And Waist Opening Patents (Class 604/385.29)
  • Patent number: 8641695
    Abstract: An absorbent article such as a diaper, pant diaper, a sanitary pant or incontinence garment has at least one first elastic web material which is ultrasonically welded to at least one second web material along at least one weld seam. The second web material is different to the first elastic web material and the second web material has a degree of elasticity which is different to the elasticity of the first elastic web material. The ultrasonic weld seam between the first elastic web material and the second web material is reinforced to have a weld strength in a direction transverse to the weld seam which is at least 5N/25.4 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Kerstin Edwall, Margareta Wennebäck, Elisabeth Lakso
  • Publication number: 20140031782
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article adapted to prevent body exudates from leaking sideways beyond leg-opening peripheries and to prevent the wearer's body from being soiled with body exudates. Front and rear waist regions are elastically contractible at least in a transverse direction and a crotch region is provided in laterals with a pair of lateral elastic regions which are elastically contractible in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Ichikawa, Kenichi Sasayama, Kunihiko Katsuragawa
  • Patent number: 8622983
    Abstract: A method to incorporate leg elastic members into pant-like disposable absorbent garments, and garments made thereby. In particular embodiments, the method includes supplying elastomeric film laminate first and second body panel webs spaced apart from each other. A continuous first leg elastic member is attached to the first body panel web, and a continuous second leg elastic member is attached to the second body panel web. A continuous leg elastic covering web is attached to both the first body panel web and the second body panel web so as to sandwich the first and second leg elastic members between the leg elastic covering web and the respective body panel web, thereby creating a composite web. In particular embodiments, the present invention can provide an efficient and process friendly technique to cover and hold in place leg elastic members in a pant-style disposable garment that employs elastomeric film laminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Wilkes, Lacey L. Poole, Joseph A. Mlinar, Marlene R. Dins, Russell E. Thorson, Brian K. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20130338623
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention provide a disposable wearing article facilitating even an aged person having relatively weak forth to pull a waist-opening periphery in the transverse direction to widen the waist-opening to a desired size, despite this and the waist region should not slip down during use of the wearing article. Waist elastic elements (36) are stretched in the transverse direction X at a stretch ratio in a range of about 2.5 to about 3.0 and having fineness in a range of about 800 to about 1000 dtex, a dimension between the waist elastic elements (36) adjacent in the transverse direction X is in a range of about 5.5 to about 6.0 mm and each of waist elastic regions (38) in which the waist elastic elements (36) are present has a tensile stress at a moment of 255% stretching in the transverse direction X in a range of about 4.5 to about 6.0N/35 mm and a tensile stress at a moment of 167% stretching in the transverse direction is in a range of about 1.7 to about 2.1N/35 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Maiko Suzuki, Kazuya Fujimoto, Yusuke Kawakami, Makoto Ichikawa, Nobuhiro Tagawa
  • Publication number: 20130324962
    Abstract: In an incontinence article in pant form, a crotch section is connected to stomach and back sections in respective overlapping regions of the crotch section and the stomach section and the crotch section and the back section, by means of multiple adhesive strips extending spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction of the incontinence article, whereby visually and/or tactilely perceivable structures are formed on the outer visible side of the incontinence article in the respective overlapping regions, which structures correspond in their course to a course of the adhesive strips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: PAUL HARTMANN AG
    Inventors: Oliver Gassner, Andreas Beyrle
  • Publication number: 20130310793
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent pant that includes a central chassis and a belt structure is disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Sarah Marie Wade, Gary Dean Lavon, Miguel Alvaro Robles
  • Patent number: 8585670
    Abstract: In a disposable pants-type wearing article, a body fluid absorbent panel provided in a crotch region extends in a longitudinal direction A and is fixed to a sheet member defining inner surfaces of front and rear waist regions. The body fluid absorbent panel is formed along its opposite side edges with flaps and free edges of the respective flaps are provided with crotch region elastic members attached under tension thereto. The front and rear waist regions are provided along peripheral edges of leg-openings with lower elastic members attached under tension thereto. Regions of the side flaps in which the free edges of the flaps developed in a transverse direction overlap the associated lower elastic members are affixed to respective inner surfaces of the front and rear waist regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Takino
  • Publication number: 20130304011
