And Waist Opening Patents (Class 604/385.29)
  • Patent number: 9320658
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaya Arayama, Hirotomo Mukai
  • Patent number: 9139939
    Abstract: Methods of treating laminates, treated laminates, and articles with treated laminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert Haines Turner, Jonathan Aaron Lu, Antonius Lambertus De Beer, Lisa Marie Reynolds, Randall Allen Myers, Walter Douglas Daniels, David D. Newkirk
  • Patent number: 9107778
    Abstract: A disposable wearing includes a crotch chassis having a liquid-impervious sheet. The crotch chassis has a main region and opposite lateral portions lying outboard of the main region in the transverse direction and provided with leg elastic elements extending in the longitudinal direction. The opposite lateral portions respectively have fold lines extending in the longitudinal direction, outer side zones lying outboard of the respective fold lines in the transverse direction and inner side zones lying inboard of the respective fold lines in the transverse direction. The outer side zones of the respective lateral portions are folded inward and fixed to the associated inner side zones via associated bond zones extending in the longitudinal direction to form a pair of elastic lateral portions having folded back regions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasayama, Makoto Ichikawa, Kunihiko Katsuragawa
  • Patent number: 9089458
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner for facing the wearer, an outer cover for facing away from the wearer, and an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover. A primary fastening system is provided for securing the article in a wear configuration having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings spaced from the waist opening. A secondary fastening system comprises a pair of tabs having a fastener region selectively attachable to the article and an attachment region defining a portion of the primary fastening system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Faulks, Robert Lee Popp, Michael D. Sperl, Nancy Meetz, Sandra M. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9072632
    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: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Masaharu Nishikawa, Jacob Alan Barnhorst
  • Patent number: 9044357
    Abstract: A diaper includes front and rear waist members and a crotch member. The front and rear waist members are respectively formed with first narrowly-spaced elastic zones, widely-spaced elastic zones and second narrowly-spaced elastic zones adjacent one to another. Front and rear ends of the crotch member are bonded to respective sides of the front and rear waist members so that the crotch member's front and rear ends may positionally correspond to the second narrowly-spaced elastic zones. Cover sheets are attached to the side of the crotch member to cover the crotch member's front and rear ends respectively. A length dimension of the cover sheet in the longitudinal direction is set to be smaller than those of the front and rear waist members and a length dimension of the cover sheet in the transverse direction is substantially equal to those of the front and rear waist members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Ichikawa, Kenichi Sasayama, Kunihiko Katsuragawa
  • Patent number: 9039669
    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 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Masaharu Nishikawa, Jacob Alan Barnhorst
  • Publication number: 20150126954
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is disclosed that includes a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and second waist region, a waist edge in the first waist region, at least one waistband in the first waist region adjacent the waist edge, and at least one fastener in the second waist region, wherein the first waist region has a resiliency of greater than about 5 mJ and a stiffness of less than about 10 N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew James Sauer, Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Mark James Kline, Kathleen Marie Lawson
  • Publication number: 20150126955
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is disclosed that includes a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and second waist region, a waist edge in the first waist region, at least one waistband in the first waist region adjacent the waist edge, at least one fastener in the second waist region, and a waist assembly in the first waist region, wherein the waist assembly has a Corrugation Regularity greater than about 75%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew James Sauer, Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Mark James Kline, Kathleen Marie Lawson
  • Publication number: 20150126956
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is disclosed that includes a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and second waist region, a waist edge in the first waist region, at least one waistband in the first waist region, at least one fastener in the second waist region, and at least one discrete landing zone in the first waist region, the discrete landing zone comprising an lateral inboard edge, wherein the discrete landing zone and the waistband overlap to form an overlap region in the first waist region, and wherein the waistband does not overlap the lateral inboard edge of the discrete landing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Andrew James Sauer, Mark James Kline, Kathleen Marie` Lawson, Zachary Aaron Freije
  • Patent number: 9023006
