With Endless Waist Encircling Band (e.g., Panty Type) Patents (Class 604/396)
  • Patent number: 7060058
    Abstract: A disposable pants-type diaper includes a front waist region sheet, a rear waist region sheet and a body fluid absorbent pad. The front and rear waist region sheets are bonded together in the vicinity of transversely opposite side edges thereof and the pad is curved in a U-shape and has longitudinally opposite ends bonded to the inner side of the front and rear waist region sheets. Periphery of a lower edge of the front waist region sheet draws a curve which is convex upward and this-lower edge intersects transversely opposite side edges of the pad to define tops of a pair of leg-holes. A first elastic member extending along the lower edge of the front waist region sheet intersects third elastic members of the pad in the vicinity of the tops and then descend rearward of the diaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7056313
    Abstract: A personal care garment having side seams with a discreet or aesthetically pleasing appearance. The side seams can extend from a waist opening to each of two leg openings between a front side panel and a back side panel. In one embodiment, a ribbon cover is attached to an outer surface of the garment to secure the side seam and provide a finished, aesthetically pleasing appearance. In another embodiment, an embossing pattern can be applied to the side seam to provide a finished, aesthetically pleasing appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Franke, Cynthia Louise Wyngaard, Heather S. Mortell
  • Patent number: 7052485
    Abstract: A brief-type diaper has pre-girth parts (4, 4?) located vertically, and a pre-crotch part (5) located between the pre-girth parts and provided with substantially V-shaped recesses (6) in the front and rear body sides, respectively. An absorber is disposed in a brief-type diaper precursor (1) where pre-leg openings (7) are made. The precursor (1) is folded vertically along the center line X—X so that the pre-girth parts (4,4?) and the pre-crotch part (5) are overlapped. Subsequently, the side fringe parts (4a, 5a) are bonded to form a waist opening thus obtaining a panty type diaper in which joints (11, 11) are formed in the front and rear bodies and no joint exist in the left and right bodies of the girth area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7018368
    Abstract: A personal care article includes a resiliently stretchable outer cover and a first and second substantially non-stretchable grasping panels attached to the article. The outer cover is resiliently stretchable in at least the cross-direction to conform to the body of a wearer. The absorbent structure is secured to the outer cover by extendible attachment elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Theodore Van Gompel, Yung Hsiang Huang, Georgia Lynn Zehner
  • Patent number: 7018369
    Abstract: A disposable pant-like undergarment is disclosed having stretchable front and back panels. An elastic band is secured to at least one of the front and back panels. The elastic band has a retracted length less than the retracted length of the panel to which it is secured. An absorbent assembly including a liquid pervious bodyside liner, a liquid-impervious outer cover, and an absorbent positioned therebetween, is secured to the front and back panels. The absorbent assembly is capable of being folded to enable the front panel to overlap the back panel. A pair of seams joins the front panel, the back panel and the elastic band together at their side edges to form a pant-like undergarment having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The elastic band creates a snug fit at the waist opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul VanGompel, Russell Evan Thorson
  • Patent number: 7001368
    Abstract: A disposable pull-on wearing article folded along a folding zone extending across a crotch region in a transverse direction so that the inner surface of the article comes in contact with itself. The folding zone is formed at a position displaced toward a front waist region so that a front peripheral edge portion of a waist-opening defined by the front waist region lies at a longitudinally lower position than that of a rear peripheral edge portion of the waist-opening defined by a rear waist region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 6994697
    Abstract: A pull-on disposable diaper that is provided in parallel to transversely opposite side edges thereof in its rear waist region with fastening tape strips. The tape strips are configured in its rolled up state for disposable after the diaper has been used. Each of the tape strips includes longitudinally opposite end regions firmly bonded to respective peripheral edges of the diaper's waist-opening and leg-openings. An intermediate region of each of the fastening tape strips includes an adhesive region on its inner surface which is adapted to be separably bonded to the outer surface of the diaper when rolled up for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Shimada, Seiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6986762
