Elastic Type Edge Patents (Class 604/385.24)
  • Publication number: 20140018765
    Abstract: A method is provided for making an elastic composite for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment. An elastic element applicator is provided that is configured to move a section of a continuous strand of elastic element generally about a plane. A first web of material is conveyed in a first web moving direction such that the first web intersects the plane. Then, the applicator is operated to move the elastic element about the plane, thereby applying the section of elastic element onto the first web along a direction generally transverse to the web moving direction and such that the first web draws the continuous elastic strand from the elastic element applicator as the first web is conveyed away from the plane. The elastic element applicator may be in the form of a spin cylinder or bracket that is operated to spin the elastic element about the moving first web, thereby applying the elastic element on the first web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu Edward Chang, Anne Smid, Patrick King Yu Tsang, Andrew C. Wright
  • Patent number: 8622983
    Abstract: A method to incorporate leg elastic members into pant-like disposable absorbent garments, and garments made thereby. In particular embodiments, the method includes supplying elastomeric film laminate first and second body panel webs spaced apart from each other. A continuous first leg elastic member is attached to the first body panel web, and a continuous second leg elastic member is attached to the second body panel web. A continuous leg elastic covering web is attached to both the first body panel web and the second body panel web so as to sandwich the first and second leg elastic members between the leg elastic covering web and the respective body panel web, thereby creating a composite web. In particular embodiments, the present invention can provide an efficient and process friendly technique to cover and hold in place leg elastic members in a pant-style disposable garment that employs elastomeric film laminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Wilkes, Lacey L. Poole, Joseph A. Mlinar, Marlene R. Dins, Russell E. Thorson, Brian K. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20130338622
    Abstract: A method is presented for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article having multiple components including selecting a first material appropriate for use as an outer cover; producing a chassis including the outer cover, the outer cover including an outer cover central region having an outer cover central region appearance; selecting a second material appropriate for use as an elastic panel, wherein the second material is different from the first material; and producing a first elastic panel having a first elastic panel central region. The method also includes printing the first elastic panel central region with a first elastic panel printed graphic; and attaching the first elastic panel to the chassis, wherein the selecting and printing are performed such that the first elastic panel central region gives the appearance of being substantially similar to the outer cover central region appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Flegar Bishop, Patsy Ann Krautkramer, Julia Hartono, Katherine Carol Shaw, Marcille Faye Ruman, Daniel Robert Schlinz, Kimberly Marie Downs, Tami Lynn Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20130310792
    Abstract: Absorbent articles comprising a variable stretch composite obtained by a process comprising the steps of providing a first extensible fibrous substrate, printing a first elastomeric composition to a first elasticized region of the substrate, printing a second elastomeric composition to a second elasticized region of the substrate, and incrementally stretching at least a portion of the composite perform to form a variable stretch composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Fred Naval DESAI, Urmish Popatlal Dalal, Mark William Hamersky, Steven Daryl Smith
  • Patent number: 8585669
    Abstract: An absorbent article, in particular a diaper. The rear portion thereof includes a pair of elastic side panels attached to opposing longitudinal edges thereof. The front portion of the article includes at least two landing zones upon which the elastic side panels overlap when the article is fastened. An area of the front portion located at least around each landing zone includes a plurality of first indicia in a first pattern. Each of said elastic side panels also includes a plurality of second indicia in a second pattern. The distance between adjacent second indicia including the second pattern increases as the elastic side panel is stretched. When the elastic side panels are stretched by a predetermined force, the second pattern on the elastic side panels matches the first pattern around each landing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Eva Vastag, Karl Nyström, Pernilla Lundahl
  • Patent number: 8585670
