Leg Opening Patents (Class 604/385.25)
  • Patent number: 11998430
    Abstract: An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. The benefits of the absorbent article are achieved, in part, by a body facing material having features that help minimize contact of body exudates with the wearer's skin while also being constructed so that the body facing material does not stick to the wearer's skin in use. The body facing material includes a plurality of hollow projections, a plurality of apertures and bonded areas. The bonded areas may be formed with adhesive or by mechanical bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Beitz, Stacy E. Evenson, Andrew T. Hammond, Sarah Kleuskens, Patrick D. Abney
  • Patent number: 11944523
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles comprising belts comprising one or more pluralities of tightly spaced (less than 4 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 2 mm, and less than 1 mm) and/or low decitex (less than 300, less than 200, less than 100 dtex) and/or low strain (less than 300%, less than 200%, less than 100%) elastics to deliver low pressure less than 1 psi (according to the conditions defined by the Pressure-Under-Strand Test in the Method below) under the elastics, while providing adequate modulus of (between about 2 gf/mm and 15 gf/mm), resulting in a Donning-Ratio from about 1.0 and about 3 to make the article easy to apply and to comfortably maintain the article in place on the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Bret Darren Seitz, Uwe Schneider, Sarah Marie Wade, Joseph Allen Eckstein
  • Patent number: 11497263
    Abstract: Garments comprise a plurality of adhesive bonds within a bonded region of the garment; a garment base that defines a garment lateral edge; and a moisture capture assembly bonded to the garment base within the bonded region. The moisture capture assembly comprises a moisture retention portion configured to absorb and retain moisture; and an anti-leak portion configured to restrict moisture from exiting the moisture retention portion. The bonded region extends fully around a perimeter of the moisture capture assembly, and the moisture capture assembly and the bonded region do not extend to the garment lateral edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Knix Wear Inc.
    Inventors: Lyne Deshaies, Talia Greenberg, Joanna Griffiths, Steven Hudson, Jeremy Jiang, Julie Power, Linda Kritikos
  • Patent number: 11123234
    Abstract: A folded absorbent article with an absorbent core having at least two core layers located between a topsheet and a backsheet is provided. The width of a transition between front and intermediate portions of the core is narrower than a width of the rest of the core. A first end portion of the article is folded about a fold line that coincides with or is adjacent the narrow portion of the core. A second end portion of the article is folded about a second and rear transversal fold line. The first end portion may be folded onto a central area and the second end portion may then be folded onto the first end portion, or the second end portion may be folded onto the central area and the first end portion may then be folded onto the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Kent Vartiainen, David Lindqvist
  • Patent number: 10993851
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles comprising belts comprising one or more pluralities of tightly spaced (less than 4 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 2 mm, and less than 1 mm) and/or low decitex (less than 300, less than 200, less than 100 dtex) and/or low strain (less than 300%, less than 200%, less than 100%) elastics to deliver low pressure less than 1 psi (according to the conditions defined by the Pressure-Under-Strand Test in the Method below) under the elastics, while providing adequate modulus of (between about 2 gf/mm and 15 gf/mm), resulting in a Product Hip-to-Waist Silhouette from about 0.8 to about 1.1 and a Product Waist-to-Crotch Silhouette from about 0.8 to about 2.0 to provide for the advantages described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Bret Darren Seitz, Uwe Schneider, Sarah Marie Wade, Joseph Allen Eckstein
  • Patent number: 10555842
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to improve a fit to the lower part of a gluteal region. The foregoing issue is solved by an underpants-type disposable diaper in which an outer body is formed by stacking an elastic sheet layer between a first sheet layer and a second sheet layer, when the elastic sheet layer is extended in a width direction, the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are joined together directly or indirectly at a large number of dot-like joint portions arranged at intervals left in the width-direction and front-back direction, cover parts of the outer body of a back body have peripheral edge regions and surrounded regions surrounded by the peripheral edge regions, and the arrangement density of the dot-like joint portions in the peripheral edge regions is higher than the arrangement density of the dot-like joint portions in the surrounded regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 10543130