    Abstract: Provided is a sanitary panty having a waist band in a waist part, leg bands in leg openings, and a napkin fitting portion in a crotch part. In a three-dimensionally shaped condition as worn, a dimensional ratio between a center front length from the crotch part to the waist part and a minimum total length from the leg opening to the waist part is in a range of 80 to 200 in the total length, as taking that the center front length is 100. In a back part, an elastic lifting member extending from the crotch part to the waist part is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Wada, Ayami Suga
  • Patent number: 6960197
    Abstract: Absorbent pants having a waist opening, two leg openings, and a waterproof outer barrier layer, which is arranged outside the pants layer. The pants layer has a surface area which is greater than that of the outer barrier layer and is joined in parts with itself or includes a device for enabling it to be joined in parts with itself, so that during use of the pants it alone constitutes the waist opening and the leg openings of the pants, and that the load-bearing parts of the pants and all of the parts lying against the body of the user are formed only from the pants layer. The pants are also elastic, where the outer barrier layer is essentially inelastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Anders Gustafsson, Urban Widlund
  • Patent number: 6939335
    Abstract: A pant-like absorbent garment having side seams extending from a waist opening to each of two leg openings between a front side panel and a back side panel. The side seams are offset or folded to conceal the post-bonding edges and provide a finished or aesthetically pleasing appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Franke, Cynthia Louise Wyngaard, Heather S. Mortell
  • Patent number: 6878647
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an elastic laminate which is elastically extensible in at least one direction. The elastic laminate includes an elastomeric material having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface; and a first nonwoven layer joined to the first surface of the elastomeric material. The first nonwoven layer is formed from component fibers having a primary fiber direction. The first nonwoven layer has a Fiber Orientation Ratio within about ±20 degrees from a primary fiber direction of at least about 65%. The present invention is also directed to a disposable garment employing such an elastic laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ebrahim Rezai, Yoko Mizutani, Kazuyuki Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 6869424
    Abstract: A form-fitting, pant-like, absorbent garment that does not result in bagging and wrinkling of the bodyside liner. The garment has a stretchable outer cover and a non-stretchable bodyside liner with a free-floating absorbent assembly located between the stretchable outer cover and the non-stretchable bodyside liner. A pair of highly stretchable side panels and/or at least one highly stretchable waist member are attached to the non-stretchable bodyside liner. The total transverse stretchability of the side panels is roughly equal to the transverse stretchability of the outer cover, thereby enabling the outer cover to stretch freely without inhibiting the non-stretchable bodyside liner. Alternatively, or additionally, the total longitudinal stretchability of the waist members is roughly equal to the longitudinal stretchability of the outer cover, thereby also enabling the outer cover to stretch freely without inhibiting the non-stretchable bodyside liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Tod Morman, Thomas Walter Odorzynski, Georgia Lynn Zehner
  • Patent number: 6863666
    Abstract: An open-type disposable diaper is composed, in its longitudinal direction, of a crotch region, a front waist region and a rear waist region. The rear waist region is provided on its transversely opposite sides with wings and lobes extend outward from these wings in a transverse direction. These lobes are provided on inner surfaces thereof with fasteners. Each of the lobes is divided in a section placed aside toward an outer end and a section placed aside toward an inner end as viewed in the longitudinal direction. The section placed aside toward the outer end has an elastic stretchability in the transverse direction of the diaper higher than the section placed aside toward the inner end. The fastener is attached to the section placed aside toward the outer end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Hironao Minato
  • Patent number: 6849067
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Lynn Fletcher, Lisa Ann Dimitrijevs, Christopher Peter Olson, Kathleen Irene Ratliff, Shirlee Ann Weber, Susan Lee West
  • Patent number: 6837879
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article for personal wear has an inner layer, an outer layer and an absorbent body disposed therebetween. Containment flaps are secured to the inner layer of the article, with each flap having a first layer extending outward from the inner layer of the article to a distal end of the flap. A generally liquid permeable second layer of the flap extends in opposed relation with a medial surface of the flap first layer of the flap and is free from fixed engagement therewith along at least a portion thereof whereby the flap second layer and the portion of the medial surface of the flap first layer define a surge chamber therebetween for receiving liquid body waste. The inner layer of the disposable article is interposed between the surge chamber and the absorbent body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Kuen, Sherry A. Van Dyke
