Having Specific Design, Shape, Or Structural Feature Patents (Class 604/385.01)
  • Patent number: 7993317
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a topsheet and an absorbent core in facing relationship with the topsheet. The topsheet has a central region, an inner intermediate region, an outer intermediate region, and an edge region, wherein the inner intermediate region is between the central region and the outer intermediate region and the outer intermediate region is between the inner intermediate region and the edge region. The central region texture, inner intermediate region texture, outer intermediate region texture, and edge region texture differ from one another. At least one of the central region, inner intermediate region, outer intermediate region, and edge region comprises tufted fibers. The central region is on the longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Lee Hammons, Jody Lynn Hoying, Sybille Fuchs
  • Patent number: 7993316
    Abstract: A sanitary device having an absorbent pad with a pocket on one end and on the other end an opening with a pair of petals extending outward therefrom. By holding and marginally squeezing the pocket, the pocket will open and the petals will separate. A penis can be inserted into the pocket using the petals a converging guide. Penile excretions can the be absorbed in the absorbent pad before discarding it. Further embodiments include absorbent pads fabricated from feminine pads and alternative closure elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Jack V. Fullman
  • Patent number: 7993319
    Abstract: An absorbent article generally has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions. The absorbent article has an outer cover stretchable in at least one direction and a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least one direction. An absorbent structure is disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extends from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article. The absorbent structure has at least one weakening element disposed therein for reducing the resistance of the absorbent structure to stretching in a direction that defines an angle relative to the lateral axis of the absorbent article of greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Sperl
  • Patent number: 7993314
    Abstract: An absorbent article, such as an incontinence shield, diaper, pant-diaper, belt diaper or the like, includes a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core placed therebetween. The absorbent core has two longitudinal edges, and a front and a rear transverse edge, wherein the rear transverse edge possesses a recess with at least one pair of opposing edges. The recess forms a pocket for receiving and storing faeces, wherein the pocket's extension is defined by the edges of the recess. The article provides a simple, practical and cheap solution for handling of faeces without obviously compromising the liquid absorption properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Asp, Marie Johansson, Filip Jansson
  • Patent number: 7985210
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article comprising a chassis comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined with the topsheet, and an absorbent core interposed between the topsheet and backsheet; at least one sidewall adjacently disposed to the chassis; and at least one handle assisting in the application of the article onto a wearer. Preferred embodiments of the said handle include flaps, tabs, ridges, improved surface characteristics, apertures, loops, and combinations thereof. A toilet training kit comprising the article in the form of a training pant and an instruction to the caregiver for transitioning the infant to proper toilet use. A kit comprising more than one absorbent article wherein the article is positioned within said kit such that the handle is readily accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Eiro Fukuda, Ann Marie Sullivan, Nancy Drainville Chomyszak
  • Patent number: 7985195
    Abstract: A dressing having a flexible sleeve shaped to accommodate a substantially cylindrical body or plant portion, the sleeve having a lining which is substantially non-adherent to the body or plant part being bandaged and having a peripheral securement means which attaches two peripheral portions to each other without those portions being circumferentially adhered to the sleeve portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: Barbara Brooke Jennings-Spring
  • Patent number: 7982090
    Abstract: The invention relates to laminates, absorbent articles and production methods thereof. An absorbent article includes a liquid impervious backsheet having a first layer forming the wearer facing side of the backsheet, a second layer forming the garment facing side of the backsheet. The first layer has a wearer-facing surface and a garment facing surface and the garment facing surface includes at least first indicia present in the front half but not in the rear half of the backsheet backsheet. The backsheet includes a third layer on the front half of the backsheet and that covers partially but not fully the garment facing surface of the second layer and the first indicia. The second and the third layers are translucent in order for the first indicia to be visible through the second and third layers when looking at the absorbent article from the garment facing side of the backsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Sofie Gilberte Snauwaert, Robert Rene Van Pappelendam, Markus Hermann Borbach