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article may include a chassis that includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and a leg gasketing system. The leg gasketing system may include an inner cuff and an outer cuff; the inner cuff may include an inner cuff folded edge and an inner cuff material edge and the outer cuff may include an outer cuff folded edge and an outer cuff material edge such that the web of material is folded laterally inward to form the outer cuff folded edge and folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff folded edge. The disposable absorbent article also includes at least one channel in the absorbent core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Abhishek Prakash Surushe, Cornelia Beate Martynus, Donald Carroll Roe, Ernesto Gabriel Bianchi, Bruno Johannes Ehrnsperger
  • Patent number: 10117792
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a chassis having a substantially rectangular shape a first portion, a second portion and a crotch portion extending between the first and second portion, a portion of the chassis being configured to absorb fluids. The absorbent article includes a first securement portion operatively coupled to the first portion of the chassis. The absorbent article includes a second securement portion operatively coupled to the second portion of the chassis and configured to releasably attach to the first securement portion. The chassis is configured to include one of a first chassis length or a second chassis length. When the chassis includes the first length, the chassis includes a first width and the first securement portion includes a second width, and when the chassis includes the second length, the chassis includes the first width and the first securement portion includes a third width, greater than the second width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Nelson, William Rovero, Daniel B. Love
  • Patent number: 9844478
    Abstract: A pull-on wearable article includes a main portion including an outer cover, the main portion defining a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region extending between and connecting the front and rear waist regions. First and second extendable side panels extend between and connect the main portion front waist region and the main portion rear waist region to form the article in a closed waist configuration, at least a portion of each side panel being extendable between a relaxed state and an extended state. The article defines first and second side regions, each side region including one of the first and second side panels and a transverse region of the main portion bordering the respective side panel. An informational image is disposed in at least the first side region. The article may further include a texture feature formed in an outer surface of the article and positioned proximate to the informational image to form a composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Melanie D Allen, Kathleen Quinlan Ames-Ooten, Mark John Ciesko, Barry Robert Fiest, Eiro Fukkuda, George Bartol Glackin
  • Patent number: 9603754
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has a central body defining a first waist end region including a first end edge, a second waist end region spaced longitudinally from the first waist end region and including a second end edge, and a crotch region positioned therebetween. An absorbent core is situated between the end edges, and includes a plurality of elastics incorporated therewith such that the core is substantially laterally contracted in a narrowed region about the elastics. The absorbent core includes at least one end region that is substantially non-elasticized and has a lateral width substantially wider than that of the narrowed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick King Yu Tsang, Anne Smid, Andrew C. Wright, Eugenio G. Varona
  • Patent number: 9273419
    Abstract: A liquid acquisition material for use in an absorbent article. The liquid acquisition material having first fibers and second fibers. The first fibers are chemically cross-linked cellulose fibers and the second fibers are selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, rayon, lyocell, and mixtures thereof. The liquid acquisition material has a total dry weight, the first fibers have a first dry weight, and the second fibers have a second dry weight. The first dry weight is from 30 to 95 percent of the total dry weight and the second dry weight is from 5 to 70 percent of the total dry weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Paschalia Makavou-Jennen
  • Patent number: 9186279
    Abstract: A disposable diaper includes: a main body having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable outer sheet an absorber provided between the topsheet and the outer sheet, and a gather. The gather includes a plurality of elastic members arranged in a width direction outboard of the absorber. The elastic members are fixed to the gather in a state where the elastic members are stretched in a longitudinal direction. A side flap is located in one of end portions of the main body in the longitudinal direction and projects outwardly beyond at least one of end portions of the main body in the width direction. A joint portion joins the side flap and the main body. In a spread-out state of the disposable diaper, an outermost elastic member among the elastic members is arranged outboard of the joint portion in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Sakaguchi, Tomomi Oku, Hideki Matsushima