    Abstract: In a disposable pants-type wearing article, a body fluid absorbent panel provided in a crotch region extends in a longitudinal direction A and is fixed to a sheet member defining inner surfaces of front and rear waist regions. The body fluid absorbent panel is formed along its opposite side edges with flaps and free edges of the respective flaps are provided with crotch region elastic members attached under tension thereto. The front and rear waist regions are provided along peripheral edges of leg-openings with lower elastic members attached under tension thereto. Regions of the side flaps in which the free edges of the flaps developed in a transverse direction overlap the associated lower elastic members are affixed to respective inner surfaces of the front and rear waist regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Takino
  • Patent number: 8574211
    Abstract: A stretchable composite sheet having a number of ridges in a neat and orderly arrangement is disclosed. The stretchable composite sheet is easily produced by the process of the invention. The stretchable composite sheet is a laminate of a stretch sheet 10 and a nonstretch sheet 2. The stretch sheet 10 has first zones 14 having elastic stretchability and second zones 15 having less stretchability than the first zones 14. The first zones 14 and the second zones 15 extend in the same direction and alternate with each other. The stretch sheet 10 and the nonstretch sheet 2 are bonded over substantially the entire area of their facing sides. The stretchable composite sheet has a large number of ridges 3 on the side of the nonstretch sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Shinnosuke Morita, Kenji Ando, Kenji Ishiguro, Manabu Matsui
  • Patent number: 8574212
    Abstract: An absorptive article has an absorptive article body, a pair of side flaps, and a pair of waist flaps provided in the rear region so as to extend outward from the side flaps in the lateral direction of the absorptive article body. Each of the pair of waist flaps has formed thereon a waist stretchable region extended so as to reach that edge of the waist flap which is on the belly side. The waist stretchable regions are adapted such that the dimension of the waist stretchable region stretched at the end thereof on the belly side in the lateral direction of the absorptive article body is greater than the dimension of the waist stretchable region stretched at the end thereof on the rear side in the lateral direction of the absorptive article body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomi Oku, Satoru Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130289512
    Abstract: A disposable garment having a fin seam, wherein the fin seam has a Height no greater than 6 millimeters and a Rigidity no greater than 0.6 gram-force/%-compression as measured by the Test Method. In particular embodiments, the garment is a pant-like garment having two outwardly extending side fin seams, each having a Height no greater than 6 millimeters and a Rigidity no greater than 0.6 gram-force/%-compression as measured by the Test Method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Brian Keith Rhodes, Lacey Leigh Poole, Marlene Ruth Dins, Joseph Andrew Mlinar, Paul Douglas Beuther, Marie Elizabeth Boll, Paulin Pawar
  • Patent number: 8568377
    Abstract: An elastic composite is provided in a disposable absorbent garment such as a diaper or training pants. The elastic composite has a base layer, a top layer, and an elastic construction disposed therebetween. The elastic construction includes a plurality of spaced apart (e.g. generally equally spaced apart) elastic elements (e.g. strands or threads) that are aligned in a generally cross machine direction and in generally parallel relation. Further, the top and base layers define a first longitudinally extending side edge and a second longitudinally extending side edge between which, the elastic construction is disposed. The elastic composite further includes an elasticized region, wherein the elastic construction is disposed, a first non-elasticized region disposed between the first side edge and the elasticized region, and a second non-elasticized region disposed between the second side edge and the elasticized region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick King Yu Tsang, Anne Smid, Andrew C. Wright
  • Patent number: 8568383
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable pants-type wearing article improved so as to eliminate a possibility that elastic members attached to peripheral edges of respective leg-openings might irritate the wearer's skin. The disposable pants-type wearing article has a band-like elastic member having a width dimension in a range of 5 to 60 mm and extending along peripheral edges of leg-openings so as to go half around each of the leg-openings. The elastic member comprises opposite end segments each lying in the uppermost zone of the leg-opening, a middle segment lying in the lowermost zone of the leg-opening and extending across a crotch region and intermediate segments each extending between the associated end segment and the middle segment wherein the intermediate segments are not bonded to sheet material constituting the wearing article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Minako Sagisaka, Takayuki Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20130281957
