Upstanding Side Flap Patents (Class 604/385.28)
  • Patent number: 6616645
    Abstract: Absorbent diaper pants having a front part (2), a back part (3) with an elastic member (20) in the waist hole (12) region, and a crotch part (4) with elastic hems (19) in the diaper pants (1) leg holes (13), wherein the front part (2) and the back part (3) are provided with fastening means (21), and on the diaper pants (1) inner surface side a changeable absorbent pad (14) is arranged, and the diaper pants (1) are further provided with a therapeutic orthopaedic pad (29); characterized in that the orthopaedic pad (29) is located in a rectangular housing (27) arranged on the diaper pants (1) facing side, while this housing (27) is by its front and back transverse ends, in a takeable apart manner, secured to the end edges (9, 10) of the front part (2) and of the back part (3), and the absorbent pad (14) is inserted inside retaining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Zden{haeck over (e)}k Morávek
  • Patent number: 6616646
    Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a surface structure having a liquid-permeable surface sheet located on a liquid-receiving side; a back sheet; and an absorbent core sandwiched between the surface structure and the back sheet. In an area including at least a centerline extending in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the surface sheet is corrugated to form recesses and ridges extending in the longitudinal direction and alternating with each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The ridges are given an elastically shrinking function in the longitudinal direction at least at their crests or vicinities thereof so that the surface structure is formed into a curved shape. The surface structure thus curved can fit the shape of a crotch. Therefore, the liquid is hard to flow in the transverse direction to prevent the leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Wada, Yoshihisa Fujioka
  • Patent number: 6616644
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin provided on its upper surface along transversely opposite side portions with a pair of barrier flaps, respectively. Each of the barrier straps are stretchable outward transversely of the napkin and so that a wearer's thighs and peripheral edges of an undergarment adjacent leg-openings are protected from being soiled with body liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 6613033
    Abstract: A pant-like absorbent garment having curved leg cuffs has a gasket-like fit. A chassis of the absorbent garment defines first and second leg openings with curved cut-outs in the chassis. A bonded portion is located between a first portion and a second portion of each of two elastic strands. The bonded portions are bonded to the first and second leg openings about a periphery of the curved cut-outs, thereby forming finished seams. Second portions of the elastic strands can form rolled edges. The resulting absorbent garment has a comfortable, gasket-like fit and an aesthetically pleasing, finished look about the leg openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Joseph D. Coenen, Shawn A. Quereshi, Robert Eugene Vogt
  • Patent number: 6613955
    Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed comprising a thin, flexible wicking barrier with a horizontal portion that is folded back upon itself to create a substantially longitudinal cuff. The wicking barrier can separate a central absorbent member from an outer absorbent member for improved center fill, with the cuff open toward the central absorbent member to intercept liquid flowing toward the longitudinal sides of the article. The wicking barrier cuff desirably contains spacer means to hold the cuff open, providing void space to receive fluid. In one embodiment, lateral compression of the article during use causes the wicking barrier cuff to lift up from the surface of the article, creating a bubble of topsheet material and wicking barrier material (a “dynamic bubble cuff”) that intercepts fluid and improves body fit and leakage prevention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Fung-jou Chen
  • Publication number: 20030163105
    Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed having an absorbent with first and second longitudinal sides. A liquid permeable wrapper encloses the absorbent. The wrapper extending laterally outward from each of the first and second longitudinal sides a distance of at least about 10 millimeters to form a pair of fringes. The pair of fringes are capable of being biased upward to form a pair of upstanding side walls when the absorbent article is placed in an undergarment. The upstanding side walls form a pair of reservoirs located adjacent to the absorbent. The reservoirs are capable of retaining body fluid that has run off of the wrapper until the body fluid can be absorbed by the absorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Denise Crites Tears, Amanda Lee O'Connor, Russell Gerald Mayer, Stephen Alan Kolasinski, Wendy Jean Wegner, Chad Krueger
  • Publication number: 20030163108
    Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed having a liquid permeable bodyside cover, a liquid permeable garment side liner and an absorbent core enclosed by the cover and the liner. The absorbent article also has a pair of fringes formed by joining the cover to the liner. The pair of fringes extend laterally outward from the absorbent core and are capable of being biased upward to form a pair of upstanding side walls when placed in an undergarment. The pair of upstanding side walls form a pair of reservoirs located adjacent to the absorbent core. The pair of reservoirs are capable of retaining body fluid that has run off of the cover until the body fluid can be absorbed by the absorbent core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Denise Crites Tears, Amanda Lee O'Connor, Russell Gerald Mayer, Stephen Alan Kolasinski, Wendy Jean Wegner, Chad Krueger
  • Patent number: 6605071
    Abstract: A toddler's disposable or reusable garment (10) includes “brief looking” undergarments (12) with a releasable panel (18) that extends down from the back of the waistband (16), through the crotch, and upward for connection to the top front of the waist structure of the undergarment. An absorbent disposable liner/diaper (14) of hourglass configuration is placed in overlying relationship with respect to the releasable panel (18), and the upper end portion (36) of the releasable panel and is connected in underlying relationship with respect to the top front panel 28, allowing the parent to have expedient access to the absorbent disposable liner/diaper for the convenience of changing the liner/diaper without requiring the removal of the garment from about the waist of the toddler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventors: Vivian Gray, Pamela G. deMonye
  • Patent number: 6603053
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet, of which the surface to be in contact with the skin of a wearer has a mixture layer. The mixture layer includes (a) an oily ingredient which is liquid or semi-solid at 25° C., and (b) an ester compound of dextrin with a fatty acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Hisanaka
  • Patent number: 6602235
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sanitary absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin that has the ability to protect the undergarment of the wearer from being soiled by menstrual liquid. The sanitary napkin has a main body with panels that originate from its longitudinal side edges. A distal end of each panel that is continuous with the respective longitudinal side edge is folded underneath and affixed to the barrier later of the main body to form a looping member and a freely extending flap. As a result the effective affixation point of each flap is located inwardly of the respective side edge of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Boulanger, Pramod Mavinkurve, Tara Glasgow, Anthony Ng, Arnie Lingertat
  • Publication number: 20030144644
    Abstract: An absorbent article 1 comprising a liquid retentive absorbent layer and a liquid impermeable leak preventive layer and including, in its longitudinal direction, an excretion portion facing section A which is placed opposite a wearer's liquid excretion portion, when in wear, and a rear section B which is placed more on the back side than the excretion portion facing section A, when in wear, wherein a leak preventive wall 5 is disposed on opposite side portions in the longitudinal direction, the leak preventive wall 5 comprising a basal wall portion and a planar elastic expansible/contractible portion connected to an upper end portion of the basal wall portion and being raised in the excretion portion facing section A and in the rear section B, and wherein a distance from an upper end portion of the basal wall portion to the leak preventive layer in the rear section is shorter than a comparable distance in the excretion portion facing section A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Atsushi Murai, Tetsuya Kusagawa, Miyuki Kondo, Mitsugu Hamajima
  • Publication number: 20030144643
    Abstract: An elasticized web has a gatherable substrate and a multi-strand elastic yarn affixed to the gatherable substrate at a plurality of fixation locations. So that the yarn can be affixed to the substrate without the use of an adhesive, the yarn is subjected to forces to create partial delamination of the yarn at the fixation locations and a portion of the gatherable substrate is caused to pass between the thus delaminated strands of the multi-strand elastic yarn. The elasticized web of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in disposable absorbent articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Christian Jarpenberg, Michael Linder, Jose-Maria Mansisidor, Asa Lindstrom, Karin Lindmark, Ingemar Fernfors, Kenneth Strannemalm
  • Publication number: 20030139711
    Abstract: An absorbent article, at least a portion of which comprises a skin care composition that comprises an enzyme inhibitor and is at least partially transferred from the article to the skin of a wearer of the article as a result of normal contact, wearer motion and/or body heat. The enzyme inhibitor is transferred to the skin with the skin care composition and is available at the skin/urine and skin/feces interfaces to inhibit enzymatic activity on the skin and to reduce or prevent the occurrence of inflammation. Repeated application of similar treated articles to the wearer's skin provides an available source with which the enzyme inhibitor transfers onto the skin continuously over time and accumulates to provide a proactive defense against harmful enzymes for the treatment and/or prevention of diaper dermatitis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Francis James Rourke, Scott Edward Osborne