  • Patent number: 9125769
    Abstract: An absorbent article that includes an absorber capable of absorbing a body fluid of a user, a liquid-permeable sheet covering one surface of the absorber and allowing a body fluid of the user to pass through, and a liquid-impermeable sheet covering another surface of the absorber and disallowing a body fluid of the user to pass through, wherein the color of the liquid-permeable sheet has an L* value of 88 or more, an a* value of 0 to 0.3 and a b* value of ?8 to 0 in the L*a*b* color system, and the color of the absorber has a b* value of 1 to 5 and an L* value of 93 or more in the L*a*b* color system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Uda, Toru Oba, Satoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9056029
    Abstract: A disposable pull-on wearing article including a pant-shaped chassis and an absorbent panel. A pull-on wearing article includes a pants-shaped chassis and an absorbent panel. The chassis has a front portion including a front waist region and part of a crotch region and a rear portion including a rear waist region and part of the crotch region. The front portion has a plurality of front waist elastics extending in a width direction and the rear portion has a plurality of rear waist elastics extending in the width direction. A bottom elastic of the front waist elastics and a bottom elastic of the rear waist elastics are in a stretched state in front peripheral edge portion and rear peripheral edge portion of respective leg-openings and in a relaxed state in a portion of the crotch region defined between a pair of the leg-openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Mishima, Kunihiko Katsuragawa
  • Patent number: 9033946
    Abstract: The present invention provide with a diaper sheath comprising: an inner and outer panel, each of said inner and outer panels having front and back portion connected by an intermediate portion, said front portion of the inner panel having an opening; and a front flap attached to said front portion of said inner panel, and said opening is covered by said front flap. The diaper of the present invention is much easier and convenient to adjust the insert from the opening at the front portion. With the flap at the front portion, parents can choose to use a biodegradable pad to insert in the flap and lay on the top of the inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: PURE PRECISION LIMITED
    Inventor: Gaëlle Tournier
  • Patent number: 9023005
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article having at least one barrier at least one barrier extending along at least a longitudinal side of the crotch portion having a proximal end being connected to the remains of the article and a distal end forming a longitudinally extending free edge. At least one of the front and rear portion have a side portion extending transversely outwardly of the proximal end of the barrier to a side portion end for fastening to the other of the front and rear portion, so as to form a closed position of the article defining a leg opening. A connecting member connects the barrier with the side portion, and extends between a first connection where the connection member is connected to the barrier and a second connection where the connection member is connected to the side portion, such that when the side portion is subject to a traction force, the traction force will be at least partially transferred to the barrier via the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Dragorad Vasic
  • Publication number: 20150119841
    Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a skin-surface side sheet; a non-skin surface side sheet; an absorber; and a waistline retaining unit. Leg stretching units are arranged in the inner side in a longitudinal direction from diaper ends that configure the outer circumference of the disposable diaper or the inner side in a widthwise direction from the diaper ends. A part of the waistline retaining unit is arranged in at least one of a first region in an outer side in the longitudinal direction from the ends of the leg stretching units, and a second region in an outer side in the widthwise direction from the ends of the leg stretching units. A joint region where the skin-surface side and non-skin surface side sheets are joined is provided along the diaper ends in at least one of a first region and a second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Satoru Sakaguchi, Yasuhiro Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8998872
    Abstract: In a crotch region in the disclosed absorbent article, a waist elastic member provided in a front waist region, and waist elastic members provided in a rear waist region are arranged so as to not come into contact with each other, and a linear identification part is provided in either the front waist region or the rear waist region, in a manner such that in a first region wherein an absorbent main body is provided the identification part is only visible from the side of the absorbent article which is not in contact with the skin, and in a second region wherein the absorbent main body is not provided the identification part is visible from both the side of the absorbent article which is in contact with the skin and that which is not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotomo Mukai, Yoshihisa Watabe