    Abstract: A series of elastic break brakes are provided throughout a travel path of elastics in a machine operation. Elastic strands thread through each individual brake mechanism, and if an elastic strand breaks downstream, a natural snap back of the elastic, which ordinarily travels through the system under tension, drives an immediately upstream cam mechanism back, and holds the elastic thread in place at the elastic break brake immediately upstream of the break as to minimize rethreading required downstream of the elastic break brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: JEFF W FRITZ, Chris Nelson, John A. McCabe, Daniel A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8563798
    Abstract: A bandage for improved wound care is disclosed. The bandage comprises a non-adherent, deformable inner layer, a leak-proof outer layer that is substantially coextensive with the inner layer, and an absorbent middle layer contacting both the inner and outer layers. An adhesive strip and adhesive tabs along the bandage's side attach and adjust the fit of the bandage to securely hold the absorbent layer in contact with the wound, without any adhesive touching the skin, thereby eliminating pain and discomfort upon removal or replacement. The bandage allows substantial freedom of motion without slipping. The adhesive strip and tabs secure the bandage in place without any adhesive touching the skin, thereby providing convenience and causing no pain or discomfort upon removal or replacement of the bandage. The bandage may use a non-stick netting material layer to improve patient comfort, and elastic cuffs to improve fit and leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Kalliope Dontas
  • Publication number: 20130274700
    Abstract: A method of dispensing adhesive onto a stretched elastic strand includes applying a first volume of adhesive onto a first portion of the elastic strand, applying a second volume of adhesive onto a second portion of the elastic strand, and applying a third volume of adhesive onto a third portion of the elastic strand. The second volume is less than the first and third volumes. When the elastic strand is adhered to a substrate to form a personal disposable hygiene product, the first and third portions of the elastic strand define opposing ends of the elastic strand, which are adhered with a larger amount of adhesive to resist creep at the opposing ends. The reduction of adhesive in the second or central portion between the opposing ends significantly reduces the adhesive add on in the personal disposable hygiene product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: NORDSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael W. Harris
  • Patent number: 8545473
    Abstract: A wearing article having a front waist region provided along a pair of opposite side edges with first fastening members, and a rear waist region provided along a pair of opposite side edges with second fastening members adapted to be engaged with the associated first fastening members. Each of the second fastening members is formed with an uneven structure having a plurality of crests extending in a transverse direction and spaced one from another in a longitudinal direction. A degree of engaging force between the uneven structure and the first fastening member is extremely weak and the uneven structure can be easily disengaged from the first fastening member. The uneven structure may be unfolded in the longitudinal direction and put in close contact with the first fastening member to achieve firm engagement over an area as large as possible between the flattened uneven structure and the first fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Ichikawa, Naoto Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8529535
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article is provided with a pair of liquid-barrier sheets on a body-side surface of the article. A dimension by which distal edges of distal zones of the barrier sheets are spaced from each other in a transverse direction is gradually enlarged from a rear end toward a front end of the article. An end sheet functioning to pull the distal zones closer to each other in the transverse direction is attached to the distal zones extending toward the rear end so as to extend between the distal zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Sachiyo Suzuki, Yoshitaka Mishima
  • Publication number: 20130231627
    Abstract: An absorbent article including a chassis having a front waist portion and a back waist portion, front side panels having an inside surface and an outside surface, back side panels having an inside surface and an outside surface, and seams adapted to attach the front side panels to the back side panels in an overlapped configuration offset toward the front waist portion, the seams made up of one or more fastening components attached to the outside surface of each of the back side panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: FIRST QUALITY BABY PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Susan O'CONNELL
  • Patent number: 8523835
    Abstract: A pant-type disposable absorbent hygiene article (2), comprises a waist edge (20), continuous in the circumferential direction thereof and forming a waist opening, and leg openings (8a,b), a front piece (6) and a back piece (4) having longitudinal side edge sections (16,18), and a crotch region (10), disposed between the front piece (6) and the back piece (4). The waist edge (20), continuous in the circumferential direction thereof, and the leg openings (8a,b) are produced by joining, on the manufacture end, the longitudinal side edge sections (16,18) of a front piece (6) and a back piece (4). The hygiene article also comprises an absorbent body (22). Every leg opening (8a,b) has an elastic leg opening section (81).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann AG