    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: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasayama, Makoto Ichikawa, Kunihiko Katsuragawa
  • Patent number: 8574212
    Abstract: An absorptive article has an absorptive article body, a pair of side flaps, and a pair of waist flaps provided in the rear region so as to extend outward from the side flaps in the lateral direction of the absorptive article body. Each of the pair of waist flaps has formed thereon a waist stretchable region extended so as to reach that edge of the waist flap which is on the belly side. The waist stretchable regions are adapted such that the dimension of the waist stretchable region stretched at the end thereof on the belly side in the lateral direction of the absorptive article body is greater than the dimension of the waist stretchable region stretched at the end thereof on the rear side in the lateral direction of the absorptive article body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomi Oku, Satoru Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130261589
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatuses for cutting an elastic member suitable for use in absorbent articles. The cutting roll system includes: an anvil roll; and a cutting roll adjacent the anvil roll, the cutting roll adapted to rotate about a roll axis, and wherein the cutting roll comprises a knife block; wherein the knife block comprises at least two rows of knife edges, each row having at least two knife edges arrayed linearly parallel to the roll axis; each row of knife edges circumferentially spaced apart from each other; each knife edge oriented at an angle which does not match with the roll axis direction or a roll circumferential direction, the roll circumferential direction being perpendicular to the roll axis direction; the knife edges in the same knife block staggered with each other such that each elastic strand in the region is cut no more than once.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujkawa, Takeshi Ogata, Hiroyuki Ueno, Norman Gorospe Juguilon
  • Publication number: 20130261580
    Abstract: A swim diaper for use by a child while swimming, bathing or otherwise exposed to an aqueous environment includes a main torso section formed from a sheet of breathable, waterproof material which has been treated with an antimicrobial solution so as to prevent the spread of recreational water illnesses. The material is of sufficient thickness to retain solid waste and having a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 200 g/m2/day. The main torso section has a torso receiving aperture at the upper end of the main torso section for receiving a torso and leg receiving apertures located in the lower portion of the main torso section for receiving a child's legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Patti C. Gilmer
  • Patent number: 8518009
    Abstract: A disposable diaper having a front waist region including elasticized regions extending at least in the transverse direction Y, wherein the elasticized regions comprise a first elasticized region defined between a waist-opening peripheral edge and a front end flap of the absorbent chassis so as to extend in the transverse direction Y. A second elasticized region is defined adjacent the first elasticized region so as to extend in the transverse direction Y, and a pair of third elasticized regions are defined adjacent the second elasticized region and spaced from and opposed to in the transverse direction Y on both sides of a non-elasticized region formed in a transverse middle of the front waist region. The second elasticized region extends across the front flap of the absorbent chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kyota Saito, Seiichi Kuwano, Yoshio Ono
  • Patent number: 8518008
    Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided with an outer body including a belly side portion and a back side portion, and an inner body. The belly side portion and back side portion of the outer body each has a plurality of waist elastic members extending in parallel to each other in the transverse direction. The outer body has an annular waist gather region, a belly side pressing region, a back side pressing region, and an annular tightening region. The area of the back side pressing region is smaller than the area of the belly side pressing region, and the contractile force of the back side pressing region is smaller than the contractile force of the belly side pressing region, and is no greater than 0.35N, and the contractile force per unit width of the tightening region is no less than 0.45N/25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Yoshioka, Yoshio Ono, Shunsuke Masaki
  • Patent number: 8518010
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent wearing article having an absorbent chassis and an annular elasticized waist panel. The elastic waist panel includes a front waist panel and a rear waist panel. A rear waist panel has a dimension in a longitudinal direction that is greater than that of the front waist panel and further includes a first elasticized region, a second elasticized region defining a waist band and a third elasticized region located toward a crotch region of the article. Tensile stress of the third elasticized region, as measured in a transverse direction, is less than the tensile stress of the first and second elasticized regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichi Kuwano, Yoshio Ono, Kyota Saito
  • Publication number: 20130211365