  • Patent number: 8986276
    Abstract: In a disposable wearing article, front and rear waist elastics are attached between respective outer and inner sheets. An absorbent structure and leg-cuffs are attached to an inner side of the inner sheet. Lateral proximal portions of the respective leg cuffs are bonded between the absorbent structure and the inner sheet and lateral distal portions of the respective leg cuffs extend outwardly in a transverse direction beyond the absorbent structure and are not bonded to the inner sheet. These lateral distal portions are provided with a plurality of cuff elastics. Front and rear waist regions respectively include first through third sub-regions which are adjacent one to another in this order and the respective sub-regions are provided with first through third waist elastics. A tensile stress in the first and third sub-regions is higher than that in the second sub-region and the cuff elastics extend to at least the second sub-region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Kawakami, Shoshi Kosaka
  • Patent number: 8978163
    Abstract: A pant-type wearing article configured so as to facilitate fastener members attached to inelastic regions defined in lateral zones of the wearing article to be handled. The pant-type wearing article includes front fastener members attached to transversely opposite lateral zones of a front waist region that are detachably engaged with rear fastener members attached to transversely opposite lateral zones of a rear waist region so as to form a pant-shaped wearing article. In the lateral zones, elastic members extending under tension in a circumferential direction across the waist regions are cut at a plurality of locations so as to form first front inelastic regions and first rear inelastic regions. The front fastener members and the rear fastener members are respectively attached to the first front inelastic regions and the first rear inelastic regions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Yasuhiko Kenmochi
  • Patent number: 8968264
    Abstract: A diaper assembly 2 includes a diaper garment 10 and a fluid absorbent pad 60. The diaper garment 10 has an outer shell 12 from which a sling 20 is suspended. The sling 20 is fluid resistant and has front and rear pockets 34, 36 into which opposite ends of the fluid absorbent pad 60 can be inserted. The front pocket 34 is formed by fluid resistant shield 50 that is surrounded on three sides by gussets 40, 42 that are more skin friendly than the shield 50. Multilayer pads 60 can be carried by the sling 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Tailored Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Fredrica V. Coates
  • Patent number: 8961488
    Abstract: A wearing article has a chassis and leg elastic members of a flat band shape that are attached to the chassis along leg side edges thereof. The chassis has regions each of which overlaps one of the leg elastic members and includes at least one series of depressions extending along the respective leg side edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Mariko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8961484
    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: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kanga Care LLC
    Inventor: Julie Ekstrom
  • Patent number: 8951239
    Abstract: A disposable diaper has an absorbent body, an outer covering sheet and two end holding sheets, and both end portions of the absorbent body are fixed between the end holding sheets and the outer covering sheet. Since a turndown portion of an upper end portion of the end holding sheet is bonded on an upper end portion of a first covering sheet, a waist covering portion has structure where the first covering sheet is laminated on the two-layered end holding sheet. Therefore, a thickness of the outer covering sheet can be reduced, while maintaining strength of the waist covering portion by appropriately selecting material of the end holding sheet, thereby to easily improve softness of the disposable diaper. Since an upper end of a second covering sheet is positioned below the turndown portion, softness and breathability in an area between the turndown portion and the second covering sheet is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakaoka, Yuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8945078
    Abstract: A wearing article having a chassis bent in a crotch region. A diaper is folded along an imaginary lateral center line so that front and rear waist regions are in contact with each other and so that front and rear upper end edges in the regions substantially have the same level with each other. In such a folded state, first folds extending in the longitudinal direction are defined in portions of gasket cuffs which are biased toward the front waist region relative to the imaginary lateral center line. The first folds are defined along lateral edges of core of a liquid absorbent structure, and the gasket cuffs being located outboard of the lateral edges are folded along the first folds onto a garment-facing side of an outer sheet. Second folds which extend in the longitudinal direction are formed in containment cuffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Takino