    Inventor: Krzysztof D. Malowaniec
  • Patent number: 8524355
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent mat provided between a liquid-permeable top sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet. Herein, the absorbent mat includes a sheet-like water-absorbent layer that contains a water-absorbent resin powder but that does not contain pulp fibers, and a fiber assembly layer that contains both the water-absorbent resin powder and the pulp fibers, the sheet-like water-absorbent layer and the fiber assembly layer arranged sequentially in this order from a top sheet side. The fiber assembly layer includes a fiber presence region in which both the pulp fibers and the water-absorbent resin powder are present, and a fiber absence region in which both the pulp fibers and the water-absorbent resin powder are absent, the fiber presence region and the fiber absence region formed to be adjacent with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 8523834
    Abstract: Process for making a variable stretch composite comprising the steps of providing a first extensible fibrous substrate, printing a first elastomeric composition to a first elasticized region of the substrate, printing a second elastomeric composition to a second elasticized region of the substrate, and incrementally stretching at least a portion of the composite perform to form a variable stretch composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Fred Naval Desai, Urmish Popatlal Dalal, Mark William Hamersky, Steven Daryl Smith
  • Publication number: 20130226126
    Abstract: An absorbent body of a diaper has a central absorbent core, a pair of side absorbent cores and a pair of side elastic members. The side elastic members lie left and right of a front portion of the central absorbent core. The side absorbent cores lie left and right of rear and middle portions of the central absorbent core. In the diaper, by contraction of the side elastic members, the side absorbent cores come into close contact with the insides of thighs of a wearer, and urine is prevented from leaking from leg circumferences. Since the side absorbent cores are positioned left and right of the rear and middle portions of the central absorbent core, portions of the wearer's leg circumferences in the vicinity of the front are not covered with the side absorbent cores, and interference with leg movement of the wearer is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: LIVEDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Emi Amano
  • Patent number: 8518008
    Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided with an outer body including a belly side portion and a back side portion, and an inner body. The belly side portion and back side portion of the outer body each has a plurality of waist elastic members extending in parallel to each other in the transverse direction. The outer body has an annular waist gather region, a belly side pressing region, a back side pressing region, and an annular tightening region. The area of the back side pressing region is smaller than the area of the belly side pressing region, and the contractile force of the back side pressing region is smaller than the contractile force of the belly side pressing region, and is no greater than 0.35N, and the contractile force per unit width of the tightening region is no less than 0.45N/25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Yoshioka, Yoshio Ono, Shunsuke Masaki
  • Publication number: 20130218118
    Abstract: A male absorbent article includes a liquid impermeable pouch for housing the male genitals of a user. The pouch includes an opening for inserting the male genitals into the pouch. The absorbent article includes an absorbent body positioned in the absorbent article for fluid communication with the interior space of the pouch. An inner sheet structure comprises the opening for inserting the male genitals into the pouch and is tapered and positioned between and extending from first and second upper ends in a direction towards a lower end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
    Inventor: Kent Vartiainen
  • Patent number: 8506544
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent pant having single-section side stretch panels is disclosed. The pant may have features including a seam with an overlapping configuration, and a seam with a sandwiched configuration. A seam of overlapping configuration may be formed by mechanical bonds that provide for tensile strength in a lateral direction, while providing tearability for convenient removal, and may include additional features that include indicia of a location of tearability, a tear-inducing notch, and structure to grasp for tearing. A seam of sandwiched configuration may be configured to provide a finished outward appearance and configured to provide extended lateral width of side stretch panels, providing for increased stretch, without extending overall hoop circumference of the pant, at risk of an undesirably loose fit. The pant may include other features that reduce usage of materials, including complementary cut side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Masaharu Nishikawa, Michael Dale Trennepohl