  • Patent number: 6837961
    Abstract: Bonded composites, absorbent articles comprising such bonded composites, and processes for bonding thin-section elements. The bonded composite has first and second thin-section elements bonded to each other, at least in part by bond elements and at least in part by adherent material. The adherent material is disposed between the first and second thin-section elements proximate and about the bond elements. The adherent material, at least in part, bonds the thin-section elements to each other at loci of the adherent material. The bond patterns are arranged and configured to preferentially direct stresses imposed on the bond pattern, inwardly into the interior of the bond pattern for distribution, dissipation, and termination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Lynn Malchow, Daniel Hoo, Timothy James Blenke, Jeffry Jon Radke
  • Publication number: 20040260264
    Abstract: A pull-on disposable wearing article has a first barrier flap extending in a longitudinal direction on the side of a first side flap and a second barrier flap extending in the longitudinal direction on the side of a second side flap. A crotch region is formed with a first folding guide line diverging from the vicinity of a proximal edge of the first barrier flap toward a side edge of the first side flap and a second folding guide line diverging from the vicinity of a proximal edge of the second barrier flap toward a side edge of the second side flap. In the crotch region, a first section is tucked inwardly along the first folding guide line in a transverse direction of the article and a second section is tucked inwardly along the second folding guide line in the transverse direction of the article but distal portions of the first and second barrier flaps extend substantially linear without being tucked inwardly in the transverse direction of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 6830566
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for making pant-like disposable absorbent garments with single-piece elastic side panels, and garments so made, are provided. The single-piece side panels eliminate the additional cost associated with multi-part side panels, and improve aesthetic appearance of the garments by eliminating side seams. The process and apparatus accomplish the steps of providing a garment chassis having unfinished lateral edges, folding the chassis so that a front portion overlaps a back portion, and folding and bonding the single-piece side panels so that opposing of the side panels are joined to the lateral edges on the garment chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Kuen, John Irvin VanDeurzen
  • Publication number: 20040243083
    Abstract: A disposable pull-on garment is disclosed. The pull-on garment has a waist opening and leg openings. The pull-on garment comprises an absorbent main body and a ring-like elastic belt. The absorbent main body comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. The absorbent main body has a longitudinal centerline, longitudinal side edges, transverse end edges, a front waist panel, a back waist panel and a crotch panel. The front waist panel and the back waist panel are not joined directly. The ring-like elastic belt comprises an outer layer having a transverse waist end and a transverse abdomen end. The ring-like elastic belt is joined to the front waist panel and the back waist panel of the absorbent main body to form one waist opening and two leg openings. The ring-like elastic belt is not disposed in the crotch panel of the absorbent main body. The disposable pull-on garment further comprises a patch printed with a graphic thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsuda, Kenji Fujimoto, Hiroyuki Ohgata
  • Patent number: 6823530
    Abstract: An absorbent swimwear garment having an antimicrobial agent based on hydantoin chemistry for the purpose of eliminating or reducing the level of bacteria in swim water. During initial product use, the absorbent swimwear garment is able to contain urine and bowel movements, similar to ordinary diapers and training pants. When the swimwear garment is submersed in swim water, particularly chlorinated or brominated water, the antimicrobial agent is stabilized and is thereby able to eliminate E. coli and other fecal bacteria from the swim water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Bradshaw Quincy, III
  • Publication number: 20040236304
    Abstract: An adjustable absorbent article is provided according to exemplary aspects of this invention. The absorbent article includes a body portion configured to be positioned adjacent a wearer of the absorbent article. The absorbent article includes at least one belt having end portions, at least one of which end portions is configured to be engaged to the body portion. A first means is positioned on at least one of the end portions of the belt for releasable engagement of the end portion to the body portion, and a second means is positioned at a location spaced from the end portions of the belt for releasable engagement to the bell or the body portion to adjust the length of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Fredrica V Coates, Donald A Sheldon