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a three dimensional disposable panty, subassemblies of the panty, and an apparatus and methods for making the panty and subassemblies. The panty is designed to hold a primary absorbent sanitary pad. The panty may have elasticized leg and waist openings and be stretchable about the hip and stomach regions of a user. the panty provides backup protection to control egress of fluids that leak or seep around or through the primary sanitary pad. The panty includes a secondary absorbent positioned in the crotch area and extending into the body of the disposable panty, front and back, and preferably over the leg elastics to trap, inside the panty, leakage from the primary absorbent, and to prevent strike through onto e.g. outer clothing and bed linen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventor: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130211366
    Abstract: The invention relates to an incontinence article (2) in the form of briefs, with a stomach portion (4), a back portion (6) and extending between these in the longitudinal direction (9), a crotch portion (8) which has an absorption body (7) with longitudinal edges (46) and which overlaps the stomach and back portions in the front and rear overlap regions (36, 38) to form a layered structure (13) in the Z-direction (11) and is attached non-releasably thereto in front and rear connection regions (306, 308). The backsheet material (62) and topsheet material (84) surrounding the absorption body extend in the transverse direction (16) outside the longitudinal edges of the absorption body to form an overhang (66a, 66b), which amounts in total to at least 25% relative to a maximum width (E) of the crotch portion. The overhang in each case has first regions (65a, 65a?, 65b, 65b?), which extend inside the overlap regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Oliver Gassner, Rüdiger Kessel-Meier, Sandra Max, Anita Böse, Enno Gause
  • Patent number: 8506544
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent pant having single-section side stretch panels is disclosed. The pant may have features including a seam with an overlapping configuration, and a seam with a sandwiched configuration. A seam of overlapping configuration may be formed by mechanical bonds that provide for tensile strength in a lateral direction, while providing tearability for convenient removal, and may include additional features that include indicia of a location of tearability, a tear-inducing notch, and structure to grasp for tearing. A seam of sandwiched configuration may be configured to provide a finished outward appearance and configured to provide extended lateral width of side stretch panels, providing for increased stretch, without extending overall hoop circumference of the pant, at risk of an undesirably loose fit. The pant may include other features that reduce usage of materials, including complementary cut side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Masaharu Nishikawa, Michael Dale Trennepohl
  • Patent number: 8500710
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a belt member defining front and rear waist regions and a liquid-absorbent structure defining a crotch region wherein the belt member includes a peripheral edge of a waist-opening and this peripheral edge includes two segments associated with the front and rear waist regions spaced from and opposed to each other in an anteroposterior direction Y. Front and rear belt sections of the belt member include, in the front and rear waist regions, see-through regions for the article wearer's skin having a total light transmittance of about 55% or higher and occupying 40% or more of the front and rear waist regions. The front and rear belt sections are provided along the peripheral edge of the waist-opening with a reinforcing elastic member extending in a transverse direction X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Takino, Yuki Maeda, Hiroyuki Tanji
  • Patent number: 8496641
    Abstract: A fastening member used for, e.g., a disposable absorbent article is disclosed. The fastening member extends in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction and has a lateral centerline. The fastening member comprises a base panel and a shaped tab extending laterally from the base panel. The shaped tab has a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a distal portion and a proximal portion. The shaped tab has a contour edge comprising a shaped upper edge and a shaped lower edge. The shaped upper edge and the shaped lower edge are symmetric with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the shaped tab when relatively shifted in the longitudinal direction and are asymmetric with respect to the lateral centerline of the fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kouichi Miyamoto, Joseph Bernard Kraimer, David Randall Knaub, Jason Arthur Hilbourne, Henry Young Chin
  • Patent number: 8491558
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a backsheet having a longitudinal axis, a topsheet attached to the backsheet and having a body-facing surface, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. The article may also include barrier leg cuffs. The article further includes a sensation member, which sensation member may be defined in part by the topsheet or may be separate from the topsheet. The sensation member may be a wetness sensation member, a temperature sensation member, a tactile agent, or a combination thereof. Visible and/or tactile indicia may be associated with the sensation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Jennifer Joan Nandrea, Masaharu Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20130184670
