By Fabric Strip Fastener Element (e.g., Hook And Loop Type Fastener) Patents (Class 604/391)
  • Patent number: 8231816
    Abstract: A method of forming a medical wrap including a flexible, sheet-form substrate with a discrete medical function delivery region having a surface adapted to be placed against a patient's skin to provide a desired medical effect. The substrate carries a field of fibers exposed for engagement by an array of fastener elements. The fastener elements each have a respective stem extending integrally from a band of resin extending along the substrate. The fastener elements are constructed to snag the exposed fibers when the substrate is wrapped about a patient in an overlapping manner, securing the wrap about the patient with the medical function delivery region in a desired position. The wrap is configured for use as a hot or cold pack, a medical dressing, or drug delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Howard A. Kingsford, Holly Isabelle, George A. Provost, William H. Shepard
  • Patent number: 8231594
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a stretchable fastening member is disclosed. The absorbent article comprises a chassis and a stretchable fastening member. The chassis extends longitudinally and laterally and comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. The stretchable fastening member comprises a fixed portion permanently joined to the chassis, a distal portion provided with a fastening material and a stretchable panel positioned between the fixed portion and the distal portion. The stretchable fastening member is joined to the chassis such that the distal portion is positioned laterally outwardly from the fixed portion in the flat-out configuration of the stretchable fastening member. The stretchable panel of the stretchable fastening member comprises a first stretchable zone and a second stretchable zone disposed in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakahata, Yasuhisa Minemoto
  • Patent number: 8221379
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Joseph Hung Lam, Michael Irwin Lawson, Egon Loeffler, Douglas Graham, Kaneeta Kimble
  • Patent number: 8216200
    Abstract: An absorbent article is provided for personal wear about a wearer's waist. The article includes a pair of front side panels attached to the front waist region and a pair of back side panels attached to the back waist region, and is configurable from a wear configuration to a disposal configuration in which the article is generally compacted for disposal. The article also includes a disposal tab having an attachment region with an attachment width and a tab region with a gripping width, the attachment region attached to one of the front or back side panels, the tab region being attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration of the article, wherein the attachment width is substantially equal to the gripping width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy Darlene Meetz, Michael Donald Sperl, Michael John Faulks, Robert Lee Popp, Sandra Marie Rogers, Troy Leonard Tipton
  • Patent number: 8211080
    Abstract: A method of securing an absorbent article in a fastened configuration for personal wear includes forming an absorbent article to have a body. A mechanical fastening system is positioned on the body. The mechanical fastening system has a loop component and a hook component. The loop component is an elastomeric laminate formed by securing an elastomeric loop material to an elastomeric substrate. The hook component is fastenably engageable with the loop material of the loop component. The laminate is stretched which includes stretching both the loop material and the substrate. The hook component and the loop component are engaged whereby the hook component fastenably engages the loop material of the loop component. The stretched laminate is allowed to retract which includes retraction of the loop material and retraction of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcille F. Ruman, Lindsay C. Shelley, Kathleen I. Ratliff
  • Publication number: 20120165778
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region. The front and back waist regions are permanently attached or releasably attachable to each other by an article fastening system to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article is configurable from the wear configuration to a disposal configuration. A disposal tab has an attachment region attached to one of the sides of the article and extends a greatest length La along at least a portion of a length Lp of one of the sides. A tab region extends transversely outward from the attachment region a greatest distance Dt and is attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration of the article. The attachment region has a first surface attached to one of the sides of the article and a second surface that defines part of the article fastening system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Faulks, Robert Lee Popp, Michael D. Sperl, Nancy Meetz, Sandra M. Rogers, Lorelle M. Scheibe, Joseph P. Fell, Christine Ann Caneba
  • Publication number: 20120165777
    Abstract: An absorbent incontinence diaper (2) has a rear area (8), a front area (6) and an intermediate crotch area (12), first and second side edges (5), and with a main part (4) having an inner face directed towards the body and an outer face directed away from the body. Side parts (16,17) are joined to the first and second side edges (5), the side parts (16,17) having an inner face and an outer face, the side parts (17) in the rear area having closure means (32) with mechanical closure aids (31). The retaining forces between the mechanical closure means (31) and the outer face of the main part are lower than the retaining forces between the mechanical closure means (31) and the outer face of the side parts (16) in the front area (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Susanne Beckert, Ruediger Kesselmeier
