Elastic Type Edge Patents (Class 604/385.24)
  • Patent number: 7629501
    Abstract: A reusable diaper generally includes an inner layer configured to wick moisture from a diaper wearer's body and an outer layer configured to be substantially liquid-impervious. At least one pocket is defined generally by a space between the inner and outer layers. The at least one pocket is configured to receive at least one liquid-absorbent insert therein. The diaper also includes at least one slit in the inner layer that provides access into the space between the inner and outer layers defining the at least one pocket. At least one flap is provided that is positionable in an open configuration in which the at least one slit is exposed and allows access into the at least one pocket, and a closed configuration in which the at least one flap substantially covers the at least one slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Inventors: Jennifer Lynn Labit, James Andrew Labit
  • Publication number: 20090292269
    Abstract: An absorbent article (101) includes at least one elastic area (143). The invention, article (101) an element (131) for checking the elongation of the elastic area (143), in conjunction with which the element (131) a first indicator marker (133) connected to the elastic area (143) and a second indicator marker (134) connected to a second piece of material (135), in conjunction with which the first indicator marker (133) and the second indicator marker (134) are capable of displacement relative to one another in the direction of elongation of the elastic area (143), whereby the change in the relative position between the first and the second indicator marker 133,134) in conjunction with the elongation of the elastic area (143) from a non-elongated position provides a measure of the elongation of the elastic area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
    Inventor: Ingemar Fernfors
  • Patent number: 7621900
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disposable absorbent article incorporating a reinforcement element adjacent a crotch edge of a body panel includes moving a web of body panel material in a longitudinal machine direction, applying a plurality of reinforcement elements to an outer surface of the web and cutting the web of body panel material along the longitudinal machine direction to thereby form a rear body panel web and a front body panel web each having a terminal crotch edge and at least a portion of the reinforcement elements secured thereto. The method further includes connecting a crotch member to each of the rear and front body pane webs thereby bridging the gab between. A disposable absorbent article incorporating a reinforcement element is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Russell E. Thorson, Cynthia D. Maas, Kenneth J. Wagner, Thomas J. Vanselow
  • Publication number: 20090287177
    Abstract: In an absorbent product in which an absorbent sheet member having an opening and a back sheet are overlapped, a rear pocket is formed between a rear absorbent core of the absorbent sheet member and the back sheet, and side pockets are formed on both sides of the opening. By contracting elastic members bonded to a core covering sheet on the both sides of the opening, the core covering sheet of the absorbent sheet member and the back sheet largely stand up in each side pocket, and the rear absorbent core is raised upward. Thus, it is possible to keep the distance large in a thickness direction between the absorbent sheet member and the back sheet in the vicinity of the opening and to fit a portion around the opening of the absorbent sheet member to a wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Akiko TATSUKAWA, Hirofumi MIYAKE
  • Patent number: 7618404
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes two laterally opposing longitudinally extending backsheet strips attached to an exterior surface of an absorbent assembly in laterally opposing attachment zones. Each backsheet strip may include a water-impermeable layer and may be extensible. The absorbent assembly includes a lower covering sheet that is doubled by folding and thereby includes a first layer and a second layer. The absorbent assembly also includes laterally opposing side flaps which are formed by folding doubled portions of the lower covering sheet laterally inward. 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 side barriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Kevin Michael Smith
  • Patent number: 7608069
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a leg elastic member captured between a biaxially extensible outer cover and a biaxially extensible bodyside liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Georgia Lynn Zehner, Duane Girard Uitenbroek, John Philip Vukos
  • Patent number: 7604625
    Abstract: An integral disposable elasticized absorbent article has a front waist portion, a back waist portion, a crotch portion, a pair of spaced apart leg openings, an absorbent core member, and means for tightly fitting the absorbent body to the body of the wearer. The absorbent article has a barrier layer which comprises one or more segments overlying portions of the absorbent core member, and defining one or more retaining enclosures between the barrier layer segments and the underlying portion of the absorbent core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: First Quality Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Mordechai Turi, Michael Kauschke
  • Patent number: 7591810
