Leg Opening Patents (Class 604/385.25)
  • Patent number: 8690850
    Abstract: A diaper wherein at least one of the waist band, side panels, leg cuffs and fastening system landing zone includes a textile material of stitch bonded construction. The textile material includes selectively applied zones of stitches formed from elastomeric yarns with adjacent zones having stitches formed from inelastic yarns. The textile material provides stretch of a desired degree in the cross-machine direction while maintaining substantial dimensional stability in the machine direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Tietex International, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michelis Hardegree
  • Patent number: 8684990
    Abstract: A simple disposable pant-like garment includes an absorbent assembly attached to a chassis. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that may contain superabsorbent particles, which may be contained inside pockets. The absorbent assembly is folded laterally inward at both of its side edges to form laterally opposing side flaps. Each side flap is attached to an interior surface of the absorbent assembly adjacent to its end edges. A longitudinally extending elastic gathering member is attached to each side flap adjacent to its proximal edge. When the article is worn, the elastic gathering members contract and raise the side flaps to form breathable side barriers. The chassis includes a water-impermeable sheet and may be extensible. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern such that portions of the chassis that lie outside the attachment pattern are not restrained by attachment to the absorbent assembly and therefore remain extensible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Pankaj Nigam
  • Patent number: 8672912
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a chassis extending about a longitudinal axis and having a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent structure disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The chassis has a first transverse axis dividing the absorbent structure into a front body panel terminating in a front waist region and a rear body panel terminating in a rear waist region. The rear waist region has a first elastic region. The chassis is delimited by opposed longitudinal edges and opposed transverse edges. In the rear waist region, the absorbent structure terminates at a first distance from the transverse edge and the first elastic region extends substantially parallel to the transverse edge and spaced therefrom by a second distance and spaced from the absorbent structure by a third distance. The third distance is greater than said second distance or substantially equal thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Helena Corneliusson, Rozalia Bitis, Ingrid Stjernholm
  • Patent number: 8668680
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article includes a liquid-absorbent structure that is adapted to be spaced from the wearer's skin to protect the wearer's skin from being soiled with body waste. A crotch member defining parts of front and rear waist regions and a crotch region has a front end lying in the front waist region and a rear end lying in the rear waist region wherein at least one of the front and rear ends defines non-bonded regions in an intermediate zone as viewed in the transverse direction X of the crotch member and is attached to the outer surface of an elastic waist panel by the intermediary of square U-shaped bonded regions opening toward the crotch region. In areas defining the non-bonded regions, body waste retaining space(s) are formed between the elastic waist panel and the crotch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Ichikawa, Kenichi Sasayama, Hiroki Yamamoto, Kazuo Ukegawa, Akihide Ninomiya
  • Publication number: 20140058348
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article includes an absorber having a crotch region that is in contact with a crotch portion of the wearer, and a back region arranged posterior to the crotch region and in contact with the hip portion of the wearer, and in the crotch region, a pair of curving means are provided along the crosswise direction so as to enable the absorber to curve in a convex shape in an inner direction, and outside the widthwise direction of the curving means, a pair of lifting units are provided along the crosswise direction so as to enable the absorber to be lifted up in an inner direction in the back region, and the back ends of the curving means are positioned anterior to the back ends of the lifting units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaya Arayama, Hirotomo Mukai
  • Patent number: 8641695
    Abstract: An absorbent article such as a diaper, pant diaper, a sanitary pant or incontinence garment has at least one first elastic web material which is ultrasonically welded to at least one second web material along at least one weld seam. The second web material is different to the first elastic web material and the second web material has a degree of elasticity which is different to the elasticity of the first elastic web material. The ultrasonic weld seam between the first elastic web material and the second web material is reinforced to have a weld strength in a direction transverse to the weld seam which is at least 5N/25.4 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Kerstin Edwall, Margareta Wennebäck, Elisabeth Lakso
  • Patent number: 8622983