  • Patent number: 8500710
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a belt member defining front and rear waist regions and a liquid-absorbent structure defining a crotch region wherein the belt member includes a peripheral edge of a waist-opening and this peripheral edge includes two segments associated with the front and rear waist regions spaced from and opposed to each other in an anteroposterior direction Y. Front and rear belt sections of the belt member include, in the front and rear waist regions, see-through regions for the article wearer's skin having a total light transmittance of about 55% or higher and occupying 40% or more of the front and rear waist regions. The front and rear belt sections are provided along the peripheral edge of the waist-opening with a reinforcing elastic member extending in a transverse direction X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Takino, Yuki Maeda, Hiroyuki Tanji
  • Patent number: 8496638
    Abstract: Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles have a waistband that encompasses a pair of opposing side panels and a waist region of the article. The side panels are attached to longitudinal edges of a chassis and are configured to extend around a person's waist. The side panels are attached to fastening devices for fastening the absorbent article to a wearer. In accordance with the present invention, the side panels and the waist region are both elastic. In order to improve fit and comfort, the stretch properties of the side panels are matched with the stretch properties of the waist region. For example, elongation of the side panels can be matched to elongation of the waist region or, alternatively, displacement of the side panels can be matched to the displacement of the waist region for a given range of forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Robert Lord, Adrienne Nicole Hengels, Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet, Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke, Daniel Lee Ellingson
  • Patent number: 8491558
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a backsheet having a longitudinal axis, a topsheet attached to the backsheet and having a body-facing surface, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. The article may also include barrier leg cuffs. The article further includes a sensation member, which sensation member may be defined in part by the topsheet or may be separate from the topsheet. The sensation member may be a wetness sensation member, a temperature sensation member, a tactile agent, or a combination thereof. Visible and/or tactile indicia may be associated with the sensation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Jennifer Joan Nandrea, Masaharu Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8491556
    Abstract: Absorbent articles with stretch direction properties are disclosed, having at least three stretch zones. A first edge zone and a second edge zone are separated by a middle zone. The middle zone, which may the same length as each edge zone, has different stretch-direction characteristics than the edge zones. The middle zone may stretch in a single direction, whereas the edge zones may stretch in a different single direction or in bi- or multi-axial directions. The flaps may be created from the edge zones. Through this construction, the absorbent article exhibits improved fit and appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Popp, Lawrence H. Sawyer, Joseph D. Coenen, Christopher P. Olson, Michael J. Faulks, James M. Carr
  • Patent number: 8491557
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include disposable wearable absorbent articles with extensible sides. In an embodiment of the present disclosure a disposable wearable absorbent article includes a front, a back, and an extensible side configured to connect the front and the back, wherein the extensible side has a substantially laterally extensible area, which includes a first area, bounded in part by at least a portion of a longitudinally outboard side edge. An overall lateral extensibility of the first area is substantially less than an overall lateral extensibility of the substantially laterally extensible area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Henry William McCusker, III, Ronald Joseph Zink, II, Sarah Marie Young
  • Patent number: 8486849
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, the absorbent articles can be pulled on and/or off as a pant. This feature is provided by the ear panels which maintain sufficient tension to hold the diaper on the wearer throughout the period of use without harming the wearer's skin, while providing enough stretch to allow the diaper to be pulled up or down over the wearer's hips. The fastening system is refastenable for convenience yet strong enough to maintain the diaper in a fastened configuration without becoming detached if the diaper is pulled on or off the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Miguel Alvaro Robles
  • Patent number: 8486038
