Patents by Inventor Kathleen I. Ratliff

Kathleen I. Ratliff 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: 8211080
    Abstract: A method of securing an absorbent article in a fastened configuration for personal wear includes forming an absorbent article to have a body. A mechanical fastening system is positioned on the body. The mechanical fastening system has a loop component and a hook component. The loop component is an elastomeric laminate formed by securing an elastomeric loop material to an elastomeric substrate. The hook component is fastenably engageable with the loop material of the loop component. The laminate is stretched which includes stretching both the loop material and the substrate. The hook component and the loop component are engaged whereby the hook component fastenably engages the loop material of the loop component. The stretched laminate is allowed to retract which includes retraction of the loop material and retraction of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcille F. Ruman, Lindsay C. Shelley, Kathleen I. Ratliff
  • Patent number: 7875014
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment for wear about a wearer's waist includes a garment shell and an absorbent assembly constructed to take in and retain body exudates released by the wearer, the absorbent assembly including an inner waist band. The absorbent assembly may be permanently detached from the garment shell. The garment shell has limited attachment to the absorbent assembly at front and rear attachment zones. The inner waist belt provides tension on each side of the absorbent assembly to provide effective coverage of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Cynthia H. Hendren, Kathleen I. Ratliff, Erica L. Mullen, Maria E. de Leon, Susan M. Weyenberg
  • Patent number: 7162749
    Abstract: A mechanical fastening system for an article wherein a first fastening component is secured to the article within an attachment region. A portion of the first fastening component within the attachment region is mechanically bonded to the article, with a ratio of an area of the bonded portion to an area of the attachment region defining a percent bonded area of the first fastening component. A second fastening component is secured to the article within an attachment region thereof. A portion of the second fastening component within the attachment region is mechanically bonded to the article, with a ratio of an area of the bonded portion to an area of the attachment region thereof defining a percent bonded area of the second fastening component. The percent bonded area of the first fastening component is substantially less than the percent bonded area of the second fastening component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry L. Carbone, II, Robert L. Popp, Debra H. Durrance, Matthew Lee Koele, Marcille F. Ruman, Kathleen I. Ratliff
  • Publication number: 20040116889
    Abstract: A mechanical fastening system for an article wherein a first fastening component is secured to the article within an attachment region. A portion of the first fastening component within the attachment region is mechanically bonded to the article, with a ratio of an area of the bonded portion to an area of the attachment region defining a percent bonded area of the first fastening component. A second fastening component is secured to the article within an attachment region thereof. A portion of the second fastening component within the attachment region is mechanically bonded to the article, with a ratio of an area of the bonded portion to an area of the attachment region thereof defining a percent bonded area of the second fastening component. The percent bonded area of the first fastening component is substantially less than the percent bonded area of the second fastening component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry L. Carbone, Robert L. Popp, Debra H. Durrance, Matthew Lee Koele, Marcille F. Ruman, Kathleen I. Ratliff
  • Publication number: 20030125705
    Abstract: An absorbent article such as infant training pants is provided with a mechanical hook-and-loop type fastening system in which at least the loop material is stretchable and in some embodiments is elongated before it is brought into engagement with the hook material and is then allowed to contract on the hook material while in other embodiments the loop material is shrunk as it is placed in engagement with the hook material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcille F. Ruman, Lindsay C. Shelley, Kathleen I. Ratliff
  • Patent number: 5616201
    Abstract: A mitt wipe is provided for wiping and cleaning waste from the body. The mitt wipe includes a mitt body having a top layer and a bottom layer forming an interior space and a mitt opening. An access flap member is adjacent to the mitt opening and extends outwardly beyond the bottom end of the top layer, and a reinforcing cuff member is adjacent to the bottom end of the top layer. A process is provided for making the mitt wipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie V. Finch, Frank S. Glaug, Christopher P. Olson, Kathleen I. Ratliff, Donald A. Sheldon
  • Patent number: 5542566
    Abstract: A reusable dispenser and a plurality of disposable mitt wipes contained therein. The dispenser includes a tub body having a tub interior and a tub opening, a lid member joined to the tub body and being movable between a closed position and an open position, a sealing means between the lid member and the tub body, and a positive latching device for latching the lid member to the tub body. The lid member includes a replaceable access strip member that permits the mitt wipes to be dispensed one at a time, and is replaceable to close and seal the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Frank S. Glaug, Christopher P. Olson, Kathleen I. Ratliff, Donald A. Sheldon, Valerie V. Finch, L. Warren Collier, IV