Patents by Inventor Ronald Ray McFall
Ronald Ray McFall 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: 7056404Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for bonding and/or embossing of materials, especially materials used in the manufacture of hygienic articles, including, but not limited, to absorbent articles such as feminine hygiene articles, disposable diapers, incontinence devices, wipes, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2003Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ronald Ray McFall, Dennis Allen DeHaan
-
Patent number: 6899701Abstract: Highly efficient absorbent articles for wearing by a human female such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and adult incontinence pads. In use, the absorbent articles preferably maintain contact with and cover at least a portion of the inside surfaces of the wearer's labia, the exterior surfaces of the wearer's labia, and the supporting garment. The absorbent articles are highly flexible, having flexure resistance of less than or equal to about 100 grams. The absorbent may be flat or cup-shaped.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2003Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Jerry Edward Carstens, Letha Margie Hines, Nicholas Albert Ahr, Diane Dunn Farris, Nona Jane Redwine, Deborah Catherine Schmitz, Cynthia Lee Alvis, John Richard Noel, Ronald Ray McFall, Thomas Ward Osborn, III
-
Patent number: 6702796Abstract: Absorbent interlabial devices are disclosed. Preferably, the absorbent interlabial device has a liquid pervious topseet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The device preferably also has a grasping tab joined to the backsheet. The tab preferably has at least a first zone and a second zone where the stiffness of the first zone is greater than the stiffness of the second zone. Preferably, the tab is made up of multiple layers. These layers are preferably laminated to each other in the first zone and are not laminated to each other in the second zone.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ronald Ray McFall, Richard George Coe, Julie Michelle Lohre
-
Publication number: 20030181884Abstract: Highly efficient absorbent articles for wearing by a human female such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and adult incontinence pads (“absorbent pads”) for use with a specially designed supporting garment, such as a menstrual pant (or panty) are disclosed. The supporting garment preferably fits so closely it resembles a comfortable “second skin”. In use, the absorbent articles preferably maintain contact with and cover at least a portion of the inside surfaces of the wearer's labia, the exterior surfaces of the wearer's labia, and the supporting garment. The absorbent articles are highly flexible, having flexure resistance of less than or equal to about 100 grams so that they do not interfere with the “second skin fit” of the supporting garment. The absorbent articles may be flat or cup-shaped. In one embodiment, the absorbent article has a surface area measured in a flat condition of less than or equal to about 12.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2003Publication date: September 25, 2003Applicant: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Jerry Edward Carstens, Letha Margie Hines, Nicholas Albert Ahr, Diane Dunn Farris, Nona Jane Redwine, Deborah Catherine Schmitz, Cynthia Lee Alvis, John Richard Noel, Ronald Ray McFall, Thomas Ward Osborn
-
Patent number: 6582411Abstract: Highly efficient absorbent articles for wearing by a human female such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and adult incontinence pads. In use, the absorbent articles preferably maintain contact with and cover at least a portion of the inside surfaces of the wearer's labia, the exterior surfaces of the wearer's labia, and the supporting garment. The absorbent articles are highly flexible, having flexure resistance of less than or equal to about 100 grams. The absorbent articles may be flat or cup-shaped.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2000Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Jerry Edward Carstens, Letha Margie Hines, Nicholas Albert Ahr, Diane Dunn Farris, Nona Jane Redwine, Deborah Catherine Schmitz, Cynthia Lee Alvis, John Richard Noel, Ronald Ray McFall, Thomas Ward Osborn, III
-
Publication number: 20020138057Abstract: Absorbent interlabial devices are disclosed. Preferably, the absorbent interlabial device has a liquid pervious topseet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The device preferably also has a grasping tab joined to the backsheet. The tab preferably has at least a first zone and a second zone where the stiffness of the first zone is greater than the stiffness of the second zone. Preferably, the tab is made up of multiple layers. These layers are preferably laminated to each other in the first zone and are not laminated to each other in the second zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2001Publication date: September 26, 2002Applicant: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ronald Ray McFall, Richard George Coe, Julie Michelle Lohre
-
Patent number: 6410820Abstract: A method of making a slitted or particulate absorbent material for an absorbent article such as sanitary napkins, diapers, incontinence devices, and the like is disclosed. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method as described above which can be carried out in situ on another component of the absorbent article in a manufacturing process without cutting the other component. In one embodiment, the absorbent material is placed between two carrier webs, and a force is applied to the composite of the absorbent material and the carrier webs. The force breaks the absorbent material, but only deforms the carrier webs to provide a self-contained web of particulate material between two carrier webs. Absorbent structures formed by this method are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the absorbent structure comprises a composite web of discrete elements of absorbent material.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1998Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ronald Ray McFall, Gary Dean Lavon, John Richard Noel, John Lee Hammons, Donald Carroll Roe