    Abstract: A disposable pull-on garment to be contained in a package is disclosed. The pull-on garment has a waist opening and leg openings, and has a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline. The pull-on garment comprises a main portion and side portions extending transversely outwardly from the main portion. The pull-on garment has longitudinal side contour lines to define a transverse width of the pull-on garment. The pull-on garment has a first transverse width between the longitudinal side contour lines at the waist opening and a second transverse width between the longitudinal side contour lines at the side portions. The second transverse width is greater than the first transverse width and is the greatest transverse width at the side portions in a flat contracted and unfolded condition of the pull-on garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakahata, Takaie Iba, Thomas Luebcke
  • Patent number: 8486039
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable diaper which prevents body waste from leaking sideways without sacrificing a bodily fluid absorbing capacity of a liquid-absorbent structure and to assure a high retention for urine and discharged feces. The waist elastic members includes first and second waist elastic members wherein elastic members extend in the transverse direction across opposite lateral regions so as not to present in central zones of front and rear waist regions. The second waist elastic members in the front waist region extend from transverse opposite side edges of the front waist region in the transverse direction beyond transverse opposite side edges of a liquid-absorbent core while the second elastic members in the rear waist region extend from transverse opposite side edges in the transverse direction and terminate short of the side edges of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Shimada, Akiko Yagi, Hideaki Maki
  • Patent number: 8475424
    Abstract: The disposable pull-on garment has a longitudinal centerline, a front region, a crotch region, and a back region. The front and back regions are joined at seams to form a waist opening and leg openings. The pull-on garment comprises a main portion, a side portion, and a waist portion. The side portion is disposed transversely outboard of the main portion. The waist portion comprises a center waist portion, an outer side waist portion, and an inner side waist portion. The contraction rate of the inner side waist portion is less than that of the center waist portion, and the contraction rate of the side portion longitudinally inboard of the inner side waist portion is greater than that of the inner side waist portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kenji Fujimoto, Haruko Sato, Masato Higaki, Toshiyuki Matsuda, Hiroshi Nakahata
  • Patent number: 8475427
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article to be worn about the lower torso of a wearer that facilitates an easy, intuitive change is provided. The disposable absorbent article includes at least one serviceable indicium that facilitates an easy change by providing alignment of the article relative to an anatomical feature of the wearer or by externally highlighting one or more components of the article thereby indicating alignment and fit about the wearer's lower torso.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Luke R. Magee, George B. Glackin, III, Christopher J. Hosmer, Naomi S. Korn, James D. Wilson, Mark C. Bates, Mattias Schmidt, Eva Susanne Dominique Thurnay, Joerg Mueller, John C. Costello, Ann M. Sullivan, Gregg A. Flender, Donald C. Roe, Mark J. Kline, Kenneth Edwin Jewell
  • Patent number: 8475426
    Abstract: An incontinence protector for males intended for disposable use, including a fastening pocket for fastening the genitalia during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Bror-Inge Helmfridsson, Ken Olsson
  • Patent number: 8469937
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing absorbent articles having an absorbent core (18,20,22) enclosed between casing sheets (16,24) and elastic elements (26-28) located in a front part and/or rear part of the article, includes the steps of laying a row of absorbent cores (18,20,22) on a first web (16) of casing material running in a machine direction with the longitudinal direction of the cores being extended in the machine direction, applying a second web (24) of casing material onto the web containing the row of absorbent cores, applying elastic elements (26-28) to one of the webs before it contacts the row of absorbent cores, thereby forming a row of connected absorbent article blanks, and thereafter cutting individual absorbent articles out of the row of article blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Gunnar Larsson, Carin Håkansson, Kent Hermansson, Roy Hansson
  • Patent number: 8460263
    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: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Todd Leon Mansfield
  • Publication number: 20130144244
    Abstract: An absorbent article such as a diaper, training pant, and the like comprises a containment member that has a central zone and a barrier zone. The central zone has greater air flow according to the Air Permeability Test than the barrier zone. The bather zone a greater hydrohead according to the Hydrostatic Head Pressure Test than the central zone. The containment member may be used for absorbent core formation and may have portions configured to serve as barrier leg cuffs for the finished absorbent article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventor: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
