Stretchable Outer Cover Patents (Class 604/385.22)
  • Patent number: 11918441
    Abstract: A highly extensible nonwoven web is provided. The highly extensible nonwoven web may include continuous multi-component fibers. The continuous multi-component fibers may include polypropylene, wherein the polypropylene has a crystallinity of less than about 41%. The polypropylene may have a melting temperature of less than about 161° C. The highly extensible nonwoven web may define a plurality of apertures. The apertures may be patterned. The highly extensible nonwoven web may form a portion of an absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Han Xu, Meganne Frisch, Jaroslav Kohut, Sascha Kreisel, Jiri Kummer, Fang Liu, Michael J. Roddy, Patricia Rolon, Eric R. Schurdak
  • Patent number: 11571341
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a chassis having a substantially rectangular shape a first portion, a second portion and a crotch portion extending between the first and second portion, a portion of the chassis being configured to absorb fluids. The absorbent article includes a first securement portion operatively coupled to the first portion of the chassis. The absorbent article includes a second securement portion operatively coupled to the second portion of the chassis and configured to releasably attach to the first securement portion. The chassis is configured to include one of a first chassis length or a second chassis length. When the chassis includes the first length, the chassis includes a first width and the first securement portion includes a second width, and when the chassis includes the second length, the chassis includes the first width and the first securement portion includes a third width, greater than the second width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Medline Industries, LP
    Inventors: Daniel B. Love, Amin Setoodeh, Bridget Donovan, Christopher J. Nelson, William Rovero
  • Patent number: 11529799
    Abstract: A method for the production of an elastic laminate, comprising the following steps in a same production line: to coextrude a first web of elastic film (F) with at least three layers (F1, F2, F1), comprising at least two different polymer materials, to feed contemporaneously said coextruded first elastic film (F) web and two second nonwoven webs (T1, T2) to a thermal, binding calender (14), wherein the first elastic film web is arranged between said two second nonwoven webs when entering the calender; wherein said first elastic film web, during the movement from the coextrusion step to the thermal binding step, passes from a melted state, in the coextrusion step, to a solidified and cold state when entering the calender, to join, through spot welding in said calender, said second nonwoven webs with respective opposite outer layers of said first elastic film web, thus producing an intermediate web (P1), to stretch mechanically said intermediate web according to a direction transverse to the same web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: PANTEX INTERNATIONAL S.P.A.
    Inventors: Pietro Angeli, Antonio Caira, Carmine Di Benedetto, Gianluigi Fornoni
  • Patent number: 11389342
    Abstract: In a pull-on absorbent article, pairs of joining sections that join an absorbent main body and a pair of belt sections to each other are provided, one pair being disposed on a front side and the other pair being disposed on a rear side in a front-rear direction, the absorbent main body including an absorbent body and being provided in a vertical direction, the pair of belt sections expanding and contracting in a lateral direction; a portion between the pair of joining sections on the rear side does not expand and contract in the lateral direction; an expanding-contracting section is provided closer than the absorbent body to a non-skin side of a wearer; and, in at least the rear side, the expanding-contracting section is provided at a central portion of the absorbent main body in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Beibei Su, Shimpei Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11357671
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an array of packages may comprise two or more different sizes of disposable absorbent articles. The Product Hip-to-Side Silhouette of a second absorbent article may be equal to or greater than a Product Hip-to-Side Silhouette of a first absorbent article. And, an Array Average Product Hip-to-Side Silhouette of first and second packages of the array may be from about 2.2 to about 6.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bret Darren Seitz, Gary Dean LaVon, Jill Trygier, Vanessa Melendez
  • Patent number: 11344454
    Abstract: Configurable absorbent articles are provided. The absorbent articles may comprise a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent articles may comprise a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region extending intermediate the first waist region and the second waist region, and an outer cover material joined to the backsheet and forming a portion of a garment-facing surface of the absorbent article. The absorbent articles may comprise a pair of leg cuffs and a fully removable fastening member. The fastening member may comprise a first fastener on a first surface of the fastening member and positioned proximate to a first end and a second fastener on the first surface and positioned proximate to a second end. The absorbent articles may also comprise a wetness guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Susan Joy Ludwig, Amy Lynn Tally, Taylor Javier Morris, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 11278458
