Patents by Inventor Sandra M. Yarbrough

Sandra M. Yarbrough 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: 5601542
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to an absorbent composite suitable for use in a disposable absorbent garment. The absorbent composite includes means for containing a superabsorbent material and a superabsorbent material contained by said containment means. The superabsorbent material has a Pressure Absorbency Index of at least 100 and a 16-hour extractable level of less than about 13 weight percent; a Pressure Absorbency Index of at least 100 and a Vortex Time of less than about 45 seconds; or a Pressure Absorbency Index of at least about 110. The superabsorbent material is present in said containment means in an amount of from about 30 to about 100 weight percent based on total weight of the containment means and the superabsorbent material. In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent garment including an outer cover, a body-side liner, and an absorbent composite such as that described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Mark K. Melius, Sandra M. Yarbrough, Melissa C. Putzer, Stanley R. Kellenberger, Shannon K. Byerly
  • Patent number: 5593399
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a first, liquid-permeable carrier layer and at least a second carrier layer. A carrier attaching mechanism secures together the carrier layers to provide substantially attached zones and a multiplicity of substantially unattached zones thereof. The substantially unattached zones provide a plurality of pocket regions, and high-absorbency material is located within the pocket regions to provide an absorbent laminate having a laminate length and a laminate width. A selected plurality of the pocket regions can, for example, be configured with an elongate shape having a major axis length and a relatively shorter minor axis width. The selected plurality of elongate pocket regions is included within a dispersed pocket array having a non-contiguous, labyrinth configuration of pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Tanzer, Frank P. Abuto, Stanley R. Kellenberger, Daniel R. Laux, Brian K. Nortman, William S. Pomplun, Carl G. Rippl, Mark L. Robinson, Lorry F. Sallee, Wen Z. Schroeder, Sandra M. Yarbrough, David L. Zenker
  • Patent number: 5520673
    Abstract: A distinctive absorbent article includes a backsheet layer, and an absorbent structure superposed on the backsheet layer. The absorbent structure includes particles of high absorbency material, and a liquid permeable topsheet layer is superposed on the absorbent structure to sandwich the absorbent structure between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. A fibrous face sheet layer is incorporated in the article for restraining a movement of the high absorbency material from selected regions of the absorbent structure. The face sheet layer has a Frazier Porosity value of at least about 150 cubic feet per minute per square foot of surface area (cfm/ft.sup.2), and has not more than about 100 pores (per 31.37 cm.sup.2 of surface area) with a pore size greater than about 300 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Sandra M. Yarbrough, Mark L. Robinson, Michael P. Flaherty
  • Patent number: 5509915
    Abstract: Generally stated, the present invention provides a distinctive absorbent article comprising a backsheet layer, and a topsheet layer which is disposed in facing relation with the backsheet layer. An absorbent body is interposed between the backsheet layer and topsheet layer. The absorbent body includes a retention portion which comprises a matrix of substantially hydrophilic fibers having a distribution of high-absorbency particulate material therein. The hydrophilic fibers and high-absorbency particles can be provided in a fiber-to-particle weight ratio within the range of about 70:30 to about 30:70. A surge management layer, comprising bicomponent fibers having a denier of not more than about 3 d, is located adjacent at least one major, facing surface of the topsheet layer, and can cooperate with the article components to provide for a liquid Penetration Rate index of not less than about 2.67 ml/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Hanson, Lynn C. Brud, Shannon K. Byerly, Clifford J. Ellis, Rob D. Everett, Barbara A. Gossen, Violet M. Grube, David G. Iwanski, David K. LeMahieu, Jian Qin, Robert A. Stevens, Tom K. Wentzel, Sandra M. Yarbrough, David L. Zenker, MaryAnn Zunker
  • Patent number: 5433715
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a first, liquid-permeable carrier layer and at least a second carrier layer. A water sensitive attaching mechanism secures together the carrier layers to provide substantially attached zones and substantially unattached zones thereof. The substantially unattached zones provide a plurality of pocket regions, and a high absorbency material is located within the pocket regions to provide an absorbent laminate. A secondary attaching mechanism secures together the carrier layers along selected secondary attachment regions and provides a substantially water-insensitive connection therebetween. The secondary attachment regions are substantially restricted to locations spaced from the pocket regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Tanzer, Frank P. Abuto, Stanley R. Kellenberger, Daniel R. Laux, Brian K. Nortman, William S. Pomplun, Carl G. Rippl, Mark L. Robinson, Lorry F. Sallee, Wen Z. Schroeder, Sandra M. Yarbrough, David L. Zenker
  • Patent number: 5425725
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a first, liquid-permeable carrier layer and at least a second carrier layer. A carrier attaching mechanism, such as a water-sensitive adhesive, secures together the carrier layers to provide substantially attached zones and a multiplicity of substantially unattached zones thereof. The substantially unattached zones provide a plurality of pocket regions, and a high-absorbency material is located within the pocket regions to provide an absorbent laminate. Matrix fibers are dispersed within the high-absorbency material in the pocket regions, and the matrix fibers are present in a selected amount which, in particular aspects of the invention, can be within the range of about 0.1-10 weight percent, as determined with respect to the total weight of the absorbent material contained in the pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Tanzer, Frank P. Abuto, Stanley R. Kellenberger, Daniel R. Laux, Brian K. Nortman, William S. Pomplun, Carl G. Rippl, Mark L. Robinson, Lorry F. Sallee, Wen Z. Schroeder, Sandra M. Yarbrough, David L. Zenker
  • Patent number: 5411497
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a first, liquid-permeable carrier layer and at least a second carrier layer. A water sensitive attaching mechanism secures together the carrier layers to provide substantially attached zones and substantially unattached zones thereof. The substantially unattached zones provide a plurality of pocket regions, and a high absorbency material is located within the pocket regions to provide an absorbent laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Tanzer, Frank P. Abuto, Stanley R. Kellenberger, Daniel R. Laux, Brian K. Nortman, William S. Pomplun, Carl G. Rippl, Mark L. Robinson, Lorry F. Sallee, Sandra M. Yarbrough, David L. Zenker
  • Patent number: 5346485
    Abstract: A polymeric composition specifically adapted to absorb blood and other proteinaceous fluids and having repeating units, said polymeric composition comprising pendant neutralized carboxyl groups (salts) and pendant carboxyl groups. The polymeric composition is characterized in that the ratio of pendant neutralized carboxyl groups to pendant carboxyl groups is within the range of from about 1:9 to about 9:11, at least about 20 mole percent of the repeating units comprise a pendant neutralized carboxyl group or a pendant carboxyl group, and at least about 50 percent of the pendant neutralized carboxyl groups have been neutralized with a potassium or lithium base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Sandra M. Yarbrough, Ramakant T. Shet, Ronald S. Harland
  • Patent number: 5241009
    Abstract: A polymeric composition specifically adapted to absorb blood and other proteinaceous fluids and having repeating units, said polymeric composition comprising pendant neutralized carboxyl groups (salts) and pendant carboxyl groups. The polymeric composition is characterized in that the ratio of pendant neutralized carboxyl groups to pendant carboxyl groups is within the range of from about 1:9 to about 9:11, at least about 20 mole percent of the repeating units comprise a pendant neutralized carboxyl group or a pendant carboxyl group, and at least about 50 percent of the pendant neutralized carboxyl groups have been neutralized with a potassium or lithium base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Sandra M. Yarbrough, Ramakant T. Shet, Ronald S. Harland