  • Publication number: 20040230175
    Abstract: A re-usable and washable protective panty for wear by an incontinent person is described. The panty comprises an outer elastic fabric cut and stitched to define a waist opening and leg openings. The panty defines a front panel and a rear panel. The rear panel has a seat area. A crotch region is defined between the front and rear panels and extends between the leg openings. A non-breathable, non-stretchable, waterproof polyester panel is permanently secured over an inner surface of the panty and spans the crotch region. The waterproof polyester panel is stitched along a peripheral edge thereof to the inner surface of the panty and is free of seams spanning the peripheral edge in the crotch region. The waterproof polyester panel has a contour shape to substantially shield the outer elastic fabric from body fluids from a wearer person when in an upright, sitting or lying position while retaining a substantially flat shape in the crotch region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Francine Rainville-Lonn, Harvey Lonn
  • Publication number: 20040193136
    Abstract: A panty construction having improved moisture management. The panty construction includes a body portion having a waist opening, a front section and a back section, a crotch section, and a panty liner. The panty liner is formed from a knitted fabric comprising alternating courses of hydrophilic yarns. The yarns are knitted to form a rib knit with parallel ribs, the parallel ribs formed parallel to the alternating courses. The panty liner overlies and is attached to the inner surface of the crotch area so that the parallel ribs are substantially parallel with the major axis of the crotch area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Robert A. Miller
  • Patent number: 6797858
    Abstract: An absorbent article having front and rear regions corresponding to the front and rear of a wearer, respectively, and a crotch region between the front and rear regions. The article generally has a backsheet, a topsheet overlaying the backsheet, and a foam layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. An absorbent core also is located between the topsheet and the backsheet. The foam layer preferably extends from the front region, through the crotch, and into the back region. The foam layer is attached to the article, while in a laterally extended position, in at least one of the front and rear regions thereby elasticizing at least one region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward P Erdman
  • Patent number: 6793650
    Abstract: A pant-like absorbent garment having an absorbent pad attached to a front region and a back region of an outer cover, wherein the absorbent pad is at least partially suspended therebetween to provide a close or customized fit for the wearer. The pant-like absorbent garment is suitable as a low capacity training pant for late stage toilet training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Shirlee Ann Weber
  • Patent number: 6767344
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article that includes a substantially liquid-impervious leak-barrier cuff associated with a waist-opening, which has a fixed end portion lying on a side of one longitudinal end portion of an article, a free end portion extending from the fixed end portion toward a crotch region and fixed side portions lying on the transversely opposite side edge portions of the article. A rising fulcrum zone of the leak-barrier cuff lies in a substantially non-contractible region of the article extending between the elastic member associated with the waist-opening and elastic members associated with leg-openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6764478
    Abstract: Absorbent article having a containment assembly and highly extensible leg openings. The leg opening margins may have portions having differential properties, such as differential elastic extensibility. The absorbent article may also have highly extensible outer leg cuffs. Additionally, the absorbent article may have a narrow crotch region. The absorbent article may thus provide ease of application and removal, sustained dynamic fit, prevention of leakage, sustained wearer comfort, and desirable appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ashton, Eiro Fukuda, Frederick Michael Langdon
  • Patent number: 6761711
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Lynn Fletcher, Lisa Ann Dimitrijevs, Christopher Peter Olson, Kathleen Irene Ratliff, Shirlee Ann Weber, Susan Lee West
  • Patent number: 6761712
    Abstract: Here is disclosed disposable pants of trunks-type having a pair of lateral trunk regions and a middle trunk region wherein each of the lateral trunk regions has an upper section and a lower section while the middle trunk region has a front trunk section, a rear trunk section, a crotch section and a pair of downward extensions so that the front and rear trunk sections and the crotch section extend so as to intersect the upper sections while the downward extensions extend in parallel to the lower sections and wherein the upper sections and the front and rear trunk sections are bonded together along edges thereof except upper edges thereof forming a waist-opening while the lower sections and the downward extensions are bonded together along edges thereof except lower edges forming a pair of leg-openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20040102757