  • Patent number: 8205307
    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: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kouichi Miyamoto, Joseph Bernard Kraimer, David Randall Knaub, Jason Arthur Hilbourne, Henry Young Chin
  • Patent number: 8196270
    Abstract: There is provided a fastener for engaging with a loop fabric, comprising a base having a front surface with a multiplicity of engaging projections. At least some of the engaging projections having a top surface end and an attached end. The at least some engaging projections top surface ends form an edge angle surrounding the projections. A mantle surface extending from the top surface end edge to the attached end. Generally at least one contour line of a side view of the mantle surface is convex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Zoltan Mandzsu, Jozsef Mandzsu, Jr., Jozsef Mandzsu, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20120143166
    Abstract: A fastening tab is provided having a substrate with a main portion, a user's end portion extending from the main portion, a primary mechanical fastening patch having a side edge coterminous with the side edge of the user's end portion of the substrate, and first and second auxiliary mechanical fastening patches on the main portion of the substrate. A method of making a fastening tab is also disclosed. The method includes attaching multiple discrete patches of mechanical fastener to a substrate web extending in the machine direction, cutting through the substrate web and the multiple patches of mechanical fastener in the machine direction with a continuous, meandering cut to provide two sub-webs, and optionally providing cross-web direction cuts through each sub-web to provide a plurality of fastening tabs. An absorbent article including the fastening tab and webs of fastening tabs are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Shinji Kimura, Masato Kondo, Steven J. Perron
  • Publication number: 20120143165
    Abstract: A force focused fastening system maintaining a fastener element in plane during fastening. The force focused fastening system includes a force focused fastening member including an extensible region and an end region. The end region includes a fastener element and the extensible region includes a high modulus region aligned relative to a center portion of the fastener element. During fastening, the force focused fastening member directs forces toward the center portion of the fastener element, away from end portions, minimizing distortion of the fastener element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Anna Macura, Mark J. Kline
  • Patent number: 8192414
    Abstract: A canine diaper, comprising: (a) an outer liner, wherein the outer liner is substantially liquid impermeable; (b) an inner liner, wherein the inner liner is substantially liquid permeable, and wherein the inner liner comprises an outer perimeter secured to the outer liner to enclose a cavity therebetween; (c) a cavity positioned between the inner liner and the outer liner; (d) an absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core is retained within the cavity; and (e) at least one tab which secures the outer liner of the canine diaper substantially around a torso of a dog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventors: Nancy Jean Solomon, Rachel Ann Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 8187246
    Abstract: A structurally optimized component comprising a fastening member having a middle section and an end section, wherein either the middle section comprises an inner slot leg region, an outer slot leg region, and an interior low mass slot leg region or the end section comprises a slot reinforcement having an inner reinforcement region, an outer reinforcement region, and an interior low mass reinforcement region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jeromy Thomas Raycheck, Oscar Antonio Ruiz, Mark James Kline
  • Patent number: 8182458
    Abstract: An absorbent article including a front waist region having an inner surface, and outer surface, a first lateral end portion and a second lateral end portion, a back waist region having an inner surface, and outer surface, a first lateral end portion and a second lateral end portion, a crotch portion longitudinally connecting the front and back waist regions, and at least one fastener disposed at each of the first and second lateral end portions of the back waist region or the front waist region. The at least one fastener includes a backing layer having a first end portion permanently attached to the back waist region or the front waist region and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, an adhesive layer disposed over at least a portion of the backing layer, a fastening material layer disposed over the adhesive layer at the second end portion of the backing layer, and an outer surface that is free of adhesive to form an adhesive-free region, wherein a fold is formed in the adhesive-free region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: First Quality Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Hamzeh Karami
  • Patent number: 8172821
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region interconnecting the front and back waist regions. An article fastening system attaches the back waist region to the front waist region to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The waist opening has a size in the wear configuration of the article. A waist adjustment system includes a tab having an attachment region for attaching the tab to one of the front waist region and the back waist region and a tab region extending transversely outward from the attachment region. The tab region has a fastener region releasably attachable to multiple locations on the one of the front waist region and the back waist region to selectively alter the size of the waist opening in the wear configuration of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Flannery