-
Patent number: 6316688Abstract: A sanitary napkin that has a three dimensionally-shaped tube of absorbent material and method of making the same is disclosed. The sanitary napkin comprises: a base pad having a body-facing side, a garment-facing side, and a longitudinal centerline. A tube of absorbent material extends outward from the body-facing side of the base pad and is aligned along the longitudinal centerline of the base pad. In one embodiment, the tube of absorbent material comprises an absorbent material and a cover at least partially wrapping the absorbent material. In this embodiment, the absorbent material is penetrated by autogenous bonds that join one portion of the cover to an opposing portion of the cover. The bonds are selectively placed to provide the tube of absorbent material with a distinct three-dimensional shape.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1998Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: John Lee Hammons, Ronald Ray McFall, John Richard Noel, Diana Lynne Gann, Letha Margie Hines, Kevin Eugene Grandison, Thomas Ward Osborn, III
-
Patent number: 6261277Abstract: An absorbent interlabial device that is worn interlabially by female wearers for catemenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, is disclosed. The absorbent interlabial device of the present invention is characterized by improved wearing comfort and increased capacity as compared to known interlabial devices. The absorbent interlabial device of the present invention includes at least an central absorbent portion (or core) surrounded by a liquid pervious topsheet. The topsheet is folded laterally inward over the central absorbent portion and downdward to form a central groove on the top surface of the interlabial device. The central groove faces toward the vestibule of the wearer upon insertion into the interlabial space. The central groove improves the comfort associated with the wearing of the interlabial device, and allows the device to more rapidly acquire fluids, particularly viscous fluids.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1999Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Thomas Ward Osborn, III, Pamela Jean Brown, Ronald Ray McFall
-
Patent number: 6203654Abstract: A method of making a slitted or particulate absorbent material for an absorbent article such as sanitary napkins, diapers, incontinence devices, and the like. The method can be carried out in situ on another component of the absorbent article in a manufacturing process without cutting the other component. In one embodiment, the absorbent material is placed between two canier webs, and a force is applied to the composite of the absorbent material and the carrier webs. The force breaks the absorbent material, but only deforms the carrier webs to provide a self-contained web of particulate material between two carrier webs.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1998Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ronald Ray McFall, Gary Dean Lavon, Wilfried Maria Kollner, John Richard Noel, John Lee Hammons
-
Patent number: 6183587Abstract: The method of making a shaped tube of absorbent material for the sanitary napkin, in one embodiment, involves the steps of: (a) providing a web of absorbent material, the web of absorbent material having a length, a width, a longitudinal centerline oriented in the direction of the length of the web of absorbent material, a first surface and an opposed second surface; (b) providing a cover for the first and second surfaces of the web of absorbent material; (c) at least partially covering the first and second surfaces of the web of absorbent material with the cover to form a composite web having longitudinal side margins; (d) folding the composite web at least once with folds defining fold lines that are arranged about the longitudinal centerline of the web of absorbent material; and (e) autogenously bonding a portion of the cover that covers the first surface of the web of absorbent material to a portion of the cover that covers an opposing portion of the second surface of the web of absorbent material.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1998Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ronald Ray McFall, John Lee Hammons, Diana Lynn Gann, John Richard Noel
-
Patent number: 6045544Abstract: Absorbent devices, and more particularly absorbent devices that are worn interlabially by female wearers for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, are disclosed. The absorbent interlabial device of the present invention comprises a main absorbent portion with an upper portion, a lower portion opposed to the upper portion, and two ends. The upper portion faces toward the vestibule of the wearer during insertion of the device into the wearer's interlabial space and during use. The ends of the absorbent device are preferably taped so that the lower portion of the interlabial device is longer than the upper portion. The ends are also provided with at least one curvilinear segment, with the ends preferably having a sinusoidal or S-shape. The absorbent interlabial device preferably also has an arcuate pattern of discrete autogenous bonds.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1997Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Michael Nyle Hershberger, Ronald Ray McFall, Pamela Jean Brown, Thomas Ward Osborn, III
-
Patent number: 5993431Abstract: A liquid impervious seal for extensible absorbent articles for wearing in an undergarment, such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence pads, and the like, is disclosed. The absorbent articles are typically formed from the following components: a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined to the topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and backsheet. The components forming the absorbent article are held together by use of an extensible liquid impervious seal having a sinusoidal configuration.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ronald Ray McFall, David Christopher Oetjen
-