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent pant article, and method for making such article are provided. The article includes a chassis wherein facings of front and back panels are bonded together at side seams so as to define a waist opening and a pair of leg openings in the article. A waistband structure is attached to an edge portion of the front and back panels along a periphery of the waist opening and facings of the waistband structure are bonded with the front and back panel facings at the side seams. The waistband facings material is formed of a different material having a lower melting point as compared to the material of the front and back panel facings. In this manner, the waistband facings generally do not increase or decrease bond strength at the side seams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Olson
  • Publication number: 20040092904
    Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a diaper comprising an absorbent core disposed within the diaper and provided with a continuous and ring shaped element in the groin region of the diaper and cooperating with a distal end of the diaper so as to close the diaper around the user's body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Carlos De Silva Macedo, Eduardo Cezar Andreo Aledo, Altair De Paula Vitor, Francisco Javier Valdivia Hernandez
  • Patent number: 6726670
    Abstract: A belted absorbent article (10) having an absorbent structure (16) and a pair of opposed belt halves (12, 14) attached to the absorbent structure (16) via a respective joint (50). The joint (50) between each belt half (12, 14) and the absorbent structure (16) is designed such that when each belt half is subjected to a tension force of 35 N acting along the belt half and the direction of applied tension creates an angle (&agr;) to the transverse axis (T) of the absorbent structure, the following minimum average release times (t) of each belt half from the absorbent structure are attained: when &agr;=10°, t>>720 seconds; when &agr;=20°, t>>330 seconds; when &agr;=25°, t>>240 seconds; when &agr;=30°, t>>180 seconds; and when &agr;=40°, t>>75 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Christian Almberg, Lucas Bäck
  • Patent number: 6726669
    Abstract: A disposable pull-on garment includes front and rear waist-encircling regions each having first elasticized zones and a second elasticized zone extending in a waist-encircling direction. Auxiliary elastic members include plural lines of first auxiliary elastic members extending in the waist-encircling direction in the first elasticized zones, and plural lines of second auxiliary elastic members extending in the waist-encircling direction in the second elasticized zones. A tensile stress of the first auxiliary elastic members is greater than that of the second auxiliary elastic members. A tensile stress of the first elasticized zones is greater than that of the second elasticized zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Shimada, Kenji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040064126
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Amy Lynn Fletcher, Lisa Ann Dimitrijevs, Christopher Peter Olson, Kathleen Irene Ratliff, Shirlee Ann Weber, Susan Lee West
  • Publication number: 20040030318
    Abstract: Method for producing disposable diaper-pants having openable and resealable side panels. Absorption bodies are applied on a continuous web of inner or outer coversheet material so that front portions and rear portions of adjacent diaper-pants blanks in a web are directed toward each other. A continuous web of outer or inner coversheet material is applied to and secured to the web with absorption bodies. Separate side panels connected to each other by a detachable and resealable connection are secured to side portions of the adjacent front portions or rear portions of the diaper pants. Each diaper-pants blank with side panels is cut from the web and folded about a transverse axis in the crotch with the front and rear edges lying against each other. The side panels of each blank are folded toward and secured to side portions of the rear or front portion which have no side panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Birgitta Karlsson, Johan Skogsberg, Lennart Erwast, Urban Widlund, Ingemar Fernfors
  • Patent number: 6689115
    Abstract: A pant-like absorbent garment adapted to the non-symmetrical nature and leakage demands of the anatomy of the human body has variable spacing and curvature among the elastic members bonded around the leg openings such that the spacing and/or curvature is asymmetrical with respect to the wearer's anterior and posterior sides. The spacing and curvature profiles of the elastic members are designed to accommodate various pressure demands around a wearer's legs during different activities. The resulting garment has optimized comfort, fit and containment about the leg openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Robert Eugene Vogt, Joseph D. Coenen, Shawn A. Quereshi, Toan Thanh Le Minh
  • Patent number: 6666851