    Abstract: An absorbent garment includes a front body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge and a rear body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge. The terminal crotch edge of the rear body panel is longitudinally spaced from and forms a gap with the terminal crotch edge of the front body panel. An absorbent composite bridges the gap between the front and rear body panels with first and second terminal edges overlying and connected to the front and rear body panels respectively. In one embodiment, the terminal edges of the absorbent composite are the only portion of the absorbent composite connected to the front and rear body panels. In another embodiment, the absorbent composite is further connected to the front and rear body panels at first and second attachment locations proximate a longitudinally extending centerline of the absorbent composite and longitudinally spaced from the first and second terminal edges. Methods of using the absorbent garments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Morman, James M. Carr, Yung H. Huang, Eric D. Johnson, Jennifer L. Marvin, Mary Jo Meyer, Thomas H. Roessler, Paul T. Van Gompel
  • Patent number: 7591811
    Abstract: A diaper with legs is a lower torso garment worn by a user to retain excreted waste matter. The diaper may have fasteners to close the waist and legs, or may be of the pull-on type. The diaper includes a flat sheet wrapped around the torso with legs extending from the sides of the sheet. A front waist arch and a rear waist arch are disposed at an upper portion of the edges of the sheet. The arches extend the height of the diaper in front and back. An elastic material is disposed at the waist arches, at the junction between the legs and the central portion of the diaper, and at the end of the legs. The elastic material disposed at the end of the legs and at the junction between the legs and the central portion provides double leak protection at the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventor: Lisa Diane Crislip Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20090204093
    Abstract: A garment such as a diaper, training pant, pull-up diaper, adult incontinence pant and diaper holder. The garment includes a chassis for receiving the absorbent structure. The chassis includes a first lateral margin and a second lateral margin. The first and second lateral margins are joined to a central structure along a first line of joinder and a second line of joinder, respectively, the first and second lines of joinder extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first and second lateral margins have a first end region, a second end region and a central region. The first and second lateral margins has a material which is elastically extensible in at least the longitudinal direction in the central region and elastically extensible in at least one of the first and second end regions in at least the transverse direction. A method of manufacturing a garment is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
    Inventors: Dragorad Vasic, Helena Corneliusson, Ken Olsson
  • Publication number: 20090192483
    Abstract: An initial product (10) adaptable to form a garment such as a diaper, training pant, pull-up diaper, adult incontinence pant and diaper holder. The initial product includes a chassis (14) for receiving the absorbent structure. The chassis includes a first lateral margin (20) and a second lateral margin (22). The first and second lateral margins are joined to a central structure (24) along a first line of joinder (26) and a second line of joinder (28), respectively, the first and second lines of joinder extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first and second lateral margins have a first end region (44), a second end region (46) and a central region (48). The first and second lateral margins (20, 22) comprise a material (51) which is elastically extensible in at least the longitudinal direction in the central region (48). Lateral edges (40, 42) of the lateral margins are provided by third and fourth strips (76, 78) of substantially inelastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Dragorad Vasic, Helena Corneliusson, Ken Olsson
  • Patent number: 7566330
    Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided which includes an absorber, a top sheet which is at least partially formed of a liquid permeable material disposed to cover an upper surface of the absorber, a back sheet formed of a liquid impermeable material disposed to cover a lower surface of the absorber, a skin contact sheet disposed above the top sheet and having a stool passing opening capable of passing a stool therethrough formed therein, and a urine/stool separation wall formed of a breathable water repellent sheet disposed in a space between the skin contact sheet and the top sheet so that the space is separated into a front body part side space and a back body part side space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignees: Oji Nepia Co., Ltd., Oji Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sugiyama, Kahori Suzuki, Izumi Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20090187156
    Abstract: A diaper comprising adjustable leg openings, which inhibit leakage through the leg openings. The diaper may be a pull-on type diaper or a sheet structure comprising a front waist portion and rear waist portion that attach to each other in a manner that allows the sheet structure to form a pair of leg openings and a waist opening. The diaper may comprise an elastic structure adjacent to or abutting the leg openings and the waist opening. In any variation of the diaper the periphery of the leg openings are adjustable. Furthermore, the diaper may include strips that seal the leg openings to a thigh of a person wearing the diaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Melanie K. Anzalone
