Plural Elastic Elements Patents (Class 604/385.27)
  • Patent number: 12090032
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article comprising a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and second waist region; a first waist edge and a second waist edge; and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; the disposable absorbent article comprising a waistband and a leg gasketing system, wherein the waistband has a first gather count and the leg gasketing system has a second gather count such that the ratio of the first gather count to the second gather count is from about 0.75 to about 1.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kathleen Marie Lawson, Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Jeffrey Will Crosby
  • Patent number: 12036721
    Abstract: A stretching unit for transversely stretching elastic films, including first and second stretching devices each having respective gripping zones and respective release zones, and wherein the release zones of the first and second stretching devices are aligned to each other along a common transverse release line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Sablone, Antonio D'Alberto
  • Patent number: 11957554
    Abstract: Absorbent articles comprising a multilayer outer cover comprising a first outer layer and a second outer layer comprising a component that exhibits at least partial elastic recovery after mechanical activation in the machine direction; an inner layer, disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, the inner layer comprising elastic strands; and wherein at least one of the first outer layer and second outer layer is laminated to the inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Marie Autran, Urmish Popatlal Dalal
  • Patent number: 11911242
    Abstract: A transversally extensible elastic laminar web including a support web having a continuous edge portion sandwiched between two corresponding edge portions of two overlapped webs and a plurality of tabs extending from the edge portion outside the two overlapped webs, wherein each tab has a respective micro-hook pad fixed to a planar surface, and wherein the planar surface of each tab has a portion which completely surrounds the respective micro-hook pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
    Inventors: Guido Bonelli, Gabriele Sablone
  • Patent number: 11903800
    Abstract: A transversally extensible elastic laminate including two continuous tab chains having respective continuous base portions sandwiched between two corresponding edge portions of two overlapped webs and a plurality of tabs extending from the respective base portions outside the two overlapped webs, wherein each tab has a respective micro-hook pad fixed to a planar surface, and wherein the planar surface of each tab has a portion which completely surrounds the respective micro-hook pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
    Inventors: Guido Bonelli, Gabriele Sablone
  • Patent number: 11890175
    Abstract: An absorbent article may include an inner elasticised chassis. An opening may be formed through the inner elasticised chassis. The absorbent article may include an outer elasticised chassis, and an absorbent member located between the inner elasticised chassis and the outer elasticised chassis. The inner elasticised chassis may include sets of clastic strands surrounding the absorbent member. The opening may be located in a space between the sets of elastic strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Wright, Dennis Smid, Anne Smid, Eugenio Varona
  • Patent number: 11850133
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an embossed patterned elastic laminate. The elastic laminate has an embossed pattern of at least three surface areas. The current disclosure also includes a process for making an embossed patterned elastic laminate. The embossed patterned elastic laminate provides a permanent change to visual aesthetic without adversely impacting the elastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn E. Jenkins, David W. Primm, Chris M. Allen, Howard M. Welch, David J. Reader, Steven W. Fitting, Vikram S. Kaul
  • Patent number: 11786415
    Abstract: Exemplary wearable articles including regions with differing visual patterns are disclosed. In one embodiment, an article may comprise an elasticated front chassis region and an elasticated front waistband region, a rear region, a crotch region, and an absorbent body disposed at least partially within the crotch region. The front chassis and front waistband regions may comprise a plurality of elastomeric strands disposed between a first material and a material and are bonded together by a plurality of discrete bonds, at least some of which entrap the strands. The strands of the front chassis region are spaced apart a first distance, while the strands of the front waistband region are spaced apart a second distance, with the second distance being less than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Ross T. Kaufman, Kelly D. Farmer, Joseph D. Coenen, Jerry L. Hameister
  • Patent number: 11744745
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an absorbent article that includes: a first sheet body that includes two first sheets and a first elastic string that is stretchable and contractible in a left-right direction; a second sheet body; and a first weld portion. The method includes: (a) placing the first elastic string in a stretched state where the first elastic string is stretched in the left-right direction between the first sheets disposed in a thickness direction intersecting the left-right direction; (b) causing the second sheet body to overlap with the first sheet body in the thickness direction; (c) releasing the stretched state to bring about a released state; and (d) welding one end portion of the first sheet body in the left-right direction and one end portion of the second sheet body in the left-right direction to each other, to form the first weld portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Ohtsubo