  • Publication number: 20030139724
    Abstract: The invention relates to an absorbent article for taking up body fluids, with a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a crotch portion (8) and two end portions (6, 7), and having side edges (9, 10) extending in the longitudinal direction and end edges (11, 12) extending in the transverse direction, and comprising a liquid-permeable cover sheet (2) and a liquid-tight cover sheet (3), and an absorbent body (4) arranged between the cover sheets (2, 3), and further comprising barriers which are arranged along the side edges (9, 10) of the article and which are raised up from the liquid-permeable cover sheet (2). The liquid-permeable cover sheet (2) has a central zone (30) which is arranged essentially in the crotch portion (8) of the article, and two end zones (31, 32) which are arranged at the end portions (6, 7) of the article, the liquid-permeable cover sheet (2) being more hydrophilic in the central zone (30) than in the end zones (31, 32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Christina Ragnarson, Kent Hermasson, Asa Lindstrom
  • Publication number: 20030135178
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an absorbent article that includes a top sheet, a back sheet and an absorbent laminate core disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet. The absorbent laminate core preferably is comprised of at least four layers, whereby two of the layers are outer layers, (an upper layer and a lower layer), one of the inner layers is a central fibrous layer containing from about 30 to about 50% by weight SAP, and the other inner layer is at least one layer selected from an acquisition layer, a distribution layer, an additional fibrous layer optionally containing SAP, a wicking layer, a storage layer, or combinations and fragments thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Ebba A. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20030135177
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a multi-component absorbent core composite for an absorbent article, and more particularly to a multi-component absorbent core composite comprising at least two absorbent core units having different properties, whereby at least one of the absorbent core units includes a mixture of tow fibers and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) particles. The at least two absorbent core units are associated and arranged with one another to form the multi-component absorbent core composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Andrew Baker
  • Patent number: 6592563
    Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a main body of a support sheet, a liquid absorbing layer and a liquid-permeable sheet; and leakage preventing side walls provided on two sides of the main body and extending in the longitudinal direction, to have root ends jointed to the surface of the liquid receiving side and to have free ends positioned apart from the surface of the liquid receiving side. Each leakage preventing side wall is formed of at least one side wall sheet to have an inner sheet portion facing the widthwise inner side of the absorbent article and an outer sheet portion facing the widthwise outer side of the absorbent article. The inner sheet portion are provided with holes leading to the inside of the inner and outer sheet portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Tatsuya Tamura, Yuuki Noda
  • Patent number: 6592562
    Abstract: An absorbent article is provided for use in the perineal area of the body. Compliant sealing gaskets are pre-formed to extend outward from the central portion of the article. The gaskets may be formed by looping a strip of material so as to form a compliant cuff which bears against the user's body in a comfortable manner. An elastic member placed in tension so as to impart an arcuate shape to the article may be placed inside a cavity formed by the cuff. The gaskets may be applied to an article having wings attached to the central portion so as to form pockets for retaining the elasticized portions of the panty crotch. The proximal ends of the gaskets are disposed outward of the pockets and the distance between the pockets is less than the width of the panty crotch so that the body facing said of the article is placed in tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Menard, Dennis C. Holtman, Peter W. Jackson, James C. Johns
  • Publication number: 20030125698
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent pant having fluid handling characteristics useful for encouraging toilet training. The pant has a limited absorbent capacity of between about 30 grams and about 400 grams, which contributes to a slow fluid intake, pooled fluid, and delayed fluid lock-up in the absorbent pad. The pant also has considerable fluid distribution, resulting in a large area of wetness. Each of these fluid handling characteristics provides awareness to a wearer of the filled status of the pant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Marcille Faye Ruman, Lawrence Howell Sawyer, Christopher Peter Olson, Shirlee Ann Weber