  • Publication number: 20110172625
    Abstract: The present invention provides a urine receiver being capable of quickly sucking urine discharged by the wearer. A urine receiver includes a plurality of liquid-pervious sheets covering a top opening of a leakage-barrier receptacle and a pair of electrodes spaced from each other and parallelly extending in one direction P lies between each pair of the adjacent liquid-pervious sheets. Any one of the plurality of liquid-pervious sheets lying outside the pair of electrodes in a depth direction R of the receptacle is defined by a sheet 400 formed of a nonwoven fabric containing thermoplastic synthetic fibers. The sheet 400 is formed on its outer surface 400a with undulation comprising crests 401 and troughs 402 alternating in the one direction P and the crests 401 and troughs 402 extend in a direction intersecting with the one direction P across the pair of electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ichiro Wada, Miou Suzuki, Rumi Yamaki, Hiroko Murakami
  • Patent number: 7977529
    Abstract: An incontinence management system for monitoring wetness in one or more absorbent articles, includes input for receiving one or more sensor signals indicative of a presence of wetness in an absorbent article, processor for processing the one or more sensor signals and for performing an analysis of the signals to characterise wetness events occurring in an absorbent article and user interface for communicating with a user of the system. A mathematical model is used to characterise wetness events, receiving as inputs variables derived from sensor signals and optionally, patient and demographic data. The mathematical model can be configured and/or re-configured utilising observation data obtained while monitoring a patient for wetness. A diaper for use with such as system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Fred Bergman Healthcare Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Frederick Bergman, Ari Bergman, legal representative, David Albert Barda, Daniel Weinstock, Remi Guibert, Maria C. Rodda, Guy Eitzen
  • Patent number: 7972316
    Abstract: A disposable diaper (1) has a waist opening portion and a pair of leg opening portions and contains an absorbent body including a topsheet and an absorbent core. The absorbent core (4) is composed of a central absorbent member (41) and a pair of side absorbent members (42) disposed on both sides of the central absorbent member (41). The central absorbent member (41) is discrete from the side absorbent members (42) in at least the crotch portion (C). Each side absorbent member has a raising elastic member which is provided near its outboard edge along the longitudinal direction, so that the side absorbent member (42) rises while worm. The diaper is configured to exert a higher wearing pressure in its regions (91) that are to be applied to a wearer's body part between the iliac crests and the anterior superior iliac spines than in its waist opening portion while worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Haruko Toyoshima, Jun Sasaki, Michiko Otsuka, Mina Tomita
  • Patent number: 7972317
    Abstract: The absorbent article provides a signal viewable from the top surface of the absorbent article which gives a perception of depth within the absorbent article. This creation of depth perception is accomplished by the use of at least two tones within a color and/or by the use of multiple tones and multiple colors operating together to create a perception of depth within the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Patricia Lee Christon, Bryan Keith Feller, Ronda Lynn Glassmeyer, Rosa Alejandra Hernandez
  • Patent number: 7973210
    Abstract: A method for assisting a caregiver in determining when to select a next generation product for facilitating toilet training. The method includes the steps of providing information to a caregiver about a second absorbent product, such as a next generation product, while the caregiver is using a first absorbent product in conjunction with a child. The child, for instance, may not have started toilet training or may be in the process of toilet training. Based upon a behavioral or wetness characteristic of the child, recommendations are made to the caregiver when it is time to switch to the next generation product to facilitate toilet training. For instance, in one embodiment, the method may include comparing a wetness characteristic of the child with a readiness target. Once the readiness target is met, a recommendation may be made to the caregiver to switch to a product that includes a toilet training feature not present in the product currently being worn by the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Long, Richard D. Mosbacher
  • Patent number: 7967801
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a liquid pervious topsheet having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion differs in structure from the second portion. The topsheet has a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline. The second portion has a first structurally modified zone and a second structurally modified zone. The first structurally modified zone and the second structurally modified zone are on opposing sides of the longitudinal centerline and the first structurally modified zone and the second structurally modified zone are on opposing sides of an axis parallel to the transverse centerline. The first structurally modified zone and the second structurally modified zone are spaced apart from one another. The first structurally modified zone and the second structurally modified zone together make up more than about 10% of the area of the topsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Lee Hammons, Luisa Valerio Gonzalez, Sybille Fuchs