  • Patent number: 11730636
    Abstract: An absorbent article can include a bodyside liner that provides a barrier region. The barrier region can be a central portion of the bodyside liner not coupled to the absorbent body. The barrier region can include a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge. The first longitudinal side edge can be coupled to the projection portion of the first containment flap. The second longitudinal side edge can be coupled to the projection portion of the second containment flap. When the absorbent article is in the relaxed configuration and the projection portion of the first containment flap and the projection portion of the second containment flap extend away from the absorbent body, the central portion of the bodyside liner extends away from absorbent body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Sarah A. Kleuskens, SangWook Lee
  • Patent number: 11712378
    Abstract: An absorbent core comprising a front portion; a back portion; a middle portion positioned between the front portion and the back portion; and a longitudinal axis extending along a length of said core and crossing said front, middle and back portions, the absorbent core having a width extending perpendicular to said length and a perimeter comprising at least two opposing ends and at least two opposing sides positioned between said ends wherein the absorbent core comprises one or more channels having a first shape when the absorbent core is in dry state and a second shape when the absorbent core is in wet state and wherein said first and second shapes are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignees: ONTEX BV, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventors: Ainas Weber, Manfred Breu, Christel Mailinger, Thomas Heege
  • Patent number: 11696856
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable nonwoven topsheet, a nonwoven second material that is a separate material from the topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned intermediate the second material and the backsheet. The second material is positioned intermediate the topsheet and absorbent core and is generally planar. The topsheet comprises a plurality of recesses and raised areas, and voids are defined in the raised areas under the topsheet. A first aperture is formed in a substantially central location of the raised areas. The recesses each form a base positioned most distal from the substantially central locations of the raised areas. A second aperture is formed in the bases of the recesses. The first aperture extends through the topsheet, and the second aperture extends through the topsheet and at least partially through the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Comoany
    Inventors: Gueltekin Erdem, Yi Yuan
  • Patent number: 11690767
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to allow for creation of an elastic laminate. Non-stretched elastic can be laid at peaks over a nonwoven layer contained in valleys and atop peaks. Stretched elastic can be laid over tented nonwoven to create nonwoven tunnels when a second nonwoven is laid atop the first nonwoven and elastic, and the tunnels resist un-stretching of stretched elastic strands by frictional or obstruction forces. An elastic assembly or structure comprising a first and second layer of material bonded at spaced apart bond sites is disclosed, with a plurality of elastic strands disposed in a non-linear manner between said first and second layer of material, so that said strands meander in a cross-machine direction and traverse a machine direction line, restraining movement of the strands by frictional forces between the strands and the non-woven layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Gottfried Jason Hohm, Wei Wei, Debra Heus Bowe, Jeff Middlesworth
  • Patent number: 11684522
    Abstract: Elasticated materials and articles comprising elasticated materials are disclosed. A method may comprise advancing first and second substrate materials and a stretched elastomeric strand in the machine direction. The method may further comprise advancing the first and the second substrate materials with the elastomeric strand positioned therebetween to a bonding apparatus. The bonding apparatus may comprise first and second elements forming a bonding nip. The method may further comprise oscillating the strand in a cross-machine direction and advancing the first and second substrate materials, and the strand, through the bonding nip and bonding the first and second substrate materials together with at least first and second bonds. The first and second bonds may be disposed on opposite sides of the strand and spaced apart a distance less than its un-tensioned diameter, and the first and second bonds may be located along an arcuate portion of the strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Coenen, Ross T. Kaufman, Kelly D. Farmer, Jerry L. Hameister
  • Patent number: 11612521
    Abstract: A waist portion W has a first portion P1 and a second portion P2 each including a waist elastic member. The first portion P1 includes an over sheet layer folded back at an edge of a waist opening WO extending to an inside of a waist inner sheet layer. The over sheet layer is formed of a sheet material having a portion folded back at an edge of the waist opening WO from a position outside the waist elastic member in the second portion P2 and extending to a position inside the waist elastic member in the second portion P2. In the first portion P1, the waist elastic member is not fixed to the sheet material. In the second portion P2, the waist elastic member is fixed to the sheet material, and the sheet material is contracted in a width direction WD together with the waist elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Daio Paper Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitake Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11497655