  • Patent number: 8172822
    Abstract: A wearing article configured so that hook elements of a mechanical fastener can be firmly attached to a chassis and the hook elements can be held in engagement with loop elements of a mechanical fastener tightly without correspondingly increasing a manufacturing cost. The wearing article has front and rear waist regions that respectively include a first pair of lateral zones and a second pair of lateral zones, these lateral zones in each pair are opposed to each other in a transverse direction X and extending in a longitudinal direction Y. An inner sheet is provided in the first lateral zones with mount members attached thereto and hook elements are attached to the diaper via the mount members. In the second lateral zones, the inner sheet is provided with loop elements attached thereto. First and second arrays of the hook elements include deformed regions created over the entire areas thereof by pressure-treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Kayoko Tanaka, Yasuhiko Kenmochi
  • Publication number: 20120101469
    Abstract: An absorbent includes inner and outer surfaces, an absorbent body disposed therebetween, and front waist, back waist, and crotch regions. The article also includes pairs of front and back side panels, each side panel having an attachment edge and a free edge, the front and back side panels being releasably attachable to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article also includes a finger tab having a distal end, a tab line where the finger tab intersects the free edge, and a proximal end attached to the free edge, wherein the distal end has a distal end longitudinal midpoint, wherein the tab line has a tab line longitudinal midpoint, and wherein the distal end longitudinal midpoint is longitudinally offset from the tab line longitudinal midpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Donald Sperl
  • Publication number: 20120095431
    Abstract: A diaper having an improved conjugated structure that is convenient, low-cost and easy for mass production is disclosed. The diaper includes a side wing having a magic hook located thereon and a rear thin sheet having an anti-leaking layer and a non-textile fabrics layer conjugated entirely or partially. The conjugation strength between the magic hook and the rear thin sheet is about 100 to 700 g/inch at 180 degrees, and the shear stress at 180 degrees is over 1000 g/inch. With the conjugation between the magic hook and the rear thin sheet, the user can randomly attach the magic hook to the surface of the non-textile fabrics layer to adjust the tightness of the diaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Po-An TSAI, Charng-Ching OU, Hsu-Feng SHIH
  • Patent number: 8157791
    Abstract: A system and method for post-operation care for a liposuction procedure including a compression garment and a set of absorptive garments that includes a first absorptive garment and a second absorptive garment. The compression garment includes a first portion and each absorptive garment includes an absorptive material, a fluid resistant material, and a fastener. The first absorptive garment is coupled to the body of the patient and fastened to envelop the first portion of the absorptive garment and the second absorptive garment is couple to the body of the patient and fastened to the first portion of the absorptive garment upon removal of the first absorptive garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventor: Gwen Mancuso
  • Publication number: 20120089112
    Abstract: Absorbent article comprising a loop member for a hook and loop fastener. The loop member comprises a knitted fabric which is adhesively attached to a carrier. The adhesive pattern for attaching the knitted fabric onto a carrier has a first plurality of adhesive stripes extending substantially in the warp thread direction of the knitted fabric and a second plurality of adhesive stripes extending substantially perpendicular to the first plurality of adhesive stripes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas Alexander Horn, Dieter Homoelle, Georg Baldauf
  • Patent number: 8152787
    Abstract: An absorbent article has front and back waist regions that define transversely opposite sides each extending a length Lp from a waist opening to a leg opening of the article. A disposal tab has an attachment region attached to one side of the article and extending a greatest length La along at least a portion of the length Lp of the side. A tab region of the tab extends transversely outward from the attachment region a greatest distance Dt and is attachable to the article in at least a disposal configuration of the article. The greatest length La of the attachment region is substantially greater than the greatest distance Dt that the tab region extends transversely outward from the attachment region. The greatest length La of the attachment region is in the range of about 35 percent to 100 percent of the length Lp of the side of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Faulks, Robert Lee Popp, Michael D. Sperl, Nancy Meetz, Sandra M. Rogers, Lorelle M. Scheibe, Joseph P. Fell, Christine Ann Caneba
  • Patent number: 8142411
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, 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: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Miguel Alvaro Robles, Thomas Henrich
  • Patent number: 8128610
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, 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: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Miguel Alvaro Robles
  • Publication number: 20120053552
    Abstract: Improved fastening systems are described. More particularly, improved fastening systems for disposable absorbent articles are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Yung H. Huang, Gregory K. Hall, Cedric A. Dunkerly
  • Patent number: 8123733