  • Patent number: 7967805
    Abstract: A disposable garment includes a nonwoven backsheet formed by melt-blowing. The melt-blown nonwoven web has a basis weight of from about 3 g/m2 to about 60 g/m2 and an air permeability value of at least about 15 cm3/cm2/sec. The melt-blowing web is made by fine fibers having an average fiber diameter of from about 3 ?m to about 10 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ohnishi, Hiroyuki Ohgata
  • Publication number: 20110152815
    Abstract: Breathable and biodegradable polymeric film materials of the invention are highly suitable for use in personal care absorbent articles and other articles. The film includes a biodegradable polymer resin, a thermoplastic starch, a filler and optionally, a protein. The breathable film has a renewable natural polymer component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: James H. Wang, Bo Shi
  • Publication number: 20110152816
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a signal element having a body-facing surface, a garment-facing surface, a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a z-direction. The signal element includes a water-soluble polymeric buffering film and a stimulation material. The water-soluble polymeric buffering film comprises a water-soluble base polymer. In some aspects, the stimulation material comprises a temperature change agent, and the signal element exhibits a surface temperature change of at least +/?2° C. In some aspects, the signal element exhibits a stimulation effect over at least two aqueous insults.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Peiguang Zhou, Andrew Mark Long, Dave Allen Soerens, Kaiyuan Yang, James Hongxue Wang, Xuedong Song
  • Publication number: 20110152641
    Abstract: The invention refers to a disposable cover for use in an incubator for premature infants comprising a moisture-pervious surface layer and a preferably moisture-impervious back sheet, wherein the total weight of the cover before use is communicated to the caregiver by indication on said cover, a label accompanying said cover or on the package for said cover. The cover may further be provided with a wetness indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
    Inventors: Ingemar Fernfors, Anna-Gerd Doverbo
  • Patent number: 7959619
    Abstract: Disposable hygiene pants with a front portion (2), a rear portion (3) and a crotch portion (4) provided with two leg openings (5, 6), the longitudinal edge portions (21, 22) of the front portion being connected by longitudinal weld seams (7, 8) to the longitudinal edge portions (31, 32) of the rear portion (3) in order to form a waist opening (9) and two leg openings (5, 6) in the crotch portion, which leg openings are outwardly delimited in the transverse direction by the inner end portions of the weld seams as seen in the longitudinal direction of the hygiene pants. The hygiene pants have an outer cover (10) and comprise an absorption unit (11). The cover is preferably made of an elastic laminate. The weld seams (7, 8) are each reinforced by at least one reinforcing strip (15, 16) containing thermoplastic fibers and have a tensile strength, in a direction transverse to the weld seam, in excess of 5 N/25.4 mm at least in the portions reinforced with said nonwoven strip (15, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Cartier, Christian Dumas, Hans Een, Marcus Lehto, Lucas Back
  • Patent number: 7959622
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin includes a liquid-permeable topsheet, a backsheet, and a liquid-absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The liquid-absorbent layer has a vagina-facing region on a longitudinal centerline of the sanitary napkin and side regions on both sides of the vagina-facing region. The liquid-absorbent layer has a greater thickness and a greater bending stiffness in the vagina-facing region than in the side regions to provide hinge lines along boundaries between the vagina-facing region and the side regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kudo, Takuya Miyama
  • Patent number: 7959618
    Abstract: A pant-shaped garment includes an outer panty having a length direction and a transverse direction and having a rear portion, a front portion, and a crotch portion. The garment includes a waist opening with a waist edge extending in the transverse direction and two leg openings each being bordered by a leg edge having a front part of the leg edge being located generally on the front portion and a rear part of the leg edge being located generally on the rear portion and on the crotch portion. The rear and front portions are mutually connected in two side joins running in the length direction from the waist opening to each leg opening. The front and rear portions of the outer panty substantially comprise an elastically extensible material. The rear part of each leg edge is curve-shaped and exhibits a concave curved segment located mainly on the rear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Sofia Hermansson, Catarina Linnér, Anna-Carin Elfström, Jenny Hildeberg