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a wearing article adapted to prevent unintentional displacement of a crotch region relative to front and rear waist regions by elastics attached to the crotch region. A diaper includes front and rear waist members, a crotch member by the intermediary of which the front and rear waist members are connected with each other. The rear waist member is formed with a waist fit section and an appendix section. Of the crotch member, front and rear ends including front and rear end flaps are bonded to the front and rear waist members, respectively, to form front and rear bonded regions. Both side flaps are provided on respective inner surfaces thereof with gasket elastics attached thereto. Each of the gasket elastic overlaps at one end with a part of the front waist elastic and overlaps at the other end with a part of the appendix section elastic. Furthermore, the one end overlaps with the front bonded region and the other end overlaps with the rear bonded regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Takino, Shunsuke Masaki
  • Patent number: 9011404
    Abstract: A pull-on absorbent article including a front outer cover to be worn around a wearer's front side, a rear outer cover to be worn around the wearer's rear side, and an absorbent assembly fixed to the front and the rear outer cover so as to bridge them and having a pair of side seals. The length of each of the front and the outer cover in the longitudinal direction of the article is uniform in the lateral direction and larger than that of the side seals so that the front and the outer cover have extension portions that extend downward from the side seals. The extension portions of the front and/or the rear outer cover have an elasticized region extensible in the lateral direction in a region located laterally outward of each side edge of the absorbent assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kobayashi, Ryoichi Yamamoto, Kenji Ando, Takuo Yanashima, Akio Morita
  • Patent number: 8998872
    Abstract: In a crotch region in the disclosed absorbent article, a waist elastic member provided in a front waist region, and waist elastic members provided in a rear waist region are arranged so as to not come into contact with each other, and a linear identification part is provided in either the front waist region or the rear waist region, in a manner such that in a first region wherein an absorbent main body is provided the identification part is only visible from the side of the absorbent article which is not in contact with the skin, and in a second region wherein the absorbent main body is not provided the identification part is visible from both the side of the absorbent article which is in contact with the skin and that which is not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotomo Mukai, Yoshihisa Watabe
  • Patent number: 8986276
    Abstract: In a disposable wearing article, front and rear waist elastics are attached between respective outer and inner sheets. An absorbent structure and leg-cuffs are attached to an inner side of the inner sheet. Lateral proximal portions of the respective leg cuffs are bonded between the absorbent structure and the inner sheet and lateral distal portions of the respective leg cuffs extend outwardly in a transverse direction beyond the absorbent structure and are not bonded to the inner sheet. These lateral distal portions are provided with a plurality of cuff elastics. Front and rear waist regions respectively include first through third sub-regions which are adjacent one to another in this order and the respective sub-regions are provided with first through third waist elastics. A tensile stress in the first and third sub-regions is higher than that in the second sub-region and the cuff elastics extend to at least the second sub-region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Kawakami, Shoshi Kosaka
  • Patent number: 8979816
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article includes front and rear outer sheets, an inner sheet, and front and rear waist-opening sheets. Each of first sheet segments of the waist-opening sheets is longer than the corresponding second sheet segments. End portions are bonded to outer surfaces of the outer sheets. In areas where the end portions are spaced apart from the front and rear outer sheets, the first sheet segments and the inner sheet are overlapped to form low stiffness sub-regions. In respective sides inboard of the low stiffness sub-regions, the inner sheet, the front and rear outer sheets and the first sheet segments are respectively overlapped to form inner high stiffness sub-regions, and in respective sides outboard of the low stiffness sub-regions, the inner sheet, the second sheet segments and the first sheet segments are overlapped to form outer high stiffness sub-regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20150073373
    Abstract: An absorbent article that has an exterior body. In the exterior body has an edge part which is forming a part of the leg opening unit. A rear end of the absorber is positioned in the crotch region so as not to overlap with a waistline elastic member. In an absorber disposition region in which the absorber is disposed, an end in a widthwise direction of the exterior body is positioned inside in the widthwise direction more significantly than an end in the widthwise direction of the absorber, and a part of a leg-holes elastic member is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Hirotomo Mukai, Takaya Arayama
  • Publication number: 20150073374
    Abstract: In a disposable diaper, ends at a front waistline region side of the disposable diaper within a stretchable range in leg stretch units are configured so as to be closer to an end at the front waistline region side as compared to an end at the front waistline region side within a stretchable range in the crotch stretch unit. Ends at a rear waistline region side within the stretchable range in the leg stretch units are configured so as to be closer to an end at the rear waistline region side as compared to an end at the rear waistline region side within the stretchable range in the crotch stretch unit. A tensile modulus of the crotch stretch unit is configured so as to be greater than a tensile modulus of the leg stretch units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Sakaguchi, Yasuhiro Yamanaka, Tetsuo Okubo
