Patents by Inventor Shirlee Weber
Shirlee Weber 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).
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Publication number: 20070255241Abstract: An absorbent product having a wetness sensing system includes a disposable absorbent article including a wetness sensing component and an article theme and a signaling device adapted to be coupled to the absorbent article, the signaling device having a signaling device theme, wherein the signaling device theme coordinates with the article theme. Also, an absorbent product having a wetness sensing system includes a package having a packaging theme and a disposable absorbent article including a wetness sensing component and an article theme, wherein the absorbent article is disposed within the package, and wherein the packaging theme coordinates with the article theme.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2006Publication date: November 1, 2007Inventors: Shirlee Weber, Andrew Long, Ansley Allen
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Publication number: 20070252711Abstract: A monitor, for use with an absorbent article having a wetness sensor, includes a power management system. The monitor may include a hinge, a housing, and a power management system. The power management system may include an integrally activated and deactivated power circuit. The power circuit includes a first contact associated with the hinge and a second contact associated with the housing. The first contact is electrically connected with the second contact when the monitor is in a closed condition. The first contact is electrically disconnected with the second contact when the monitor is in an open condition. A monitor having a power management system may further include an attachment circuit and/or a continuity circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2006Publication date: November 1, 2007Inventors: Andrew Long, Christopher Olson, Thomas Ales, Shirlee Weber, Jens Hauvn
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Publication number: 20070252710Abstract: A monitor, for use with an absorbent article having a wetness sensor, includes a microprocessor and a current source, the microprocessor forms part of a wetness monitoring circuit and part of a continuity monitoring circuit. A method of providing a system for monitoring an absorbent article with a wetness sensor includes programming a microprocessor to (1) provide notification when the monitor is not electrically connected with the wetness sensor, (2) provide notification when the monitor is electrically connected with the wetness sensor, and (3) provide notification when the absorbent article is wet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2006Publication date: November 1, 2007Inventors: Andrew Long, Christopher Olson, Thomas Ales, Shirlee Weber
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Publication number: 20070252712Abstract: A wetness sensing system includes a first wetness sensing article; a first signaling device producing a first signal upon sensing wetness in the first wetness sensing article, wherein the first signaling device is compatible with the first wetness sensing article; and a second signaling device producing a second signal upon sensing wetness in the first wetness sensing article, wherein the second signaling device is compatible with the first wetness sensing article. Also, a method for enhancing a wetness sensing system includes producing a wetness sensing absorbent article compatible with at least one component of the wetness sensing system, wherein the wetness sensing system includes as components a wetness sensing article and a first signaling device compatible with the wetness sensing article.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2006Publication date: November 1, 2007Inventors: Ansley Allen, Andrew Long, Shirlee Weber, Thomas Ales
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Publication number: 20070149936Abstract: An absorbent article has a liquid impermeable outercover, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, and an absorbent assembly. The absorbent assembly has a front portion, a rear portion, and a central portion extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front portion and rear portion. The central portion has an opening therein to define a gap between the front portion and the rear portion. The absorbent assembly front portion is disposed intermediate the outercover and the liner in a front region of the article. The absorbent assembly rear portion is disposed intermediate the outercover and the liner in a rear region of the article. A temperature change member containing a temperature change substance is disposed in the opening of the central portion of the assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2007Publication date: June 28, 2007Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Shirlee Weber, Christopher Olson, Andrew Long
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Publication number: 20070088303Abstract: An absorbent article has a front region, a rear region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and rear regions. The absorbent article includes a liquid impermeable outercover, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, and an absorbent assembly having a front portion and a rear portion. The absorbent assembly front portion is disposed intermediate the outercover and the liner in the front region of the article. The absorbent assembly rear portion is disposed intermediate the outercover and the liner in the rear region of the article and at least partially spaced from the absorbent assembly front portion to provide a first gap between the rear and front portions of the absorbent assembly. A temperature change member containing a temperature change substance is disposed within the first gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2006Publication date: April 19, 2007Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Olson, Shirlee Weber, Lawrence Sawyer, Lei Huang, Cheryl Perkins, Jaeho Kim, Jeffrey Fish, Yanbin Huang
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Publication number: 20070024457Abstract: Absorbent articles incorporating a wetness sensor for indicating the presence of a body fluid are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles include at least two conductive elements that form an open circuit within the article. Each conductive element is connected to a conductive pad member that has sufficient surface area in order to facilitate connection to a signaling device. In accordance with the present disclosure, various attachment mechanisms are disclosed for attaching the pad members to a signaling device. In particular, although the absorbent articles are disposable, the signaling device is intended to be used with multiple absorbent articles. Therefore, a simple and efficient method of connecting the signaling device to the pad members provides various advantages. In one particular embodiment, for instance, the pad members comprise a conductive loop-type material that is attached to a corresponding conductive hook-type material on the signaling device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Inventors: Andrew Long, Christopher Olson, Shirlee Weber, Tom Ales, Robert Schlaupitz, Robert Wright, George Nukuto, Shawn Sullivan