  • Patent number: 6585712
    Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a support body for confronting an external wear; a liquid absorbing member positioned on the liquid-receiving side of the support body; and two side wall sheets disposed on two sides of the support body lying opposite one another in the widthwise direction. The side wall sheets extend longitudinally of the support body and are attached at their root ends to the support body. The liquid absorbing member is attached between and supported by the opposite side wall sheets but is not attached directly to the support body so that the liquid absorbing member is movable over the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Yoshimasa
  • Publication number: 20030120248
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article having a barrier leg cuff and an elasticized outer leg cuff is disclosed. The disposable absorbent article comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed therebetween, an elasticized outer leg cuff, and a barrier leg cuff. The elasticized outer leg cuff is disposed adjacent to a longitudinal side edge of the absorbent article. The elasticized outer leg cuff has a base and a gasket cuff supported by the base at a joint of the base to the gasket cuff. The gasket cuff is provided with elasticity and has an inner cuff extending laterally inwardly from the joint and an outer cuff extending laterally outwardly from the joint. The barrier leg cuff has a proximal edge and a distal edge. The barrier leg cuff is disposed inboard of the gasketing cuff and the distal edge of the barrier leg cuff is spaced away from the top surface of the topsheet to form a pocket by a combination of the inner cuff, the base and the barrier leg cuff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Kouichi Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20030120247
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article having an elasticized outer leg cuff is disclosed. The disposable absorbent article has an inner surface, an outer surface, a crotch region, longitudinal side edges and lateral end edges. The disposable absorbent article comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed therebetween, and a side flap extending laterally outwardly from the absorbent core. The side flap has a proximal flap and a distal flap. The absorbent article further comprises an elasticized outer leg cuff. The elasticized outer leg cuff is disposed adjacent to the longitudinal side edge in the crotch region and has a base and a gasket cuff supported by the base at a joint of the base to the gasket cuff. The gasket cuff is provided with an elastic material and has an inner cuff extending laterally inwardly from the joint and an outer cuff extending laterally outwardly from the joint. The base comprises the proximal flap. The gasket cuff comprises the distal flap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Kouichi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6582412
    Abstract: A disposable, one-piece swimsuit for girls includes a bodice attached to a chassis. The bodice is designed to provide upper torso coverage while the chassis can include absorbent and containment features. The upper torso coverage contributes to social decency and also protects the wearer's skin against excessive exposure to the sun. The absorbent and containment features can either be integrated within the chassis or can be in the form of a separate, pant-like, absorbent garment covered by the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah L. Christoffel, Catherine M. Hancock-Cooke, Marci E. Sojka, Laurie Couture-Dorschner, Louise C. Coe
  • Publication number: 20030114817
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of achieving low tension, highly conformable elasticized areas in a nonwoven web construction such as may be suitable for the waistbands or leg openings of disposable absorbent pant garments, cuffs on sleeves of medical garments, or the like. A web, or webs, of nonwoven material which make up the substrate for the elasticized area are provided to be very light weight and flexible and provide the minimal amount of substrate to which an elastomeric liquid barrier material is affixed. The absorbent, or liquid retention, section of an absorbent garment article made according to the present invention will have its own barrier layer facing the backsheet, in order that the backsheet may be composed of a light and conformable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Harold Roessler, Michael Tod Morman
  • Publication number: 20030114819