  • Patent number: 8961488
    Abstract: A wearing article has a chassis and leg elastic members of a flat band shape that are attached to the chassis along leg side edges thereof. The chassis has regions each of which overlaps one of the leg elastic members and includes at least one series of depressions extending along the respective leg side edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Mariko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8961487
    Abstract: A method of making an elastic composite is described that entails conveying a first sheet of material on a conveyor, and wrapping a section of elastic about the first sheet and the conveyor, thereby applying elastics cross directionally across the first sheets. A second sheet of material is applied onto the first sheet having elastics applied thereon, thereby creating a subcomposite including the first sheet, the second sheet, and elastics sandwiched therebetween, wherein a plurality of elastics extend outward from the one side of the subcomposite, about the conveyor, and return into an opposite side of the subcomposite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick King Yu Tsang, Anne Smid, Andrew C. Wright, Eugenio G. Varona
  • Patent number: 8939957
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article may include a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a leg gasketing system. The leg gasketing system may include an inner cuff and an outer cuff; the inner cuff may include an inner cuff folded edge and an inner cuff material edge and the outer cuff may include an outer cuff folded edge and an outer cuff material edge such that the web of material is folded laterally inward to form the outer cuff folded edge and folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff material edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Lisa Jane Goodlander, Lisa Maria Grinkemeyer, Jessica Lee Mosman, Jason Edward Naylor, LeAnne Nichole Phillips
  • Patent number: 8936586
    Abstract: A reusable outer cover is provided. The reusable outer cover is configured for use with a disposable absorbent insert to together form a wearable absorbent article. The reusable outer cover may be configured as a pull-on pant and may include a front waist region, a rear waist region, a crotch region disposed intermediate the front waist region and the rear waist region, and a wearer-facing surface. The wearer-facing surface of the front waist region or the rear waist region may include an insert fastener component. The reusable outer cover may further include a grasping aid configured to assist in the application of the article onto a wearer. The grasping aid may be force-coupled to the insert fastener component or to a reduced elongation zone in the reusable outer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 8926579
    Abstract: A reusable outer cover configured to be engaged with a disposable absorbent insert is provided. The reusable outer cover comprises front and rear waist regions configured to be joined together by a fastening zone. The fastening zone comprises a first side on the front waist region and a second side on the rear waist region. The first side comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a first fastening component and the second portion comprises a second fastening component. The second side comprises a third portion and a fourth portion. The third portion comprises a third fastening component and the fourth portion comprises a fourth fastening component. The first and third fastening components have a first fastening property and the second and fourth fastening components have a second, different fastening property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Samantha Chen-Yee Wang, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 8915900
    Abstract: A disposable diaper having front and rear waist regions that comprise an upper elasticized region extending in a vicinity of a waist-opening periphery, lower elasticized regions, intermediate elasticized region extending between the upper elasticized region and the lower elasticized regions and outside longitudinally opposite ends of a liquid-absorbent structure. At least in the front waist region of the front and rear waist regions, there is a non-elasticized region opposed to a central zone of a liquid-absorbent core wherein a tensile stress of the intermediate elasticized region is lower than a tensile stress of the upper elasticized region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Shimada, Akiko Yagi, Hideaki Maki
  • Patent number: 8915899
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a body side liner, a back sheet, an absorbent body positioned between the body side liner and the back sheet, and a body conforming structure positioned in direct facing relation with the body side liner. The body conforming structure length is at least 50% the absorbent body length and is aligned with a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article. The median anterior portion width of the body conforming structure is greater than the median central portion width of the body conforming structure which is greater than the median posterior portion width of the body conforming structure. The anterior portion includes a well, the central portion includes a channel, and the posterior portion includes a taper. The well transitions into the channel via a first convex transition and a concave transition. The channel transitions into the taper via a second convex transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jessica Annette Ives Dieringer, Cheri Lee Paul
  • Publication number: 20140358110
