Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Andrew Mark Long

Shirlee Ann Weber

Thomas Michael Ales

Christopher Peter Olson

Thomas M Ales, Jr

Davis-Dang H Nhan

Darold Dean Tippey

Shawn Jeffrey Sullivan

Sudhanshu Gakhar

Xuedong Song

Peiguang Zhou

Sridhar Ranganathan

Davis Dang H Nhan

Julie Ann Paveletzke

Dave Allen Soerens

Kaiyuan Yang

Jason C Cohen

Davis Dang Hoang Nhan

Patrick Robert Lord

Andrew Edsel Huntoon

Shawn Jeffery Sullivan

John Gavin MacDonald

Jun Zhang

Richard John Schmidt

Jason Lye

Stephanie Michelle Martin

Gordon Allen Shaw

Robert Samuel Schlaupitz

James Hongxue Wang

David William Koenig

Thomas David Ehlert

David Martin Jackson

Eric Donald Johnson

Andrew Thomas Baker

Kelly Dean Branham

George Ikuya Nukuto

David John Tyrrell

John David Amundson

Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke

J Gavin MacDonald

Terrance J Hill

Brenda Marie Nelson

Tim G Dollevoet

Joseph R Feldkamp

WanDuk Lee

Lisha Yu

Shiming Zhuang

Daryl Steven Bell

Rebecca Ann Vongsa

Gabriel Hamman Adam

David Gerard Iwanski

Meghan E Collins

Jessica Sara Van Handel

Jonathan D Boulos

Brian K Nortman

Paula Kay Zoromski

Ansley Allen

Nickolas Paul Barnes

Russell Joseph Brumm

Joseph P Fell

Mari-Pat Yvonne Von Feldt

Sang Van Tran

Chris P Olson

John C Robertson

Kent William Abel

Robert David Wright

Gary Alan Turchan

William Clayton Bunyard

Alphonse Carl DeMarco

Lisa Marie Kroll

Patsy Ann Benedict

Richard Dickerson Mosbacher

Brooke Ashley Berg

JunMo Gil

Paige N Anunson

Christopher Martin Pieper

Donald M Fries

Susan Marie Trefethren

Cole William Poole

Richard N Dodge

Brooke Ashley Zimmer

Jin Chen

Bradley A Colvin

Steven Rashad Inabinet

Jens Hauvn

Rebecca E Strong

Sandra Kay Knight

Jun Mo Gil

Duane Josephe Shukoski

Jose A Corella, Iii

Matt Fitton

Lori A Roocks

Shawn J Sullivan

Tom M Ales

Adam Suttner

Chuck R Tomsovic

Timothy Joseph Wurth

Sandra K Walker

Richard Timmers

Timothy R Obermann

Waste storage devices are provided. The waste storage device is capable of sharing information concerning the health of a user. The waste storage device includes a sampling area in the interior of the container configured to detect the presence of one or more volatile organic compounds. The waste storage device is in communication with a server system capable of generating and delivering a notification to a user. Methods for communicating a health state of a user are also provided.

Waste container and methods of use

A disposable absorbent product includes a double-network polymer element including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, partially ionicly-bonded polymer, wherein the element has a moisture level less than or equal to 15 percent of the total weight of the element, wherein the element comprises a latent retractive force, and wherein the element is configured to release the retractive force to achieve a dimensional change in the disposable absorbent product with exposure of the element to an aqueous liquid. Manufacturing a disposable absorbent product includes producing a double-network hydrogel; elongating by force and dehydrating while still elongated the double-network hydrogel, wherein elongating and dehydrating captures a latent retractive force in the element; and positioning the element in a disposable absorbent product such that a dimensional change in the disposable absorbent product is achieved with exposure of the element to an aqueous liquid.

Products with materials that shrink in one dimension and expand in another dimension

A pant-like absorbent articles having handles on side panels of the article for ease of removal and donning of the absorbent garment is disclosed. The article includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and a chassis extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions attached by at least one side panel. Formed within the side panel is at least one handle. The handle includes an aperture formed through the side panel. The handle further includes a reinforcing material operatively joined to the at least one side panel adjacent distal side edges of the aperture.

Disposable article with reinforced handle

A system for intervening in an absorbent article change process by a user to improve the experience of the absorbent article change process is disclosed. The system can include a memory device, an auditory capture mechanism, and a processor. The memory device can be configured to store an absorbent article acoustic signature model. The absorbent article acoustic signature model can be indicative of a potential change of the absorbent article. The processor can be configured to analyze a captured potential use sound profile in relation to the absorbent article acoustic signature model and to interpret the first qualifying match in view of at least one environmental input. The system can be configured to selectively generate a first output based on the first qualifying match and the at least one environmental input. The first output can be recognizable by the user through visual, audible, or olfactory senses.

System for intervening and improving the experience of the journey of an absorbent article change

Systems and methods for processing signals from sensors associated with disposable products are provided. Signals indicative of disposable product consumption and an available quantity of disposable products can be processed. Data associated with the signals can be communicated to an assessment module. The data can include location information associated with the disposable product consumption and available quantity of disposable products. The assessment module can estimate disposable product usage for different locations based on the data. The assessment module can provide notifications of inventory status for the different locations based on the estimated disposable product usage.