    Abstract: An absorbent article has an inside surface that faces a wearer's body when the absorbent article is worn, and an outside surface opposite the inside surface. The absorbent article includes a liquid pervious topsheet and a backsheet, at least a portion of the backsheet being liquid impervious. A front waist portion includes a first side front panel and a second side front panel. A back waist portion includes a first side back panel and a second side back panel. A crotch portion longitudinally extends between the front waist portion and the back waist portion. An absorbent assembly is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. A first fastening component is disposed at the first side front panel and a second fastening component is disposed at the second side front panel for respective attachment to the first side back panel and the second side back panel to fasten the absorbent article around the waist of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: First Quality Baby Products, LLC
    Inventor: Susan O'Connell
  • Publication number: 20120046634
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved quick-release and refastenable underpants-type undergarment. The front and back panels of the undergarment are attached at the hip with an openable fastener on at least one side of the undergarment, and are also attached at the crotch with an openable fastener. The fastenings can be comprised of any type of mating-pair compatible fastener devices, such as Velcro. The hip and crotch fasteners allow the undergarment to be easily and quickly removed by pulling on the undergarment, regardless of whether the wearer is sitting, prone, mobile or immobile. The undergarment can also be reattached in position on the wearer even if the wearer cannot stand, balance, or move their legs. The embodiment with a single hip opening can be removed, washed, and used in a single piece and does not require reattaching multiple pieces upon re-use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventor: Anthony Shields
  • Patent number: 8118801
    Abstract: A force focused fastening system maintaining a fastener element in plane during fastening. The force focused fastening system includes a force focused fastening member including an extensible region and an end region. The end region includes a fastener element and the extensible region includes a high modulus region aligned relative to a center portion of the fastener element. During fastening, the force focused fastening member directs forces toward the center portion of the fastener element, away from end portions, minimizing distortion of the fastener element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Anna Macura, Mark J. Kline
  • Patent number: 8114060
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a containment device. In particular, the present invention relates to a containment device with a closure mechanism that can be used to couple the containment device to a child. The closure mechanism may include or be used with one or more indicators that can be used by a parent or caregiver to determine whether the containment device is appropriately sized and tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Aiken
  • Publication number: 20120035579
    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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Kouichi Miyamoto, Joseph Bernard Kraimer, David Randall Knaub, Jason Arthur Hilbourne, Henry Young Chin
  • Publication number: 20120022490
    Abstract: Hook part of a self-gripping hook and loop closure, in particular for a nappy, comprising a hook element comprising a sheet from which hooks protrude and a laminated element fixed to the hook element, the laminate extending in a transverse direction between two respective left and right lateral edges, comprising a layer fixed to at least one layer (2, 3) of non-woven fabric by a layer of adhesive, in particular interposed between two layers of non-woven fabric by being fixed by one respective layer of adhesive to each layer of non-woven fabric, the layer being in one piece or an integral layer and comprising a resilient zone (6; 16) in the form of film, in particular made of an elastomeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Thierry Marche, Nathalie Moinard
  • Publication number: 20120022485
    Abstract: A two-piece wearable absorbent article (such as a diaper) including an outer cover and an absorbent insert for use therewith, are disclosed. The outer cover may have a first hook-and-loop fastening system that provides for removable and refastenable and adjustable fastening of the outer cover about a wearer's lower torso. The absorbent insert and outer cover may have a second hook-and-loop fastening system that provides for removable and refastenable fastening of the insert within the outer cover. The first and second hook-and-loop fastening systems may have respective holding force and acoustic characteristics within advantageous performance ranges, individually and with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Elaine Mary Wiggins, Joshua James Norman
  • Patent number: 8100878
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, 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: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Miguel Alvaro Robles
  • Patent number: 8096981
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly having a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent structure, a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region, longitudinally opposite ends, and laterally opposite side edges. A pair of hip panels releaseably secures the first and second waist regions together. One of the hip panels extends laterally outward from one of the side edges in one of the first and second waist regions and the other hip panel extends laterally outward from the opposite side edge in the one of the first and second waist regions. Each of the hip panels has an upper edge, a lower edge, a fixed and a free end. Each of the upper and lower edges has a length and is curved along at least a portion of its length. The curved portions of the upper and lower edges are substantially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa Christine Putzer, Gary Lee Travis