  • Patent number: 7563257
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article is provided with a skin-contactable panel laid in a front half of a crotch region of the article and a liquid-impervious partition laid in a vicinity of a transverse center line of the article. The panel has transversely opposite side edges bonded to transverse opposite side portion of the article and a intermediate region defined between these side edges. The partition has an upper edge bonded to the panel, a lower edge bonded to a topsheet of the article transversely opposite side edges bonded to the side portions of the article and a middle portion defined between the upper and lower edges. The intermediate region of the panel describes an upward convex circular arc above the topsheet and the middle portion of the partition is unfolded in a thickness direction of the article so as to form a pocket-like barrier against movement of bodily wastes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kaiyo Nakajima, Yoshitaka Mishima
  • Publication number: 20090182297
    Abstract: Absorbent article for men intended for single use and having longitudinal side edges, a rear end edge and a front end edge and having an inner liquid-permeable surface layer, an outer liquid-impermeable surface layer and an absorbent body arranged therebetween. The article has an elastic element attached to the liquid-permeable surface layer along at least parts of the longitudinal side edges of the article. The elastic element is attached to the liquid-permeable surface layer along longitudinal edges lying opposite one another of the elastic element. A cut is arranged between the attachments in the form of a slit or cutout. The cut extends through a front edge of the elastic element in the direction of a rear edge, the elastic element being provided by the cut with inner edges arranged above the liquid-permeable surface layer, and a method for manufacturing such an article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
    Inventors: Hans Hedström, Ken Olsson
  • Publication number: 20090157029
    Abstract: The invention concerns an incontinence article (2) in the form of pants, for receiving body excrements, comprising a front belly section (4) and a rear back section (6) which are connected to each other at side seam areas (14) on both sides during production to form a belly and back band, which is continuous in the transverse or peripheral hip direction and has a hip opening (18) which is closed in the peripheral hip direction, and a crotch section (8) comprising an absorbent body (7) and liquid impermeable backsheet material (62), the absorbent body (7) extending in a longitudinal direction (9) between the belly section (4) and the back section (6) and is attached to the belly section (4) and the back section (6) during manufacture, wherein the crotch section (8) as well as the belly section (4) and the back section (6) define leg openings (19) of the incontinence article, wherein first elastification means (28) are provided in the belly section (4) and the back section (6), which extend at a separation from
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Fridmann Hornung, Benjamin Wenzel, Wolfgang Ostertag
  • Publication number: 20090157035
    Abstract: A process is claimed for making a composite sheet useful as topsheet with one or more openings to receive fecal material useful for an absorbent article, said composite sheet comprising a wrinkled, patterned elasticized region that comprises a patterned first sheet and an elastic material said first sheet being patterned with troughs, that are typically compacter, i.e. of higher density, prior to attachment to the elastic material. The troughs are attached to the elastic material. The resulting composite sheet has a uniform wrinkle pattern. Also claimed are specific absorbent articles. Also claimed are composite sheets with a specific residual strain and peel force value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: THE PROTECT & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventors: Ekaterina Anatolyevna Ponomarenko, Mattias Schmidt, Tina Brown, Alexander Eberhard Unger, Alexander Berk, Darrell Ian Brown, Blanca Arizti
  • Publication number: 20090157031
    Abstract: Containment flaps comprising an elastic member and a resilient member are disclosed. When employed in a disposable absorbent article, the resilient member is adapted to be disposed between the elastic member and the body surface of the wearer of the disposable absorbent article. The resilient member serves to help make the containment flaps more comfortable for the wearer, and can help the flap better conform to contours associated with the body surfaces with which the containment flap comes into contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Yung H. Huang, Russell J. Brumm, Sara Stabelfeldt, Paul T. Van Gompel
  • Publication number: 20090157036
    Abstract: A process is claimed for making a composite sheet useful for an absorbent article, the composite sheet comprising a wrinkled, patterned elasticized region that comprises a patterned first sheet and an elastic material, the first sheet being patterned with troughs, that are typically compacter, i.e. of higher density, prior to attachment to the elastic material. The troughs are attached to the elastic material. The resulting composite sheet has a uniform wrinkle pattern. Also claimed are specific absorbent articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Ekaterina Anatolyevna Ponomarenko, Mattias Schmidt, Tina Brown, Alexander Eberhard Unger, Alexander Berk, Darrell Ian Brown, Blanca Arizti
  • Publication number: 20090149827