    Abstract: A method to incorporate leg elastic members into pant-like disposable absorbent garments, and garments made thereby. In particular embodiments, the method includes supplying elastomeric film laminate first and second body panel webs spaced apart from each other. A continuous first leg elastic member is attached to the first body panel web, and a continuous second leg elastic member is attached to the second body panel web. A continuous leg elastic covering web is attached to both the first body panel web and the second body panel web so as to sandwich the first and second leg elastic members between the leg elastic covering web and the respective body panel web, thereby creating a composite web. In particular embodiments, the present invention can provide an efficient and process friendly technique to cover and hold in place leg elastic members in a pant-style disposable garment that employs elastomeric film laminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Wilkes, Lacey L. Poole, Joseph A. Mlinar, Marlene R. Dins, Russell E. Thorson, Brian K. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 8622984
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a three dimensional disposable panty, subassemblies of the panty, and an apparatus and methods for making the panty and subassemblies. The panty is designed to hold a primary absorbent sanitary pad. The panty may have elasticized leg and waist openings and be stretchable about the hip and stomach regions of a user. the panty provides backup protection to control egress of fluids that leak or seep around or through the primary sanitary pad. The panty includes a secondary absorbent positioned in the crotch area and extending into the body of the disposable panty, front and back, and preferably over the leg elastics to trap, inside the panty, leakage from the primary absorbent, and to prevent strike through onto e.g. outer clothing and bed linen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Rajala, Steven C. Gehling, Paul D. Suke
  • Publication number: 20130289513
    Abstract: To facilitate a continuous tight fit of a diaper to a wearer, a disposable diaper having one waist opening and a pair of leg openings is provided with: a front-side section; a back-side section; a crotch section; and a pair of extensible or stretchable leg sheets. Longitudinal peripheral edge regions and inner lateral edge regions of the leg sheets are respectively joined, on one side of the crotch section, to lower edge regions of the front-side section and back-side section and lateral edge regions of the crotch section. The leg sheets each have notches facing inward from the outer lateral edges thereof. The pair of leg openings are defined by joining outer lateral edge regions of the leg sheets adjacent to front-side starting ends of the notches, and outer lateral edge regions of the leg sheets adjacent to back-side starting ends of the notches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Takino
  • Patent number: 8568383
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable pants-type wearing article improved so as to eliminate a possibility that elastic members attached to peripheral edges of respective leg-openings might irritate the wearer's skin. The disposable pants-type wearing article has a band-like elastic member having a width dimension in a range of 5 to 60 mm and extending along peripheral edges of leg-openings so as to go half around each of the leg-openings. The elastic member comprises opposite end segments each lying in the uppermost zone of the leg-opening, a middle segment lying in the lowermost zone of the leg-opening and extending across a crotch region and intermediate segments each extending between the associated end segment and the middle segment wherein the intermediate segments are not bonded to sheet material constituting the wearing article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Minako Sagisaka, Takayuki Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20130281958
    Abstract: An absorbent pant article in the form of boxer shorts includes a garment shell including a front body panel, a back body panel and a crotch panel made of elastic web material. The pant also includes an absorbent core, side seams connecting the front body panel to the back body panel, a pair of leg openings and hanging legs. The leg openings are located in the crotch panel and do not extend into the front and back body panels, and side seams extend into the crotch panel. The width of the crotch panel in a relaxed condition of the elastic web material, as measured between the side seams of the article, is at least 7% larger than the width of any of the front and back body panels in a relaxed condition of the respective elastic web material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Lucas Bäck, Tony Karlsson, Lennart Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8563798
    Abstract: A bandage for improved wound care is disclosed. The bandage comprises a non-adherent, deformable inner layer, a leak-proof outer layer that is substantially coextensive with the inner layer, and an absorbent middle layer contacting both the inner and outer layers. An adhesive strip and adhesive tabs along the bandage's side attach and adjust the fit of the bandage to securely hold the absorbent layer in contact with the wound, without any adhesive touching the skin, thereby eliminating pain and discomfort upon removal or replacement. The bandage allows substantial freedom of motion without slipping. The adhesive strip and tabs secure the bandage in place without any adhesive touching the skin, thereby providing convenience and causing no pain or discomfort upon removal or replacement of the bandage. The bandage may use a non-stick netting material layer to improve patient comfort, and elastic cuffs to improve fit and leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Kalliope Dontas