  • Patent number: 8939957
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article may include a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a leg gasketing system. The leg gasketing system may include an inner cuff and an outer cuff; the inner cuff may include an inner cuff folded edge and an inner cuff material edge and the outer cuff may include an outer cuff folded edge and an outer cuff material edge such that the web of material is folded laterally inward to form the outer cuff folded edge and folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff material edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Lisa Jane Goodlander, Lisa Maria Grinkemeyer, Jessica Lee Mosman, Jason Edward Naylor, LeAnne Nichole Phillips
  • Patent number: 8915899
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a body side liner, a back sheet, an absorbent body positioned between the body side liner and the back sheet, and a body conforming structure positioned in direct facing relation with the body side liner. The body conforming structure length is at least 50% the absorbent body length and is aligned with a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article. The median anterior portion width of the body conforming structure is greater than the median central portion width of the body conforming structure which is greater than the median posterior portion width of the body conforming structure. The anterior portion includes a well, the central portion includes a channel, and the posterior portion includes a taper. The well transitions into the channel via a first convex transition and a concave transition. The channel transitions into the taper via a second convex transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jessica Annette Ives Dieringer, Cheri Lee Paul
  • Publication number: 20140371704
    Abstract: An absorbent sanitary product wearable as a pant-like garment includes a central body including an absorbent portion defining a crotch portion of the product and two side panels extending laterally from the opposite ends the central body to define respective portions of the waist line of the product so that a pair of complementary side panels is provided at each side of the central body. Each side panel has a distal edge connected to a distal edge of the complementary side panel via a refastenable hook-and-loop closure including complementary hook and loop elements. In each pair of complementary side panels one panel carries at its surface facing inwardly of the product either of the hook and loop elements of the hook-and-loop closure. The other panel has its distal edge folded over itself inwardly of the product to form an end loop portion and a marginal rim sandwiched between the two complementary side panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gabriele SABLONE, Giacomo DE LAURETIS
  • Publication number: 20140343526
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a nonwoven web with multicomponent fibers having at least a first and a second component which differ from each other in color. The nonwoven web is pattern bonded to obtain bonded areas have a different color versus the unbonded areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: James Terry Knapmeyer, Dark Saevecke, Han Xu, Amy Eichstadt Waun, J. Michael Bills, Mike P. Purdon, Olaf Erik Alexander Isele, Joerg Endres
  • Publication number: 20140332436
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article adapted to restrict a possibility that the article might become locally bulky and a packaged assembly of such disposable wearing articles. A diaper (1) has front and rear waist panels (20, 30) defining front and rear waist regions (2, 3), respectively, and an intermediate panel (40) defining parts of the front and rear waist regions and a crotch region (4). The diaper (1) is folded on itself substantially in a flat condition so that inner sheets (24, 34) of the front and rear waist panels (20, 30) may face each other, respectively, and an inner sheet of the intermediate panel (40) may face itself. Specifically, the diaper (1) is folded on itself along a first fold line (81) at least partially corresponding to an imaginary transverse center line (Q-Q).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasayama, Makoto Ichikawa, Kunihiko Katsuragawa, Kazuo Ukegawa
  • Publication number: 20140316365
    Abstract: A secondary internal topsheet and leg wrap structure is provided in a disposable absorbent garment such as a diaper or training pants. The leg wrap structure has a base layer, a top layer, and an elastic construction disposed inbetween. The elastic construction includes a plurality of spaced apart elastic elements that are aligned in a generally in generally parallel relation. The leg wrap structure and secondary topsheet provides for the efficient formation of a reservoir and a plurality of fluid dams each capable of capturing a quantity of fluid to minimize the occurrence of fluid leaks from the absorbent article. Methods of forming such absorbent articles are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Patrick King Yu Tsang, Andrew Wright, Ian Walker, Edward Kuo-Shu Chang
