Patents by Inventor Rae Leonard Kirkwood

Rae Leonard Kirkwood 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).

  • Elasticized absorbent articles and methods of weakening elastic portions in elasticized absorbent articles
    Patent number: 11648153
    Abstract: Elasticized absorbent articles containing weakened elasticized portions and methods of manufacture are disclosed. A method comprises applying a first amount of adhesive to a first portion of at least one of the first web of material and the elastic strand, applying a second amount of adhesive to a second portion of at least one of the first web of material and the elastic strand, covering the elastic strand with either the first surface of the first web of material or a first surface of a second web of material to form an elasticized web. The elasticized web comprises a heavy bonding region and a light bonding region, wherein the heavy bonding region comprises a greater area density of adhesive than the light bond region. Finally, the method may further comprise partially weakening the waist panel elastic strand at least at one location within the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Brian K. Rhodes, Timothy A. Thorson, Qingyuan Deng, Gregory J. Rajala, Rae Leonard Kirkwood
  • ELASTICIZED ABSORBENT ARTICLES AND METHODS OF WEAKENING ELASTIC PORTIONS IN ELASTICIZED ABSOBENT ARTICLES
    Publication number: 20190307613
    Abstract: Elasticized absorbent articles containing weakened elasticized portions and methods of manufacture are disclosed. A method comprises applying a first amount of adhesive to a first portion of at least one of the first web of material and the elastic strand, applying a second amount of adhesive to a second portion of at least one of the first web of material and the elastic strand, covering the elastic strand with either the first surface of the first web of material or a first surface of a second web of material to form an elasticized web. The elasticized web comprises a heavy bonding region and a light bonding region, wherein the heavy bonding region comprises a greater area density of adhesive than the light bond region. Finally, the method may further comprise partially weakening the waist panel elastic strand at least at one location within the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Brian K. Rhodes, Timothy A. Thorson, Qingyuan Deng, Gregory J. Rajala, Rae Leonard Kirkwood