  • Patent number: 8523834
    Abstract: Process for making a variable stretch composite comprising the steps of providing a first extensible fibrous substrate, printing a first elastomeric composition to a first elasticized region of the substrate, printing a second elastomeric composition to a second elasticized region of the substrate, and incrementally stretching at least a portion of the composite perform to form a variable stretch composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Fred Naval Desai, Urmish Popatlal Dalal, Mark William Hamersky, Steven Daryl Smith
  • Patent number: 8523835
    Abstract: A pant-type disposable absorbent hygiene article (2), comprises a waist edge (20), continuous in the circumferential direction thereof and forming a waist opening, and leg openings (8a,b), a front piece (6) and a back piece (4) having longitudinal side edge sections (16,18), and a crotch region (10), disposed between the front piece (6) and the back piece (4). The waist edge (20), continuous in the circumferential direction thereof, and the leg openings (8a,b) are produced by joining, on the manufacture end, the longitudinal side edge sections (16,18) of a front piece (6) and a back piece (4). The hygiene article also comprises an absorbent body (22). Every leg opening (8a,b) has an elastic leg opening section (81).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann AG
    Inventor: Krzysztof D. Malowaniec
  • Publication number: 20130211365
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a three dimensional disposable panty, subassemblies of the panty, and an apparatus and methods for making the panty and subassemblies. The panty is designed to hold a primary absorbent sanitary pad. The panty may have elasticized leg and waist openings and be stretchable about the hip and stomach regions of a user. the panty provides backup protection to control egress of fluids that leak or seep around or through the primary sanitary pad. The panty includes a secondary absorbent positioned in the crotch area and extending into the body of the disposable panty, front and back, and preferably over the leg elastics to trap, inside the panty, leakage from the primary absorbent, and to prevent strike through onto e.g. outer clothing and bed linen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventor: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130211357
    Abstract: In one embodiment, taped and pant articles of the present disclosure may comprise first and second chassis that are at least substantially identical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventor: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
  • Patent number: 8500710
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a belt member defining front and rear waist regions and a liquid-absorbent structure defining a crotch region wherein the belt member includes a peripheral edge of a waist-opening and this peripheral edge includes two segments associated with the front and rear waist regions spaced from and opposed to each other in an anteroposterior direction Y. Front and rear belt sections of the belt member include, in the front and rear waist regions, see-through regions for the article wearer's skin having a total light transmittance of about 55% or higher and occupying 40% or more of the front and rear waist regions. The front and rear belt sections are provided along the peripheral edge of the waist-opening with a reinforcing elastic member extending in a transverse direction X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Takino, Yuki Maeda, Hiroyuki Tanji
  • Patent number: 8491557
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include disposable wearable absorbent articles with extensible sides. In an embodiment of the present disclosure a disposable wearable absorbent article includes a front, a back, and an extensible side configured to connect the front and the back, wherein the extensible side has a substantially laterally extensible area, which includes a first area, bounded in part by at least a portion of a longitudinally outboard side edge. An overall lateral extensibility of the first area is substantially less than an overall lateral extensibility of the substantially laterally extensible area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Henry William McCusker, III, Ronald Joseph Zink, II, Sarah Marie Young
  • Patent number: 8491558
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a backsheet having a longitudinal axis, a topsheet attached to the backsheet and having a body-facing surface, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. The article may also include barrier leg cuffs. The article further includes a sensation member, which sensation member may be defined in part by the topsheet or may be separate from the topsheet. The sensation member may be a wetness sensation member, a temperature sensation member, a tactile agent, or a combination thereof. Visible and/or tactile indicia may be associated with the sensation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Jennifer Joan Nandrea, Masaharu Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8491556