  • Publication number: 20140316364
    Abstract: A fastening tape 100 of a disposable diaper 10 has a base sheet 120 configured by a nonwoven fabric, and a hook sheet 110 in which a plurality of engagement hooks are provided. The KES flexural rigidity value of the entire fastening tape existent region SA L L in which the fastening tape 100 is provided, in a longitudinal direction DL of the absorbent main body, is 11.755 gf.cm2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Sakaguchi, Yasuhiro Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8864734
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable pants-type wearing article free from possibility that upper regions of the leg-openings' peripheral edges might be formed with frills even when the belt-like leg elastic members contract along the peripheral edges of the respective leg-openings. Belt-like leg elastic members in a disposable pants-type diaper each has inner and outer surfaces at least one of which is bonded to sheet-like members included in put flat and joined together regions and a crotch region of the diaper. The belt-like leg elastic members extend from the respective put flat and joined regions along leg-openings' peripheral edges. Over ranges in which the belt-like leg elastic members extend along the respective peripheral edges the sheet-like members also extend along the peripheral edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Mariko Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20140276503
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent undergarment is disclosed. It includes an absorbent assembly comprising a core formed of a synthetic tow or of synthetic nonwoven layers and having first section comprising a slow acting but high absorption capacity SAP and a second section comprising a fast acting but lower absorption capacity SAP, all of which is wrapped in a wrapper to hold the SAP in place. The absorbent assembly may be quilted and corrugated. The undergarment also includes releasably securable fasteners to enable it to be readily removed and a suspension system to ensure that the garment fits properly and doesn't leak even when holding a large amount of exudate. Odor removal/masking and treatment features may be provided. It addition the undergarment may include a wetness indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Donald A. Sheldon, Joseph Howard, William Terenzoni
  • Patent number: 8834437
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment can include a waistband assembly that is configured to be worn about a waist of a subject, and an absorbent panel assembly having first and second ends that are coupled to the waistband assembly. The absorbent panel assembly can include a liquid-pervious body-side layer, a liquid impervious external layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the body-side and external layers. At least one of the absorbent panel assembly or the waistband assembly includes a contraction region, such as near the absorbent core, that is configured to be extensible and retractable along a longitudinal axis of the absorbent core. The longitudinal axis can be substantially parallel to a vertical or height axis of a wearer when the absorbent garment is worn by an upright or standing individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National Presto Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo Borrero, Michael Wayne Harris
  • Patent number: 8821468
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disposable absorbent incontinence diaper (2) of the open type, having a main part (4), comprising a front region (6) having front lateral longitudinal edges (42), a rear region (8) having rear lateral longitudinal edges (41) and a crotch region (10) that is located in between in the longitudinal direction (28) and comes to lie between the legs of a user, wherein the main part (4) comprises an absorbent pad (12), and having rear side portions (20) that are attached to the rear region (8) on both sides and front side portions (22) that are attached to the front region (6) on both sides, said rear and front side portions extending in the transverse direction (30) beyond the lateral front and rear longitudinal edges (42, 41) of the main part (4), and wherein the rear side portions (20) have first closure means (32) which are close to the leg opening and have closure aids and wherein the closure means (32) can be secured in a detachable manner at least on the outer side of the front side
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann AG
    Inventors: Enno Gause, Ruediger Kesselmeier, Krzysztof D. Malowaniec, Maximilian Swerev
  • Patent number: 8821469
