Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Andrew Edsel Huntoon

Thomas Harold Roessler

Andrew Mark Long

Gordon Allen Shaw

Dave Allen Soerens

Lawrence Howell Sawyer

David Arthur Fell

Sridhar Ranganathan

Heather Anne Sorebo

William Grover Reeves

Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet

David Louis Zenker

Shannon Kathleen Melius

Kenneth M Enloe

Anthony John Wisneski

Michael William Veith

Patrick Robert Lord

James Arthur Davis

Violet May Grube

Toan Thanh LeMinh

Mary Garvie Weber

Sang Van Tran

Michael Tod Morman

Ann Louise McCormack

Rosann Marie Kaylor

Duane Girard Uitenbroek

Franklin M Chen

Richard Daniel Pike

Pamela Jean Mayberry

Stanley Michael Gryskiewicz

Douglas Bryan Cole

Dan D Endres

Wanda Walton Jackson

Robert J Phelan

Brian K Nortman

Frank Andrew Rosch, Iii

Mark George Everson

Gerald Lewis Clark

Scott Richard Lange

Leslie Warren Collier, Iv

Mark Charles Jacobs

Donald M Fries

Paula Kay Zoromski

Sriram Padmanabhan Anjur

Mary E Lippert

Kim Te Tang

Lori A Roocks

Randy Emil Meirowitz

Marshall Kenneth Bryant

Susan Marie Vanage

Lori Ann Roocks

The present invention provides an absorbent article ( ) having a longitudinal direction ( ), and a lateral, cross direction ( ). The article includes a liquid permeable top sheet layer ( ), a substantially liquid impermeable backsheet layer ( ), and an absorbent structure ( ) having a primary retention portion ( ) sandwiched between the top sheet and backsheet layers. The retention portion ( ) includes a wet-formed mixture of fibers and superabsorbent material. The retention portion has a selected edge-wise compression value, such as an edge-wise compression value of not more than a maximum of about 9 g/gsm, and a modified circular bend value, such as a modified circular bend value of at least minimum of about 0.3 g/gsm. In particular aspects, the retention portion ( ) can include cellulosic fibers.

Absorbent article with improved, wet-formed absorbent

There is provided a personal care product having a vapor sweep comprising a material which reacts with water or urine to form vapor at a rate capable of displacing at least 5, and preferably at least 10, percent of the air volume within said product per minute. This vapor generation sweeps water vapor and humidity from the personal care product, such as a diaper, and so it's believed will contribute to skin health. Materials that, upon reaction with water or urine, produce large volumes of carbon dioxide may be incorporated into the various components of standard personal care products to achieve the objective of this invention. Such materials include leavening agents. Additionally, a seal may be added to the personal care product to encourage the generated vapor to travel a longer path prior to exiting the product in order to maximize water vapor removal.

Vapor swept diaper

The present invention provides an absorbent article (,) having a longitudinal direction (,), and a lateral, cross direction (,). The article includes a liquid permeable top sheet layer (,), a substantially liquid impermeable backsheet layer (,), and an absorbent structure (,) having a primary retention portion (,) sandwiched between the top sheet and backsheet layers. The retention portion (,) includes a wet-formed mixture of fibers and superabsorbent material. The retention portion has a selected edge-wise compression value, such as an edge-wise compression value of not more than a maximum of about 9 g/gsm, and a modified circular bend value, such as a modified circular bend value of at least minimum of about 0.3 g/gsm. In particular aspects, the retention portion (,) can include cellulosic fibers.

Absorbent article with an improved, wet-formed absorbent

An article (,), has a first article portion (,), a second article portion (,), and a fastener (,). The fastener secures the first article portion to the second article portion and includes at least one first fastener component (,), which is attached to the first portion of the article. A cooperating, second fastener component (,) is mechanically interengageable with the first fastener component (,) and is attached to the second portion of the article (,). The first fastener component (,) includes a plurality of engagement members (,) having a first quantity of engageable stalk members (,).

Mechanical fastening system having a plurality of engagement members which include stalk members

Disclosed is an absorbent structure containing superabsorbent material, wettable staple fiber, and wettable binder fiber. The absorbent structure exhibits a liquid uptake rate greater than the liquid uptake rate exhibited by an otherwise identical absorbent structure without any wettable staple fiber. Also disclosed is an absorbent garment containing such an absorbent structure.