    Abstract: Absorbent articles having curved elasticized laminates and apparatuses and methods for forming such articles are disclosed. In one embodiment a method of forming an article may comprise moving absorbent assemblies and elasticized laminates in the machine direction. The method may further comprise oscillating the elasticized laminates in the cross-machine direction to impart a curvature, bonding the elasticized laminates to the absorbent assemblies while maintaining the imparted curvature such that at least a portion of the elasticized laminates are disposed outboard of longitudinal side edges of the absorbent assemblies, and finally separating the absorbent assemblies into individual absorbent articles, where the elasticized laminates extend in a curving manner throughout the absorbent articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Jones, James R. Niedt, Robert W. Scholl, Kirk J. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 11491056
    Abstract: Absorbent articles that include elastics in multiple layers are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Sarah Marie Wade, Tina Marie Glahn, Gary Dean Lavon, Diana Woehnl Juratovac, Kaoru Ishihara, Masaharu Nishikawa, Ronald Joseph Zink, Anna Elizabeth Macura
  • Patent number: 11071659
    Abstract: A method of producing an underpants-type disposable diaper includes forming an outer member having a non-stretchable region disposed in an intermediate region in the width direction and stretchable regions disposed on the two sides of the non-stretchable region in the width direction by: fixing elastic members to an inner sheet layer and an outer sheet layer in at least two edge portions of portions to be the stretchable regions without fixing the elastic members to the inner sheet layer nor the outer sheet layer in a portion to be the non-stretchable region; disposing a graphic sheet and disposing a no-extra-sheet region between the inner sheet layer and the outer sheet layer in the side portion of the non-stretchable region; cutting the elastic members and leaving cut marks and idle elastic members over the no-extra-sheet region; and leaving the elastic members in a region overlapping with the graphic sheet uncut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Daio Paper Corporation
    Inventors: Sadanao Manabe, Shuichi Ito
  • Patent number: 10993849
    Abstract: An absorbent article may include an inner elasticised chassis. An opening may be formed through the inner elasticised chassis. The absorbent article may include an outer elasticised chassis, and an absorbent member located between the inner elasticised chassis and the outer elasticised chassis. The inner elasticised chassis may include sets of elastic strands surrounding the absorbent member. The opening may be located in a space between the sets of elastic strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Wright, Dennis Smid, Anne Smid, Eugenio Varona
  • Patent number: 10966879
    Abstract: A disposable diaper has front and rear waist regions, a crotch region, and an absorbent chassis. The absorbent chassis includes an absorbent structure and a pair of side flaps. Each of the side flaps has layered sheet materials and includes a distal edge, a cuff branch line between the side edge of the absorbent structure and the distal edge, a leg-opening elasticized area between the cuff branch line and the distal edge, and a leakage-barrier cuff branched from the cuff branch line and intersecting with the leg-opening elasticized area. The leakage-barrier cuff has a free edge parallelly-spaced from the cuff branch line. The distance from the cuff branch line to the distal edge is larger than from the cuff branch line to the free edge. The number of sheet material layers included in the leg-opening elasticized area is larger than in the leakage-barrier cuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Inoue, Shunsuke Takino, Hideaki Maki
  • Patent number: 10959889
    Abstract: An absorbent pant is provided with a containment system defined by a wearing-facing surface of the absorbent pant. The containment system comprises at least one of the following: a pleated section comprising a plurality of pleats; a channeled section comprising a plurality of alternating ridges and channels; and/or a bubbled section comprising a plurality of hemispherical-shaped bubbles aligned in a plurality of rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventor: Nicole Castrogiovanni
  • Patent number: 10849798
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline, a front region, a crotch region, and a back region. The absorbent article has a main portion, a side portion, and a waist portion. The waist portion has a belt portion that has a front belt portion having elastomeric material and a back belt portion having elastomeric material. The front belt portion has a first elastic section and a second elastic section, each section having force zones. The back belt portion has a third elastic section and a fourth elastic section, each section having force zones. The force zones in the portions alternate between a high force zone and a low force zone in at least one belt portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Masaharu Nishikawa, Jacob Alan Barnhorst
  • Patent number: 10813796