    Abstract: An article includes a chassis having a topsheet, backsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; and an ear joined to the chassis. The ear includes a ring-rolled laminate having a first nonwoven web and an elastomeric film; wherein the first nonwoven web has a crimped spunbond fiber nonwoven web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ray Dennis Dria, Urmish Popatlal Dalal, Kevin Ronald Kanya, Kelyn Anne Arora, Stephanie Niezgoda Moss, Shirdish Poondru, Timothy Ian Mullane, Nathan Ray Whitely, John Lee Hammons
  • Patent number: 11135097
    Abstract: Pulpless absorbent cores and methods of manufacture are disclosed. A method of forming an absorbent core may comprise moving a forming surface in a machine direction, creating a pressure differential across the forming surface, advancing a base carrier sheet on the forming surface in the machine direction, applying a first adhesive onto the base carrier sheet, and applying a first quantity of particulate material onto the first adhesive at a first cross-machine direction width. The method may further comprise depositing a matrix of material onto the first quantity of particulate material at a second cross-machine direction width, the matrix of material comprising a second quantity of particulate material and a second adhesive, wherein the second cross-machine direction width is smaller than the first cross-machine direction width, and wherein the second quantity of particulate material and the adhesive are pre-mixed prior to deposition onto the first quantity of particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORDWIDE, INC.
    Inventor: Michael B. Venturino
  • Patent number: 11116674
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes bond seams that are positioned forwardly towards the article central longitudinal direction from the lateral-most side edges of the article, and which are aligned with the highest point of high rise leg openings on the article. The absorbent article is conformable on both front and back panels, with the front panel being narrower in dimension than the back panel. The bond seams and leg openings can be seen on the front surface of the relaxed and flattened absorbent article. Such absorbent article may be manufactured along the article transverse direction by use of differential tension during manufacture, or differential retractive properties of elastic base materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: KueYoung You, Sarah A O'Brien, MinJae Lee, Seul Lee, Jiyoung Haley Jung, DaeGun Kim, Catherine M. Hancock-Cooke
  • Patent number: 10932960
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article of a brief or pull-up type incorporates a breathable laminate material composed of two layers. The laminate is an elastic material and may include non-elastic portions created by deactivating the material. The laminate material may be made breathable by the ultrasonic bonding process used to create the laminate. A third layer is adhered or bonded to the laminate and with leg elastics positioned between the laminate that the third layer. The absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly that overlaps with the non-elastic portions of the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Nelson
  • Patent number: 10780002
    Abstract: A pant-type absorbent article has a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, an inner surface facing the user during use, an outer surface facing away from the user during use. The article includes: a first body portion, a second body portion and an intermediate crotch portion provided with two leg openings. Outer longitudinal edge portions of the first body portion are adapted to be interconnected to outer longitudinal edge portions of the second body portion by first and second longitudinal refastenable side seam configurations. Each one of the refastenable side seam configurations includes a fastening component bonded to an outer longitudinal edge portion of the first body portion and a mating fastening component bonded to a corresponding outer longitudinal edge portion of the second body portion. Moreover, each one of the fastening components and the mating fastening components includes a first mechanical connector structure and a second mechanical connector structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Maria Swedberg, Anders Silfverstrand
  • Patent number: 10765566
    Abstract: An absorbent article has a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a depth direction and includes absorbent article opposing first and second longitudinal ends, and absorbent article opposing lateral side edges extending between the absorbent article opposing first and second longitudinal ends. The absorbent article comprises a liquid permeable first topsheet layer having first topsheet layer opposing lateral side edges, and first topsheet layer opposing longitudinal ends as well as a liquid permeable second topsheet layer subjacent to the liquid permeable first topsheet layer. The liquid permeable second topsheet layer has second topsheet layer opposing lateral side edges, and second topsheet layer opposing longitudinal ends, and is attached at or along two opposing attachment zones to the liquid permeable first topsheet layer along or adjacent the first topsheet layer opposing lateral side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: JaeEun Park, Franz Aschenbrenner, Caishan Tan
