Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Allan James Krueger

Steven James Nielsen

Jeffrey Michael Weyenberg

Tammy Jo Rentmeester

Yihua Chang

Dennis Joseph Boyle

Lukas Martin Scherrer

Garry Roland Woltman

Adrienne Rae Loyd

Sarah Jane Marie Freiburger

Angela Ann Johnston

Adam Patrick Vollmer

Vivian Kate Barad

Marcus David Weiher

Richard R Tews

Paula Cardinahl Winkel

Jonathan Kyle Arendt

Pamela Mary Thompson

Betsy Charlotte Fields

Judy May Lee

Rebecca Jeanine Sinclair

Lawrence Howell Sawyer

Yung Hsiang Huang

Heather Anne Sorebo

Tammy Jo Balzar

Franklin M Chen

Tamara Lee Mace

MeeWha Lee

Valerie Victoria Finch

Connie Lynn Hetzler

Rebecca Lyn Dilnik

Andrew Michael Lake

David Michael Matela

Rodney Lawrence Abba

Jayne B Nelson

Andrew Scott Burnes

Janice G Nielsen

Thomas Patrick Jorgenson

Laura Jane Walker

Alexander M Schmidt-Foerst

Tammy J Rentmeester

Noel J Rasmussen

Michael Brent Kottek

Ann Marie Giencke

Charles John Chappell

Julie T Basten

Louise C Ellis

Joseph P Fell

Richard D Schulz

Mary J Meyer

James Allyn Spiers

Ann Margaret Vanevenhoven

Russell L Nowak

Sarah Elizabeth Long-Radloff

A pull-activated applicator includes a barrel, a pledget, a finger grip, and a deployment element. The pledget includes a withdrawal string and is located within the barrel. The barrel, the pledget, and the deployment element are configured such that application of a force to the deployment element in a first direction deploys the pledget and withdrawal string from the barrel in a second direction generally opposite the first direction.

Pull-activated tampon applicator

Stabilized absorbent material and systems for personal care products having controlled placement of visco-elastic fluids

An applicator is disclosed for inserting a substance into a body cavity. The applicator is especially useful for inserting a catamenial tampon into a woman's vagina. The applicator includes a tubular member formed from at least one layer of paper which has an exterior surface. The tubular member is capable of holding the substance which is to be inserted. The exterior surface of the tubular member is coated with a compostable coating. The coating is comprised of at least 85 percent by weight of a polymeric material, at least 10 percent by weight of additives, and up to about 5 percent by weight of a residual monomer.

Paper applicator containing a compostable coating

A tampon applicator is disclosed which has an improved pleated tip for facilitating insertion of a catamenial tampon into a woman's vagina. The tampon applicator includes a first member capable of housing an absorbent tampon. The first member has a central longitudinal axis and first and second ends. An insertion tip is integrally formed on the first end of the first member and extends outwardly therefrom. The insertion tip includes a semi-spherical shaped portion and a frusto-conical shaped portion. The semi-spherical shaped portion has an aperture extending therethrough and the aperture has a side wall which is aligned essentially parallel to the central longitudinal axis. The frusto-conical shaped portion is situated between the semi-spherical shaped portion and the first end of the first member. The insertion tip contains a plurality of pleats which are capable of expanding radially outwardly as the tampon is expelled from the first member. The applicator further includes a second member telescopically mounted in the second end of the first member. The second member is adapted to expel the tampon through the insertion tip as it is pushed into the first member. The tampon applicator is also disclosed in combination with a catamenial tampon.

Tampon applicator having an improved pleated tip

A tampon applicator is disclosed which has a semi-spherically shaped insertion tip for facilitating insertion of a catamenial tampon into a woman's vagina. The tampon applicator includes a first member capable of housing an absorbent tampon. The first member has a central longitudinal axis and first and second ends. An insertion tip is integrally formed on the first end of the first member and extends outwardly therefrom. The insertion tip contains an aperture which extends therethrough and has a side wall which is aligned essentially parallel to the central longitudinal axis. The insertion tip contains a plurality of pleats arranged to form a semi-spherical configuration. The pleats are capable of expanding radially outwardly as the tampon is expelled from the first member. The applicator further includes a second member telescopically mounted in the second end of the first member. The second member is adapted to expel the tampon through the insertion tip as it is pushed into the first member. The tampon applicator is also disclosed in combination with a catamenial tampon.