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to improve the dynamic fit of a crotch portion. The foregoing issue is solved in such a manner that a vertical stretchable part vertically extending and contracting in length is provided in a vertical intermediate portion of an absorber in a front body, an outer body of the front body has a portion overlapping at least the vertical stretchable part, width-direction both side sections of the portion, and a waist opening-side area of the portion and the sections, lifting elastic members having a contraction force of lifting a portion of the vertical stretchable part on a rear side of a front end toward width-direction both sides and an obliquely upward side at least when the diaper is worn are provided in the outer body of the front body on closer to lateral sides than to a width-direction intermediate portion of the absorber, and the vertical stretchable part vertically extends and contracts in length by elastic extension and contraction of the lifting elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kaori Umemoto
  • Patent number: 10806638
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article comprising a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and second waist region; a first waist edge and a second waist edge; and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; the disposable absorbent article comprising a waistband and a leg gasketing system, wherein the waistband has a first gather count and the leg gasketing system has a second gather count such that the ratio of the first gather count to the second gather count is from about 0.75 to about 1.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kathleen Marie Lawson, Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Jeffrey Will Crosby
  • Patent number: 10751220
    Abstract: Continuous edge folds of a top sheet in disposable products prepare the top sheet for placement/attachment of discrete side panels to the folded-over portion of top-sheets oriented so that the side panels lay on top of the top-sheet without any further folding steps required. Later, a back sheet can be added and back sheet edges then folded over to cover edges of top-sheet/side panel sandwich.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff W. Fritz
  • Patent number: 10603227
    Abstract: The current invention concerns an absorbent hygiene article suitable to be worn around the waist of a wearer, such as a diaper, diaper pants or incontinence diaper, the article comprising a leakage barrier comprising a pair of leg cuffs arranged longitudinally on the body-facing side of the article from the front region to the back region across the crotch region, a first leg cuff of said pair of leg cuffs being arranged near a first leg hole defining edge of the article and a second leg cuff of said pair of leg cuffs being arranged near a second leg hole defining edge of the article and a front barrier and/or a back barrier, wherein the front barrier and/or the back barrier comprises a liquid-impermeable nonwoven sheet comprising a weight of at most 18 gsm and in that the elastic members of the leg cuffs do not overlap with the front barrier and/or the back barrier. The present invention also pertains to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing the article and the leakage barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: ONTEX BVBA, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventors: Hayri Köktürk, Gül Gürsoy, Özgür Akyildiz, Ahmet Halilbeyoglu, Pek Gökmen, Hans-Joerg Hufnagel, Helen Assenheimer
  • Patent number: 10531993
    Abstract: A pant type disposable absorbent article including a front body panel, a back body panel positioned at a distance from said front body panel, and an absorbent member; the absorbent article having a longitudinal central axis X-X and a transverse central axis Y-Y; the front body panel being substantially rectangular, and having a waist edge, two side edges, and an inward edge including a crotch edge and leg opening edges on each side of the crotch edge, between the crotch edge and each side edge, the front body panel being at least partially elasticized, the back body panel having a waist edge, two side edges, a crotch edge, and leg opening edges on each side of the crotch edge, between the crotch edge and each side edge, wherein a distance from the crotch edge to the waist edge is greater than the length of the side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventor: Lucas Bäck
  • Patent number: 10413453
    Abstract: A stretchable structure for absorbent article includes: a sheet-like member (12S) that is composed of one air permeable material (120) and has a plurality of pleats (80) arranged at intervals so as not to overlap in a fallen state and inter-pleat portions (85) overlapping in the state in which the pleats (80) are fallen; and elongated resilient and elastic members (90) provided between opposing surfaces (80a and 80b) of the pleats (80) along a longitudinal direction of the pleats (80). The pleats (80) are continuously or intermittently joined in the longitudinal direction of the pleats (80) such that at least the opposing surfaces (80a and 80b) of base portions (81) are not spaced from each other. Outer surfaces of the pleats (80) are not joined to the inter-pleat portions (85) except for both longitudinal ends of the pleats (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiko Adachi, Akiko Honda, Michiyo Taneda, Yosuke Mori
  • Patent number: 10376424