    Abstract: A method for producing an elasticated chassis web for use as a continuous and coherent layer in a disposable garment, including attaching continuous elastic elements (10,11) to a continuous base web (1) along regularly undulating wave-shaped curves (12,13) and cutting out pieces (21) in crotch segments (4) of the continuous base web (1) in order to remove selected parts of the elastic elements (10,11) from the base web (1). A disposable garment made from the elasticated chassis web includes a chassis layer (56) having a hole (69) in a garment crotch portion (43).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Lucas Bäck, Lennart Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8486039
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable diaper which prevents body waste from leaking sideways without sacrificing a bodily fluid absorbing capacity of a liquid-absorbent structure and to assure a high retention for urine and discharged feces. The waist elastic members includes first and second waist elastic members wherein elastic members extend in the transverse direction across opposite lateral regions so as not to present in central zones of front and rear waist regions. The second waist elastic members in the front waist region extend from transverse opposite side edges of the front waist region in the transverse direction beyond transverse opposite side edges of a liquid-absorbent core while the second elastic members in the rear waist region extend from transverse opposite side edges in the transverse direction and terminate short of the side edges of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Shimada, Akiko Yagi, Hideaki Maki
  • Patent number: 8486041
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric flaps and a fastening system that provides the user with options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles can be pulled on and/or off as a pant. This feature is provided by the ear panels which maintain sufficient tension to hold the diaper on the wearer throughout the period of use without harming the wearer's skin, while providing enough stretch to allow the diaper to be pulled up or down over the wearer's hips. The fastening system is refastenable for convenience yet strong enough to maintain the diaper in a fastened configuration without becoming detached if the diaper is pulled on or off the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Miguel Alvaro Robles
  • Patent number: 8475424
    Abstract: The disposable pull-on garment has a longitudinal centerline, a front region, a crotch region, and a back region. The front and back regions are joined at seams to form a waist opening and leg openings. The pull-on garment comprises a main portion, a side portion, and a waist portion. The side portion is disposed transversely outboard of the main portion. The waist portion comprises a center waist portion, an outer side waist portion, and an inner side waist portion. The contraction rate of the inner side waist portion is less than that of the center waist portion, and the contraction rate of the side portion longitudinally inboard of the inner side waist portion is greater than that of the inner side waist portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kenji Fujimoto, Haruko Sato, Masato Higaki, Toshiyuki Matsuda, Hiroshi Nakahata
  • Publication number: 20130165895
    Abstract: A pant-type absorbent article having an absorbent assembly having an absorbent core and a chassis, wherein the front and back portions are joined to each other along two opposite longitudinal side edges to define a waist-opening and a pair of leg-openings, at least one of the front and back portions has an elastic web material, a crotch portion located between the front portion and the back portion in the longitudinal direction of the article, the front portion having a length in the longitudinal direction, the back portion having a length in the longitudinal direction, and the crotch portion having a length in the longitudinal direction, the absorbent assembly overlapping a distance with both the front and back portions, the article having a longitudinal and a transverse direction, wherein the absorbent assembly overlaps no more than 20% of the surface area of each of the front and back portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: SCA Hygiene Products AB
  • Publication number: 20130138072
    Abstract: A small-sized disposable pull-on diapers having optimized waist circumferential length and leg opening length. The small-sized disposable pull-on diapers have a better performance in ease of application and waist and leg fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Koichi Morimoto, Takashi Umeo, Hiroyuki Ueno, Katsuhiro Yonemura
  • Publication number: 20130102987
    Abstract: In the disclosed absorbent article, in a first region, a first elastic member extends linearly in the widthwise direction, in a second region, a second elastic member extends linearly in the widthwise direction, the elongational stress of the first elastic member is greater than the elongational stress of the second elastic member, and the length in the widthwise direction of the joining region that is of both the main body of an absorbent body and a chassis in the first region is configured in a manner so as to be shorter than the length in the widthwise direction of the joining region that is of both the main body of the absorbent body and the chassis in the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotomo Mukai, Yoshihisa Watabe
  • Patent number: 8398605