    Abstract: A pants-type disposable diaper includes a pair of strip projecting parts projecting laterally from a line of connection between front and rear parts located respectively on the belly and back sides of a wearer, a first waist elastic member joined to a first waist region that is an upper part of a waist region extending along a waist opening, and a second waist elastic member joined to a second waist region that is a lower part of the waist region. In a state in which an outer covering sheet is elongated in a right-left direction, a first unit contractile force that is a contractile force in the right-left direction per unit width of the first waist region in an up-down direction is smaller than a second unit contractile force in the second waist region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Emi Amano, Tomohito Uda
  • Patent number: 8900211
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable wearing article adapted to inhibit sweating and an uncomfortable stuffiness. Front and rear waist regions of a disposable wearing article have inner surfaces thereof at least partially formed of elastic sheets. The elastic sheets are made of a mixture of elastic fibers and inelastic fibers and formed with ridges and grooves. The elastic sheets have a thickness in the ridges repetitively reduced and restored as the elastic sheets repeat elastic stretch and contraction in the waist circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hashimoto, Etsuko Kudo, Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 8864734
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable pants-type wearing article free from possibility that upper regions of the leg-openings' peripheral edges might be formed with frills even when the belt-like leg elastic members contract along the peripheral edges of the respective leg-openings. Belt-like leg elastic members in a disposable pants-type diaper each has inner and outer surfaces at least one of which is bonded to sheet-like members included in put flat and joined together regions and a crotch region of the diaper. The belt-like leg elastic members extend from the respective put flat and joined regions along leg-openings' peripheral edges. Over ranges in which the belt-like leg elastic members extend along the respective peripheral edges the sheet-like members also extend along the peripheral edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Mariko Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20140288523
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a first and second plurality of elastics. The first plurality of elastics may be disposed in a front and a crotch region. The second plurality of elastics may be disposed in a back region and the crotch region. The first and second plurality of elastics may be linear and parallel with a transverse axis of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Margaret Henderson Hasse, Luke Robinson Magee
  • Patent number: 8834437
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment can include a waistband assembly that is configured to be worn about a waist of a subject, and an absorbent panel assembly having first and second ends that are coupled to the waistband assembly. The absorbent panel assembly can include a liquid-pervious body-side layer, a liquid impervious external layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the body-side and external layers. At least one of the absorbent panel assembly or the waistband assembly includes a contraction region, such as near the absorbent core, that is configured to be extensible and retractable along a longitudinal axis of the absorbent core. The longitudinal axis can be substantially parallel to a vertical or height axis of a wearer when the absorbent garment is worn by an upright or standing individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National Presto Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo Borrero, Michael Wayne Harris
  • Patent number: 8821468
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disposable absorbent incontinence diaper (2) of the open type, having a main part (4), comprising a front region (6) having front lateral longitudinal edges (42), a rear region (8) having rear lateral longitudinal edges (41) and a crotch region (10) that is located in between in the longitudinal direction (28) and comes to lie between the legs of a user, wherein the main part (4) comprises an absorbent pad (12), and having rear side portions (20) that are attached to the rear region (8) on both sides and front side portions (22) that are attached to the front region (6) on both sides, said rear and front side portions extending in the transverse direction (30) beyond the lateral front and rear longitudinal edges (42, 41) of the main part (4), and wherein the rear side portions (20) have first closure means (32) which are close to the leg opening and have closure aids and wherein the closure means (32) can be secured in a detachable manner at least on the outer side of the front side
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann AG
    Inventors: Enno Gause, Ruediger Kesselmeier, Krzysztof D. Malowaniec, Maximilian Swerev
  • Patent number: 8821469
    Abstract: A disposable pants-type wearing article includes belt-shaped leg elastic members. Respective opposite side edges of front and rear waist regions of the article are fusion-bonded together to define joined regions. The belt-shaped leg elastic members respectively have front side upper ends lying in the front waist region and included by the put flat and joined together regions and rear side upper ends lying in the rear waist region and included by the put flat and joined together regions. In the joined regions, lower edges of the upper ends and lower edges of the rear side upper ends are displaced one from another in such a manner that the one pair of the lower edges lies below the other pair of the lower edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Mariko Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20140236114