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a base-structure and an elevatable structure known as a flat-back protection feature, that is capable of rising above the base-structure during article use. The flat-back protection feature utilizes either differences in material length compared with the length of the adjacent base-structure, or elastic materials, to maintain the feature elevation above the base-structure, while the article is in an extended condition. The flat-back protection feature extends into the intergluteal cleft of a wearer during use. Embossment features on the absorbent article are used to facilitate folding of the absorbent article, enhance the functionality of the protection feature, and/or improve the ease of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: SoHyun S. Park, JaeEun Park
  • Patent number: 10226389
    Abstract: A pant type disposable absorbent product comprising a front body panel, a back body panel positioned at a distance from said front body panel, and an absorbent member, said absorbent product having a longitudinal central axis X-X and a transverse central axis Y-Y; said front body panel being substantially rectangular, and having a waist edge, two side edges, and an inward edge comprising a crotch edge, and leg opening edges on each side of the crotch edge, between the crotch edge and each side edge, said front body panel being at least partially elasticized, said back body panel having a waist edge, two side edges, a crotch edge, and leg opening edges on each side of the crotch edge, between the crotch edge and each side edge, wherein a distance from the crotch edge to the waist edge is greater than the length of the side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AB
    Inventor: Lucas Bäck
  • Patent number: 10022279
    Abstract: Provided is a disposable urine-absorption pad with which production costs are reduced, and with which a function for inhibiting the occurrence or aggravation of bedsores is imparted by facilitating relative movement of a skin-contact sheet in a back-and-forth direction with respect to a pad main body. This urine-absorption pad includes: an outer surface sheet; an absorption body; an inner surface sheet; a left side sheet; a right side sheet; an overlap sheet; and a low friction member. The overlap sheet is provided to a gluteal region. A right side edge of the overlap sheet is joined to a left side part of the right side sheet. A left side edge of the overlap sheet is joined to a right side part of the left side sheet. The low friction member is provided between the overlap sheet and the inner surface sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Haruki Toda, Takahito Nagai
  • Patent number: 9943449
    Abstract: An absorbent article with a primary visual fullness indicator and a secondary visual wetness indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mattias Schmidt, Miguel Alvaro Robles, Donald Carroll Roe, Michael Divo
  • Patent number: 9827149
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline, a front region, a crotch region, and a back region. The absorbent article has a main portion, a side portion, and a waist portion. The waist portion has a belt portion that has a front belt portion having elastomeric material and a back belt portion having elastomeric material. The front belt portion has a first elastic section and a second elastic section, each section having force zones. The back belt portion has a third elastic section and a fourth elastic section, each section having force zones. The force zones in the portions alternate between a high force zone and a low force zone in at least one belt portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Masaharu Nishikawa, Jacob Alan Barnhorst
  • Patent number: 9782305
    Abstract: An absorbent article is provided with a central elastic material for positioning in a state in which it is extended in the front/rear direction in the outer direction in relation to an absorbent body, and an elastic material cover sheet which abuts the outer direction side surface of the central elastic material. The elastic material cover sheet covers an extension region where the central elastic material is positioned in an extended state, and a non-extension region where the central elastic material is positioned in a non-extended state. An adhesive agent for fixing in the extended state is coated onto the central elastic material of the extension region. An adhesive agent is coated onto at least the non-extension region of the outer direction side surface of the elastic material cover sheet, and the adhesive agent coated onto the outer direction side surface penetrates to the inner direction side surface of the elastic material cover sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotomo Mukai, Kenji Takeuchi, Takaya Arayama
  • Patent number: 9782304
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes: a sheet-type leakage-preventing body; absorbent body, at least one layer arranged on the leakage-preventing body top, which absorb fluids; pair of left and right floating leg gathers on the absorbent body top, extending in longitudinal direction from the main body front end of the absorbent article to the rear end, traversing a front body section, crotch part, and rear body section. Each floating leg gathers have a top and trailing parts adjoining the top part. Front and rear ends of the floating leg gathers are joined respectively to the vicinity of the front and rear end of the absorbent article main body. Trailing parts trail downwards from top parts towards the absorbent body. At least one part of the trailing parts of the left and right floating leg gathers is mutually connected in the lower end area forming a channel for bodily fluids inside trailing parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Migaku Suzuki, Yoshio Hirai
  • Patent number: 9737444
