Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Anthony John Wisneski

Yong Li

Wendy Lynn Van Dyke

Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet

Hannong Rhim

Michael Franklin Kalmon

Jian Qin

Sriram Padmanabhan Anjur

Frank Paul Abuto

Stanley Roy Kellenberger

Michael William Veith

Andrew Edsel Huntoon

Marcille Faye Ruman

Sridhar Ranganathan

Duane Girard Uitenbroek

Richard John Schmidt

Bernhardt Edward Kressner

Davis-Dang H Nhan

Franklin M Chen

Seth M Newlin

Edward E Werner

Robert J Phelan

Wendy Lynn VanDyke

Gary Douglas Williams

Ketan N Shah

Mark Scott Lancaster

Jian Oin

David P Hunter

Sara J Schewe

Vincent B Newbill

Randy Emil Meirowitz

Kim Te Tang

Wen-Huey Shih-Schroeder

Patrick E O'Brien

Francis P Abuto

Patrick Emmett O'BRIEN

Methods for restoring elasticity to a stiffened elastic material include prestretching, compressing and/or notching the stiffened elastic material. These methods can be used alone, or in combination for a compounding effect.

Methods of restoring elasticity after stiffening treatments

A method of making stretchable absorbent articles includes the steps of providing a continuous substrate layer, providing one or more streams of adhesive fibers and superabsorbent particles, shaping the one or more streams of adhesive fibers and superabsorbent particles, depositing the adhesive fibers and superabsorbent particles on the substrate layer to form a plurality of shaped absorbent cores bound to the substrate layer, and separating the absorbent cores from each other. The absorbent cores thus formed do not prevent stretching of the substrate layer. The combination of absorbent core and substrate layer can be used in a wide variety of personal care absorbent articles and medical absorbent articles.

Method of making absorbent articles having shaped absorbent cores on a substrate

A method of preparing a nonwoven web that has substantially continuous synthetic fine fiber includes preparing an aqueous amide crosslinked polymer solution. The solution is extruded through a die having a plurality of orifices to form a plurality of threadlines. The threadlines are then attenuated with a primary gaseous source under conditions sufficient to permit the viscosity of each threadline to increase incrementally with increasing distance from the die, at a rate sufficient to provide fibers having a desired attenuation and mean fiber diameter without significant fiber breakage.

Process of making a nonwoven web

A nonwoven web and method of preparing a novel nonwoven web of synthetic fiber are disclosed. An aqueous solution amide crosslinked synthetic precursor polymer is extruded under defined conditions through a plurality of die orifices to form a plurality of threadlines. The threadlines are attenuated with a defined primary gaseous source to form fiber under conditions of controlled macro scale turbulence and under conditions sufficient to permit the viscosity of each threadline, as it leaves a die orifice and for a distance of no more than about 8 cm, to increase incrementally with increasing distance from the die, while substantially maintaining uniformity of viscosity in the radial direction, at a rate sufficient to provide fiber having the desired attenuation and mean fiber diameter without significant fiber breakage. The attenuated threadlines are dried with a defined secondary gaseous source. The resulting fibers are deposited randomly on a moving foraminous surface to form a substantially uniform web. The moving foraminous surface is positioned about 10 to about 100 cm from the last gaseous source to contact the threadlines. The fibers have a mean fiber diameter in the range of about 0.1 to 30 &mgr;m and are substantially free of shot. The attenuating and drying steps are carried out under conditions of controlled macro scale turbulence.

Synthetic fiber nonwoven web and method

A nonwoven web and method of preparing a novel nonwoven web of synthetic fiber are disclosed. An aqueous solution amide crosslinked synthetic precursor polymer is extruded under defined conditions through a plurality of die orifices to form a plurality of threadlines. The threadlines are attenuated with a defined primary gaseous source to form fiber under conditions of controlled macro scale turbulence and under conditions sufficient to permit the viscosity of each threadline, as it leaves a die orifice and for a distance of no more than about 8 cm, to increase incrementally with increasing distance from the die, while substantially maintaining uniformity of viscosity in the radial direction, at a rate sufficient to provide fiber having the desired attenuation and mean fiber diameter without significant fiber breakage. The attenuated threadlines are dried with a defined secondary gaseous source. The resulting fibers are deposited randomly on a moving foraminous surface to form a substantially uniform web. The moving foraminous surface is positioned about 10 to about 100 cm from the last gaseous source to contact the threadlines. The fibers have a mean fiber diameter in the range of about 0.1 to 30 Am and are substantially free of shot. The attenuating and drying steps are carried out under conditions of controlled macro scale turbulence.

An absorbent article ( ) includes a backsheet layer ( ), a liquid permeable topsheet layer ( ), and an absorbent body ( ) sandwiched between the backsheet and topsheet layers. The absorbent body ( ) includes a first fibrous stratum ( ) having a first quantity of absorbent fibers, a second fibrous stratum ( ) having a second quantity of absorbent fibers, and at least a third fibrous stratum ( ) which is located between and integrally formed with the first and second fibrous strata ( ). In particular aspects, the third fibrous stratum ( ) includes an operative quantity of a substantially hydrophilic, wet-strength agent. In other aspects, the wet-strength agent is distributed in the third quantity of absorbent fibers to render the third fibrous stratum ( ) substantially non-dispersible.