  • Publication number: 20120010588
    Abstract: To provide a female part of a hook and loop fastener exhibiting excellent engaging force, where the left-right difference of engaging force is small. A female part of a hook and loop fastener having a knitted fabric composed of warps, wefts and loop yarns, and a substrate, wherein a structure of the warps is a chain stitch on which open and close nodes are alternately arranged, and the loop yarns are only fixed to the close nodes of the warps with open nodes of the loop yarns, and the loop yarns project in left and right directions alternately from only one surface of the knitted fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventor: Kenichiro Morishita
  • Patent number: 8088115
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, 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: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Miguel Alvaro Robles
  • Patent number: 8088116
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, 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: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Miguel Alvaro Robles
  • Patent number: 8083725
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article with an element intended to absorb bodily exudates and a web with stems which functions as a mechanical fastener to prevent shifting of the article e.g. when affixed on underwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Guido Bonelli, Remo Bellucci
  • Publication number: 20110313389
    Abstract: A hook strip is provided having a backing with a first surface and a length in a first direction; multiple rows of hook elements aligned in the first direction and projecting from the first surface of the backing; and slits in the backing between at least some pairs of adjacent rows of the hook elements. The slits may be interrupted by a bridging region of the backing, or the slits may be partial slits that penetrate the thickness of the backing in a range from 40 to 90 percent. A fastening laminate that includes a carrier and the hook strip described above joined to the carrier is also provided. In some embodiments, the fastening laminate includes slits that form separate, abutting portions of the backing on the carrier. An absorbent article containing the hook strip and a method of making the hook strip are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Leigh E. Wood, Andreas Urban, Volker Hauschildt
  • Patent number: 8079996
    Abstract: A cloth diaper the size of which is adjustable is mainly made up with a surface layer cloth and a liner layer cloth and is provided with a waistline section. The cloth diaper further includes an adjusting unit provided with two buckling parts, and an adjusting surface opposite to the buckling parts. Thus, to adjust the cloth diaper to a determined size, only each of the buckling parts of the adjusting unit is buckled and fixed onto the adjusting surface to form a cloth diaper the size of which is properly adjustable. Thus, following the child and infant's figure, the cloth diaper may be adjusted randomly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: 3RTW International Corporation
    Inventor: Jason Yang
  • Patent number: 8079995
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite fastener material, the composite fastener material, and products derived from the composite fastener material. The method includes providing two longitudinally continuous sheets of material, positioning the two sheets to form a longitudinal, continuous interface between the two sheets, joining the two sheets by introducing one or more molten plastic resins in at least one lane, one lane of the resin extending across the interface under conditions that cause the resin to bond to the two sheets, molding an array of stems from at least one lane of the resin, the stems extending from an exposed surface of the composite material, and forming engageable heads on the stems to form fastener elements, wherein the two sheets differ from one another by one of material composition, thickness, texture, stretchability, breathability, and compressability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Ernesto S. Tachauer, Wallace L. Kurtz, Jr., Brian J. Vanbenschoten, Joseph E. Pierce, Arthur E. Garavaglia, Scott M. Filion, William P. Clune, Christopher M. Gallant, Nadezhda Efremova
  • Patent number: 8070738
    Abstract: Disposable pant like garments are disclosed. Pant like garments of the present invention generally comprise a main absorbent portion and a pair of side portions. One or more sections of the pant-like garments are provided with one or more cohesive areas which allow for cohesive fastening and refastening of portions of the garment. The cohesives chosen may have the same properties or may be of the selective adhesive type. Pant like garments may be provided with cohesive fasteners and not other types of refastening means. In other variations, cohesive fasteners may be supplemented with one or more frangible bonds. Also disclosed are side portions having cohesive areas which may be converted in use from an abutting facing relationship to an overlapping facing relationship. Multiple cohesive areas of varying types for providing differential bond properties during use are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Michael Charles Raufman, Frederick Michael Langdon, Donald Louis Zgoda, Mark James Kline, Robin Lynn McKiernan, Mary Lee Amirpour
  • Patent number: 8066684