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article worn about the lower torso of a wearer includes at least one serviceable indicium that facilitates the process of fitting the absorbent article to the wearer by providing an apparent visual and physical indication when the article is not properly fitted. The apparent visual and physical indication includes a detectable distortion of the waist opening, the leg openings or both the waist opening and the leg openings. The detectable distortion includes at least one serviceable indicium disposed on a portion of the waist opening or leg opening or both that becomes flipped in towards an inner surface of the article or flipped out towards the outer surface of the article when the article is not properly fitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventors: Lisa Jane GOODLANDER, Donald Carroll ROE
  • Publication number: 20140188068
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article comprising a chassis which includes a front region having two opposing longitudinal edges; a back region having two opposing longitudinal edges; a crotch region having two longitudinal edges wherein said crotch region is disposed between said front and back regions; and at least two side panels extending outwardly from the two opposing longitudinal edges of one or both of the front or back regions and interconnecting said front and the back regions to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings; wherein the article exhibits a pre-application side panel length, Li, and a post-application side panel length, Lf, such that Li is less than Lf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Eiro Fukuda, Eric Patton Weinberger, Daniel Clark Buchner
  • Patent number: 8764722
    Abstract: A waistband structure for an absorbent article is disclosed. The waistband structure extending across at least one of the front and back waist regions and is composed of a filler material and a waistband material positioned over the filler material. The waistband structure may be bonded to at least one of the front and back waist regions via a bond pattern. The bond pattern may vary position in the longitudinal direction and have at least one peak and one valley across the respective waist region. Typically, a distance between the peak and the valley in the bond pattern is between 5 and 100 mm. The bond pattern results in a z-directional height of the waistband structure varying on the respective waist region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Christina Marie Rhein, Daniel Lee Ellingson, Connie May McMorrow, John Timothy Hahn
  • Publication number: 20140180237
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article may comprise a chassis and an ear. The chassis comprises a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. The ear comprises an elastomeric material and a first substrate joined to the elastomeric material. The ear has a first void region adjacent the proximal edge of the ear. The ear is joined to the chassis by at least one mechanical bond that engages the elastomeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Joseph Hung Lam, Michael Irwin Lawson, Egon Loeffler, Douglas Michael GRAHAM, Kaneeta Kimble
  • Publication number: 20140180233
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article may comprise a chassis and an ear. The chassis comprises a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. The ear comprises an elastomeric material and a first substrate joined to the elastomeric material. The ear has a first void region adjacent the proximal edge of the ear. The ear is joined to the chassis by at least one mechanical bond that engages the elastomeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Joseph Hung Lam, Michael Irwin Lawson, Egon Loeffler, Douglas Michael GRAHAM, Kaneeta Kimble
  • Publication number: 20140171897
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article worn about the lower torso of a wearer includes at least one pair of side panels connecting a first waist region to a second waist region forming a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. Each side panel includes a waist region, a hip region and a leg region wherein the waist region, the hip region and the leg region differs structurally, functionally and visually to provide an improved initial fit and sustained fit while exhibiting a garment-like appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll ROE, Barry Robert FEIST, Krista Beth COMSTOCK, Lisa Jane GOODLANDER
  • Patent number: 8747379
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Lynn Fletcher, Lisa Ann Dimitrijevs, Christopher Peter Olson, Kathleen Irene Ratliff, Shirlee Ann Weber, Susan Lee West
  • Publication number: 20140155857
    Abstract: A garment comprises a laminate. The laminate comprises a first layer colored a first color, and a second layer colored a second color different than the first color. The laminate includes a folded flap in the waist region, thereby defining an integral, outwardly visible waistband having a waistband lower edge. The first layer and the second layer are coterminous at the waistband lower edge and the folded flap is an outwardly folded flap. The first layer is an inner layer and the second layer is an outer layer, and the outwardly visible waistband is colored the first color. The distinction between the first color and second color in conjunction with the fold creates a visible waistband effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Lacey L. Poole, Marleen R. Dins, Marie E. Boll, Julie Ann Paveletzke
  • Publication number: 20140155858
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Lynn Fletcher, Lisa Ann Dimitrijevs, Christopher Peter Olson, Kathleen Irene Ratliff, Shirlee Ann Weber, Susan Lee West
  • Patent number: 8734418
