Patents by Inventor Meghan E. Collins

Meghan E. Collins 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: 8440877
    Abstract: Presented is a sensing absorbent article system including an absorbent article having a liner and an outer cover, the absorbent article including a sensing means, an article design scheme, and an attachment zone having an attachment zone design scheme, wherein the attachment zone design scheme is visually differentiable from the article design scheme. Also presented is a sensing absorbent article system including an absorbent article having a liner and an outer cover, the absorbent article including a sensing means, an article design scheme, and an attachment zone adapted to indicate the proper position for a signaling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Meghan E. Collins, Thomas M. Ales, III, Shirlee A. Weber, Andrew M. Long
  • Patent number: 8053625
    Abstract: Wetness indicators may include alarm devices that are designed to assist parents or attendants in identifying a wet diaper condition early on. These devices produce either a visual or an audible signal. Many of these devices rely on electronics, which may increase the expense of the absorbent article. Further, electronic devices rely on electrical sources and may be prone to failure if not utilized for an extended period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Davis Dang H. Nhan, Andrew M. Long, Shirlee A. Weber, Darold D. Tippey, Meghan E. Collins
  • Patent number: 7834235
    Abstract: A system for interactively training a child and a caregiver to assist the child to overcome bedwetting. The system includes an absorbent article, a urine insult detector, a urine insult event communicator and a urine insult event alarm. The urine insult event alarm includes a local alarm proximate the child and a remote alarm proximate the caregiver. The urine insult event alarm can inform both the child and the caregiver upon occurrence of a urine insult event and thereby provide a first interactive training opportunity to assist the child to overcome bedwetting. The local alarm includes a sensor which senses a condition of the child's environment in conjunction with the occurrence of the urine insult event and wherein the remote alarm can be selectively deactivated based on the condition and thereby provide a second interactive training opportunity to assist the child to overcome bedwetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew M. Long, Thomas M. Ales, III, Meghan E. Collins
  • Patent number: 7649125
    Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of an insult in an absorbent article. An electrical property of the article is measured and either a proportional difference or a rate of change of the electrical property is determined. The proportional difference or the rate of change is compared to a difference indicator value and a rate indicator value, respectively, to determine the presence of an insult in the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Ales, III, Andrew Long, Meghan E. Collins, Shawn J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7498478
    Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article is disclosed. An electrical property is monitored and the electrical property is compared to a wet/dry threshold value to determine either a wet characteristic or a dry characteristic of the article. If a dry characteristic, then a first and possibly a second test are applied. If a wet characteristic, then the second test is applied. The electrical property is compared to a first threshold value and a second threshold value is set based upon the function of the comparison. A change in the electrical property of the article is monitored to determine if the electrical property has stabilized after activation of an insult alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Long, Meghan E. Collins
  • Publication number: 20080147030
    Abstract: Wetness indicators may include alarm devices that are designed to assist parents or attendants in identifying a wet diaper condition early on. These devices produce either a visual or an audible signal. Many of these devices rely on electronics, which may increase the expense of the absorbent article. Further, electronic devices rely on electrical sources and may be prone to failure if not utilized for an extended period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Davis Dang H. Nhan, Andrew M. Long, Shirlee A. Weber, Darold D. Tippey, Meghan E. Collins
  • Patent number: 7355090
    Abstract: A method of determining the presence of an insult in an absorbent article is disclosed. The amount of time that elapses between the activation of an alarm and the determination of the presence of a subsequent insult is determined. This elapsed time is compared to a time threshold value and either an insult alarm or a saturation alarm is activated as a function of the comparison. After activation of the alarm for an alarm period, the electrical property of the article is determined at a second time occurring at least a preset period after the end of the alarm period to allow the electrical property to stabilize before determining the electrical property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Ales, III, Andrew Long, Meghan E. Collins
  • Publication number: 20080058745
    Abstract: A system for interactively training a child and a caregiver to assist the child to overcome bedwetting. The system includes an absorbent article, a urine insult detector, a urine insult event communicator and a urine insult event alarm. The urine insult event alarm includes a local alarm proximate the child and a remote alarm proximate the caregiver. The urine insult event alarm can inform both the child and the caregiver upon occurrence of a urine insult event and thereby provide a first interactive training opportunity to assist the child to overcome bedwetting. The local alarm includes a sensor which senses a condition of the child's environment in conjunction with the occurrence of the urine insult event and wherein the remote alarm can be selectively deactivated based on the condition and thereby provide a second interactive training opportunity to assist the child to overcome bedwetting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Andrew M. Long, Thomas M. Ales, Meghan E. Collins
  • Publication number: 20070282286
    Abstract: Presented is a sensing absorbent article system including an absorbent article having a liner and an outer cover, the absorbent article including a sensing means, an article design scheme, and an attachment zone having an attachment zone design scheme, wherein the attachment zone design scheme is visually differentiable from the article design scheme. Also presented is a sensing absorbent article system including an absorbent article having a liner and an outer cover, the absorbent article including a sensing means, an article design scheme, and an attachment zone adapted to indicate the proper position for a signaling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Meghan E. Collins, Thomas M. Ales, Shirlee A. Weber, Andrew M. Long