    Abstract: A disposable incontinent underwear product can comprise areas having different stretch characteristics and thereby fit persons of varying body shape in a more comfortable and/or visually appealing manner. Additionally, in some embodiments, the different areas of stretch can aid in positioning absorbent components, such as an absorbent insert or core that is included in the undergarment to absorb body exudates. For example, a garment may feature at vertical stretch in an area above the crotch and below the waist while featuring horizontal stretch at the hip areas at its front and back sides. As another example, a garment may feature horizontal stretch across the front of the garment and vertical stretch across the back of the garment in areas above the crotch and below the waist. In some embodiments, the crotch also features horizontal, vertical, or biaxial stretch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Andrew Mlinar, Wendy L. Hamilton, Julie A. Paveletzke, Mary F. Kutchenriter
  • Publication number: 20090149828
    Abstract: An absorbent article can utilize a chassis design comprising a unitary inner layer and an expandable absorbent assembly attached to the inner layer, with the inner layer including elasticized portions so that the absorbent article conforms to the body of a person wearing the article. The expandable absorbent assembly can be minimally attached to the garment side of the inner layer and, in some embodiments at an aperture or opening in the inner layer that allows exudates to pass into the absorbent assembly. The article can further comprise an extensible outer layer attached to the garment side of the inner layer so that the outer layer covers the absorbent assembly and elastics, with the outer layer attached at the perimeter of at least portions of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Lu Ann Beckman, Paul VanGompel
  • Patent number: 7540862
    Abstract: Starting from an elastic material web and an absorbent product web, the method includes removing a first material piece from the elastic material web to provide a second material piece with an aperture and applying the first piece to a first portion of the absorbent product web. The second piece is supplied to a second application station and a section of the second piece is stretched and applied to a second portion of the absorbent product web. In this way an absorbent product with elastic waist portions is manufactured efficiently and with a minimum of waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Ken Olsson, Marie Johansson, Helena Corneliusson, Robert Kling
  • Publication number: 20090124992
    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: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: DSG Technology Holdings, Ltd
    Inventors: Andrew Christopher Wright, Kuo-Shu Edward Chang, Patrick King Yu Tsang, Anne Smid
  • Patent number: 7530972
    Abstract: The absorbent article has an outer sheet that provides an outer surface of the absorbent article, an inner sheet disposed on the inner side of the outer sheet, and elastic members for making below-waist gathers disposed between the two sheets. A patterned sheet is disposed between the outer and inner sheets such that the pattern of the patterned sheet may be seen through the outer sheet from the outside of the diaper. The elastic members for below-waist gathers each have a portion contributory to elastic extensibility and contractibility in the regions outside the lateral sides of the patterned sheet and a portion substantially non-contributory to elastic extensibility and contractibility in the region inside the lateral sides of the patterned sheet. The latter portion of the elastic member is disposed between the patterned sheet and the inner sheet and preferably is kept out of sight from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: KAO Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Ando, Takuo Yanashima
  • Patent number: 7527615
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonwoven web comprising a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions comprised of the same material and being visually distinct from each other, wherein the first regions will exhibit resistive forces in response to an applied elongation along at least one axis before a substantial portion of the second regions develop significant resistive forces to the applied elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, David Joseph Kenneth Goulait, Sheila Snyder Rodriguez, Edward Paul Carlin, Kimberly Ann Dreier, Carolyn Mae Jasper, Dean Jeffrey Daniels
  • Publication number: 20090105677
    Abstract: In a disposable absorbent article such as a disposable diaper including fastener elements by means of which front and rear waist regions are releasably connected with each other, the fastener elements are not affected by contraction of elastic members arranged in these waist regions. In this absorbent article, the front waist region and/or the rear waist region is or are divided into an elasticized intermediate zone provided with the elastic members and inelasticized transversely opposite side edge zones contigious to transversely opposite side edges of the intermediate zone. The fastener elements are provided in the transversely opposite side edge zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshifumi OTSUBO, Hiroki YAMAMOTO, Tomoko SUGITO
  • Patent number: 7511186