Disposable product quantification and management

A garment configured for detecting leakage from an absorbent article underlying the garment and methods of detecting leakage from an absorbent article using such a garment are disclosed. The garment can include a substrate and a wetness detection system. The wetness detection system can include a first wetness detection mechanism disposed at a first detection zone on the substrate. The wetness detection system can further include a second wetness detection mechanism disposed at a second detection zone on the substrate. The second detection zone can be different than the first detection zone. In preferred embodiments, the first wetness detection mechanism and the second wetness detection mechanism can be configured to sense wetness electronically.

Garment for detecting absorbent article leakage and methods of detecting absorbent article leakage utilizing the same

A system for documenting product usage of a product is disclosed. The system can include a memory device configured to store an acoustic signature model. The acoustic signature model can be representative of an acoustic profile of the product emitted during use of the product. The system can also include an auditory capture mechanism and a processor. The auditory capture mechanism can be configured to monitor a product use environment for a potential use sound profile and capture the potential use sound profile. The processor can be configured to analyze the captured potential use sound profile in relation to the acoustic signature model and to signal a qualifying match when the captured potential use sound profile meets the acoustic signature model. The system can be configured to document a product usage when the processor signals the qualifying match.

System for documenting product usage by recognizing an acoustic signature of a product

A system for removing and donning a disposable absorbent article by using a separate robotic device includes an absorbent assembly having an inner layer that partly defines a body-facing surface, an outer layer that defines a garment-facing surface, and an absorbent body disposed between the inner and outer layers. The absorbent assembly also includes a pair of ears extending transversely outward from the opposite sides of the absorbent assembly in the back waist region, each of the ears including a body-facing surface with a primary first fastening-component that is selectively engageable with a primary second fastening-component in the front waist region of the absorbent assembly in a wear configuration of the article, and a garment-facing surface opposite the body-facing surface. The absorbent article also includes a manipulation-enablement feature configured to assist the post-retail manipulation of the absorbent article by the robotic device.

Automatic absorbent article change features

A signal device includes a signal composite made with a coextruded film having at least two layers, a polymer skin layer and a stimulation layer. The stimulation layer includes a cooling agent and a polymer binder. The stimulation layer may be about 50 to 98 percent by weight of the signal composite. The signal device may be used in an absorbent article to provide a cooling sensation after a body-fluid insult has taken place.

Cooling signal device for use in an absorbent article

The present subject matter relates to absorbent articles and signaling devices for use therewith. The signaling device includes one or more non-invasive sensors configured to detect the presence of a substance, such as a body fluid, in the absorbent article. The signaling device can provide an audible and/or visible alert to the user of the absorbent article when it detects the presence of a substance. The absorbent article includes one or more identifiable characteristics the presence of which permits operation of the signaling device. In this manner, the present disclosure provides for product and signaling device matching for use.

Apparatus and method for product and signaling device matching

A leakage assessment system for use with an absorbent article having an outer surface, the system including a computer and a signaling device adapted to be used in conjunction with the absorbent article, the signaling device adapted to sense wetness in the absorbent article, wherein the signaling device is in electronic communication with the computer. The system also includes a wetness detection mat in electronic communication with the computer, and an image capture device configured to continuously detect an absorbent article wearer position, wherein the image capture device is in electronic communication with the computer, wherein the computer is configured to electronically record wetness incidents using the signaling device, the wetness detection mat, and the wearer position captured by the image capture device.

Absorbent article leakage assessment system

An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front and back waist regions. The front waist region has a front waist edge and the back waist region has a back waist edge. The front and back waist edges define a waist opening when the absorbent article is in a wear configuration. An elastomeric waist band extends around at least a portion of the waist opening adjacent the front and back waist edges and defines a circumference of the waist opening. Each leg cuff member of a pair of leg cuff members defines a respective leg opening when the absorbent article is in the wear configuration and operatively connected to the waist band such that movement of the waist band results in movement of the leg cuff members.

Absorbent article having interconnected waist and leg bands

Wetness sensor

A disposable absorbent article includes a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover, a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region extending between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions, and a tear away section configured to be torn from the absorbent article when at least a threshold force is applied to the tear away section. The front and back waist regions are attached to each other by side panels at least partially defining leg openings and a waist opening of the absorbent article. The tear away section extends from the waist opening to a respective leg opening and is defined by at least one line of weakness. The tear away section has a tear strength greater than the threshold force.

Absorbent article having a tear away section

A fluid-distributing structure includes a flexible body having a plurality of fluid reservoirs defined therein, and a plurality of directional fluid barriers. The fluid reservoirs are fluidly connected to one another by openings defined within the body. Each fluid barrier is associated with one of the openings defined in the body, and is configured to permit fluid flow through the opening in a downstream direction and inhibit fluid flow through the opening in an upstream direction.

Absorbent article including a fluid distributing structure

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Andrew Mark Long