    Abstract: Absorbent articles with stretch direction properties are disclosed, having at least three stretch zones. A first edge zone and a second edge zone are separated by a middle zone. The middle zone, which may the same length as each edge zone, has different stretch-direction characteristics than the edge zones. The middle zone may stretch in a single direction, whereas the edge zones may stretch in a different single direction or in bi- or multi-axial directions. The flaps may be created from the edge zones. Through this construction, the absorbent article exhibits improved fit and appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Popp, Lawrence H. Sawyer, Joseph D. Coenen, Christopher P. Olson, Michael J. Faulks, James M. Carr
  • Patent number: 8475426
    Abstract: An incontinence protector for males intended for disposable use, including a fastening pocket for fastening the genitalia during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Bror-Inge Helmfridsson, Ken Olsson
  • Patent number: 8439887
    Abstract: The invention, a reusable adjustable diaper, includes: a multi-ply member having a first curvilinear portion connecting by a medial portion to a second curvilinear portion; a first elastomeric member connected to a first curved segment of multi-ply member and having a first plurality of fastening areas; a second elastomeric member connected to a second curved segment of multi-ply member and having a second plurality of fastening areas; a first plurality of fasteners connected to first curvilinear portion; a second plurality of fasteners connected to second curvilinear portion and disengagably fastenable with first plurality of fasteners; a third fastener connected to multi-ply member and disengagably fastenable with first elastomeric member at each of first plurality of fastening areas; and a fourth fastener connected to multi-ply member and disengagably fastenable with second elastomeric member at each of second plurality of fastening areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Stacee M. Magee
  • Patent number: 8425483
    Abstract: A double gusset cloth diaper including an inner surface and an outer surface forming an hourglass shape, having a groin area proximate a center line of the reusable diaper and defining at least one recess therebetween. A fluid absorbent material is removably located in the recess through the opening. A first gusset is attached to the reusable diaper to form a first seal between the inner surface and the legs of the user. A second gusset is attached to the reusable diaper proximate the first gusset. The gussets are formed of an elastic material attached to the wrong side of the inner surface in a channel formed by stitching the inner surface to form channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kanga Care, LLC
    Inventor: Julie Ekstrom
  • Patent number: 8388594
    Abstract: A stretchable laminate, a process of making a stretchable laminate and a disposable absorbent article that includes a stretchable laminate are disclosed. The stretchable laminate includes a nonwoven web and a web of elastomeric material. The nonwoven web includes three layers of spunbond fibers and two layers of meltblown fibers. The side of the nonwoven web that includes two layers of spunbond fibers is attached to the elastomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert Haines Turner, Donald Zgoda, Walter Douglas Daniels, Jim Thomas Bader, Erika Fabiola Galvis
  • Patent number: 8377025
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a void space between a separator sheet and a liquid-absorbent structure. The separator sheet has opposite lateral zones extending in a longitudinal direction, a middle zone via which the opposite lateral zones are contiguous to each other, a front through-hole formed on the side of a front waist region, a rear through-hole formed on the side of rear waist region, and separator sheet biasing elastic members attached under tension to the respective lateral zones. A chassis includes a front leg elastic member laid on the side of the front waist region and a rear leg elastic member laid on the side of the rear waist region wherein at least the rear leg elastic member includes a rear transverse segment extending across the crotch region and a position of the rear transverse segment corresponds to a position of the middle zone of the separator sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kaiyo Nakajima, Hironao Minato
  • Patent number: 8377028
    Abstract: A process for making a pant-like disposable absorbent garment comprising: providing a front panel and back panels and an absorbent insert which extends between the front and back panels; printing a front waistband graphic on the front panel such that the front waistband graphic extends at least 90% of the front panel width; printing a back waistband graphic on the back panel such that the back waistband graphic extends at least 90% of the back panel width; and joining the first and second front side edges to the first and second back side edges, such that the garment assumes a pull-on configuration, and such that the front waistband graphic is in at least substantial alignment with the back waistband graphic. A garment made by the process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Katherine C. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 8377021