    Abstract: An absorbent article such as a disposable diaper is provided with an indicator adapted to become visible as soon as bodily fluid is discharged. The indicator includes a composite nonwoven fabric composed of a hydrophilic melt blown nonwoven fabric layer and a hydrophilic spun bond nonwoven fabric layer on which a display element is depicted and laminated on one surface of the hydrophilic melt blown nonwoven fabric layer. A first surface of the composite nonwoven fabric facing an absorbent core of the diaper is held together with the display element and a second surface of the composite nonwoven fabric facing a backsheet of the diaper is held in close contact with the inner surface of the backsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kyo Kikuchi, Yoshitaka Mishima
  • Publication number: 20090069773
    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 middle longitudinally outboard distance is greater than the front end longitudinally outboard distance and greater than the back end longitudinally outboard distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew James Sauer, Michael Dale Trennepohl
  • Publication number: 20090069774
    Abstract: A pant-type 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 and a back end. 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 front end longitudinally outboard distance is about equal to the back end longitudinally outboard distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew James Sauer, Michael Dale Trennepohl
  • Publication number: 20090069778
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes an embodiment wherein a disposable wearable absorbent article comprises an absorbent core and a side with a side anchoring subsystem. The side anchoring subsystem is configured to indirectly anchor the absorbent core to a wearer of the article. The side includes a first portion, in which substantially all of the side anchoring subsystem is integral with the side, and a second portion, outside of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew James Sauer, Michael Dale Trennepohl
  • Publication number: 20090069775
    Abstract: A pant-type 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 greater than the middle longitudinally outboard distance, which is greater than the back end longitudinally outboard distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew James Sauer, Michael Dale Trennepohl
  • Publication number: 20090062763
    Abstract: Various garments are disclosed which include a body adhesive for attaching the garment to the skin of a wearer. More particularly, the garment can include at least one extensible portion. An adhesive member comprising an adhesive layer and a cover member may be positioned over the extensible portion. The cover member may completely cover the adhesive layer when the extensible portion is in a relaxed condition. When the extensible portion is stretched, however, the cover member may define openings that expose the adhesive layer for adhering the adhesive to a wearer. The garment may comprise, for instance, a diaper, a training pant, a swim pant, a hospital gown, an industrial garment, a glove, a feminine hygiene product, an adult incontinence product, and the like. The adhesive member can be positioned over any suitable extensible portion on the garment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Janis Wilson Hughes, Wing-Chak Ng, Debra Jean McDowall
  • Publication number: 20090054862
    Abstract: An absorbent product (1) has a sheet-like main body part (2) and a pair of side wall parts (3) provided on both sides in a width direction of the main body part (2). Each side wall part (3) has a standing part (312) standing from the main body part (2) toward wearer, a plane part (313) spreading outward in the width direction from an upper end (3121) of the standing part (312), and two elastic members (32a, 32b) extended in a longitudinal direction and bonded to the plane part (313). In each side wall part (3), since the plane part (313) is thicker than the standing part (312), it is possible to improve stability of the shape of the plane part (313) and enhance fitting of the plane part (313) to the wearer. Consequently, leakage of excrement from the side wall parts (3) is prevented more reliably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Akiko Tatsukawa
  • Publication number: 20090036852
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article capable of preventing loosening and slipping off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Japan Absorbent Technology Institute
    Inventors: Migaku Suzuki, Reiko Moriya
  • Publication number: 20090030394
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an interlabial pad which is attached between female labia, especially to the pad which can be used together with the sanitary napkin, which has a good sealing efficiency with the labia deepest portion when the user moves and can prevent the chance that the leak of the menstrual blood or the dropping off of the pad is occurred. Further the interlabial pad comprises the absorbing sheet portion facing to the body side upon wearing the pad and the support sheet portion backing the absorbing sheet portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Koichi Yamaki, Yuki Noda
  • Publication number: 20090005751
    Abstract: To prevent a paper diaper reliably from slipping down at a body liquid absorbing time, and to bring the paper diaper into close contact along the line of a body thereby to improve the wearing comfortableness. An armoring sheet includes: waist portion elastic members, and so on; hip surrounding elastic member groups, and so on arranged at the front F and the back B; and a plurality of curved elastic member groups extending, at each of the front F and the back B, from one side jointing edge to the crotch side, reaching the other side jointing edge while bypassing the crotch side, and arranged at a spacing without intersecting with each other. The curved elastic member groups have their starting/trailing ends connected at a predetermined spacing substantially over the range from the upper portion to the lower portion of the side portion jointing edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Atsuko Shirai, Akira Kamori, Masamichi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20080312632