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article comprising a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and second waist region; a first waist edge and a second waist edge; and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; the disposable absorbent article comprising a waistband and a leg gasketing system, wherein the waistband has a first gather count and the leg gasketing system has a second gather count such that the ratio of the first gather count to the second gather count is from about 0.75 to about 1.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kathleen Marie Lawson, Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Jeffrey Will Crosby
  • Patent number: 9730841
    Abstract: The present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles. The disposable absorbent articles include: (a) a body contacting surface; (b) a garment contacting surface opposite the body contacting surface; and (c) an inkjet printed wetness indicator which is seen through either the body contacting surface or the garment contacting surface. The wetness indicator includes a central graphic and a background graphic, the central graphic having at least one permanent ink composition and the background graphic having at least one water soluble ink composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Kuang Kai Liu
  • Patent number: 9700465
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent core, a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and a pair of elastically contractible cuffs, each of which is constructed of a continuous cuff material and has a standing cuff portion which includes one or more elastic members. Each elastically contractible cuff may be secured the topsheet about a longitudinal edge of the topsheet by an assembly bond, with a standing cuff portion laterally offset away from a longitudinal edge of the absorbent core and with one or more elastic members located outboard of the assembly bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Masaharu Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9636264
    Abstract: An absorbent article has a basic functionality of a skin contact sheet present and configured on the surface of an absorber such that it rises therefrom, in which no positional displacement occurs at a crotch part and which effectively avoids contact between a wearer's skin and urine/feces. The absorbent article has: a leak preventer in sheet form; an absorber arranged above the leak preventer and capable of absorbing a bodily fluid in at least one layer; a skin contact member arranged above the absorber, between a front part of the leak preventer and a rear part of the leak preventer, and that makes contact with a wearer's skin and is spaced apart from the absorber at a time of use; and a connecting unit that couples a part of the skin contact member corresponding to a crotch part of the wearer with the absorber at the time of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Migaku Suzuki, Yoshio Hirai
  • Patent number: 9492335
    Abstract: Absorbent articles that include elastics in multiple layers are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Sarah Marie Wade, Tina Marie Glahn, Gary Dean Lavon, Diana Woehnl Juratovac, Kaoru Ishihara, Masaharu Nishikawa, Ronald Joseph Zink, Anna Elizabeth Macura
  • Patent number: 9351885
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article in which waist elastics are attached at least in a rear waist region of front and rear waist regions so that a space between a core and the wearer's skin is formed which functions as a pocket for retaining excretions such as feces or the like. A diaper includes front and rear waist panels in which front and rear waist elastics are attached and a crotch panel extending therebetween. With regard to the crotch panel, front and rear end edges are joined to the skin facing sides of the front and rear waist panels respectively such that the front and rear end edges of the core are overlapped with the front and rear waist panels. In the front and rear waist panels, inelastic regions, first elastic regions, and second elastic regions are formed respectively. In the crotch panel, a pair of first cuffs in which the gasket elastics is attached are formed, and the front and rear end portions are intersected with the front and rear waist elastics in the gasket elastics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyasu Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9339420
    Abstract: An absorbent article having improved leakage protection when the wearer of the absorbent article is lying on their side. The absorbent article has a surge layer in liquid communication with a portion of the garment facing region and a portion of a side edge of the absorbent core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark WorldWide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Fleger Bishop, Brooke Ashley Zimmer, Angela Ann Johnston, Marcille Faye Ruman, Stephen Carl Baumgartner, Mary Alice Berceau, Joseph Daniel Coenen, Richard Norris Dodge, II, Adrienne Rae Loyd, Connie May McMorrow, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Katherine Carol Wheeler
  • Patent number: 9289332
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent pant that includes a central chassis and a belt structure is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Sarah Marie Wade, Gary Dean Lavon, Miguel Alvaro Robles
  • Patent number: 9283124