    Abstract: A pant-type wearing article configured so that fasteners used to connect front and rear waist regions with each other can be engaged with and disengaged from each other in a repetitive manner. Of the front and rear waist regions, at least one waist region, for example, the front waist region is formed in its transversely opposite lateral zones with inelastic regions being neither elastically stretchable nor elastically contractible in a waistline direction. These inelastic regions are provided with first fastener members selected from the first fastener members and second fastener members. The front waist region is further formed inside the respective inelastic regions as viewed in the waistline direction with a plurality of film-like joints defined by integrated sheet members forming the lateral zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Yasuhiko Kenmochi
  • Patent number: 8729332
    Abstract: A pants-type disposable diaper comprises: a pants-shaped outer member having a front part, a back part, and a crotch part positioned between the front part and the back part, and having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings formed by joining the front part and the back part; an absorbent main body disposed on an inner surface of the pants-shaped outer member at the crotch part, and comprising a top sheet, a back sheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet; and an end-holding sheet covering a longitudinal end of the absorbent main body at the front part and/or the back part of the pants-shaped outer member, and attached to the pants-shaped outer member and the absorbent main body with a hot-melt adhesive; wherein the end-holding sheet includes a composite nonwoven fabric in which a spunbonded nonwoven fabric layer is laminated on an inner surface of a meltblown nonwonven fabric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Kenji Nakaoka
  • Publication number: 20140128831
    Abstract: An elastic composite is provided in a disposable absorbent garment such as a diaper or training pants. The elastic composite has a base layer, a top layer, and an elastic construction disposed therebetween. The elastic construction includes a plurality of spaced apart (e.g. generally equally spaced apart) elastic elements (e.g. strands or threads) that are aligned in a generally cross machine direction and in generally parallel relation. Further, the top and base layers define a first longitudinally extending side edge and a second longitudinally extending side edge between which, the elastic construction is disposed. The elastic composite further includes an elasticized region, wherein the elastic construction is disposed, a first non-elasticized region disposed between the first side edge and the elasticized region, and a second non-elasticized region disposed between the second side edge and the elasticized region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: DSG TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LTD
    Inventors: Patrick King Yu Tsang, Kuo-Shu Edward Chang, Anne Smid, Andrew C. Wright
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140088542
    Abstract: A pant-like garment having an elastomeric film laminate front panel and back panel. A front leg elastic member disposed adjacent the front panel leg edge. A back leg elastic member disposed adjacent the back panel leg edge. The absorbent garment having a leg elastic covering panel which extends between and interconnects the front panel to the back panel such that the front leg elastic member is sandwiched between the leg elastic covering panel and the front panel and such that the back leg elastic member is sandwiched between the leg elastic covering panel and the back panel. The length of the leg elastic covering panel is less than the garment length. An absorbent composite is attached to the leg elastic covering panel and a pair of side seams connects the front region to the back region to define a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Wilkes, Lacey L. Poole, Joseph Andrew Mlinar, Marlene R. Dins, Russell Evan Thorson, Brian K. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 8680361
    Abstract: A laminate with micro-texture having attachment lines oriented in a primary direction and mechanically activated in the primary direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Jianbin Zhang, Andrea Marie Breitenbach
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8669409
    Abstract: Reusable cover for an absorbent article providing two or more features selected from maintaining skin condition, fitting a range of wearer shapes and sizes, being easily applied, providing conforming fit, and providing sustained fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 8657802
    Abstract: A pull-on wearable article includes a main portion including an outer cover, the main portion defining a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region extending between and connecting the front and rear waist regions. First and second extendable side panels extend between and connect the main portion front waist region and the main portion rear waist region to form the article in a closed waist configuration, at least a portion of each side panel being extendable between a relaxed state and an extended state. The article defines first and second side regions, each side region including one of the first and second side panels and a transverse region of the main portion bordering the respective side panel. An informational image is disposed in at least the first side region. The article may further include a texture feature formed in an outer surface of the article and positioned proximate to the informational image to form a composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Melanie D. Allen, Kathleen Quinlan Ames-Ooten, Mark John Ciesko, Barry Robert Feist, Eiro Fukuda, George Bartol Glackin