    Abstract: An absorbent article (101) includes at least one elastic area (143). The invention, article (101) an element (131) for checking the elongation of the elastic area (143), in conjunction with which the element (131) a first indicator marker (133) connected to the elastic area (143) and a second indicator marker (134) connected to a second piece of material (135), in conjunction with which the first indicator marker (133) and the second indicator marker (134) are capable of displacement relative to one another in the direction of elongation of the elastic area (143), whereby the change in the relative position between the first and the second indicator marker 133,134) in conjunction with the elongation of the elastic area (143) from a non-elongated position provides a measure of the elongation of the elastic area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
    Inventor: Ingemar Fernfors
  • Publication number: 20080312626
    Abstract: A disposable diaper comprising a liquid permeable topsheet 2, a liquid impermeable backsheet 3, and a liquid retentive absorbent member 4 and having a substantially oblong shape, the absorbent member 4 in the crotch portion having a middle absorbent portion 42 which occupies the middle 3/7 of the width of the absorbent member 4 and side absorbent portions 43 which each occupy the outermost 1/7 of the width of the absorbent member 4, wherein each side absorbent portion 43 has a larger unit absorption capacity than the middle absorbent portion 42, hydrophobic sheets 3 and 21 are disposed on the lateral outer edge of each side absorbent portion 43 to cover from the upper to lower surfaces of the edge, and an elastic member 71 is disposed in the part having each side absorbent portion 43 in the longitudinal direction of the side absorbent portion 43.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Takao KOYAMA, Hidekazu Ito, Hiroshi Inada, Takahiro Arimura
  • Patent number: 7462172
    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: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Christopher Wright, Kuo-Shu Edward Chang, Patrick King Yu Tsang, Anne Smid
  • Publication number: 20080294137
    Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a diaper, an incontinence guard or similar, has a front region a rear region and a crotch region located between the front and rear regions. The article includes a central portion with two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges and side panels located in the rear region of the article, placed along the longitudinal edges of the central portion. Each side panel includes a rear portion and a front portion which extend in the transverse direction from the central portion, and the front portion is located at the longitudinal edge of the central portion at a first distance from the transverse edge in the rear region. The rear portion is elastic and the front portion is substantially non-elastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
    Inventor: Filip Jansson
  • Publication number: 20080287900
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an absorbent article to be worn by a wearer comprising a skin-contacting sheet such as a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core and a colored hydrophilic lotion, that not only helps to reduce the adherence of the menses or feces to the skin, thereby improving the ease of menses or bowl movement (BM) clean up, but that also may serve as a wetness indicator. Absorbent articles may be infant (baby) diapers, including training pants, adult incontinence articles and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Thornton, Cornelia Beate Martynus, Ekaterina Anatolyevna Ponomarenko, Victor Nicholas Vega, Brandon Ellis Wise, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Publication number: 20080281286
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a composite web for use in a disposable product, the process comprising the steps of: a) providing a continuous web of material; b) creating in the web a longitudinally repeating pattern of windows; and c) attaching at least one strip to the web, said strip at least partially covering the windows and having different functional characteristics than the web. The present invention also relates to a composite web formed in accordance with this process and to panels obtainable by cutting said web in cross direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventor: Johann F. Petersen
  • Patent number: 7449014
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article is provided with leg elastic elements. The leg elastic elements include first leg elastic elements extending from transversely opposite margins of a front waist region to a front half of a crotch region and second leg elastic elements extending from transversely opposite margins of a rear waist region toward a rear half of the crotch region across a rear half of the crotch region. The first elastic elements extend generally in a transverse direction while the second elastic elements extend in a direction orthogonal to a transverse center line in such a manner that these elastic elements get nearer to a longitudinal center line as these elastic element extend from the rear waist region toward the crotch region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Oba, Takanori Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7449015