  • Patent number: 7959621
    Abstract: An array of disposable absorbent articles comprising a sequence of graphic designs corresponding to a wearer's stage of development. For a disposable diaper, the array of disposable absorbent article graphic designs may comprise a first absorbent article graphic design for newborns and infants, a second absorbent article graphic design for toddlers, and a third absorbent article graphic design for older wearers, and other absorbent article graphic designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Molly Kelly Grovak, Kaoru Ishihara, Deborah Ann Vargo
  • Patent number: 7960604
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of an absorbing sanitary article comprising lactic acid producing bacteria. The process comprises dispersion of lactic acid producing bacteria in a carrier, and application of the resulting dispersion of bacteria by continuous or discontinuous gentle feeding on and/or in at least one component that are to form part of the final article. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an absorbing sanitary article comprising lactic acid producing bacteria dispersed in an essentially hydrophobic carrier. The dispersion of bacteria forms at least one continuous or discontinuous string on and/or in the final sanitary article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Ellen AB
    Inventors: Hanna Tengberg, Kristina Runeberg, Helene Jonsson, Endre Kvanta, Johan Burenius, Anna Weiner Jiffer
  • Patent number: 7956234
    Abstract: A disposable garment having a multicolored scene graphic is disclosed. In particular embodiments, the multicolored scene graphic includes a focal graphic and a background graphic, wherein the background graphic appears blurry relative to the focal graphic to enhance the conspicuousness of the focal graphic. Methods for making such articles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paula M. Sosalla, Theodore T. Tower
  • Publication number: 20110125117
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a napkin body (2) comprising as the essentials a liquid-permeable top sheet (3), a liquid-impermeable back sheet (4), and a liquid-absorbing member (5) placed between the top sheet (3) and the back sheet (4), wherein a removable cover sheet (20A) having a length and a width which do not exceed respectively the length and width of the napkin body (2) is provided on the top sheet (3) side of the napkin body (2) in contact with the top sheet (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Kudo
  • Patent number: 7947028
    Abstract: A diaper has an unfastened condition and a fastened condition. The diaper has a front portion, a back portion and a fastener system. The fastener system is adapted to join the back portion to the front portion thereby transitioning the diaper from the unfastened condition to the fastened condition. The diaper is adapted to provide an umbilical relief area when in the fastened condition without tearing or folding the front waist edge. The diaper does not have an umbilical notch when in the unfastened condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Cohen, Kusum Gosain
  • Patent number: 7942859
    Abstract: A wearing article includes a flexible chassis and a semi-rigid absorbent panel laid on inner surface of the chassis. A liner defining an innermost layer of the chassis is bonded to the absorbent panel in a fixed zone defined in a crotch region. A passage is formed through the liner at a position put aside from the fixed zone toward a rear waist region to guide feces through this passage. A first elastic member extends along a peripheral edge of the passage so as to be stretchable and contractible. A second elastic member and a third elastic member are paired and laid outside opposite side edges of the passage so as to be stretchable and contractible in a longitudinal direction in a vicinity of the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kaiyo Nakajima, Naoko Takada, Hironao Minato
  • Patent number: 7938814
    Abstract: A disposable diaper comprising a liquid permeable topsheet 2, a liquid impermeable backsheet 3, and a liquid retentive absorbent member 4 and having a substantially oblong shape, the absorbent member 4 in the crotch portion having a middle absorbent portion 42 which occupies the middle 3/7 of the width of the absorbent member 4 and side absorbent portions 43 which each occupy the outermost 1/7 of the width of the absorbent member 4, wherein each side absorbent portion 43 has a larger unit absorption capacity than the middle absorbent portion 42, hydrophobic sheets 3 and 21 are disposed on the lateral outer edge of each side absorbent portion 43 to cover from the upper to lower surfaces of the edge, and an elastic member 71 is disposed in the part having each side absorbent portion 43 in the longitudinal direction of the side absorbent portion 43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Koyama, Hidekazu Ito, Hiroshi Inada, Takahiro Arimura
  • Patent number: 7938813
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a stretchable substrate layer and an absorbent core formed directly on the substrate layer, and adhesively attached to the substrate layer. The absorbent core includes about 40-99% by weight superabsorbent particles and about 1-60% by weight adhesive fibers. The absorbent core does not prevent the substrate layer or absorbent article from stretching. The absorbent article can be a personal care absorbent article or a medical absorbent article, and is suitably stretchable or elastic in at least one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Wang, Peter R. Elliker, Stacy A. Mundschau, James M. Kaun, Theodore T. Tower