  • Patent number: 8449516
    Abstract: A stretchable absorbent core (10) includes a stretchable base sheet (20), and a plurality of separate and independent absorbers (30) disposed at least on one side of the base sheet (20). The absorbers (30) are fixed to the base sheet (20) through respective fixing points (33) in such a design that the shape of each absorber is not deformed upon stretch of the base sheet (20). The stretchable absorbent core (10) exhibits stretchability between the fixing points (33). It is preferable that the stretchable absorbent core (10) does not exhibit stretchability at the fixing points (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Kouta, Masashi Kawazoe, Takeshi Miyamura
  • Patent number: 8449517
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a rear waist region provided with a waist region elastic member attached thereto under tension. The waist region elastic member is formed with a plurality of slits each extending in a longitudinal direction and extending through the elastic member in a thickness direction thereof. The waist region elastic member is stretched in a transverse direction as the diaper is put on the wearer's body and thereupon the slits are opened up to form respective through-holes. A first graphics display region formed in combination with the slits includes note stems and note tails. Each of these note stems is contiguous to the associated through-holes. In the area nearer a crotch region than the first graphics display region, a second graphics display region is formed. The first and second graphics display regions cooperate to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Junko Ueda, Koichiro Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20130123737
    Abstract: To alleviate any irritation experienced by the wearer's skin and/or to restrict body waste leakage in a wearing article, a sheet lying at least in a first waist region of a chassis is joined to the chassis in first and second joined regions extending in a transverse direction and opposed to each other in a longitudinal direction. Additionally or alternatively, the sheet is joined to the chassis and a liquid-absorbent structure in a pair of longitudinal joined regions respectively extending along the side edges of the liquid-absorbent structure and opposed to each other in the transverse direction. The sheet is elastic and the chassis is non-elastic, and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kaiyo Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8439886
    Abstract: An absorbent article adapted to be worn by a user includes a main body section and an absorbent body that has an absorbent member for absorbing fluid, that has a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction, that is superposed on a face of the main body section on a user side. The absorbent body further has one end section in the longitudinal direction joined to the main body section on a first joined section, and another end section in the longitudinal direction joined to the main body section on a second joined section. A length of the absorbent body between the first joined section and the second joined section is equal to or more than a length of the main body section between the first joined section and the second joined section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Hashino, Jun Kudo, Hideyuki Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20130110075
    Abstract: A wearing article includes a chassis and an absorber main body. The wearing article has a central elastic member overlapping a non-skin surface of an absorber in the crotch region and extending along a longitudinal direction at an approximately center of a widthwise direction of the wearing article, and a back leg elastic member that curves within the crotch region from the end of a back waistline region in the widthwise direction and configures at least a part of an elastic stress line that crosses the absorber along the widthwise direction. In the elastic stress line, the elastic stress of the portion crossing the absorber is smaller than the elastic stress of the central elastic member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotomo Mukai, Takaya Arayama
  • Publication number: 20130102982
    Abstract: Provided is an underpants-type disposable diaper that is improved in a fit to a part from the intergluteal cleft to the crotch of a wearer and less prone to give a wearer a puffy and discomfort feeling at a crotch portion during wearing. In order to solve the above problem, provided is an underpants-type disposable diaper, wherein the back body part B has at an intergluteal cleft facing portion a bending fit portion 40 which is bent so as to enter into the intergluteal cleft of a wearer, the outer sheet 20 has at each of the front and back body parts F, B a lifting elastic member 26 - - - , 28 - - - which exerts a contraction force of a vertical component to lift a crotch portion toward a waist side, and a tensile stress on the front body part F undergoing vertical elastic deformation is larger than a tensile stress on the back body part B undergoing vertical elastic deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Nakano, Asami Kobori