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article includes liquid-pervious topsheets, a liquid-impervious chassis and first and second liquid-absorbent panels. A first absorbent panel is covered with the topsheet and lies on the side of a front waist region. A second absorbent panel is interposed between the topsheet and chassis and continuously lies in a crotch region and a rear waist region. The first absorbent panel has a proximal end extending close to one of end flaps in a transverse direction and a first distal end supposed, along its transversely opposite side edges, to distal side edges of respective leakage-barrier cuffs so that an excrement receiving pocket adapted to open from the front waist region toward a crotch region is defined between the chassis and the first distal end of the first absorbent panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Yasushi Sayama, Toshiyasu Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20030114827
    Abstract: An absorbent garment has a garment chassis, a pair of inner containment flaps and a pair of outer containment flaps. The inner and outer containment flaps are arranged on the garment chassis to inhibit leaking of body exudates from the garment during wear. In one embodiment, the inner containment flaps each have an elastic tension as determined by an elastic tension test which is substantially equal to an elastic tension of each outer containment flap as determined by the same test. In another embodiment, the inner containment flaps each have a height which is substantially equal to a height of each outer containment flap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale A. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20030114826
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of achieving selectively elasticized zones on nonwoven web substrates, such as may be suitable for the waistbands of disposable absorbent pant garments, cuffs on sleeves of medical garments, or the like. A web, or webs, of nonwoven material which make up the substrate for the elasticized area are provided to be inherently extendable in the transverse, or lateral, direction of the material web at the time the elastic material is affixed to the substrate. If the elastic material is affixed in an untensioned state, a flat waistband without gathering of the substrate may be had for a very efficient seal against the skin of the wearer. If the elastic material is affixed to the substrate in a tensioned state, a waist band with gathering of the substrate may be had to allow for two-stage expansion via the gathers and the expansion of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Harold Roessler, Michael Tod Morman, Paul Theodore Van Gompel
  • Publication number: 20030105447
    Abstract: An absorbent product has a fluid permeable top sheet, a fluid impermeable backing sheet, an absorbent core, which absorbent core has an upper side, a bottom side, two longitudinally running sides and two laterally running sides, whereby the product further has two longitudinally running barrier flaps at the longitudinally running sides of the absorbent core and whereby the top sheet covers the upper side of the absorbent core. The top sheet, in addition to the upper side of the absorbent core, also covers at least the longitudinally running sides of the absorbent core and a part of the bottom side of the absorbent core. The top sheet has at least one connection to the backing sheet at the bottom side of the absorbent core, and the barrier flaps are connected to the backing sheet at the longitudinally running sides of the absorbent core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Urban Widlund, Eva Simmons, Anders Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 6572595
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet, the backsheet, and the absorbent core 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 garment is characterized by a vertical longitudinal plane that extends substantially centrally through the front, back and crotch regions. Each of the front and back regions includes a pair of ear portions extending in substantially opposite lateral directions with respect to the longitudinal plane. Each ear portion is a breathable stretchable layer assembly having a plurality of vent sites. Further, each ear portion includes an outer layer that is an extension of the backsheet and which extends laterally to the side edge of the ear portion, and an inner layer that is an extension of the topsheet and which also extends laterally to the side edge of the ear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Associated Hygienic Products
    Inventors: Walter V. Klemp, Daniel D. Gardner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6572596
    Abstract: The invention comprises an absorbent garment and a method for making an absorbent garment. An absorbent garment is provided comprising elastic side belts attached at an angle to the main body of the garment to provide a better fit to the user. Adjustment strips preferably are affixed to the elastic side belts and to the main body of the garment to allow the user to repeatedly adjust the garment while the garment is being worn. A method for making the absorbent garment also is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunita Pargass, Ellyn L. Conger, Stacy Yeater
  • Patent number: 6569140
    Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a body portion including, a liquid permeable front surface sheet for facing the wearer, a back surface sheet, and an absorbent layer sandwiched between the front surface sheet and the back surface sheet; and leakage preventing walls extending in a longitudinal direction of the body portion and arranged at two sides thereof in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The leakage preventing wall includes a side wall part upstanding from the surface of the body portion and a skin contacting part extending from the upper end of the side wall part toward the outside of the body portion in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Tatsuya Tamura, Yuuki Noda
  • Publication number: 20030093056
    Abstract: A disposable worn article N comprises an absorbent body M including a core C and a liquid impermeable backsheet B, and a cuff 10 including a contact portion 12 and a stand-up portion 11. In the vicinity of a central portion of the cuff 10, a free end 123 of the contact portion 12 and a connecting portion 13 between the contact portion 12 and the stand-up portion 11 are arranged in the order of the free end 123 and the connecting portion 13 in a direction that transverses a direction in which the cuff 10 extends and that extends from an inside to an outside of the absorbent body M. In the vicinity of an end portion of the cuff 10, the free end 123 and the connecting portion 13 are arranged in the order of the connecting portion 13 and the free end 123 in the direction that transverses the direction in which the cuff 10 extends and that extends from the inside to the outside of the absorbent body M.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Syuhei Kurata
  • Patent number: 6562015
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment includes a backsheet, a liner sheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. The backsheet and liner sheets are shaped to form a pair of spaced-apart leg openings with a front waist area, a rear waist and a central crotch area. A pair of ribbons are disposed in opposing curved contours along at least the front and rear areas of the garment and optionally extend through the crotch area of the garment to form a generally oval-shaped exudate containment region about the crotch area of the garment. Each ribbon is fastened to the garment along one longitudinal ribbon edge to form free ribbon edges which rise from the garment to provide a raised barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Lorraine Dawn Wilson
  • Patent number: 6562017
    Abstract: An absorbent article having raisable strips with inner portions of the raisable strips arranged at the opposite side of the absorbent article being folded to have a Z-shaped cross section. Bottom portions of the Z-shaped inner portions are bonded to a top sheet of the absorbent article, and elastic members are mounted in top portions of the Z-shaped inner portions so that the top portions are raised flat together with slanted side portions of the Z-shaped inner portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakaoka, Masaru Fujioka, Satoshi Maeda, Kazuyo Mori
  • Publication number: 20030088227
    Abstract: A disposable diaper comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. The topsheet and backsheet define a periphery and longitudinal edges, portions of the longitudinal edges define leg openings when the diaper is worn. The diaper has a discrete edge seal folded about and joined to the longitudinal edges at least at the portions defining leg openings when the diaper is worn. An apparatus for affixing a discrete edge seal onto a portion of a longitudinal edge of a continuous web and methods for affixing a affixing discrete edge seal onto a predetermined portion of a longitudinal edge of a continuous web are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Uwe Schneider, Christoph Johann Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20030088230
    Abstract: An absorbent garment comprises a body panel and an absorbent composite having a longitudinally extending length and a laterally extending width and comprising a backsheet, a topsheet and a retention portion disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. The absorbent composite is connected to the body panel and comprises a side margin that is not attached to the body panel and that extends laterally outboard and terminates in a free edge. In one preferred embodiment, the free edge does not extend along the entirety of the length of the absorbent composite. Rather, the entire width of an end of the absorbent composite is secured to the body panel. Preferably, the width of the side margin along the portion of the absorbent composite overlapping the body panel is relatively constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Bridget A. Balogh, David F. Bishop, Danielle K. Minnich
  • Publication number: 20030088222
    Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article including: a liquid-permeable topsheet; a backsheet; an absorbent storage layer between the topsheet and the backsheet; and a cushion layer between the topsheet and the absorbent storage layer. When a tensile force of 490 mN per 25 mm width is applied to the topsheet in a transverse direction crossing the cushion layer, an extension is at least 30%. When the absorbent article is pressed from above in a region having the cushion layer, an initial thickness T0 of the pressed region of the absorbent article for a pressure of 49 Pa is at least 10 mm, a compressive hardness (LC value) is 0.5 to 0.65, and a compressive recovery (RC value) is at least 35%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Yoshimasa, Kazuya Nishitani