High-strength, stabilized absorbent article

An apparatus and process for forming an absorbent web ( ) includes an airlaying of a first fibrous stratum ( ), and an airlaying of an intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) onto the first fibrous stratum. A liquid, wet-strength agent is distributed onto fibers of the intermediate fibrous stratum, and at least a second fibrous stratum ( ) is airlaid onto the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ). The method is desirably configured to operatively form or join the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) with the first and second fibrous strata, and render the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) substantially non-dispersible in an aqueous liquid. In a particular aspect, the strata of the web ( ) can be operatively compressed prior to curing the wet-strength agent. In another aspect, the liquid wet-strength agent can be distributed onto the fibers of the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) during an airlaying of the intermediate fibrous stratum.

Multi-chamber process and apparatus for forming a stabilized absorbent web

An apparatus and process for forming an absorbent web ( ) includes an airlaying of a first fibrous stratum ( ) which has a first quantity of absorbent fibers; an airlaying of a second fibrous stratum ( ) which has a second quantity of absorbent fibers; and an airlaying of a third, intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) which has a third quantity of absorbent fibers. The intermediate fibrous stratum has a location that is interposed between the first fibrous stratum and the second fibrous stratum. A liquid, wet-strength agent is distributed onto the fibers of the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) during the airlaying of the intermediate fibrous stratum to thereby render the intermediate fibrous stratum substantially non-dispersible. The process and apparatus are configured to operatively form or join the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) with at least the first fibrous stratum ( ), and in desired aspects, the invention can integrally form or join the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) with both of the first and second fibrous strata ( ) and ( ), respectively. In a particular aspect, the invention can configure the first and second fibrous strata ( ) and ( ) to be substantially dispersible in an aqueous liquid, and in a further aspect, the composite strata of the web ( ) can be operatively compressed prior to a curing of the wet-strength agent.

Process and apparatus for forming a stabilized absorbent web

An absorbent composite material composed of a fibrous absorbent material and a binding agent, the binding agent binding at least a portion of the fibers of the fibrous absorbent material. The fibrous absorbent material is preferably selected from the group consisting of fluff pulp, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, and combinations thereof. The material suitable for use as an absorbent in personal care absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, and adult incontinence garments.

Absorbent composite materials

A nonwoven web and method of preparing a novel nonwoven web of synthetic fiber are disclosed. An aqueous solution amide crosslinked synthetic precursor polymer is extruded under defined conditions through a plurality of die orifices to form a plurality of threadlines. The threadlines are attenuated with a defined primary gaseous source to form fiber under conditions of controlled macro scale turbulence and under conditions sufficient to permit the viscosity of each threadline, as it leaves a die orifice and for a distance of no more than about 8 cm, to increase incrementally with increasing distance from the die, while substantially maintaining uniformity of viscosity in the radial direction, at a rate sufficient to provide fiber having,the desired attenuation and mean fiber diameter without significant fiber breakage. The attenuated threadlines are dried with a defined secondary gaseous source. The resulting fibers are deposited randomly on a moving foraminous surface to form a substantially uniform web. The moving foraminous surface is positioned about 10 to about 100 cm from the last gaseous source to contact the threadlines. The fibers have a mean fiber diameter in the range of about 0.1 to 30 &mgr;m and are substantially free of shot. The attenuating and drying steps are carried out under conditions of controlled macro scale turbulence.

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

Disclosed is an absorbent structure containing hydrogel-forming polymeric material, wettable staple fiber, and wettable binder fiber. The absorbent structure exhibits improved z-direction permeability of a liquid as compared to an otherwise essentially identical absorbent structure which does not comprise a wettable binder fiber. Also disclosed is an disposable absorbent product containing such an absorbent structure.

Absorbent structure having improved liquid permeability

Disclosed is an elastomeric absorbent structure containing wettable staple fiber and thermoplastic elastomeric fiber. The elastomeric absorbent structure exhibits improved elastic properties as compared to an otherwise essentially identical absorbent structure without any thermoplastic elastomeric fiber. Also disclosed is a disposable absorbent product containing such an elastomeric absorbent structure.

Elastomeric absorbent structure

Disclosed is an absorbent composite including a web formed from a mixture of fibrous material and particulate absorbent material. The web contains from about 15 to about 30 weight percent water. The described absorbent web is capable of containing relatively large quantities of particulate absorbent materials while maintaining an acceptable degree of flexibility.

High absorbency composite

The present invention is directed to an absorbent article with a tissue-wrapped absorbent core wherein the tissue is made from a specifically designed thermoplastic fibrous nonwoven web which is particularly well-suited to trapping and retaining particulate material such as superabsorbent particles. The invention has particular application in conjunction with personal care products such as diapers, training pants, incontinence garments, sanitary napkins, bandages and the like.

Growing community of inventors

Kimberly, WI, United States of America

Anthony John Wisneski