Button Or Snap Fastener Element Patents (Class 604/399)
  • Patent number: 9226862
    Abstract: A containment pant includes a chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region joined between the front waist region and the back waist region. The containment pant includes a sling positioned within the chassis and being joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a containment flap joined with the base sheet to define a fluid-impervious pouch. The fluid-impervious pouch defines a first end containment flap having a first positioning key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis Preole Orchard, IV, Marcille Faye Ruman, Thomas Harold Roessler, Anita Marie-Nanette Gilgenbach, Brooke Ashley Berg
  • Patent number: 9078792
    Abstract: A two-piece wearer absorbent article having an outer cover and an absorbent insert is disclosed. The outer cover has a landing zone comprising a loops material disposed on the front waist region, and extending laterally across substantially all of the front waist region. The inner surface of the outer cover has an insert fastener component disposed in the front region thereof, and the insert fastener component is secured directly to the loops material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Oscar Antonio Ruiz
  • Patent number: 8734419
    Abstract: A cloth training diaper comprising an outer layer coupled to an inner layer, a front portion and a rear portion, a plurality of snaps arranged longitudinally along the right side of the front portion, the left side of the front portion, the right side of the rear portion, and the left side of the rear portion, the snaps extending through the outer and inner layers, and two side panels, each side panel comprised of a smocked material coupled to a non-smocked material, each side panel having a right side and a left side and a plurality of snaps arranged along the right and left sides of the smocked material. The snaps on the side panels engage with the snaps on the front and rear portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Natural Baby Company, LLC
    Inventor: Kim Ormsby
  • Patent number: 8728052
    Abstract: A convertible reusable diaper is provided, comprised of an outer cover portion, a liner portion, and a detachable absorption portion. The outer cover portion may generally include barrier panels attached at both the front and rear regions of the outer cover portion to form interior pockets. A plurality of fastenable tabs attached to hole-openings at the barrier panels affixes the liner portion or the detachable absorption portion in place. The hole-openings allow the passage of the fastenable tabs through the barrier panels. Both the liner portion and the detachable absorption portion include fastener members inter-engaged with the corresponding fastener members located at the fastenable tabs to allow the liner portion or the detachable absorption portion to be removably affixed to the outer cover portion. Numerous options for affixing the insert portion and the detachable absorption portion allow conversion to different diaper designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventors: Jinmei Wang, Yu Ping
  • Patent number: 8696643
    Abstract: A reusable sanitary garment is provided, having a three-part construction, incorporating an outer garment portion, a sling portion, and at least one pad, supported within the sling, which, in turn, is affixed to, and supported within, the outer garment. Both the outer garment portion and the sling portion are preferably fabricated, in an ecologically sustainable manner, from recycled plastics materials. The at least one pad may be fabricated as a reusable, washable article, or may be fabricated as a disposable article, preferably from recycled, and easily recyclable or biodegradable materials. The outer garment portion, the sling portion and/or the reusable pad may be fabricated to incorporate bamboo charcoal material, having enhanced antibacterial, deodorant, wicking and absorptive qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventors: Cher Anne Caylin Knightingale, Ellis Charles Hanna Knightingale
  • Patent number: 8439887
    Abstract: The invention, a reusable adjustable diaper, includes: a multi-ply member having a first curvilinear portion connecting by a medial portion to a second curvilinear portion; a first elastomeric member connected to a first curved segment of multi-ply member and having a first plurality of fastening areas; a second elastomeric member connected to a second curved segment of multi-ply member and having a second plurality of fastening areas; a first plurality of fasteners connected to first curvilinear portion; a second plurality of fasteners connected to second curvilinear portion and disengagably fastenable with first plurality of fasteners; a third fastener connected to multi-ply member and disengagably fastenable with first elastomeric member at each of first plurality of fastening areas; and a fourth fastener connected to multi-ply member and disengagably fastenable with second elastomeric member at each of second plurality of fastening areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Stacee M. Magee
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8002762
    Abstract: A pouch for an absorbent pad is disclosed. The pouch (3) comprises a sheet of waterproof fabric formed into a pouch shape with a base (5) and a side wall (7) that extends from the base and is inwardly turned and defines an opening to insert a pad into the pouch so that the pouch covers the back and sides of the pad. In use, an assembly of the pouch and the pad received in the pouch can be positioned in a crotch region of an adult, child or baby in an operative position of the pad and with the pouch and the skin of the person enclosing the pad and forming a barrier to leakage from the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Susan M. Allison-Rogers
  • Patent number: 7914507
