hole therein, both of which receive and isolate waste material from the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Mary A. Bruemmer, Paulette M. Rosch, John P. Vukos, Duane G. Uitenbroek, Georgia L. Zehner, Christine A. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 5366453
    Abstract: A growth adjustable diaper for newborn babies is adjustable in length by use of a foldable absorbent panel at the front edge of the diaper and comprises an elastic member positioned between the foldable panel and a topsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Georgia L. Zehner, Paulette M. Rosch, Thomas W. Odorzynski, Bruce M. Siebers, Timothy J. Blenke
  • Patent number: 5295986
    Abstract: A growth adjustable diaper for newborn babies is adjustable in length by use of a foldable absorbent panel at the front edge of the diaper, and is adjustable about the waist of the baby by means of ear members that can overlap and attach to each other or not overlap and attach to the front section of the diaper. Cushion barriers are provided at the crotch section and back waist edge to protect the newborn's sensitive, tender skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Georgia L. Zehner, Paulette M. Rosch, Thomas W. Odorzynski, Bruce M. Siebers, Timothy J. Blenke
  • Patent number: 5176672
    Abstract: A diaper or absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent between the topsheet and backsheet, and an elevating device for spacing the topsheet above the absorbent to form a pocket-like shape. The topsheet can have a generally U-shaped opening and the absorbent can have a hole therein, both of which receive and isolate waste material from the wearer. The absorbent side edges can have portions that are gatherable by elastic members attached in a stretched condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Mary A. Bruemmer, Paulette M. Rosch, John P. Vukos, Duane G. Uitenbroek, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Patent number: 4938757
    Abstract: A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge comprises an absorbent assembly including a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween. A pair of stretchable side panels are joined to the absorbent assembly to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and an intermediate portion of each stretchable side panel is generally peripherally disposed about a respective leg opening. The stretchable side panels provide generally inwardly directed force vectors against a wearer to maintain the garment snugly against the wearer's body and the absorbent assembly snugly in place against the crotch area both before and after a discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Jody D. Suprise, Leona G. Boland, Georgia L. Zehner