  • Patent number: 7938812
    Abstract: An insert for use together with an absorbent article such as a diaper, an incontinence product, a sanitary towel, a panty liner or the like. The insert is substantially non-urine-absorbing and comprises a support sheet (2) which has a first surface (12) and a second surface (13), the first surface (12) being treated with a skincare agent (14), and the second surface (13) being substantially impermeable to the skincare agent. The insert further includes at least one spacing and liquid-receiving sheet (3) placed against the second surface (13) of the support sheet (2). The spacing and liquid-receiving sheet facilitates the intake of liquid through the topsheet when the insert is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Barbro Moberg-Alehammar, Bo Runeman, Ingemar Fernfors, Peter Rünnberg, Ponrus Winqvist
  • Publication number: 20110106037
    Abstract: An effective technique for enhancing ease of mounting a urine absorbing pad on a diaper body is provided in a diaper to be worn by a diaper wearer. The diaper has a urine absorbing pad to be mounted on the diaper body. The urine absorbing pad includes a liquid-permeable sheet provided on a wearer's side, a liquid-impermeable sheet provided on a diaper body side, an absorber disposed between the liquid-permeable sheet and the liquid-impermeable sheet laid one on another, and an annular belt formed in a rear end edge region of the urine absorbing pad. When the urine absorbing pad is mounted on the diaper body, an insertion piece of the diaper body is inserted into an opening of the belt, so that the urine absorbing pad is positioned with respect to the diaper body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Natsuko Aoyagi, Yasuhiko Kenmochi
  • Patent number: 7935859
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has a topsheet, a backsheet joined to at least a portion of the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between at least a portion of the topsheet and the backsheet, an acceptance element, and a fecal storage element. The acceptance element is disposed adjacent to a body surface of the absorbent core. The acceptance element has one or more apertures each having an effective aperture size of between about 0.2 square mm to about 25 square mm. The fecal storage element is disposed between at least a portion of the acceptance element and the absorbent core and is separate from the absorbent core. The fecal storage element has compressive resistance of at least about 70 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Cheryl D. Fox, Aleksey M. Pinyayev
  • Patent number: 7935099
    Abstract: An SBS based construction adhesive that includes an amount of SIS adhesive to make an SBS/SIS adhesive that shows excellent shear hang time values when used to manufacture disposable absorbent articles. The SBS/SIS adhesive is applied in a spiral pattern having a particular width and frequency to form an endflap seal that may reduce the likelihood of a gel on skin occurrence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Shunketsu Sue, Ebrahim Rezai, Ravindra Palitha Ranatunga
  • Patent number: 7931632
    Abstract: A merchandise system for disposable absorbent articles is provided. The merchandise display system includes a first line-up and second line-up of disposable absorbent articles designed to match a wearer's stage of development. The system also includes various color schemes associated with the first and second line-ups in order to facilitate consumers' identification and selection of the appropriate absorbent article configuration for a particular wearer. A pre-packaged arrangement is also provided and includes one or more disposable absorbent articles having a configuration corresponding to a wearer's stage of development; one or more disposable wipes products having a configuration tailored to the stage of development corresponding to the disposable absorbent articles; and a package, the disposable absorbent articles, the disposable wipes products and the package being arranged relative to each other for distribution together as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Tysonn Yuievonn Betts, Raymond Abraham Glaser
  • Patent number: 7931635
    Abstract: Oversized adult diapers are made on converting machinery designed for handling only components no greater than a maximum component width, while utilizing as an outer layer component of the diapers an elongate sheet-like web having a width exceeding the maximum component width of the machinery. The web is pre-formed with at least one folded pleat along a laterally outward margin of the web, such that the pleat reduces the width of the web to less than the maximum component width. The pleat is temporarily tacked to retain the pleat against unfolding while the web is handled by the machinery, but is yieldable to unfold when a diaper made with the web is donned for wearing. The pre-formed pleated web is delivered to the machinery, which is then operated in normal manner to incorporate the web into a plurality of diapers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Attends Healthcare Products, Inc.