    Abstract: A wearable absorbent article, comprising a drawstring member that is at least partially inelastic. The drawstring member can include an inelastic material. The drawstring member can be substantially inelastic. The article can include a chassis with an edge, and a drawstring chamber disposed along at least a portion of the edge, wherein the drawstring member is disposed within the drawstring chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald C. Roe, Connie L. Fisher, Carl L. Bergman, Gregg A. Flender
  • Patent number: 8377023
    Abstract: Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles have a percentage of stretch in the lateral direction at the widest portion in the front region of the article and/or in the back region in the range of from about 25% to about 150%. Additionally, at least about 70% of the above stretch resides in a first edge zone and in a second edge zone of the chassis. The first edge zone and the second edge zone are separated by a middle zone. The middle zone, which has the same length as each edge zone, is stretchable, but to a lesser extent than the edge zones. Through this construction, the absorbent article exhibits improved fit and appearance. Of particular advantage, the carefully controlled stretch properties prevent sagging or drooping of the crotch region, even after the crotch region has been wetted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Howell Sawyer, Robert Lee Popp, Christopher Peter Olson, James Marcus Carr, Mark Michael Mleziva, Michael John Faulks
  • Patent number: 8377025
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a void space between a separator sheet and a liquid-absorbent structure. The separator sheet has opposite lateral zones extending in a longitudinal direction, a middle zone via which the opposite lateral zones are contiguous to each other, a front through-hole formed on the side of a front waist region, a rear through-hole formed on the side of rear waist region, and separator sheet biasing elastic members attached under tension to the respective lateral zones. A chassis includes a front leg elastic member laid on the side of the front waist region and a rear leg elastic member laid on the side of the rear waist region wherein at least the rear leg elastic member includes a rear transverse segment extending across the crotch region and a position of the rear transverse segment corresponds to a position of the middle zone of the separator sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kaiyo Nakajima, Hironao Minato
  • Patent number: 8377021
    Abstract: Winkles are prevented from being generated in the flap portion to reduce an uncomfortable feeling and friction. In a sanitary napkin including an absorber interposed between a liquid-permeable top sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet and a flap portion surrounding the absorber without including the absorber, the flap portions at least in a front area and a back area of the sanitary napkin each have an outer shape of a wave-like line composed of convex curves and concave curves in which the direction of a line tangent to the outline of the flap portion is continuously changed; the width of the absorber gradually narrows in each of the front side area and the back side area in such a manner that lines incline toward each other to form a convex curve; and the wave-like line is formed along each of the inclining lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: DAIO Paper Corporation
    Inventor: Haruko Odoi
  • Publication number: 20130041340
    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: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Kawakami, Shoshi Kosaka
  • Publication number: 20130018351
    Abstract: A package associating disposable absorbent articles structured for reduced chafing is disclosed. The package may associate at least two sets of articles, the articles in the respective sets having respectively differing structures, so that a user has the differing articles available to apply to a wearer. The respective structures may be varied to effect differing contact locations and pressures about the waist and legs of the wearer. The time over which the wearer continuously wears articles of unvarying fit may thereby be reduced, reducing the likelihood or extent of continuous contact and pressure by articles at concentrated locations of the wearer's skin and body. Likelihood of irritation and chafing may thereby be reduced. An associated method for reducing skin irritation or chafing is disclosed. A method for manufacturing such a package by manufacturing differing structures on a single manufacturing line is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Fred Naval Desai
  • Patent number: 8303561
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing absorbent garments includes forming a continuous multi-component production web; and cutting individual garments from the production web. The production web is formed by: a) feeding a first elastic web in a travelling direction; b) stretching the first elastic web by 35-250% in the travelling direction; c) intermittently laying down absorbent cores in an intermediate zone extending in a travelling direction of the production web; d) feeding a continuous web of liquid permeable material in the travelling direction and covering the absorbent cores with the continuous web of liquid permeable material; and e) bonding the first elastic web to the continuous web of liquid permeable material in a first lateral zone on a side of the intermediate zone of the production web. In addition, an absorbent garment has a continuous liquid permeable layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Katarina Eriksson
  • Publication number: 20120259307