    Abstract: This invention provides disposable pants usable as both pants and a diaper, which ensure excellent stretchability to facilitate raising/lowering when putting them on, and the like. The disposable pants have functions of both pants and a diaper, and a left front abdominal part and a right front abdominal part can be expanded to the left and right by breaking left and right breaking parts. The left front abdominal part and right front abdominal part are provided with adhesive pieces attached/detached to/from an adhesive part of a central front abdominal part. The ratio between a lateral dimension of the front abdominal section in a stretched state and a lateral dimension between positions to which the left and right adhesive pieces are bonded, respectively, is set to fall within a range of 0.05?X2/X1?0.55, which ensures stretchability of the front abdominal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Livedo Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Fujioka
  • Publication number: 20110288520
    Abstract: An absorbent garment having a garment-like outer shell and an absorbent assembly adapted for adjustable positioning therein is disclosed. In particular embodiments, the absorbent garment includes garment shell, at least one inner attachment member, and an absorbent assembly. The inner attachment member can be disposed at a waist region of the garment shell. The absorbent assembly can include a fastening component disposed at an end region, the first fastening component adapted for refastenable engagement to the inner attachment member. The inner attachment member can be configured such that a user may adjust a position of the refastenable engagement to the inner attachment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Lynn Brud, Michael Faulks, Emily Tran
  • Publication number: 20110288518
    Abstract: A two-piece wearable absorbent article (such as a diaper) including an outer cover, and particularly, an absorbent insert for use therewith, are disclosed. The insert has a fastener component disposed at either or both a forward region and a rearward region thereof, for fastening the insert within the outer cover. The end of the insert associated with the region bearing the fastener component may have a specified stiffness, to help the insert to retain structural integrity while fastened within an outer cover and while being worn. The insert may include an end support stiffener that helps impart stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe, Elaine Mary Wiggins, Joshua James Norman
  • Patent number: 8062278
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include disposable wearable absorbent articles with extensible sides. In an embodiment of the present disclosure a disposable wearable absorbent article includes a front, a back, and an extensible side configured to connect the front and the back, wherein the extensible side has a substantially laterally extensible area, which includes a first area, bounded in part by at least a portion of a longitudinally outboard side edge. An overall lateral extensibility of the first area is substantially less than an overall lateral extensibility of the substantially laterally extensible area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Henry William McCusker, III, Ronald Joseph Zink, II, Sarah Marie Young
  • Patent number: 8052666
    Abstract: An improved mechanical fastening system that includes a male component and a female component is disclosed. The female component is adapted for releasable engagement with the male component, and the female component comprises a fibrous web, wherein the fibrous web comprises a layer of elastomeric fibers. A disposable absorbent article employing the improved mechanical fastening system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence H. Sawyer, Robert L. Popp, Joseph D. Coenen, Michael J. Faulks, Christopher P. Olson, James M. Carr
  • Patent number: 8048051
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, 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: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Proctor & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Miguel Alvaro Robles
  • Publication number: 20110257620
    Abstract: A bond pattern comprising bond lines that define tessellating pattern elements
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Alexander Horn, Mark James Kline, Georg Baldauf
  • Publication number: 20110245794
    Abstract: Absorbent garment such as a diaper and an incontinence guard, said garment has a first body panel, a second body panel and a crotch portion there between. The garment is provided with opposed laterally extending belt members attached to the waist portion of the first body panel and are adapted to be wrapped around the waist of the wearer of the garment and fastened together by a first fastener. The second body panel at its waist portion is provided with second fasteners adapted to be fastened to the belt members, in such a way that the garment will assume a pant-like shape. The belt members are interconnected by a waist band extending in transverse direction along the waist portion of the first body panel. At least one of the belt members has an elastic region located at the proximal end of said belt member adjacent said waist band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
    Inventor: Kent Hermansson
  • Patent number: 8029634
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an absorbent article in the form of a pants-type diaper or a sanitary panty starts from a flat blank which includes an elongated absorbent body (5) enclosed between two casing sheets (2, 9) which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond the body on opposite sides thereof. The method includes the step of folding the blank about a transverse axis so that the end edges of the side parts lie edge-to-edge. The front and rear side parts of the blank which oppose one another in the folded state of the blank are joined together by a releasable and refastenable fastener (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Urband Widlund, Anders Gustafsson