    Abstract: The invention, a reusable adjustable diaper, includes: a multi-ply member having a first curvilinear portion connecting by a medial portion to a second curvilinear portion; a first elastomeric member connected to a first curved segment of multi-ply member and having a first plurality of fastening areas; a second elastomeric member connected to a second curved segment of multi-ply member and having a second plurality of fastening areas; a first plurality of fasteners connected to first curvilinear portion; a second plurality of fasteners connected to second curvilinear portion and disengagably fastenable with first plurality of fasteners; a third fastener connected to multi-ply member and disengagably fastenable with first elastomeric member at each of first plurality of fastening areas; and a fourth fastener connected to multi-ply member and disengagably fastenable with second elastomeric member at each of second plurality of fastening areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Stacee M. Magee
  • Patent number: 7727218
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article adapted to be worn about a lower torso of a human body and having a chassis, a non-removable absorbent core component disposed in a crotch region of the chassis, and a replaceable absorbent core component disposed in capillary liquid communication with the non-removable absorbent core component. The replaceable absorbent core component may be removed and a like component may be substituted in place of the removed component without the removal of the absorbent article from the wearer. The replaceable absorbent core component may be disposed inside an openable chassis pocket, with access for its removal and replacement provided by an aperture in a backsheet, an openable end of an external pocket, or an openable end of an internal pocket formed at an area of a waist end edge where the backsheet and a topsheet may be separated. Additional replaceable absorbent core components may also be incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean Lavon, Theodora Beck, Gerald Alfred Young, Stephen Lebeuf Hardie, Thomas Henrich
  • Patent number: 7727211
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinent briefs, training pants, diaper holders and liners, and the like, designed to provide improved fit and comfort for the wearer while adequately containing body exudates. The absorbent article includes an absorbent core designed so as to retain low levels of fluid in the crotch region, relative to the other core regions, even when the core absorbs significant amounts of fluid during use. To achieve this, the absorbent core is designed such that fluid is moved substantially from the crotch region to the front and/or rear ends of the article. The absorbent core has a non-removable absorbent core component in the crotch region and removable absorbent core components in the front or rear regions of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Gerald Alfred Young, Theodora Beck
  • Patent number: 7658732
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in structure of disposable garments. The disposable garments of the invention may include an outer layer and an elastic inner layer. The elastic inner layer has an elastic inner layer perimeter and defines an opening, which may be in the form of a slit or aperture, located in an internal position to the elastic inner layer perimeter. The elastic inner layer perimeter may be bonded to the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Van Gompel, Georgia L. Zehner
  • Patent number: 7572250
    Abstract: An absorbent product has a fluid permeable top sheet, a fluid impermeable backing sheet, and an absorbent core having an upper side, a bottom side, two longitudinally running sides and two laterally running sides. The product further has two longitudinally running barrier flaps at the longitudinally running sides of the absorbent core. The top sheet covers the upper side of the absorbent core. The top sheet, with the upper side of the absorbent core, also covers the longitudinally running sides of the absorbent core and part of the bottom side of the absorbent core, the top sheet extending between at least a portion of the bottom side of the absorbent core and the backing sheet. The top sheet is connected to the backing sheet at the bottom side of the absorbent core. The barrier flaps are connected to the backing sheet at the longitudinally running sides of the absorbent core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Urban Widlund, Eva Simmons, Anders Gustafsson
  • Publication number: 20090069768
    Abstract: A disposable undergarment according to the present invention includes an outer element having a waistband and defining two leg holes, the outer element presenting inner and outer surfaces. The disposable undergarment includes an absorbent inner element removably coupled to the outer element inner surface. The inner element is disposable in a toilet and the outer element is disposable as solid refuse. The inner element is removably coupled to the outer element with an adhesive. In addition, the inner element may include a plurality of absorbent layers. The outer element waistband may include fasteners for separating the outer element into front and rear portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Brenda A. Hunt
  • Patent number: 7354424
    Abstract: The invention provides protective garments that comprise a liquid impermeable garment body having an inner surface with first and second portions, an absorptive device associated with the first portion of the garment body, and fibers affixed to at least a part of the inner surface of the second portion of the garment body. The protective garment may further comprise a connector, and tubing. The tubing can be used for absorbing or draining fluids away from a person's body, or for transmitting fluids to a person's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: TamiCare Ltd.