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Publication number: 20060247588Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article including a temperature change member for providing a cooling effect. The temperature change member includes a matrix of fibers and temperature change material intermixed within the matrix of fibers. The temperature change material includes erythritol.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2005Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Christopher Olson, Shirlee Weber, Andrew Long, Davis Nhan, Kent Abel
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Publication number: 20060142713Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article including a temperature change member. The temperature change member includes a matrix of fibers and temperature change material intermixed within the matrix of fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2004Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: Andrew Long, Shirlee Weber, Davis-Dang Nhan, Christopher Olson
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Publication number: 20060142714Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article including a temperature change member. The temperature change member includes a matrix of fibers and temperature change material intermixed within the matrix of fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2005Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: David Jackson, Gabriel Adam, Andrew Long, Shirlee Weber, Davis H. Nhan, Christopher Olson
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Publication number: 20060069363Abstract: An absorbent article including a temperature change member is disclosed. The absorbent article may define a front region, a rear region, a crotch region intermediate the front and rear regions. The article may include an outercover, an absorbent assembly front portion disposed intermediate the outercover and the liner in the front region. The article may also include an absorbent assembly rear portion disposed intermediate the outercover and the liner in the rear region and at least partially spaced from the absorbent assembly front portion to provide a first gap. The article further includes a temperature change member disposed in the first gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2004Publication date: March 30, 2006Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Shirlee Weber, Christopher Olson, Andrew Long
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Publication number: 20060069360Abstract: In a method of toilet training a wearer of a disposable absorbent article, an active graphic visually perceptible from within the interior of the article is activated in response to liquid insult of the article and at least one other signal perceptible from at least one of the interior and the exterior of the article is provided in response to liquid insult of the article. An absorbent article of the present invention generally has a first insult indicator with an active graphic visually perceptible from the inner surface of the article that is responsive to a liquid insult of the absorbent article to provide a signal perceptible from the inner surface of the article. A second insult indicator is responsive to the liquid insult of the absorbent article to provide a signal perceptible from at least one of the inner surface of the article and exterior of the article.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2004Publication date: March 30, 2006Inventors: Andrew Long, Christopher Olson, Shirlee Weber
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Publication number: 20050228349Abstract: Absorbent articles for alerting a wearer to urination are disclosed. The absorbent articles comprise a bodyside liner, an absorbent core, and a urine-permeable inflatable envelope located between the bodyside liner and the absorbent core. The envelope comprises a surfactant and a system capable of generating a gas upon being wetted with urine. Upon urination, a foam is formed in the envelope such that the envelope inflates and causes the bodyside liner to press up against the skin of the wearer to alert the wearer to urination.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2004Publication date: October 13, 2005Inventors: Andrew Long, Shirlee Weber
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Publication number: 20050177120Abstract: A disposable absorbent article such as a training pant includes wetness indicating graphics that provide an interactive training aid. The interactive graphics can include a permanent character graphic and one or more active object graphics, which “appear” or “disappear” from view in response to exposure to urine or the environment. The interactive graphics can also include a story line in which the permanent character graphic is illustrated performing an activity involving the active object graphic. The wetness indicating feature and the graphic story line allow the caregiver to interact with the child in an educational and motivational manner to enhance the toilet training process.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2003Publication date: August 11, 2005Inventors: Christopher Olson, Kathleen Ratliff, Shirlee Weber
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Publication number: 20050137543Abstract: A method of providing a series of types of pant-like garments and corresponding information to consumers. The series includes two or more pant-like garments, each of the garments corresponding to a stage of toilet training. Each of the garments in the series may differ from one another in terms of absorbent capacity, size, and/or features. The information provided to the consumer helps the consumer discern which garment from the series is most appropriate for a child in a specific stage of the toilet training process.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2005Publication date: June 23, 2005Inventors: Richard Underhill, Rebecca Walter, Christopher Olson, Shirlee Weber
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Publication number: 20050119634Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2005Publication date: June 2, 2005Inventors: Amy Fletcher, Lisa Dimitrijevs, Christopher Olson, Kathleen Ratliff, Shirlee Weber, Susan West
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Publication number: 20050022298Abstract: A disposable mat defining a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and at least one edge. The disposable mat may include at least one line of weakness that is configured to allow the separation of a removable portion from the disposable mat. The mat may be configured to be used as a toilet or potty mat. Further, the mat may be configured to assist with toilet training.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2003Publication date: February 3, 2005Inventors: Maria de Leon, Andrew Long, Shirlee Weber