    Abstract: A disposable pants-type wearing article includes belt-shaped leg elastic members. Respective opposite side edges of front and rear waist regions of the article are fusion-bonded together to define joined regions. The belt-shaped leg elastic members respectively have front side upper ends lying in the front waist region and included by the put flat and joined together regions and rear side upper ends lying in the rear waist region and included by the put flat and joined together regions. In the joined regions, lower edges of the upper ends and lower edges of the rear side upper ends are displaced one from another in such a manner that the one pair of the lower edges lies below the other pair of the lower edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Mariko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8808266
    Abstract: A pants-type disposable diaper 1 comprising: a diaper main body 2 having a front part P, a back part Q, and a crotch part R therebetween, and having a waist opening 3 and a pair of leg openings 4; an absorbent core 10 disposed at the crotch part R; a first elastic member 13 disposed continuously, and having a first crotch-crossing part 13A which extends across the crotch part R and a first leg opening edge part 13B which extends along edges 15 of a front side of the both leg openings 4; and a second elastic member 14 disposed so as to be spaced from the first elastic member 13, and having a second crotch-crossing part 14A which extends intermittently across the crotch part R and a second leg opening edge part 14B which extends along edges 15 of a back side of the both leg openings 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakaoka, Yuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8808265
    Abstract: A pants-type disposable diaper 1 comprising: a diaper main body 2 having a front part P, a back part Q, and a crotch part R therebetween, and having a waist opening 3 and a pair of leg openings 4; an absorbent core 10 disposed at the crotch part R; a first elastic member 13 having a first crotch-crossing part 13A which extends intermittently across the crotch part R and a first leg opening edge part 13B which extends along edges 15 of a front side of the both leg openings 4; and a second elastic member 14 disposed continuously so as to be spaced from the first elastic member 13, and having a second crotch-crossing part 14A which extends across the crotch part R and a second leg opening edge part 14B which extends along edges 15 of a back side of the both leg openings 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakaoka, Yuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8795250
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a chassis having a front waist portion, a back waist portion, and a crotch portion extending between the front and back waist portions. The chassis includes a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. An outer leg cuff is disposed outward of each of the longitudinal side edges of the chassis having elastics forming a gather along at least a portion thereof. One or more inner leg cuffs are disposed on the inside surface of the chassis along each of the longitudinal side edges thereof having elastics forming a gather along at least a portion of the crotch portion. One or more fastening components are disposed at the outer longitudinal side of the outer leg cuffs to fasten the absorbent article around the waist of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: First Quality Baby Products, LLC
    Inventor: Susan O'Connell
  • Patent number: 8784397
    Abstract: A leg wrap structure is provided in a disposable absorbent garment such as a diaper or training pants. The leg wrap structure 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 in generally parallel relation. Further, the top and base layers define a region of inelasticity. The leg wrap structure provides for the efficient formation of a reservoir and a plurality of fluid dams each capable of capturing a quantity of fluid to minimize the occurrence of fluid leaks from the absorbent article. Methods of forming such absorbent articles are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu Edward Chang, Anne Smid, Patrick King Yu Tsang, Ian Walker, Andrew Wright
  • Publication number: 20140200542
    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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Luke Robinson MAGEE, George Bartol GLACKIN, III, Christopher John HOSMER, Naomi Shoshana KORN, James Douglas WILSON, Mark Christopher BATES, Mattias SCHMIDT, Eva Susanne Dominique THURNAY, Joerg MUELLER, John Carl COSTELLO, Ann Marie SULLIVAN, Gregg Allen FLENDER, Donald Carroll ROE, Mark James KLINE, Kenneth Edwin JEWELL
  • Patent number: 8772569
    Abstract: An absorbent article may have an edge fold having substantially uniform gathers. The edge fold may form a finished edge cuff. The finished edge cuff may be formed around and/or along a portion of a longitudinal edge. The edge fold may be formed by folding and seaming existing material (i.e., without the addition of a discrete part). The edge fold may be extensible, or elastic. The edge fold may completely encircle the portion of the longitudinal edge that defines the leg opening of a diaper. A method and an apparatus for forming an edge fold are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Uwe Schneider, Christoph Schmitz, Adi Jackels
  • Patent number: 8758318