    Abstract: A pants-type disposable wearing article includes leg-circumferential first elastic members attached to crotch region's lateral margins of an outer sheet and waist-circumferential second elastic members attached to waist regions' upper margins of the outer sheet. The elastic members are joined to the sheet while the sheet and the second elastic members are stretched at given extension ratios, respectively, in a transverse direction and the first elastic members is stretched at a given extension ratio in the leg-circumferential direction so that the sheet and the first elastic members may have substantially the same leg-circumferential dimensions after these sheet and first elastic members have been relaxed and the sheet and the second elastic members may have substantially the same transverse dimensions after these sheet and second elastic members have been relaxed. In addition, the waist regions' upper margins and the crotch region's lateral margins are substantially planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Shunsuke Takino
  • Publication number: 20080275412
    Abstract: An article, including disposable articles and durable articles, includes one or more shaped thermoplastic members, which can be at least partially impregnated into one or more fibrous substrates forming a composite material of the article having regions of breathability, elasticity, and/or stiffening to provide desired functions of the article. The shaped thermoplastic members have a profiled thickness and/or basis weight providing variation in material properties. A percent variation of the profiled thickness of the thermoplastic member can vary from about 5% to about 95%. A process for manufacturing the composite material of the present invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: John C. Molander, David A. Wallack, Joseph H. Lam, Fred N. Desai, Urmish P. Dalal, Mark J. Kline
  • Patent number: 7442188
    Abstract: An elongate elastic member is secured to a substrate to form an elastic composite. The elastic member extends along an elastic axis between a first location on the substrate and a second location on the substrate spaced longitudinally from the first location. At least a portion of the elastic axis is generally non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the substrate. The elastic member crosses its elastic axis at least twice as it extends along the elastic axis, with the elastic member crossing itself at least once as it extends along the elastic axis. In another embodiment, the elastic member generally forms a wave pattern which defines a width of the securement path and has at least two different periods along the securement path. In yet another embodiment, the elastic member defines a continuous series of loops wherein each loop defines a closed portion having a generally tear-drop shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent A. Franklin, Valerie V. Finch, Robin K. Nason
  • Publication number: 20080221545
    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: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sachiyo Suzuki, Yoshitaka Mishima
  • Patent number: 7419480
    Abstract: A disposable diaper has a pair of barrier cuffs. Each of the barrier cuffs includes inner and outer sheet strips provided separately of each other. The first and second sheet strips include bottom side edges fixed to the inner surface of the diaper and top side edges left free from the inner surface. The bottom side edge of the first sheet strip is inwardly spaced from the bottom side edge of the second sheet strip. The first and second sheet strips are locally bonded to each other in a part of the overlapping area of these sheet strips. One of the first and second sheet strips has its top side edge spaced from the top side edge of the other sheet strip and is provided with an elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kaori Furuya, Hironao Minato
  • Publication number: 20080195071
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an absorbent article having a backsheet, an absorbent core and cuffs and/or a topsheet, the topsheet being provided with at least one opening adapted to receive fecal material, the cuffs or topsheet comprising a nonwoven sheet material, comprising typically at least two nonwoven layers, the layers being typically only partially attached to one another and each comprising typically two or more nonwoven webs that are laminated together, whereof the skin-contacting nonwoven layer or web has a specific low bending rigidity, whilst the nonwoven sheet as a whole has a very high barrier function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ekaterina Anatolyevna Ponomarenko, Brandon Ellis Wise
  • Patent number: 7410479
    Abstract: An absorbent article body part includes a liquid permeable surface side sheet, a liquid impermeable back face side sheet, and an absorbent body, positioned between the sheets, and having flap parts, extending outward to the respective sides of the absorbent body, and is formed by layering an outer layer sheet onto the back face side of the main absorbent article body part. At the outer layer sheet, first and second leg part elastic bodies are positioned with sides at one end being set along leg parts from parts of a dorsal waist part at one side and the other side, intermediate parts crossing a crotch part obliquely, and the sides at the other end being set along the leg parts at parts of a ventral waist part at the other side and the one side. Third leg part elastic bodies are positioned along the longitudinal direction at the flap parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Hakujuji Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Hoshino, Fumiko Aoki