    Abstract: In a wearing article including front and rear waist panels and a crotch panel, a pair of leg sheets including backing sheets and leg elastics attached under tension between two layers of the respectively doubled up backing sheets extends along lateral edge portions of the crotch panel, and distal end portions of the leg sheets are attached to respective skin-facing surfaces of the front and rear waist panels through first and second joint regions. In this way, the pair of leg sheets has an elastically contractible region between the first and second joint regions and elastically relaxed regions in end portions located outboard of the first and second joint regions in a longitudinal direction, and the elastically relaxed regions are formed on surfaces thereof with gathers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hashimoto, Tetsuo Okubo
  • Patent number: 9168181
    Abstract: A method of forming a containment system for an absorbent article that includes a front end region, rear end region, a first elasticized leg cuff and a second elasticized leg cuff. The method includes providing a first containment flap and a second containment flap that can each include a stem, an inner flap projection, and an outer flap projection. The method can further include securing the outer flap projection of the first containment flap in at least a portion of at least one of the front end region and the rear end region and securing the outer flap projection of the second containment flap in at least a portion of at least one of the front end region and the rear end region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Scott Simon Craig Kirby, Rodney Allan Butler, Kylie Brooke Bridger, Jeffrey Alan DeBroux, David Fleger Bishop, Michael John Faulks
  • Patent number: 9155667
    Abstract: A pant-type wearing article comprises a front panel, a rear panel and a central panel. The front panel cooperates with the rear panel to form a waist region. The central panel includes a front end portion separably joined to the outer side of the waist region and a rear end portion separably joined to the outer side of the waist region. Side edges of the front end portion opposed to each other in the transverse direction are formed with front side corner regions and side edges of the rear end portion opposed to each other in the transverse direction are formed with rear side corner regions. At least one of the paired front side corner regions and the paired rear side corner regions is not joined to the outer surface of the waist region to form a gripper region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Ichikawa, Kenichi Sasayama, Kunihiko Katsuragawa
  • Patent number: 9072631
    Abstract: A leakage-preventing unit 50 of an absorbent article 1 is formed by elastic members 51 and sheets 52. The leakage-preventing unit 50 includes a central region C and a pair of end unit regions S positioned outside a longitudinal direction L from the central region C. The elastic members 51 includes a fixed unit 51A fixed to the sheet 52 in a state when the elastic members 51 extend in the longitudinal direction L and a free end 51B positioned outside the longitudinal direction L from the fixed unit 51A, which is not fixed to the sheet 52. The end unit regions S includes a joint processing unit 53A in which a joint process for joining the portions where the sheets 52 face each other is performed and a non-joint processing unit 53B in which the joint process is not performed. The free end 51B is arranged in the non-joint processing unit 53B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Nakajima, Yuichi Suzuki, Yuki Noda
  • Patent number: 9033947
    Abstract: Absorbent articles having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet are disclosed. The absorbent articles include a thermoplastic elastomer joined to or disposed in a stretch zone on at least one component or region of the absorbent article to impart an elastic resistance that provides sizing or shaping capabilities to the article. The absorbent article can be in the form of diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, wipes, bibs, incontinence briefs or inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Fred Naval Desai
  • Patent number: 9028632
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for assembling absorbent articles, and more particularly, diaper pants, each including a chassis connected with front and back elastic belts. As discussed in more detail below, opposing end regions of the chassis are connected with regions of the elastic belts where the elasticity of the elastic belts has been removed or deactivated. As discussed in more detail below, an elastic laminate may be formed by continuously bonding elastic strands between a first continuous substrate layer and a second continuous substrate layer. The elastic strands are then intermittently severed in light-bond regions of the elastic laminate. Adhesive on the laminate causes the severed elastic ends to retract or snap back from the light-bond regions at a relatively slower and/or controlled rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Uwe Schneider, Gary Dean LaVon
  • Publication number: 20150126953
    Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a chassis, front and rear waist regions, and a crotch region between the front and rear waist regions and a liquid-absorbent structure extending at least in the crotch region. The chassis includes a pair of first leg elastics, and a pair of second leg elastics. The first leg elastics are arranged so as to be rectilinear in the longitudinal direction. The second leg elastics are arranged at a distance from the longitudinal axis as viewed in the transverse direction larger than a distance from the longitudinal axis at which the first leg elastics are arranged and have rectilinear portions extending in the longitudinal direct at least in a portion of the crotch region close to the front waist region and curved portions spaced apart outwardly from each other from the rear waist region side ends of the rectilinear portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasayama, Kunihiko Katsuragawa