    Inventor: Tamar Giloh
  • Patent number: 7322968
    Abstract: A disposable wearing article is provided on its garment facing surface with tape fasteners. The tape member forming each of the tape fastener has a fixed end portion and a free end portion adapted to be taken between the fingers longitudinally opposed to each other. The free end portion at least partially extend beyond the lateral edge of the wearing article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nariaki Shimoe
  • Patent number: 7195622
    Abstract: An absorbent article has a fastening arrangement for fastening the absorbent article. The fastening arrangement is an extendable fastening arrangement formed by the material strip being folded in a Z along two transversely extending fold lines which divide the material strip into a first end portion at the first short end, a second end portion at the second short end, and a middle portion between the end portions. The first end portion of the material strip is secured to the middle portion by a first breakable attachment, and the second end portion of the material strip is secured to the middle portion by a second breakable attachment, and the fastening device is arranged on the second end portion on a surface directed away from the middle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Asa Lindström
  • Publication number: 20030135190
    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: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: Molnlycke AB
    Inventors: Urban Widlunc , Anders Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 6443939
    Abstract: A device for disposing excrement is provided which prevents irritation of the skin of a sick person or the like wearing a diaper cup. The device for disposing excrement has a diaper cup main body 2 enclosing a pelvic region of a human body, a discharge port 2d to discharge the excrement excreted in the diaper cup main body 2, an anus wash nozzle to eject liquid for washing away the excrement, sensors 13, 14 to detect the excrement excreted in the diaper cup main body 2, and a changeable diaper 3 removably provided on the diaper cup main body 2. A buffer member 25 is interposed between the diaper cup main body 2 and the changeable diaper 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Niles Parts Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Oki, Syuei Tamura, Hiroshi Sakai, Kimio Sato
  • Patent number: 6432098
    Abstract: A strong, easy to use tab and slot fastening device suitable for use with disposable absorbent articles. The fastening device preferably includes a tab member and a slot member. The slot member has an inboard portion, an outboard portion and a slot. The inboard portion located laterally inboard of the outboard portion and the slot located between the inboard portion and the outboard portion. The tab member has a length, a proximal edge, a distal edge and a lip portion. The tab portion is passed through the slot of the slot member to engage the fastening device. Once passed through the slot, at least the lip portion of the tab member pivots such that it overlaps the outboard portion of the slot member to prevent the tab member from disengaging from the slot member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark J. Kline, Tracey E. Beckman, Thomas Henrich, David J. K. Goulait, Miguel A. Robles, Constance L. Fisher
  • Patent number: 5704933
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a fastening system having first and second buttons bonded to an elastic strap member in respective first and second end regions. The straps are adapted to attach to a garment and maintain the garment in place during use. Reinforcement members are provided within reinforcement zones surrounding the attachment locations of each of the buttons. The reinforcement members locally stabilize the strap member near the attachment locations to minimize or eliminate rolling and twisting of the sides of the strap members during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Fell, Jeffrey Mark LaFortune, Marianne Keevill Leick, Lynn Kirkpatrick LeMahieu, Paul Martin Niemi
  • Patent number: 5342340
    Abstract: A reusable leakproof diaper which is as convenient in use as a disposable diaper and includes a one-or-more layered absorbent rectangular liner attached by strips of liquid impervious material to a liquid impervious outer shell. A closure system, such as snap fasteners, single looped closures, buttons, or hooks is mounted on the outer shell. The sides of the outer shell include elastic strips along the portion of the shell that forms a leg opening when the diaper is in use. The unique design for attaching the inner absorbent liner to the liquid impervious outer shell provides the diaper with improved resistance to leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: New World Diaper Service
    Inventors: Conrad M. Kichefski, Mary B. Madryga, Kurt R. Madryga, Christopher G. Struble, Kathleen A. Madryga
  • Patent number: 5290270
    Abstract: A men's undergarment is disclosed. The undergarment includes a brief having front and rear sections, a crotch section interconnecting the front and rear sections and a pair of leg openings on respective sides of the crotch section. The front section and the crotch section include a relatively non-elastic region formed therein. An absorbent liner is provided for temporarily engaging inside surfaces of the front section and the crotch section. A pocket element is formed on the inside surface of the front section for releasably holding the liner generally in place when the front section is raised and lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Inventor: Warren G. Fisher
  • Patent number: 5219342
    Abstract: A diaper or incontinence shield having a liquid absorbent layer formed entirely of cellulose based material which is recyclable with paper products and, in another embodiment, a plastic liquid impermeable layer releasably held to the liquid absorbent layer for easy stripping off the soiled absorbent layer after use for recycling with other plastics. A woven rayon casing encloses the absorbent cellulose material and an odor and liquid proof container of recyclable cellulose base material is used to enclose the soiled absorbent layer for recycling therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventors: Janell M. Hatch, Betty B. Hatch