  • Patent number: 10646384
    Abstract: As absorbent article for absorbing urine includes a topsheet which is a nonwoven fabric that has a skin-side surface having projections formed thereon. The content by percentage of fibers oriented in the thickness direction in each projection of the nonwoven fabric is greater than the content by percentage of fibers oriented in the thickness direction in sections of the nonwoven fabric other than the projections. The thickness of the nonwoven fabric when wet is greater than or equal to 85% the thickness of the nonwoven fabric when dry. The nonwoven fabric includes a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer. The first fiber layer is constituted by durable hydrophilic fibers, and the second fiber layer is constituted by durable hydrophilic fibers and non-durable hydrophilic fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayako Moriya, Hideyuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10477903
    Abstract: A lower torso garment, such as a brief, includes a body having a pair of leg openings, a crotch portion between the leg openings, and a waist opening, and a waist band connected to the body and positioned at the waist opening. The waist band includes a folded fabric portion forming an inner layer and an outer layer surrounding an elastomeric band. The elastomeric band includes a thermoplastic elastomer film including a styrenic block copolymer, and is positioned between the inner and outer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Abbott, Roger D. Warren, Reginald L'Italien
  • Patent number: 10478352
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an array of packages may comprise two or more different sizes of disposable absorbent articles. The Product Length-to-Side Silhouette of a second absorbent article may be equal to or greater than a Product Length-to-Side Silhouette of a first absorbent article. And, an Array Average Product Length-to-Side Silhouette of first and second packages of the array may be from about 1.2 to about 1.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bret Darren Seitz, Gary Dean LaVon, Jill Trygier, Vanessa Melendez
  • Patent number: 10470944
    Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to improve the fit of edge portions of an outer body around the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Mori, Sadanao Manabe, Takashi Hagi
  • Patent number: 10441476
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to taped and pant articles comprising substantially identical chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Michael Gary Nease, Gene Xiaoqing Huang, Jacob Alan Barnhorst, Masaharu Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 10398608
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article may include a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first and the second waist regions, and a chassis having a topsheet, backsheet, absorbent core, and chassis periphery. The chassis periphery has a varying width, Wv. The varying width Wv has a first maximum width, W1, in the first waist region, a minimum width, Wmin, in the crotch region, and a second maximum width, W2, in the second waist region, wherein W1 is greater than W2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kumardipti Chatterjee, Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Michael Devin Long
  • Patent number: 10391002
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Todd Leon Mansfield
  • Patent number: 10335325
    Abstract: A disposable undergarment is disclosed. The undergarment includes a chassis and an absorbent core assembly. The chassis includes a front section, a crotch section and a rear section. The absorbent core is located in the crotch section, with portions of it extending into the front and rear sections. A large plurality of closely spaced elastic threads extends across the full width of the undergarment in the front and rear sections. A large plurality of closely spaced elastic threads extends across the full width of the undergarment in portions of the crotch section adjacent the front and rear sections. The elastic threads are broken in the areas of the core assembly. The core assembly includes a first section of a slow acting but high absorbency SAP in pockets thereof and an underlying second section of a fast acting by lower absorbency SAP in pockets thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Advanced Absorbent Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald A. Sheldon, Joseph Howard, William Terenzoni
  • Patent number: 10195092
    Abstract: A multi-component topsheet for an absorbent article includes a first discrete substrate, a second discrete substrate, and a third discrete substrate, wherein the second discrete substrate is disposed at least partially intermediate the first discrete substrate and the third discrete substrate, wherein the second discrete substrate is joined to the first discrete substrate and the third discrete substrate, wherein the topsheet has a single layer of substrate in about 80% or more of the total area of the topsheet and a dual layer of substrate in about 20% or less of the total area of the topsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Amy Lynn Tally, Theresa Lynn Galie, George Christopher Dobrin, Olaf Erik Alexander Isele, Paul Thomas Weisman, Sharon Ann Young, Mike Purdon
  • Patent number: 10143600