    Abstract: A disposable garment that includes a crotch region. The crotch region has a pair of folding guides that extend transversely across a zone defined between peripheral edge portions of respective leg-openings and intersect each other in a transversely middle zone of the crotch region. The crotch region is tucked about the folding guides inwardly of the garment so that the crotch region may be divided by the folding guides into substantially triangular first and second zones defined between the peripheral edge portions of the respective leg-openings and the folding guides, respectively, a third zone extending from the folding guides into a front region, and a fourth zone extending from the folding guides into a rear region with the first and second zones being disposed between the third and fourth zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Otsubo, Yoshinori Kumasaka, Hiroyuki Soga
  • Patent number: 6667085
    Abstract: A method of making a prefastened disposable absorbent article includes providing a continuous web of interconnected absorbent articles and releasably attaching a pair of opposed side panels to one of the waist regions on each of the absorbent articles. Each of the opposed side panels includes a primary fastener which releasably engages the one waist region to provide the releasable attachment. Each of the side panels also defines side portions which extend laterally outward beyond the side edges of the absorbent article in the one waist region. The continuous web is selectively cut into discrete absorbent articles which are then folded about a fold line extending in a lateral direction through the crotch region of the article thereby positioning the waist regions of the article in a facing relationship. The method further includes securing the side portions of the side panels to the side edges of the absorbent article in the opposite waist region to provide the prefastened absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Sean McNichols
  • Publication number: 20030220622
    Abstract: Absorbent pants with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction at right angles to the longitudinal direction and having an absorption core arranged between a liquid-tight cover sheet and a liquid-permeable cover sheet. The diaper pants have a front portion, a rear portion and an intermediate crotch portion, and a front edge and a rear edge extending substantially in the transverse direction and forming a waist opening, two side edges extending substantially in the longitudinal direction and forming two leg openings. An elastic sheet material is arranged at least along the waist opening of the diaper pants and extends at least from the waist opening to the leg openings, the elastic sheet material being secured to the absorption core in a substantially unstretched state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Kent Hermansson, Niclas Norrby, Catarina Linner
  • Publication number: 20030220626
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes a spunbond nonwoven forming at least one of an article backsheet and article frontsheet and defining an exposed outer surface thereof containing a plurality of interstices, and a minihook fastener element forming a plurality of pins defining an exposed outer surface thereof. The pins of the fastener element and the interstices of the nonwoven are configured and dimensioned to provide, when the exposed outer surfaces of the fastener element and the nonwoven are mutually engaged, a peel strength of at least 60 grams per 2 inches and a shear strength of at least 1300 grams per 2 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventor: Hamzeh Karami
  • Patent number: 6652501
    Abstract: Bonded composites, absorbent articles comprising such bonded composites, and processes for bonding thin-section elements. The bonded composite has first and second thin-section elements bonded to each other, at least in part by bond elements and at least in part by adherent material. The adherent material is disposed between the first and second thin-section elements proximate and about the bond elements. The adherent material, at least in part, bonds the thin-section elements to each other at loci of the adherent material. The bond patterns are arranged and configured to preferentially direct stresses imposed on the bond pattern, inwardly into the interior of the bond pattern for distribution, dissipation, and termination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Lynn Malchow, Daniel Hoo, Timothy James Blenke, Jeffry Jon Radke
  • Patent number: 6648868
    Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a cover member having an hourglass-shape and a-separate liquid-absorbent member composed of a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet and a liquid-absorbent core. The cover member has an elastic stretchability along the upper ends of front and waist regions, and these front and rear waist regions are connected or connectable along transversely opposite side edges thereof. The liquid-absorbent member includes first and second elastically stretchable members that extend circumferentially across portions of the front and rear waist regions lying immediately above the crotch region. Longitudinally opposite ends of these elastically stretchable members are bonded to the transversely opposite side edges of the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Sayama, Toshifumi Otsubo, Yasushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 6645189