    Abstract: Winkles are prevented from being generated in the flap portion to reduce an uncomfortable feeling and friction. In a sanitary napkin including an absorber interposed between a liquid-permeable top sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet and a flap portion surrounding the absorber without including the absorber, the flap portions at least in a front area and a back area of the sanitary napkin each have an outer shape of a wave-like line composed of convex curves and concave curves in which the direction of a line tangent to the outline of the flap portion is continuously changed; the width of the absorber gradually narrows in each of the front side area and the back side area in such a manner that lines incline toward each other to form a convex curve; and the wave-like line is formed along each of the inclining lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: DAIO Paper Corporation
    Inventor: Haruko Odoi
  • Patent number: 8361047
    Abstract: The absorbent article includes a chassis, a crotch region, an absorbent body, and an elastic member arranged along a side edge in width direction of the crotch region. The oblong absorbent body arranged in the crotch region includes a first narrow width section, a second narrow width section, a center low rigidity section formed along a center line that halves the absorbent article in the width direction and a pair of lateral low rigidity sections provided at both sides of the center low rigidity section in the width direction with a substantially equal interval. Skin contacting face-side sheets and non-skin contacting face-side sheets 6 and 10 are arranged in the crotch region. The initial tensile strength of the skin contacting face-side sheets is lower than that of the non-skin contacting face-side sheets or that of the chassis 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotomo Mukai, Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Tomoko Tsuji, Norihiko Ishikawa, Tatsuya Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20120289922
    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: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Mariko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8303561
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing absorbent garments includes forming a continuous multi-component production web; and cutting individual garments from the production web. The production web is formed by: a) feeding a first elastic web in a travelling direction; b) stretching the first elastic web by 35-250% in the travelling direction; c) intermittently laying down absorbent cores in an intermediate zone extending in a travelling direction of the production web; d) feeding a continuous web of liquid permeable material in the travelling direction and covering the absorbent cores with the continuous web of liquid permeable material; and e) bonding the first elastic web to the continuous web of liquid permeable material in a first lateral zone on a side of the intermediate zone of the production web. In addition, an absorbent garment has a continuous liquid permeable layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Katarina Eriksson
  • Patent number: 8303562
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a disposable absorbent hygiene item in the form of a pair of knickers, said item comprising a central absorption part, an outer envelope forming a base structure comprising a waist edge which is closed all the way round in the peripheral direction and forms an opening for the waist, a rear part and a front part comprising longitudinal lateral edge sections, and a connecting region arranged between the front part and the rear part and forming the leg openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fridmann Hornung, Wolfgang Ostertag, Florian Kautzsch, Benjamin Wenzel
  • Patent number: 8298205
    Abstract: An elastically stretchable laminate (1) includes a first non-elastic nonwoven web (2), a second non-elastic nonwoven web (4) and an elastic film (6) between the first and the second nonwoven webs (2,4). The laminate (1) has been rendered elastic in a first direction (MD) by incremental stretching and partial tearing of the first and second nonwoven webs (2,4). The laminate (1) includes a reinforcement layer (8) arranged between the first and second non-elastic nonwoven webs (2,4) and comprising unbroken reinforcement fibers or filaments (9) extending in a second direction (CD), generally perpendicular to the first direction (MD). Also described is a pant-type article including the elastically stretchable laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Niclas Norrby, Jan Wästlund-Karlsson
  • Patent number: 8277432
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet and an absorbent core located therebetween. The fluid-permeable topsheet and fluid-impermeable backsheet extend beyond the absorbent core in at least the width (X) direction and are joined to one another in the area outside the absorbent core to form an edge-seam. The absorbent article also includes two elastic members, each elastic member extending along one longitudinal edge of the absorbent core such that—along a major portion of the extension of the elastic members in the length (Y) direction—the elastic members overlie both a portion of the absorbent core and a portion of the edge-seam in the width (X) direction. This arrangement provides improved three-dimensional forming of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Maria Gustin Bergström, Carin Håkansson, Paulina Halleröd (NeéLjungberg)