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an array of packages may comprise two or more different sizes of disposable absorbent articles. The Product Waist-to-Side Silhouette of a second absorbent article may be equal to or greater than a Product Waist-to-Side Silhouette of a first absorbent article. And, an Array Average Product Waist-to-Side Silhouette of first and second packages of the array may be from about 1.7 to about 6.0. In another embodiment, a disposable absorbent article has a Product Waist-to-Side Silhouette from 1.7 to about 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bret Darren Seitz, Gary Dean LaVon, Jill Trygier, Vanessa Melendez
  • Patent number: 9375360
    Abstract: To facilitate a continuous tight fit of a diaper to a wearer, a disposable diaper having one waist opening and a pair of leg openings is provided with: a front-side section; a back-side section; a crotch section; and a pair of extensible or stretchable leg sheets. Longitudinal peripheral edge regions and inner lateral edge regions of the leg sheets are respectively joined, on one side of the crotch section, to lower edge regions of the front-side section and back-side section and lateral edge regions of the crotch section. The leg sheets each have notches facing inward from the outer lateral edges thereof. The pair of leg openings are defined by joining outer lateral edge regions of the leg sheets adjacent to front-side starting ends of the notches, and outer lateral edge regions of the leg sheets adjacent to back-side starting ends of the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Takino
  • Patent number: 9301888
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Todd Leon Mansfield
  • Patent number: 9301881
    Abstract: A wearing article (1) of the invention has edge sections (leg edge sections and waist edge section) configured including sheets. On the sheets in the edge sections, elastic members (6, 7, 8) are disposed in their stretched state along the edge sections. Draw-processed sections (P1, P2) are formed by performing draw processing, in the stretching direction of the elastic members (6, 7, 8), on the disposition sections of the sheets where the elastic members (6, 7, 8) have been disposed. Furthermore, a draw-processed section (P3) is formed by performing draw processing, in the stretching direction of an elastic member (5), on the disposition section of a band-shaped sheet (15), which configures three-dimensional gathers (18), where the elastic member (5) has been disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Ando, Yasuhiro Umeki, Toshiaki Ichimata
  • Patent number: 9155670
    Abstract: Absorbent articles that include elastics in multiple layers are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Sarah Marie Wade, Tina Marie Glahn, Gary Dean Lavon, Diana Woehnl Juratovac, Kaoru Ishihara, Masaharu Nishikawa, Ronald Joseph Zink, Anna Elizabeth Macura
  • Patent number: 9119752
    Abstract: Absorbent articles that include elastics in multiple layers are disclosed, herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Sarah Marie Wade, Tina Marie Glahn, Gary Dean Lavon, Diana Woehnl Juratovac, Kaoru Ishihara, Masaharu Nishikawa, Ronald Joseph Zink, Anna Elizabeth Macura
  • Patent number: 9114046
    Abstract: Absorbent articles that include elastics in multiple layers are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Sarah Marie Wade, Tina Marie Glahn, Gary Dean Lavon, Diana Woehnl Juratovac, Kaoru Ishihara, Masaharu Nishikawa, Ronald Joseph Zink, Anna Elizabeth Macura
  • Patent number: 9011404
    Abstract: A pull-on absorbent article including a front outer cover to be worn around a wearer's front side, a rear outer cover to be worn around the wearer's rear side, and an absorbent assembly fixed to the front and the rear outer cover so as to bridge them and having a pair of side seals. The length of each of the front and the outer cover in the longitudinal direction of the article is uniform in the lateral direction and larger than that of the side seals so that the front and the outer cover have extension portions that extend downward from the side seals. The extension portions of the front and/or the rear outer cover have an elasticized region extensible in the lateral direction in a region located laterally outward of each side edge of the absorbent assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kobayashi, Ryoichi Yamamoto, Kenji Ando, Takuo Yanashima, Akio Morita
  • Patent number: 8986275
    Abstract: An outer cover for a disposable absorbent article. The outer cover includes an elastic material joined to an extensible material to form a laminate. At least two different areas of the laminate are simultaneously activated in different directions by a single pair of intermeshing activation rolls. At least a portion of the two different areas of activation on the outer cover are spatially separated by a buffer zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Fred Naval Desai, Fred Michael Langdon, Khalid Qureshi
  • Patent number: 8974430