Patent number: 5968026Abstract: An absorbent interlabial device that is worn interlabially by female wearers for catemenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, is disclosed. The absorbent interlabial device of the present invention is characterized by improved wearing comfort and increased capacity as compared to known interlabial devices. The absorbent interlabial device of the present invention includes at least an central absorbent portion (or core) surrounded by a liquid pervious topsheet. The topsheet is folded laterally inward over the central absorbent portion and downward to form a central groove on the top surface of the interlabial device. The central groove faces toward the vestibule of the wearer upon insertion into the interlabial space. The central groove improves the comfort associated with the wearing of the interlabial device, and allows the device to more rapidly acquire fluids, particularly viscous fluids.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1997Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Thomas Ward Osborn, III, Pamela Jean Brown, Ronald Ray McFall
-
Patent number: 5964689Abstract: A method of making an absorbent interlabial device that is worn interlabially by female wearers for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, is disclosed. The absorbent interlabial device of the present invention preferably includes at least an central absorbent portion (or core) surrounded by a liquid pervious topsheet. The topsheet is folded laterally inward over the central absorbent portion and downward to form a central groove on the top surface of the interlabial device. The central groove faces toward the vestibule of the wearer upon insertion into the interlabial space. The central groove improves the comfort associated with the wearing of the interlabial device, and allows the device to more rapidly acquire fluids, particularly viscous fluids. The device is more easily manufactured than previous interlabial devices using current web handling techniqures.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1997Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ronald Ray McFall, Thomas Ward Osborn, III, Pamela Jean Brown
-
Patent number: 5928452Abstract: A method of making an absorbent device that is worn interlabially by female wearers for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, is disclosed. The method involves at least partially enclosing a continuous length of absorbent material in a cover material. The cover material is positioned so that it lies on opposite sides of the length of absorbent material. The absorbent material is then optionally shaped so that along its length there are regions of greater and lesser thickness on alternating sides of the longitudinal axis of the absorbent material. In one embodiment, the shaping is accomplished by bonding a first portion of the cover material to a second portion of the cover material on the opposite side of the absorbent material so that the bonding penetrates through the absorbent material. A generally transverse direction cut is made across the length of absorbent material which alternates longitudinally across the length of absorbent material to provide the device with shaped ends.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1997Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ronald Ray McFall, Michael Nyle Hershberger
-
Patent number: 5916205Abstract: Absorbent devices, and more particularly absorbent devices that are worn interlabially by female wearers for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, are disclosed. The absorbent interlabial device of the present invention comprises a main absorbent portion with an upper portion, a lower portion opposed to the upper portion, and two ends. The upper portion faces toward the vestibule of the wearer during insertion of the device into the wearer's interlabial space and during use. The ends of the absorbent device are preferably taped so that the lower portion of the interlabial device is longer than the upper portion. The ends are also provided with at least one curvilinear segment, with the ends preferably having a sinusoidal or S-shape. The absorbent interlabial device preferably also has an arcuate pattern of discrete autogenous bonds.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1998Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Christy Ann Olson, Michael Nyle Hershberger, Ronald Ray McFall, Pamela Jean Brown, Thomas Ward Osborn, III
-
Patent number: 5885268Abstract: Absorbent structures comprising a topsheet, a backsheet with an absorbent core between the topsheet and the backsheet are described. The absorbent structures further comprise a support strip that provides a contractive force that causes at least a portion of the support strip and at least a portion of the topsheet to become decoupled from the absorbent core. Alternative embodiments of the absorbent structure include laterally extending flaps and an abbreviated undergarment.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1996Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Denise Jean Bien, Cynthia Lee Alvis, Nicholas Albert Ahr, Ronald Ray McFall, Thomas Ward Osborn, III
-
Patent number: 5827258Abstract: The present invention pertains to a compound sanitary napkin. The compound sanitary napkin comprises an acquisition/storage member including an absorbent element and an outer cover. The acquisition/storage member preferably has a base and an apex; the apex being vertically opposed to the base. The width of the base is greater than the width of the apex. The compound sanitary napkin further comprises an accumulation member that is connected to the acquisition/storage member juxtaposed the base. The accumulation member comprises a liquid impervious backsheet and an absorbent material joined thereto. Preferably, the accumulation member includes a backsheet, a topsheet joined to the backsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1997Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Ronald Ray McFall, Nicholas Albert Ahr, Letha Margory Hines
-
Patent number: D413669Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 1998Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Christy Ann Olson, Michael Nyle Hershberger, Ronald Ray McFall