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article includes a front side edges lying in a front waist region, rear side edges lying in a rear waist region and crotch side edges lying in a crotch region. A chassis of the diaper includes a first backsheet forming the front waist region and a part of the crotch region and a second backsheet forming the rear waist region and a part of the crotch region. The front and rear waist regions are provided with first front and rear waist elastic yarns or threads and front and rear region elastic sheets, and the crotch region is provided along the crotch side edges with front and rear leg elastic elements. Ends of front leg elastic elements on one side overlap the front side edges. Ends of the rear leg elastic elements on one side overlap the rear side edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Mariko Yamashita, Etsuko Kudo, Akiko Tange
  • Patent number: 8282619
    Abstract: A garment-like absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis that defines a waist opening and first and second leg openings. A longitudinal length of the chassis is optimized in a linear relationship with the waist circumference of the chassis, the circumference measured at 500 grams tension. With respect to the linear relationship, the thickness of the garment is substantially constant along the same line defined by the length and the circumference, and decreases as the y-intercept increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peter Olson, Lawrence Howell Sawyer, Raymond Gerard St. Louis
  • Patent number: 8277431
    Abstract: An absorbent articles, such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence articles, feminine protection articles and the like having a specific elasticated topsheet comprising multitude of elasticated areas and one or more openings to receive e.g. feces, the elasticated areas being typically straight, but the elasticated areas operating jointly to provide a diverting-like elastic behavior, and the elasticated areas having optionally different elastic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Blanca Arizti, Darrell Ian Brown, Cornelia Beate Martynus, Ekaterina Anatolyevka Ponomarenko
  • Patent number: 8277430
    Abstract: An absorbent garment includes a body panel having a terminal waist edge, at least first and second layers terminating at the terminal waist edge and at least one elastic element disposed between the first and second layers. The body panel has at least first and second adhesive regions. The first adhesive region is defined by the at least one elastic element, which is strand coated with a first adhesive. The second region is defined by a control coating of a second adhesive applied between the first and second layers. In one embodiment, the first region has a greater sensory softness than the second region. In one embodiment, the body panel, in an unstretched condition, has a surface softness with a mean deviation of coefficient of friction less than about 0.020 in the first adhesive region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clarl Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery M. Tabor, Melanie Milslagle, Joseph A. Mlinar, Thomas J Vanselow
  • Publication number: 20120245545
    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: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Barry Robert Feist, Krista Beth Comstock, Lisa Jane Goodlander
  • Publication number: 20120245546
    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: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Barry Robert Feist, Krista Beth Comstock, Lisa Jane Goodlander
  • Patent number: 8273069
    Abstract: A stretchable composite sheet used in a waist region of a disposable wearing article. The stretchable composite sheet has a stretchable sheet and a non-stretchable sheet, and the stretchable sheet is stretched. Nip roll mechanisms are respectively arranged on one end side in the stretch direction (SD) and the other end side, and the stretchable sheet is bonded to the non-stretchable sheet by the nip roll mechanisms with the stretchable sheet contracted in the direction (CD) orthogonal to the stretching direction (SD). The above processes provide the stretchable composite sheet with basic weight change regions in which the basis weight of the stretchable sheet is changed depending on stretch conditions of the stretchable sheet. The basic weight of the basic weight change regions is greater than that of a center region of the stretchable composite sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kyota Saito, Mariko Takeuchi, Yusuke Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8246597
    Abstract: A pant-type wearing article configured so as to prevent a lateral zone of a front waist region and an associated lateral zone of a rear waist region which should remain fastened together from being needlessly disengaged from each other. In the pant-type wearing article an outer surface of a base sheet strip constituting a front fastener component is bonded to a fixed region defined on an inner surface of a front lateral zone. The front lateral zone includes a free region to which the base sheet strip is not bonded. The free region normally takes a posture folded back in a waistline direction so that an outer surface of the front lateral zone lies inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Natsuko Aoyagi, Kayoko Tanaka, Yasuhiko Kenmochi
  • Patent number: 8235959