    Abstract: An absorbent article may comprise an absorbent assembly comprising an absorbent core. The article may also comprise a chassis formed by a web comprising at least one continuous layer that forms a portion of a water-impermeable backsheet and a portion of laterally opposing side flaps. The chassis may further comprise a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region comprising a front waist edge, a back waist region comprising a back waist edge, a crotch region between the waist regions, laterally opposing side edges extending between the front waist edge and the back waist edge, an exterior surface, and an interior surface to which the absorbent assembly is attached. The attachment of the absorbent assembly may be shaped. The chassis may further comprise a continuously activated region disposed in one or both of the front and back waist regions of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean Lavon, Thomas Henrich, Luke Nogales, Kevin Michael Smith, John Strube
  • Patent number: 8945079
    Abstract: A disposable wearable absorbent article comprising an absorbent core area, a side, and an anchoring subsystem. The anchoring subsystem includes exactly one side anchoring member. The side anchoring member has a pathway with a front end, a back end, and a middle. The front end, the back end, or both ends are disposed outside of the absorbent core area. The front end is disposed at a front end longitudinally outboard distance. The back end is disposed at a back end longitudinally outboard distance. The middle is disposed at a middle longitudinally outboard distance. The back end longitudinally outboard distance is less than the front end longitudinally outboard distance. The front end longitudinally outboard distance is about equal to the middle longitudinally outboard distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andrew James Sauer, Michael Dale Trennepohl
  • Patent number: 8911419
    Abstract: The present invention provides an article to be worn about a wearer including a surface fastening system having a primary direction of load bearing. The surface fastening system has a first surface fastening element and a second surface fastening element. The first fastening element is joined to the article, and the second fastening element is disposed so as to be generally in a face to face relationship with the first fastening element when the surface fastening system is in a fastened configuration. The surface fastening system has a peel resistance in a direction other than the primary direction of load bearing greater than or equal to about 1000 grams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, George Christopher Dobrin, Raymond Scott Hamilton, George Bartol Glackin, III, Luke Robinson Magee, Miguel Alvaro Robles
  • Patent number: 8900211
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable wearing article adapted to inhibit sweating and an uncomfortable stuffiness. Front and rear waist regions of a disposable wearing article have inner surfaces thereof at least partially formed of elastic sheets. The elastic sheets are made of a mixture of elastic fibers and inelastic fibers and formed with ridges and grooves. The elastic sheets have a thickness in the ridges repetitively reduced and restored as the elastic sheets repeat elastic stretch and contraction in the waist circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hashimoto, Etsuko Kudo, Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 8865963
    Abstract: A multiple layer laminate and method of manufacturing the same having visible indicia for use in an absorbent article includes a first outer layer, a second outer layer, an elastomeric film interposed between said first outer layer and said second outer layer and a non-elastomeric appliqué having the indicia. The non-elastomeric appliqué is interposed between the elastomeric film and the first outer layer or between the elastomeric film and the second outer layer. The non-elastomeric appliqué is coupled to the elastomeric film in a stretched condition such that the non-elastomeric appliqué limits the retraction of the elastomeric film from the stretched condition in a location where the non-elastomeric appliqué is coupled to the elastomeric film, wherein the indicia is positioned to be visible through the first outer layer, the second outer layer or the first and the second outer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventors: Ron Rothenberger, Loida Guzman Reyes, Brian McGinty
  • Patent number: 8858523
    Abstract: A disposable wearable absorbent article comprising an absorbent core area, a side, and an anchoring subsystem. The anchoring subsystem includes exactly one side anchoring member. The side anchoring member has a pathway with a front end, a back end, and a middle. The front end, the back end, or both ends are disposed outside of the absorbent core area. The front end is disposed at a front end longitudinally outboard distance. The back end is disposed at a back end longitudinally outboard distance. The middle is disposed at a middle longitudinally outboard distance. The front end longitudinally outboard distance is less than the back end longitudinally outboard distance. The back end longitudinally outboard distance is about equal to the middle longitudinally outboard distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andrew James Sauer, Michael Dale Trennepohl
  • Patent number: 8834437
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment can include a waistband assembly that is configured to be worn about a waist of a subject, and an absorbent panel assembly having first and second ends that are coupled to the waistband assembly. The absorbent panel assembly can include a liquid-pervious body-side layer, a liquid impervious external layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the body-side and external layers. At least one of the absorbent panel assembly or the waistband assembly includes a contraction region, such as near the absorbent core, that is configured to be extensible and retractable along a longitudinal axis of the absorbent core. The longitudinal axis can be substantially parallel to a vertical or height axis of a wearer when the absorbent garment is worn by an upright or standing individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National Presto Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo Borrero, Michael Wayne Harris