  • Publication number: 20030078557
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a double vertical cuff assembly comprises a first set of vertical cuffs attached to the surface of a liquid permeable topsheet and generally positioned on top of the absorbent core. The topsheet is preferably wrapped around an absorbent core forming a core assembly. The vertical cuffs attached to the topsheet extend upward from the respective side edges of the core assembly to define a first region there between for the containment of body exudates. The core assembly is positioned on the center of a liquid impermeable backsheet between a second set of vertical cuffs. The space between the second set of vertical cuffs and the core assembly define a second containment region for body exudates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph B. Vergona
  • Patent number: 6551296
    Abstract: A sanitary absorbent article is provided which has a generally rectangular main body and two positioning tabs laterally extending from the main body for use in securing the article to an undergarment of a user. The tabs, when folded, provide upstanding barriers that extend along the longitudinal edges of the main body to prevent leakage of menstrual fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Boulanger
  • Patent number: 6547773
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article having a pair of barrier leg cuffs and a pair of side panels is provided. The barrier leg cuffs are disposed along opposing sides of an absorbent core and the side panels are disposed outboard of the barrier leg cuffs along opposing sides of the absorbent article. The barrier leg cuffs are integrally formed with the side panels from a single nonwoven ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David C. Kleinschmidt, Karen M. Davis, Terrill A. Young
  • Patent number: 6544243
    Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core therebetween. The topsheet is composed of a central sheet covering the core and a pair of side sheets lying at transversely opposite sides of the central sheet and extending longitudinally of the diaper, together with the backsheet. Each side sheet has a proximal zone bonded to the backsheet without overlapping a side edge of the central sheet bonded to the backsheet. An outer zone bonded to the remaining zone of the backsheet lying outside the proximal zone forms an elasticized first side flap and an inner zone extending above the central zone forms an elasticized second side flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Inoue, Yasushi Sayama, Shunsuke Fujino
  • Patent number: 6533765
    Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a diaper, containing cuffs with a skin care composition disposed thereon. The skin care composition disposed on the cuffs is transferable to the wearer's skin by normal contact and/or wearer motion and/or body heat. The cuffs are at least partially assembled using an oil resistant adhesive that is both material friendly and process friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ted Lee Blaney, Mark Andrew Thornton
  • Publication number: 20030040731
    Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article including a main body portion and a pair of liquid impermeable members. Each liquid impermeable member includes front and rear end regions and an intermediate region therebetween. The intermediate region of each liquid impermeable member has a non-fixed portion to form a leakage preventing wall. At least one of the front and rear end regions of each liquid impermeable member has a flap which is allowed to be folded back, beyond corresponding one of transversely opposed side edges of the main body portion, against a garment surface of the main body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Nozaki, Wataru Yoshimasa
  • Publication number: 20030028167
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sanitary napkin having extensions, parts of which are to be folded back and fixed on an undergarment in use. The sanitary napkin includes: a liquid-permeable topsheet disposed on one side of the sanitary napkin to cover a central region thereof; a backsheet; an absorbent layer disposed therebetween; and leakage preventing portions disposed on laterally opposed side portions of the topsheet and extending in a longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin. Joints between the respective leakage preventing portions and the topsheet are formed to extend in the longitudinal direction. The extensions are portions of the sanitary napkin extending laterally outwardly beyond the joints. Each extension includes a flexible region for facilitating folding thereof, which is spaced laterally outwardly apart from corresponding one of the joints and has a stiffness lower than that of a region between the flexible region and the corresponding joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kashiwagi, Wataru Yoshimasa, Etsuko Tagami
  • Patent number: 6514234
    Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a pair of barrier flaps formed on an inner side of a disposable diaper. The barrier flaps are made of a spun bond nonwoven fabric of wick/sleeve type conjugated fibers having a polyethylen sleeve component. The spun bond nonwoven fabric has a relative hardness of 40˜50 mm in an MD-direction, 20˜37 mm in a CD-direction as measured by the cantilever method and a basis weight of 15˜30 g/m2. The respective barrier flaps are provided in their sealing surface zones with elastic members secured under tension thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Shimizu, Toshiyasu Yoshioka, Tomoko Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20030023220
    Abstract: A pants-type disposable wearing article includes a chassis member and a liquid-absorbent member. A plurality of waist-surrounding elastic members extending in a waist-surrounding direction across front and rear waist regions are spaced one from another at a given distance in a longitudinal direction and secured in a stretched state to the chassis member so that a plurality of gathers are formed on the chassis member as the elastic members contract. The gathers formed by undulation of the chassis member by contraction of the elastic members extend continuously in the longitudinal direction, i.e., in the direction generally perpendicular to the elastic members, so as to be arranged in the waist-surrounding direction substantially at regular intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Kazuo Ukegawa, Masato Isono, Hiroaki Kamio, Toru Oba
  • Publication number: 20030023221
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sanitary napkin having extensions. The sanitary napkin includes: a liquid-permeable topsheet disposed on one side of the sanitary napkin to cover a central region thereof; a backsheet; an absorbent layer disposed therebetween; and leakage preventing portions disposed on laterally opposed side portions of the topsheet and extending in a longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin. Joints between the respective leakage preventing portions and the topsheet are formed to extend in the longitudinal direction. The extensions are portions of the sanitary napkin extending laterally outwardly beyond the joints. Each extension includes: a flexible region for facilitating folding thereof, which is spaced laterally outwardly apart from corresponding one of the joints: and a buffer region of a predetermined width between the flexible region and the corresponding joint. The compression energy of the buffer region in its thickness direction is in a range of 0.4 to 1.0 (N·m/m 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kashiwagi, Wataru Yoshimasa, Etsuko Tagami
  • Publication number: 20030023225
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article includes a liquid-pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet, a liquid-absorbent base panel interposed between these two sheets, a pair of side flaps lying outside transversely opposite side edges of the base panel so as to extend in a longitudinal direction, a pair of leak-barrier cuffs attached to the respective side flaps, elastic members secured to distal side edge portions of the cuffs. The article further includes a pair of liquid-absorbent side panels attached to opposed surfaces of the leak-barrier cuffs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Yasushi Sayama
  • Publication number: 20030018314
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sanitary napkin including: a backsheet; a liquid-permeable topsheet; and an absorbent layer which is capable of absorbing a liquid and disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. At least a part of a region in which the absorbent layer is provided is adapted to receive a liquid. The liquid-receiving region includes a raised region in which a hydrophilic material layer is provided. The raised region is continuously elongated in a longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin. The raised region includes a front region for coming into contact with a vaginal opening of a wearer and a rear region for coming into contact with buttocks of the wearer. When the front region and the rear region are respectively depressed with a given pressure, an amount of the depression of the rear region is larger than an amount of the depression of the front region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Nozaki, Wataru Yoshimasa, Kazuya Nishitani
  • Patent number: 6508796
    Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a main body; and leakage preventing side walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the main body and lying opposite one another in the widthwise direction of the main body. Each leakage preventing side wall has a raised portion which is joined at a root end onto a liquid-receiving side surface of the main body and raised therefrom to have a free end positioned apart from the liquid-receiving side surface. Each leakage preventing side wall is provided with a first elastically shrinking member for applying an elastic shrinking force along a shrinking action line approaching the free end from the root end as it extends from the two longitudinal end positions of the raised portion of the leakage preventing side wall toward the longitudinally midway position of the leakage preventing side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Tatsuya Tamura, Yuuki Noda