Tampon applicator having a semi-spherically shaped pleated tip

An applicator is disclosed which includes a thin walled member adapted to hold and dispense a substance. The thin walled member is formed from at least two separate and distinct layers and has first and second spaced apart ends. The applicator also has an outwardly extending fingergrip ring integrally formed adjacent to the second end which serves to facilitate control of the applicator, facilitate comfortable insertion of a substance into a body cavity or on an area of the skin, and easy removal of the applicator.

Applicator for holding and dispensing a substance

An apparatus is disclosed for forming a curl on an end of a tubular member. The apparatus includes first and second members. The first member is capable of holding the tubular member and has an external shoulder beyond which the first end of the tubular member extends a set amount. The second member is coaxially aligned with and is engageable with the first end of the tubular member. The second member includes a pilot which is sized to be inserted into the first end of the tubular member. The second member also includes a sleeve which surrounds the pilot and cooperates with the external shoulder when the second member engages the first end of the tubular member to form a curling chamber. The second member further includes a curling element positioned between the pilot and the sleeve which is capable of contacting the first end of the tubular member. The apparatus further includes means for rotating one of the members and means for moving the members into engagement. As the members engage, the curling element contacts the first end of the tubular member and forms a curl thereon within the confines of the curling chamber.

Apparatus for forming a curl on an end of a tubular member

An applicator is disclosed for inserting a substance into a body cavity. An apparatus for coating paper and a method of forming the paper into an applicator are also disclosed. The applicator is especially useful for inserting a catamenial tampon into a woman's vagina. The applicator includes a tubular member formed from at least one layer of paper and has an interior and an exterior surface. The tubular member is capable of holding the substance which is to be inserted. At least one of the surfaces of the tubular member is coated with a water-insoluble coating which is comprised of from between about 95 to about 98 percent by weight of a polymeric material and from between about 2 to about 5 percent by weight of a slip agent. The coating provides the tubular member with a dry coefficient of kinetic friction ranging from between about 0.35 to about 0.56 and a wet coefficient of kinetic friction ranging from between about 0.78 to about 1.06. These low dry and wet coefficient of kinetic friction values facilitates insertion of the applicator into the body cavity and expulsion of the substance from the applicator.

Paper applicator containing a water-insoluble coating

A method is provided for bonding an adhesive to a polyolefin foam, and preferably a non-crosslinked polyethylene foam. The foam is useful as a liquid-impervious backing in a disposable absorbent article, such as a panty liner, a sanitary napkin, a diaper, a adult incontinent garment, a training pant, and the like. The adhesive is applied to a substrate which is then brought into intimate contact with one side of the foam's surface. Optionally, heat and pressure may be applied to enhance bonding.

Method of bonding an adhesive to foam

The invention is generally accomplished by providing a curved elongated absorbent pad for absorption of bodily excretions comprising a liquid-impermeable backing member, an upper reinforcing absorbent member, a reservoir absorbent member, and liquid-permeable body-side member. The upper reinforcing absorbent member is provided as a sheet below the permeable cover and extends substantially coextensively with the backing member at the edges of said pad. The lower absorbent reservoir member is shaped generally in a manner as to have an hourglass or dog-bone shape that provides a narrower middle portion of soft absorbent material. The middle portion of the lower absorbent, also in the preferred embodiment, is somewhat thicker than the reservoir absorbent portions at the ends of the pad. The pad is provided with upstanding side portions in the middle of each long edge in the area where the lower soft absorbent is narrower. The upper reinforcing absorbent sheet extends into the side edges. The preferred feminine pad further is curved so as to generally conform to the pudendum in the front and extend to about the area of the anus in the rear.

Three-dimensional shaped feminine pad with absorbent in the elasticized

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Winneconne, WI, United States of America

Allan James Krueger