  • Patent number: 8821468
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disposable absorbent incontinence diaper (2) of the open type, having a main part (4), comprising a front region (6) having front lateral longitudinal edges (42), a rear region (8) having rear lateral longitudinal edges (41) and a crotch region (10) that is located in between in the longitudinal direction (28) and comes to lie between the legs of a user, wherein the main part (4) comprises an absorbent pad (12), and having rear side portions (20) that are attached to the rear region (8) on both sides and front side portions (22) that are attached to the front region (6) on both sides, said rear and front side portions extending in the transverse direction (30) beyond the lateral front and rear longitudinal edges (42, 41) of the main part (4), and wherein the rear side portions (20) have first closure means (32) which are close to the leg opening and have closure aids and wherein the closure means (32) can be secured in a detachable manner at least on the outer side of the front side
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann AG
    Inventors: Enno Gause, Ruediger Kesselmeier, Krzysztof D. Malowaniec, Maximilian Swerev
  • Patent number: 8821980
    Abstract: A patterned layer is intended to be used in an absorbent article, and has a pattern, for example in the form of a text or an image, which appears clearly legible or interpretable for an observer at a certain distance. The pattern can be formed by a number of dots which, when the layer is in a first state, have a first surface density which forms the legible or interpretable pattern and which, when the layer is in a second and then expanded state, have a second surface density which is lower than the first surface density in the first state, the pattern becoming in the second state essentially illegible or uninterpretable for the observer at the given distance on account of the lower surface density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Michael Linder
  • Patent number: 8808264
    Abstract: An absorbent article providing improved body fit. The absorbent article includes an extensible fluid permeable facing layer and a first absorbent layer joined to the facing layer. Each zone of extensibility is a region of the first absorbent layer of relatively higher extensibility than regions of first absorbent layer adjacent to the zone of extensibility. A liquid impermeable backsheet is joined to the facing layer at the periphery. The liquid impermeable backsheet has a garment facing surface. A fastening means is disposed on at least a portion of the garment facing surface of the liquid impermeable backsheet. The fastening means defines attachment zones. At least a portion of the first absorbent layer is decoupled from the attachment zones of the fluid impermeable backsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Bruce William Lavash
  • Patent number: 8790325
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes an embodiment wherein a disposable wearable absorbent article comprises a side and an anchoring subsystem. The anchoring subsystem includes a first side anchoring member with a first middle, disposed along a first pathway, and a second side anchoring member with a second middle, disposed along a second pathway. At least a portion of the first middle is coextensive with at least a portion of the second middle, and at least a portion of the first pathway is distinct from at least a portion of the second pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andrew James Sauer, Michael Dale Trennepohl
  • Patent number: 8777917
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include disposable wearable absorbent articles with anchoring systems. In an embodiment, a disposable wearable absorbent article includes an absorbent core, an outer cover, and an anchoring system configured to anchor the absorbent core to a wearer, wherein the outer cover includes a first portion, in which substantially all of the anchoring system is integral with the outer cover, and a second portion, outside of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Richard Worthington Lodge, Fred Naval Desai, Donald Carroll Roe, Bruno Johannes Ehrnsperger, Frederick Michael Langdon, Luke Robinson Magee, Gary Dean Lavon
  • Patent number: 8764721
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an undergarment includes moving a web of body panel material in a machine direction and cutting the web of body panel material along the machine direction to form front and rear body panel webs each having a maximum rise and a minimum rise respectively. The method further includes shifting at least one of the rear and front body panel webs in the machine direction and thereby aligning the maximum rises of the rear and front body panel webs. The method further includes centering a crotch member with the maximum rises of the rear and front body panel webs and connecting the crotch member to a garment side surface of the front and rear body panel webs. The crotch member includes a base panel having opposite side edges and at least a pair of folds extending from the side edges of the base panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Russell E. Thorson, Jacqueline A. Gross