    Abstract: A pull-on article comprises a chassis including a first waist region, a second waist region and a crotch region between the first and second waist regions. The article is shaped into a pull-on having a waist and a pair of leg openings by weld-bonding side edges of the first and second waist regions. The waist and leg openings are respectively provided along respective edged defining the waist and leg openings with waist and leg elastic members which are respectively formed into a tape shape having a relatively width dimension. The first and second waist regions, and the leg and waist elastic members are respectively formed of a fibrous non-woven fabric including at least thermoplastic fibers wherein the leg and waist elastic members include at least elastically extendible fibers as the thermoplastic fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Shinichi Ishikawa, Jun Okuda
  • Publication number: 20140163501
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a pair of leg cuffs (32) with an raised section (34) and an absorbent core (28) comprising at least one channel (26, 26?) at least partially oriented in the longitudinal direction (80) of the article. The article has crotch width (Wd) before use as measured between the proximal edges of the leg cuffs at the level of the crotch point of from to 70 mm to 200 mm, and a Relative Crotch Width Reduction (RCWR) of at least 30 mm/kg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bruno Johannes Ehrnsperger, Blanca ARIZTI, Ernesto BIANCHI, Hans Adolf JACKELS, Carsten Heinrich KREUZER, Rodrigo ROSATI
  • Publication number: 20140148773
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including a slot coated fluid positioned on a substrate, wherein the fluid is arranged in discrete pattern areas having shapes that correspond with shapes of pattern surfaces on a substrate carrier. The fluids applied to the absorbent articles herein may include various types of viscous fluids, such as adhesives and wetness indicator compositions, and may also include a color that is different than the substrate onto which the fluid is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventors: Darrell Ian Brown, John Andrew Strasemeier
  • Patent number: 8734418
    Abstract: A pant-type wearing article configured so that fasteners used to connect front and rear waist regions with each other can be engaged with and disengaged from each other in a repetitive manner. Of the front and rear waist regions, at least one waist region, for example, the front waist region is formed in its transversely opposite lateral zones with inelastic regions being neither elastically stretchable nor elastically contractible in a waistline direction. These inelastic regions are provided with first fastener members selected from the first fastener members and second fastener members. The front waist region is further formed inside the respective inelastic regions as viewed in the waistline direction with a plurality of film-like joints defined by integrated sheet members forming the lateral zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Yasuhiko Kenmochi
  • Patent number: 8715262
    Abstract: An elastic barrier flap for an absorbent article includes a web configured to define a gap and a plurality of elastic members captured by the web. The plurality of elastic members is symmetrically arranged about the gap defined by the web. The web and plurality of elastic members are adapted to inhibit the transverse flow of body exudates released by a wearer of the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Connie May McMorrow, Daniel R. Schlinz, Kylie Bridger, Sara Jane Willie Stabelfeldt, Patrick Dean Abney, Daniel Lee Ellingson, Sarah A. Funk, Rodney Allen Butler, Scott Simon Craig Kirby
  • Patent number: 8715263
    Abstract: An incontinence article (2) in the form of briefs has a front stomach portion (4) and a rear back portion (6), which are connected to one another at lateral seam regions (14) on both sides. A crotch portion (8) has an absorption pad (7) and extends in a longitudinal direction (9). A topsheet material (84) or a topsheet (84) and a backsheet material (62) form a transverse overhang (66a,66b) extending outside longitudinal borders (46) of the absorption pad (7). The overhang (66a,66b) has a reinforcing means (200) in a region (204) bridging the respective longitudinal border (46) of the absorption pad (7). The reinforcing means (200) comprises or consists of a reinforcing coating (202 and is disposed on the inner face (85) of the topsheet material (84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Wenzel, Fridmann Hornung
  • Patent number: RE45716
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet, backsheet and absorbent core are assembled together to form a layered assembly including a front region, a back region, and a crotch region disposed between the front region and the back region. The layered assembly has a longitudinal plane that extends substantially centrally through the front, back and crotch regions. Each of the front and back regions further includes a pair of ear portions extending in substantially opposite lateral directions with respect to the longitudinal plane. Further, each of the ear portions includes a layered section of a material layer and a stretchable member extendible between a contracted configuration and an extended configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Walter V. Klemp