Absorbent structure comprising superabsorbent, staple fiber, and binder

A 3-dimension thermoformed bicomponent fiber nonwoven material comprising a lofty bicomponent material layer forming a plurality of peaks separated from one another by channels and having a basis weight in the range of about 0.5 to 7.0 ounces per square yard. The bicomponent material layer comprises a structural component and a heat activatable adhesive component suitable for thermoforming. Also disclosed are various configurations of this material suitable for use in absorbent personal care articles such as sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, incontinent-care pads and the like.

Ultra resilient three-dimensional nonwoven fiber material and process

A distinctive article can include an elastomerically stretchable side panel having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension. A member of hook material is operably connected to a first, laterally outboard edge portion of the side panel, and each member of hook material includes a hook base layer which has an appointed fastening region and an appointed grip region. The fastening region has a plurality of hook elements which are integrally formed with the base layer and extend away from a base plane of the hook base layer. The hook elements are configured to operably engage a selected, cooperating loop material. The grip region has a relatively lower density of the hook elements per unit area, as compared to the fastening region. The fastening region is interposed between the side panel and the grip region. The grip region provides a laterally terminal edge of the article.

Mechanical fastening system with grip tab

An article has a fastening system connected thereto, and the fastening system includes a panel member which is composed of a panel material. The panel member has first and second, opposed major facing surfaces, an appointed inboard region, and an appointed outboard region which includes a terminal outboard edge thereof. A reinforcement strip is composed of a reinforcement material, and is laminated to the first surface of the side panel at the outboard region of the side panel. The reinforcement strip has a terminal outboard edge thereof which is coterminous with the outboard edge of the panel member. A fastener tab is laminated to the second surface of the side panel, and has a user-bond region thereof which extends from the panel member. The fastener tab includes first and second, opposed major surfaces, and includes a securing means located on at least one of the major surfaces of the fastener tab.

Absorbent article with a laminated tape

An absorbent article including an absorbent body capable of absorbing a liquid and a flow-modulating layer in liquid communication with the absorbent body. The flow-modulating layer is formed from hydrophilic meltblown fibers having an average diameter of from about 20 to about 60 microns. The flow-modulating layer has an average pore size of from about 90 to about 300 microns and a basis weight of from about 50 to about 600 grams per square meter. The average pore size of the absorbent body is less than the average pore size of the flow-modulating layer. The flow-modulating layer is capable of rapidly receiving multiple liquid insults and distributing the liquid in its X-Y plane prior to said liquid being absorbed by the absorbent body.

Absorbent article having a hydrophilic flow-modulating layer

An anatomically form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable garment comprising a stretchable outer cover (20), fixed position fasteners (70) (72) (74) (76) attached to the outer cover (20) and an absorbent structure (22) with elastic members 56 in the crotch area causing the absorbent structure (22) to assume a cupped shape when secured on a wearer.

Form-fitting self-adjusting disposable garment with elasticized

A distinctive absorbent article includes a backsheet layer and an absorbent body superposed in adjacent, facing relation with the backsheet layer. An actuating member connects to the article in liquid communication with the absorbent body and is composed of a liquid-contractible material. The liquid-contractible material is capable of shrinking upon contact with an aqueous liquid while maintaining a substantially unitary configuration. An indicating mechanism is connected to the actuating member for designating a wetness condition of the absorbent body, and is translatable along a selected path in response to the shrinkage of the actuating member.

Fluid activated mechanical absorbency gauge

The present invention provides a distinctive absorbent garment which comprises a backsheet having waistband portions at each longitudinal end thereof, and intermediate portion interconnecting the waistband portions, and marginal portions along each lateral side edge of the backsheet. A liquid permeable liner sheet is located in facing relation with the backsheet, and an absorbent body is located between the backsheet and liner sheet. The absorbent body delimits waistband sections at each longitudinal end thereof, delimits an intermediate section interconnecting the waistband sections, and delimits a marginal contour at each lateral side edge of the absorbent body. Each marginal side contour has at least one collapsible notch section formed therein. A fastening mechanism is connected to the garment for securing the garment on a wearer.

Absorbent garment with quilted and conformable absorbent pad

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Andrew Edsel Huntoon