  • Patent number: 8425485
    Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article having a composite sheet with a plurality of gathers on an inner surface facing a wearer's body, which fits and adheres comfortably to the wearer's skin. The composite sheet is provided which includes a stretchable non-woven fabric which expands and contracts in at least one direction, a non-stretchable non-woven fabric, a junction which binds intermittently the stretchable non-woven fabric to the non-stretchable non-woven fabric in the stretching direction, and a plurality of gathers which is formed by loosening a unbounded area of the non-stretchable non-woven fabric in a contracted state, and is arranged along a direction intersecting the stretching direction, in which an apex of each gather does not reach the neighboring gather when the gathers lean to one side of the stretchable direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Tsuji, Hirotomo Mukai, Kenichi Sasayama, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Kei Wakasugi
  • Patent number: 8425483
    Abstract: A double gusset cloth diaper including an inner surface and an outer surface forming an hourglass shape, having a groin area proximate a center line of the reusable diaper and defining at least one recess therebetween. A fluid absorbent material is removably located in the recess through the opening. A first gusset is attached to the reusable diaper to form a first seal between the inner surface and the legs of the user. A second gusset is attached to the reusable diaper proximate the first gusset. The gussets are formed of an elastic material attached to the wrong side of the inner surface in a channel formed by stitching the inner surface to form channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kanga Care, LLC
    Inventor: Julie Ekstrom
  • Patent number: 8425481
    Abstract: A protector for male incontinent persons includes an absorbent body (1) enclosed between an inner liquid-permeable casing sheet (3) and an outer liquid-impermeable casing sheet (2) and having a crotch end part (7) and a front end part (6) opposite to the crotch end part. The front end part is wider than the crotch end part. The lateral sides of the protector are tapering from the front part to the crotch part so that the protector has a triangular shape. The protector also includes means (8,9) affixed to the outer liquid-impermeable casing sheet for attachment to an underwear. The attachment means at least includes a string of attachment means (8,9) extending along each tapering lateral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Asa Lindstrom
  • Patent number: 8419701
    Abstract: An absorbent article may have at least one stretch zone comprising a slow recovery elastomer wherein the slow recovery elastomer exhibits a normalized unload force of greater than about 0.04 N/mm2 at 37° C.; and the slow recovery elastomer exhibits at least about 20% post elongation strain at 22° C. after 15 seconds of recovery from a 400% strain. The absorbent article may additionally comprises one or more of a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, an absorbent core, an ear, a side panel, a waist feature, a fastener component, a leg cuff, a gasketing cuff, and a barrier cuff, wherein the feature comprises at least a part of the stretch zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robin Lynn McKiernan, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Publication number: 20130090622
    Abstract: An elastic composite is provided in a disposable absorbent garment such as a diaper or training pants. The elastic composite has a base layer, a top layer, and an elastic construction disposed therebetween. The elastic construction includes a plurality of spaced apart (e.g. generally equally spaced apart) elastic elements (e.g. strands or threads) that are aligned in a generally cross machine direction and in generally parallel relation. Further, the top and base layers define a first longitudinally extending side edge and a second longitudinally extending side edge between which, the elastic construction is disposed. The elastic composite further includes an elasticized region, wherein the elastic construction is disposed, a first non-elasticized region disposed between the first side edge and the elasticized region, and a second non-elasticized region disposed between the second side edge and the elasticized region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd
    Inventors: Andrew Christopher Wright, Patrick King Yu Tsang, Anne Smid
  • Patent number: 8388594
    Abstract: A stretchable laminate, a process of making a stretchable laminate and a disposable absorbent article that includes a stretchable laminate are disclosed. The stretchable laminate includes a nonwoven web and a web of elastomeric material. The nonwoven web includes three layers of spunbond fibers and two layers of meltblown fibers. The side of the nonwoven web that includes two layers of spunbond fibers is attached to the elastomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert Haines Turner, Donald Zgoda, Walter Douglas Daniels, Jim Thomas Bader, Erika Fabiola Galvis