    Inventor: William W. Gaston
  • Publication number: 20110092938
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a diaper. It belongs in the technical field of hygiene care articles. A diaper capable of protecting belly and navel of infants, characterized in that: a protrusion structure is set in the front of the diaper to cover the belly and navel of infants, wherein the protrusion structure is provided with medicament. The present invention can protect infants' belly and navel to not only prevent infants' belly and navel from wind and cold air, but also take care of and effectively treat diarrhea and abdominal distention. Featuring a simple structure, convenient to wear and remarkable therapeutic effects, the present invention is capable of safety protection and pharmacological care in an economical, practical, comfortable and safe way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: Yinhai Yang
  • Patent number: 7927323
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an interlabial pad can be sealed and attached to the female labia, which has a structure in capable of easily achieving a sealing attachment into the female labia. A sheet body (2) is provided on an opposite side to a body side of the interlabial pad (1) to form a pair of the fingertip insert openings (3,4) on both side portions, the wearer inserts two finger into the fingertip insert opening (3,4) and catches the sheet body 2 by the two finger, thereby the interlabial pad (1) can be folded in substantially mountain folded shape along the vertically axial center line and can be attached to the labia (9) in keeping a condition of forming a raised area (5) on the body side surface of the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Koichi Yamaki, Yuki Noda
  • Patent number: 7922704
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable nursing pad having a layered structure of a liquid-permeable sheet, an absorbent body, and a liquid-impermeable sheet. The liquid-permeable sheet and the liquid-impermeable sheet are adhered to each other. This prevents the liquid-permeable sheet from becoming detached from the absorbent body, and provides a nursing pad having an improved capacity to maintain its three-dimensional shape. A pair of pad pieces 2 and 3, each of which has a layered structure of a liquid permeable sheet piece, an absorber, and a liquid-impermeable sheet piece, is joined so as to form a nursing pad 1 having an approximately conical shape. With the nursing pad 1, a connection portion 4 where pad pieces are joined forms a ridge which serves as the center line of the nursing pad 1. The nursing pad 1 can be folded along the ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Sakaguchi, Ayami Suga
  • Publication number: 20110082434
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a surgical cover for a human limb, such as a hand or a foot. The surgical cover includes an inner adhesive seal, an interior absorbent strip and an exterior adhesive seal strip. The combination of these three elements, along with the waterproof character of the walls of the surgical cover, provide a surgical cover which is waterproof or water-resistant, while providing for some use of the limb by the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: Jerry P. SAGER
  • Patent number: 7919668
    Abstract: The present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles including one or more discrete components. Representative discrete components include the nonwoven layer of the outer cover, the barrier film layer of the outer cover, the absorbent core, the bodyside liner, fasteners, ears and attachment panels. The discrete components include a continuous detector material. A representative continuous detector material may be an optical brightener. The discrete components also include a masking block. The masking block may decrease or eliminate the detectable presence of an optical brightener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Russell Belau, Robert David Forrester, Michael John Flattum, Bernhardt Edward Kressner
  • Patent number: 7918961
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new worn article, which gives a close fit and with which it is possible to reduce the production cost. A worn article of the present invention includes a main body portion 20 including an absorbent core 25 and covering a front torso area, a crotch area and a rear torso area of a wearer, and a pair of side panels PL and PR attached to the main body portion 20 and located between the front and rear torso areas when the worn article is worn. Each of the side panels PL and PR is stretchable in an around-the-torso direction X. At least a portion of the side panel PL and PR includes an elastic thread G sandwiched between at least two sheet-like materials S1 and S2 and is in a contracted state where the elastic thread is contracted, thus forming gathers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Wada, Masaki Nakakado
  • Publication number: 20110077608
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adhesive bandage for use on wounds placed under compressive force, which includes a support layer having a top side and an opposing bottom side, an adhesive layer deposited onto the bottom side of the support layer, a substantially sealed cushion pad associated with the adhesive layer, and an absorbent pad bonded to the cushion pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Carlos da Silva Macedo, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110077609
    Abstract: A wearing article having front and rear waist belt members that include waist elastic members attached thereto and spaced one from another in a longitudinal direction Y. On non-contractile regions, these elastic members do not overlap graphics on respective heat-sealable sheets or exert contractile force thereon. The non-contractile regions are formed by leaving between inner and outer sheets as well as between inner and outer sheets not coated with adhesive in respective middles of the front and rear waist belt members as viewed in a transverse direction X and cutting the waist elastic members attached under tension in the respective middles of the waist belt members. Along the ends of the non-contractile regions on the side of the crotch member, the inner and outer sheets as well as the inner and outer sheets are respectively joined to each other by means of heat sealing technique so as to form the joint zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Seiichi Kuwano, Yoshio Ono, Kyota Saito
  • Publication number: 20110077613