    Abstract: A process is claimed for making a composite sheet useful as topsheet with one or more openings to receive fecal material useful for an absorbent article, said composite sheet comprising a wrinkled, patterned elasticized region that comprises a patterned first sheet and an elastic material said first sheet being patterned with troughs, that are typically compacter, i.e. of higher density, prior to attachment to the elastic material. The troughs are attached to the elastic material. The resulting composite sheet has a uniform wrinkle pattern. Also claimed are specific absorbent articles. Also claimed are composite sheets with a specific residual strain and peel force value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ekaterina Anatolyevna Ponomarenko, Mattias Schmidt, Tina Brown (née Lehmann)r, Alexander Eberhard Unger, Alexander Berk, Darrell Ian Brown, Blanca Arizti
  • Publication number: 20120191057
    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: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Takino, Shunsuke Masaki
  • Patent number: 8221372
    Abstract: Provided is a disposable diaper, in which fastening tapes are brought into direct engagement with the surface of an outer-face back sheet made of a nonwoven fabric. The disposable diaper is enabled to adjust its size slightly according to the body shape of a baby, by improving the force of the fastening tapes to engage with the outer-face back sheet and the force to join the outer-face back sheet and a leakage-preventing sheet. The disposable diaper has its outer-face back sheet made of a nonwoven fabric prepared by an air-through method, in which fibers are thermally melted to each other at the time of manufacturing the nonwoven fabric by feeding hot air in a drum transfer process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Daio Paper Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Kouno, Tsuyoshi Utsunomiya, Sadanao Manabe, Toshikazu Maeda, Yumiko Seike, Miyuke Ochi
  • Patent number: 8216206
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article comprising: an absorbent body including a top sheet, a back sheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween; and a flap provided along an edge of opposite sides in a width direction of the absorbent core; wherein the flap has a fixing part joined to the top sheet and a rising part extending upward from the fixing part, and the rising part consists of a nonstretch nonwoven fabric which is water-repellent or liquid impermeable. Further, the flap may have a fold back part extending from the rising part and formed by folding back the rising part at an upper end of the rising part, wherein the fold back part consists of a nonstretch nonwoven fabric which is water-repellent or liquid impermeable, and the rising part and the fold back part are fusion-bonded to each other at a fusion-bond part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Fujioka, Keiichi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8212102
    Abstract: A diaper having front and rear waist regions and a waist-hole, the waist hole having a peripheral edge that is elastically stretchable in a circumferential direction and includes covering zones and elastic zones in the front and rear waist regions, which peripheral edge is adapted to be stretchable beyond lengths of the covering zones in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kumasaka
  • Patent number: 8211077
    Abstract: A disposable pant-type diaper according to the present invention includes a front portion, a back portion, and a crotch portion which is positioned between the front and back portions, in which a waist opening and a pair of leg openings are formed by joining both longitudinal side-edge portions of the front and back portions which face each other, and stretchable elastic members are disposed along at least a part of each opening, wherein a cutout portion is formed in at least a portion of the side-edge portion of at least one of the front and back portions, and the front and back portions assume a non-joining state at the portion where the cutout portion is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: Oji Nepia Co., Ltd., Oji Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sugiyama, Tomotsugu Miyoshi, Takeshi Niimi, Izumi Tashiro, Kahori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8206366
    Abstract: A pant-like, prefastened, disposable absorbent article having two leg openings which are directly below and visible through a waist opening. The waist opening has a relaxed waist opening measurement or relaxed waist diameter that is greater than a width of a chassis of the absorbent article in a crotch region. As such, the wearer's legs are positioned within and through the leg openings for easy application of the pant-like prefastened, disposable absorbent article. After initial application of the absorbent article, a waist size adjustment feature allows the waist perimeter dimension to be adjusted to conform the waist opening to the waist of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Datta, Michael Francís Drymalski, Kristi Jo Bryant
  • Publication number: 20120150137
    Abstract: A film that contains a thermoplastic composition having a substantial portion of a renewable, natural starch polymer, and yet is elastic and exhibits good strength properties, is provided. Although starch is normally chemically incompatible with most elastomeric polymers due to their different polarities, the present inventors have discovered that phase separation may be minimized by selectively controlling certain aspects of the film, such as the nature of the elastomeric polymer and the starch polymer, and other film components, the relative amount of the film components, and the process for making the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: James H. Wang, Bo Shi