    Abstract: A disposable pull-on diaper has a disposal securing means. This means includes perforated lines which are formed between transversely opposite side edges of front and rear waist regions and respective first joining zones, along which top- and backsheets are torn together to define slits. The perforated lines extend in a longitudinal direction between the vicinity of a peripheral edge portion of a waist-opening and the vicinity of peripheral edge portions of respective leg-openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kurita, Tomoko Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6645190
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes attachment panels extending transversely outward from the absorbent assembly in one waist region and mechanical fastening components in an opposite waist region. The attachment panels cover the side hips of the wearer and define inner attachment surfaces that are adapted to refastenably engage the fastening components to maintain the absorbent article in a pant configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peter Olson, Lisa Ann Dimitrijevs
  • Patent number: 6638261
    Abstract: A disposable pull-on diaper has a pair of tape fasteners to hold the diaper in a rolled up state. The tape fasteners are provided in the vicinity of transversely opposite side edges of a rear waist region so as to extend in a longitudinal direction. The tape fasteners have lower end portions bonded to the diaper by bonding zones extending in a waist-surrounding direction in the vicinity of peripheral edge portions of respective leg-openings. The bonding zones extend obliquely inward in the waist-surrounding direction from the transversely opposite side edge portions of the rear waist region toward the upper end portions of the respective tape fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6635042
    Abstract: A disposable pants-type diaper is composed of a pair of sheets each having longitudinally opposite end portions extending in a transverse direction and transversely opposite side edge portions extending in a longitudinal direction. The pair of sheet are bonded together in desired zones including the transversely opposite side portions to form a disposable pants-type diaper. The pair of sheets are placed upon each other so that one of the transversely opposite side edge portions is destined to lie on a belly side of the diaper and the other thereof is destined to lie on the rear side of the diaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kumasaka
  • Patent number: 6632211
    Abstract: A disposable diaper that includes a briefs-shaped cover member having an elastic stretchability in a vertical direction of the diaper, and an absorbent member that includes a topsheet and a backsheet both of which are not elastically stretchable at least in the vertical direction, and a liquid-absorbent core disposed therebetween. The absorbent member is suspended inside the cover member by suspender sheets that are elastically non-stretchable sheets, at least in the vertical direction, and have pleats which can be flattened out in a vertical direction of the diaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Publication number: 20030191444
    Abstract: Provided is a sanitary panty having a waist band in a waist part, leg bands in leg openings, and a napkin fitting portion in a crotch part. In a three-dimensionally shaped condition as worn, a dimensional ratio between a center front length from the crotch part to the waist part and a minimum total length from the leg opening to the waist part is in a range of 80 to 200 in the total length, as taking that the center front length is 100. In a back part, an elastic lifting member extending from the crotch part to the waist part is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Wada, Ayami Suga
  • Patent number: 6629966
    Abstract: A disposable pull-on diaper that includes a pair of tape fasteners which are adapted to hold the diaper in a rolled-up state. The tape fasteners are provided at transversely opposite side edges of a rear waist region so as to extend along the side edges in a longitudinal direction. Each of the tape fasteners has an upper end portion lying adjacent a waist-opening and a lower end portion lying adjacent an associated leg-opening. The upper end portions of the tape fasteners are bonded to the diaper by bonding zones which extend obliquely inward in a waist-surrounding direction from the transversely opposite side edges of the rear waist region toward the lower end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corp.
    Inventors: Takaaki Shimada, Seiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6626883
    Abstract: Provided is a sanitary panty having a waist band in a waist part, leg bands in leg openings, and a napkin fitting portion in a crotch part. In a three-dimensionally shaped condition as worn, a dimensional ratio between a center front length from the crotch part to the waist part and a minimum total length from the leg opening to the waist part is in a range of 80 to 200 in the total length, as taking that the center front length is 100. In a back part, an elastic lifting member extending from the crotch part to the waist part is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Wada, Ayami Suga