  • Patent number: 8277431
    Abstract: An absorbent articles, such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence articles, feminine protection articles and the like having a specific elasticated topsheet comprising multitude of elasticated areas and one or more openings to receive e.g. feces, the elasticated areas being typically straight, but the elasticated areas operating jointly to provide a diverting-like elastic behavior, and the elasticated areas having optionally different elastic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Blanca Arizti, Darrell Ian Brown, Cornelia Beate Martynus, Ekaterina Anatolyevka Ponomarenko
  • Patent number: 8277430
    Abstract: An absorbent garment includes a body panel having a terminal waist edge, at least first and second layers terminating at the terminal waist edge and at least one elastic element disposed between the first and second layers. The body panel has at least first and second adhesive regions. The first adhesive region is defined by the at least one elastic element, which is strand coated with a first adhesive. The second region is defined by a control coating of a second adhesive applied between the first and second layers. In one embodiment, the first region has a greater sensory softness than the second region. In one embodiment, the body panel, in an unstretched condition, has a surface softness with a mean deviation of coefficient of friction less than about 0.020 in the first adhesive region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clarl Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery M. Tabor, Melanie Milslagle, Joseph A. Mlinar, Thomas J Vanselow
  • Patent number: 8273067
    Abstract: Manufacturers of disposable absorbent articles may produce a wide range of sizes of articles. The design of these articles has generally remained the same as the product increases in size to fit larger and larger users. Generally speaking, the proportions of the articles remain the same in smaller and larger sizes. For example, the longitudinal length of the absorbent core as a percentage of the total longitudinal length of the article may be approximately the same for small, medium, and large sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason C. Cohen
  • Publication number: 20120238986
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline and adapted to be worn in an undergarment having a crotch portion bounded on opposite sides by portions of curved leg openings. The absorbent article comprises a main body portion, the main body portion comprising a liquid pervious body-facing surface, a liquid impervious garment facing surface, and an absorbent core positioned between the body-facing surface and the garment-facing surface. The absorbent article comprises at least one indicator marker visible from the body-facing surface, the indicator markers disposed to indicate proper alignment of the absorbent article with respect to undergarment-specific features such as the curved leg openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Marco Digiacomantonio, Evelina Toro, Giovanni Carlucci, Remo Bellucci
  • Patent number: 8235959
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ekaterina Anatolyevna Ponomarenko, Mattias Schmidt, Tina Brown (née Lehmann)r, Alexander Eberhard Unger, Alexander Berk, Darrell Ian Brown, Blanca Arizti
  • Patent number: 8235961
    Abstract: A disposable pants-type diaper of the present invention comprises a diaper main body including a front portion, a back portion, and a crotch portion positioned therebetween, and having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings formed by joining the front portion and the back portion; an absorbent core disposed in the crotch portion; a first elastic means disposed along an upper part of an edge of the both leg openings; and a second elastic means disposed in a middle part in a front-back direction of the crotch portion, extending in a diaper width direction to near the edge of the both leg openings, and having straight side edge portions. According to the disposable pants-type diaper of the above, a foot is hardly caught by the edge of the leg opening in wearing, resulting in easily wearing; and a fitting property of the crotch portion is excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakaoka, Yuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8216204
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Filip Jansson
  • Patent number: 8212102
    Abstract: A diaper having front and rear waist regions and a waist-hole, the waist hole having a peripheral edge that is elastically stretchable in a circumferential direction and includes covering zones and elastic zones in the front and rear waist regions, which peripheral edge is adapted to be stretchable beyond lengths of the covering zones in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kumasaka
  • Patent number: 8211077
    Abstract: A disposable pant-type diaper according to the present invention includes a front portion, a back portion, and a crotch portion which is positioned between the front and back portions, in which a waist opening and a pair of leg openings are formed by joining both longitudinal side-edge portions of the front and back portions which face each other, and stretchable elastic members are disposed along at least a part of each opening, wherein a cutout portion is formed in at least a portion of the side-edge portion of at least one of the front and back portions, and the front and back portions assume a non-joining state at the portion where the cutout portion is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: Oji Nepia Co., Ltd., Oji Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sugiyama, Tomotsugu Miyoshi, Takeshi Niimi, Izumi Tashiro, Kahori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8211076
    Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided, including an absorber, a top sheet disposed to cover an upper surface of the absorber and at least partially formed of a liquid permeable material, and a back sheet disposed to cover a lower surface of the absorber and formed of a liquid impermeable material. The disposable diaper further includes a skin contact sheet disposed above the top sheet and formed with a stool passing opening, which is an opening capable of passing a stool therethrough, and to the both sides of the skin contact sheet, at least a pair of standing gathers are formed, which are leakage prevention walls capable of standing three-dimensionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: Oji Nepia Co., Ltd., Oji Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sugiyama, Izumi Tashiro, Kahori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8206366
    Abstract: A pant-like, prefastened, disposable absorbent article having two leg openings which are directly below and visible through a waist opening. The waist opening has a relaxed waist opening measurement or relaxed waist diameter that is greater than a width of a chassis of the absorbent article in a crotch region. As such, the wearer's legs are positioned within and through the leg openings for easy application of the pant-like prefastened, disposable absorbent article. After initial application of the absorbent article, a waist size adjustment feature allows the waist perimeter dimension to be adjusted to conform the waist opening to the waist of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Datta, Michael Francís Drymalski, Kristi Jo Bryant
  • Publication number: 20120157958
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a leg and flap elastics composite for use in an absorbent article includes joining a leg elastic member to a web moving in a machine direction. A flap elastic member is joined to the web and spaced from the leg elastic member. The web is fed to a chopper assembly wherein portions of the leg and flap elastic members are rendered less elastic at spaced-apart intervals to define deadened portions of the leg and flap elastic members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Luis Alberto Tenorio, Jeffrey Alan DeBroux, David Kyle Stankewicz, Darin Allen Engelhart, James Richard Schermerhorn, Michael Donald Sperl, Daniel Mark Duhm, Michael Lee Lohoff, Anita Marie-Nanette Gilgenbach, Kenneth James Quella
  • Patent number: 8182457
    Abstract: A disposable garment includes a chassis defining one or more openings for the legs, arms, waist or the like on a wearer. An apparent elastic band is located in the vicinity of at least one of the openings. The apparent elastic band looks and functions like an elastic band, but is not an elastic band, and is less expensive to implement than an elastic band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peter Olson, Raymond Jeffrey May
  • Publication number: 20120095430
    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: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: LIVEDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Nakaoka, Yuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8147470
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable pants-type diaper including on a crotch region thereof a separator adapted to prevent feces from coming in contact with the wearer's skin. A basic structure has the crotch region, which is provided with a folded sheet piece attached thereto so as to form the separator. The folded sheet piece is obtained by folding back the sheet piece along a first transverse center line thereof to define a first half and a second half placed upon each other and bonding end edges of these two halves to each other at responsive middles of these end edges in a transverse direction. With the first transverse center line brought close to a second transverse center line, the folded sheet piece is placed upon the crotch region and the lateral edges of the first half are bonded to the crotch region while a region of the first half defined by the lateral edges is kept to be spaced from the crotch region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Publication number: 20120078213
    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: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: LIVEDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Nakaoka, Yuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120071852
    Abstract: A method is described for making an elasticized absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. First, multiple distributions of elastics are applied on a moving material sheet to form a moving web of an elastic composite. Then, each of a core section and a second material sheet is periodically applied onto the moving web to define a finished web of discrete elastic composite bodies. In subsequent steps, discrete absorbent pants articles are shaped from the finished web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd
    Inventors: Patrick King Yu Tsang, Anne Smid, Andrew C. Wright, Eugenio G. Varona