    Abstract: Three-dimensional gathers that have a body fluid excretion portion and a buttock side portion having different cross-sectional views and that fit to the body shape of each portion and have highly comfortable fitting feeling are formed by a pair of three-dimensional gathers disposed on either side. In the three-dimensional gather BS, a sheet extending from the lateral side to the center side direction is folded in four by folding the sheet at the first folding portion folded back toward the lateral side on a central side position and at the second folding portion and the third folding portion in series to form the first folding back surface, the second folding back surface, the third folding back surface, and the fourth folding back surface in this order from the lower layer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Ryoko Kurihara
  • Patent number: 7914507
    Abstract: The invention, a reusable adjustable diaper, includes: a multi-ply member having a first curvilinear portion connecting by a medial portion to a second curvilinear portion; a first elastomeric member connected to a first curved segment of multi-ply member and having a first plurality of fastening areas; a second elastomeric member connected to a second curved segment of multi-ply member and having a second plurality of fastening areas; a first plurality of fasteners connected to first curvilinear portion; a second plurality of fasteners connected to second curvilinear portion and disengagably fastenable with first plurality of fasteners; a third fastener connected to multi-ply member and disengagably fastenable with first elastomeric member at each of first plurality of fastening areas; and a fourth fastener connected to multi-ply member and disengagably fastenable with second elastomeric member at each of second plurality of fastening areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Stacee M. Magee
  • Publication number: 20110071487
    Abstract: This patent is for the protection of a proposed redesign of disposable undergarments for adults and even children, to correct years of design changes that have basically encompassed only changes in manufacturing process, or materials in order to utilize developing technology for improved performance. This proposed design is primarily for a shape change that results in improved comfort and reduced unpleasant side effects for the wearer, and lower costs in manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Sabiston, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110066126
    Abstract: A stretch laminate includes a first layer including an elastomer film, the first layer having a surface, and a second layer including a nonwoven material, the second layer having a surface that is attached to the surface of the first layer. The tensile behavior in the transverse direction of the stretch laminate is within about 2.5 N/cm of the tensile behavior in the transverse direction of the film at an engineering strain of about 1.5, and exists independent of mechanical activation. A method of making the stretch laminate and an absorbent article having at least one region defined by the stretch laminate are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: Todd Leon Mansfield
  • Patent number: 7905872
    Abstract: An absorbent article may comprise a topsheet, a backsheet joined with the topsheet, an absorbent core interposed between the topsheet and backsheet; and one or more article elements selected from the group consisting of an anal cuff, an elasticized topsheet, a fastening system, a leg cuff, a waist elastic feature, a side panel, an ear, and combinations thereof. The article elements may comprise a slow recovery stretch laminate exhibiting an unload force at 37° C. of about 0.16 N/(g/m) or greater and a percent of initial strain after 15 seconds of recovery at 22° C. of about 10% or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robin Lynn McKiernan, Bryn Hird, Edward Joseph Urankar, Janet Neton
  • Publication number: 20110060305
    Abstract: A wearing article includes front and rear waist regions joined together. A joint strength of joint arrays along the front and rear waist regions is generally uniformed. A chassis is formed along front waist region's side edges and rear waist region's side edges with the joint arrays. A liquid-absorbent structure includes front and rear ends opposed to each other in a longitudinal direction and extending in a transverse direction. The front end is covered with a front waist sheet and the rear end is covered with a rear waist sheet. Along the respective joint arrays, the front and rear waist sheets are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 7901390
    Abstract: A disposable garment having a side elastomeric material and a waist elastomeric material is disclosed. The disposable garment has a front region, a back region, a crotch region between the front region and the back region. The disposable garment comprises a chassis, a waist elastomeric material, a side elastomeric material, and seams. The chassis has a topsheet, a backsheet joined with the topsheet, and an absorbent core interposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The chassis has a central panel having a waist edge and side edges, an ear panel having a waist edge, and a waistband panel in the front region and the back region. The ear panel extends laterally outwardly from each side edge of the central panel. The waistband panel extends longitudinally outwardly from the waist edge of the central panel and the waist edge of the ear panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Craig Andrew Hawkins, Frederick Michael Langdon, Eiro Fukuda, Fumito Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7901534
    Abstract: Diapers are made with substantial reduction of waste using a composite web of diaper main body material having a liquid impervious outer layer, a liquid pervious inner layer and an absorbent intermediate layer there between. The composite web has an indeterminate longitudinal extent substantially intact and uncut with parallel lateral side edge margins for substantially the entire web length. An independent web of diaper tab material is cut into discrete tab sections of predetermined mating shapes with substantially no unused waste material. The tab sections are affixed to the opposite edge margins of, and at regular longitudinal spacings along, the composite web. The composite web is cut transversely at regular longitudinal intervals there along corresponding to the spacings of the tab sections to produce discrete diapers each having a generally rectangular main body and four tabs at the respective corners of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Attends Healthcare Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Gaston, Michael G. Brosie