  • Patent number: 8740870
    Abstract: Absorbent articles having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet are disclosed. The absorbent articles include a plasto-elastic material joined to or disposed on at least one of component of the absorbent article to impart sizing or shaping capabilities to the article. The plasto-elastic material has substantially plastic properties when said absorbent article is subjected to an initial strain cycle, for example, when the article is placed on a wearer, and has substantially elastic properties when subjected to a second strain cycle such as when the article is subsequently adjusted to conform to the size of the wearer. The absorbent article can be in the form of diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, wipes, bibs, incontinence briefs or inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Marie Autran, Donald Carroll Roe, Fred Naval Desai
  • Patent number: 8728051
    Abstract: Laminates with a layer of bonded nonwoven material attached to a layer of film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Aaron Lu, Robert Haines Turner, Lisa Marie Reynolds, Thomas Burkhart, Helmut Hartl, Deying Kong, David D. Newkirk
  • Patent number: 8721827
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods of forming an elastic, breathable film/nonwoven layer laminate. In particular, the invention pertains to elastic polymer compositions that can be more easily processed on cast film lines, extrusion lamination or coating lines. The compositions of the present invention preferably comprise an elastomeric polyolefin resin and a high pressure low density type resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Andy C. Chang, Stephen M. Hoenig, Yunwa W. Cheung, Daniel G. Moldovan, Wenbin Liang, Charles F. Diehl
  • Patent number: 8715257
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has an absorbent core having a surface area and a stretchable multilayer chassis having a surface area. The multilayer chassis is stretchable in at least the cross-machine direction. The stretchable multilayer chassis has at least a stretchable bodyside liner and stretchable outer cover such that the absorbent core is affixed to at least one layer of the stretchable multilayer chassis. The percentage ratio of the surface area of the absorbent core to the surface area of the stretchable multilayer chassis is less than about 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Linda M. Dorschner
  • Patent number: 8715263
    Abstract: An incontinence article (2) in the form of briefs has a front stomach portion (4) and a rear back portion (6), which are connected to one another at lateral seam regions (14) on both sides. A crotch portion (8) has an absorption pad (7) and extends in a longitudinal direction (9). A topsheet material (84) or a topsheet (84) and a backsheet material (62) form a transverse overhang (66a,66b) extending outside longitudinal borders (46) of the absorption pad (7). The overhang (66a,66b) has a reinforcing means (200) in a region (204) bridging the respective longitudinal border (46) of the absorption pad (7). The reinforcing means (200) comprises or consists of a reinforcing coating (202 and is disposed on the inner face (85) of the topsheet material (84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Wenzel, Fridmann Hornung
  • Publication number: 20140107605
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper having a pair of waist sections, a crotch section disposed between the waist sections, a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, a leg cuff attached to the topsheet at least in part parallel to a longitudinal axis at a first attachment region, a leg gather section which runs along an outer edge region of the crotch section, wherein the leg gather section comprises an outer boundary and an inner boundary, wherein the outer boundary is defined by the edge of the crotch region and the inner boundary is defined by the first leg cuff attachment region; and wherein the leg gather region and leg cuff are attached together at least in part at a second attachment region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Charles F. Schroer, JR., Steven D. Linton
  • Patent number: 8684990
    Abstract: A simple disposable pant-like garment includes an absorbent assembly attached to a chassis. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that may contain superabsorbent particles, which may be contained inside pockets. The absorbent assembly is folded laterally inward at both of its side edges to form laterally opposing side flaps. Each side flap is attached to an interior surface of the absorbent assembly adjacent to its end edges. A longitudinally extending elastic gathering member is attached to each side flap adjacent to its proximal edge. When the article is worn, the elastic gathering members contract and raise the side flaps to form breathable side barriers. The chassis includes a water-impermeable sheet and may be extensible. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern such that portions of the chassis that lie outside the attachment pattern are not restrained by attachment to the absorbent assembly and therefore remain extensible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Pankaj Nigam