  • Patent number: 5217447
    Abstract: A diaper assembly including a reusable over-garment having opposite side edges and two opposite ends and inner and outer surfaces and an absorbent liner adapted for positioning on the inner surface side of the over-garment. This liner also has opposite ends and inner and outer surfaces. There is a separate, disposable non-absorbent inner sheet adapted to cover the inner surface of the liner and having opposite ends. Preferably snap fasteners are provided for detachably connecting the opposite ends of both the liner and the inner sheet to respective opposite ends of the garment to enhance stability. Preferably a moisture proof sheet is disposed on the inner surface of the over-garment and this sheet has elasticized side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignees: Michael E. Fedryna, Peter H. T. Lee
    Inventor: Normand A. Gagnon
  • Patent number: 5207665
    Abstract: Absorbent products, such as sanitary napkins, are Provided which include mechanical attachment means for securing the undergarment-facing side of these products to an undergarment for minimizing shifting during movements by a wearer. The mechanical attachment means includes male and female fastening elements which engage to capture a portion of the thickness of the undergarment and may include slide fasteners, snap fasteners and fasteners including apertured rings with protruding button male portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Martha Davis, Daniel Formosa, Jeannie Gerth, Patricia A. Moore, Stephen Russak, Tamara Thomsen, Tucker Viemeister
  • Patent number: 5077868
    Abstract: A fastener for a baby's diaper is provided which comprises a generally elastic base member having at least thre claw units spaced apart thereon. The base member can be resiliently extended and the claw units engaged with a cloth or fabric diaper to retain the two ends of the part thereof encircling a baby's waist in required relative positions and also to hold a portion passing between the baby's legs in position relative to the former. The claw units are specially designed to properly engage the fabric of a diaper and not to become dislodged therefrom (if properly installed) in use. The fastener obviates the use of conventional safety pins with the associated disadvantages and dangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Snappi Holdings (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Hendrik S. Visser
  • Patent number: 5007906
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin having a top sheet and an absorbent core associated with the topsheet is disclosed. The topsheet and associated core are decoupled from the backsheet of the sanitary napkin so that the topsheet and backsheet may be separated in the Z-direction. The sanitary napkin has a joined transverse edge connecting the top sheet and backsheet and forming a hinge to facilitate the Z-direction separation. The sanitary napkin further controls the amount of separation of the topsheet and associated core from the backsheet. A preferred way to control the amount of separation of the topsheet and associated core from the backsheet is longitudinally oriented pleats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Osborn, III, Deborah C. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 4892598
    Abstract: A method of integrating a fluid-absorbing component into a holding component of an anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting absorbent garment is disclosed. An elastomeric outer cover is provided for holding a relatively inelastic absorbent insert in selected bodily registration for absorbing and containing bodily fluids. A slidable hem retaining arrangement operatively connects the insert to the outer cover, including cooperating fasteners engageable with one another through a plurality of fenestrations, allowing unrestricted elongation or retraction of the outer cover relative to the insert. The fasteners are releasably engageable with one another to allow removal and replacement of the insert when soiled. Alternatively, ultrasonic bonds may be used instead of refastenable closures, where a single-use disposable garment is contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Stevens, Leona G. Boland, John L. Chiatalas
  • Patent number: 4548604
    Abstract: A cloth diaper garment fabricated of a double layer of cloth and having an elastic member attached to the outer edge of the diaper through most of the perimeter of the garment. The diaper employs metal snaps arranged to permit use of the diaper with different sized infants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Inventor: Laurett Ellsworth
  • Patent number: 4527991
    Abstract: A device and garment for use by small animals of both sexes to absorb and collect body waste fluids. The device includes an outer garment (14) which has a waist aperture (16) for fitting around the body of a small animal (12), a pair of leg apertures (18 and 20) for fitting around the legs of the animal, and a tail aperture (22). The waist aperture (16) and the leg apertures (18 and 20) include a resilient material or band (28 and 30) for assuring that the apertures fit snugly around the animal's body and legs respectively. The tail aperture (22) is particularly located and of such a size that the anal opening of the animal is not covered. The outer garment (14) further includes a first portion (32) of an attaching means such as a snap or "Velcro" fastener at a first location which is adjacent the tail aperture (22) and in between the leg apertures (18 and 20). Also included is another first portion (34) of an attaching means located adjacent the waist aperture (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Inventor: Johnnie Msarsa