Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Wordwide, Inc.

David Andrae Justmann

Chris Lee Heikkinen

Daniel Hoo

Richard Francis Keller

Patrick Robert Lord

Lorry F Sallee

Mark John Beitz

Barbara Ann Gossen

David James Van Eperen

Donald LeRoy Smith

Raymond Gerard St Louis

David James VanEperen

Douglas Paul Rammer

Jeffrey Joseph Samida

Robert Thomas Cimini

Joseph Conrad Burriss

Thomas Harold Roessler

Paul Joseph Datta

Kuo-Shu Edward Chang

Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke

Gary Lee Travis

Sandra M Yarbrough

Cynthia Helen Nordness

Eric Scott Kepner

Steven Scott Friderich

Mark Charles Jacobs

Stephen Carl Baumgartner

Kristi Jo Schroeder

Cynthia Louise Wyngaard

Linda M Dorschner

Stuart James Burgan

Roxanne Marie Zuleger

Monica Lynn Bontrager

Michael Francis Drymalski

Lawrence Paul Plaia

David Kurth Foth

Barbara Jean Wink

The present invention provides a distinctive method and apparatus ( ) for forming an article which includes one or more selectively configured strands of material. In particular aspects, the invention can provide a method and apparatus for wrapping a strand of material with a selected filament, and desirably, the filament can be an adhesive filament. The technique of the invention can include a moving of a strand of material ( ) at a selected speed along an appointed machine-direction ( ). A substantially continuous filament ( ) can be directed onto the strand of material ( ) along an oscillating filament path ( ) to form a plurality of filament threads ( ) extending from opposed lateral side regions ( ) of the strand of material ( ). An air stream ( ) is directed to operatively wrap the filament threads ( ) around the strand of material ( ).

Process for applying adhesive in an article having a strand material

Prefastened absorbent article

An absorbent article (,) which includes a backsheet layer (,) having a pair of laterally opposed and longitudinally extending side margins (,). Each side margin has an outwardly concave, terminal side edge contour,located at appointed leg opening regions (,) in an intermediate portion (,) of the side margin. Each concave side edge contour (,) has a selected longitudinal extent along a length dimension (,) of the article (,). A liquid permeable topsheet layer (,) is connected in a superposed facing relation to the backsheet layer (,), and an absorbent body (,) is sandwiched between the topsheet layer (,) and the backsheet layer (,). A separately provided gusset-flap composite member (,) is connected to at least one of the backsheet and topsheet layers along each of the leg opening regions (,). The gusset-flap member (,) provides a leg gusset section (,) and a containment flap section (,), and is distinctively configured to provide improved leakage resistance, fit and comfort.

Absorbent article with more conformable elastics

A distinctive method and apparatus for forming an article includes a moving of at least one first strand of material, such as strand (,), along an appointed machine-direction (,). The at least one first strand of material is attached to a base layer of material (,) to provide a substrate composite (,), and a laminate layer (,) can be placed adjacent the at least one first strand of material to provide a laminate composite web (,). In a particular aspect, at least one second strand of material, such as strand (,), can be moved along its appointed machine-direction, and the at least one second strand of material can be attached to the base layer (,). In another aspect, an appointed portion of the base layer (,) can be folded to substantially enclose the at least one second strand (,) with the base layer material. Alternatively or additionally, an appointed portion of the base layer (,) can be folded to substantially enclose the at least one first strand (,) and the laminate layer (,) with the base layer material. In a further aspect, at least one of the strands of material can be divided of into a plurality of strand segments to provide a substantially nongathering section of at least one of the strands.

Process for manufacturing an elastic article

An improved apparatus and method for effecting an operation on at least one continuously moving substrate web is disclosed. In particular, the apparatus includes a patterned anvil roll which includes a plurality of projections arranged in a predetermined pattern for effecting an operation on the web such as, for example, bonding, cutting, embossing, perforating and the like. The anvil roll includes recesses between the projections and resilient release material located in the recesses to improve the release of the substrate web from the anvil roll.

Patterned anvil-roll

An absorbent article, such as a diaper (10) has a first waistband portion (12), a second waistband portion (14) and an intermediate portion (16) which interconnects the first and second waistband portions. The article includes a backsheet layer (30) and a liquid permeable topsheet layer (28) and absorbent body structure (32) is sandwiched between the backsheet and topsheet layers. A primary fastening system is configured for holding the article on a wearer. The primary fastening system includes at least one laterally extending fastener tab (36) which is operably attached to the first waistband portion (12), and a fastener landing zone or member (50) which is disposed on an appointed surface of the second waistband portion (14). The fastener tab (36) has a factory-bond section (52) and a user-bond section (54), and the user-bond section has a first primary mechanical fastener component (70) disposed on an appointed mating surface (56) of the user-bond section (54). The fastener landing zone (50) includes a cooperating, second primary mechanical fastener component (72) which is disposed therein and provides an operably secure, fastening engagement with the first primary mechanical fastener component (70). A secondary, transition fastening system is attached to the factory-bond section (52) of the fastener tab (36), and releasably joins at least a portion of the fastener tab (36) to the first waistband portion (12) of the article with a transition peel strength. An engagement of the first primary mechanical fastener component (70) with the second primary mechanical fastener component (72) during an initial fastening there between within the primary fastening system provides an initial primary peel strength which is not more than the transition peel strength. A continued engagement between the first primary mechanical fastener component (70) with the second primary mechanical fastener component (72) after an ordinary wearing provides an increased, aged primary peel strength which is greater than the transition peel strength of the transition fastening system.

Absorbent article with transition fasteners

An absorbent article (10) has a first waistband portion (12), a second waistband portion (14) and an intermediate portion (16) interconnecting the front and back waistband portions. The article (10) comprises a backsheet layer (30), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (28) and an absorbent structure (32) which is sandwiched between the backsheet and topsheet layers. A fastening system is configured to operably connect the first waistband portion (12) to the second waistband portion (14) to hold the article on a wearer. The fastening system includes at least one fastener tab (36) attached to extend laterally at a side edge region (86) of the first waistband portion (12), and an articulated landing member (50) attached to the second waistband portion (14). The fastener tab (36) includes an extending layer member which has a predetermined clasping contour (60) formed therein, and the landing member has a moveable section (52) which is pivotably attached to the second waistband portion (14) of the article (10). A first mechanical fastener component (70), such as provided by a hook material, is attached to an appointed mating surface (54) of the moveable section (52). A second complimentary mechanical fasteners component (72), such as provided by a loop material, is attached to an appointed engagement surface section (58) of the second waistband portion (14), and the engagement surface section (58) is located substantially subjacent to the moveable section (52).

Absorbent article with hook fasteners

A method for forming a plurality of fastener components comprises providing a composite web which includes a web of hook material. The hook material includes a hook base layer which has first and second longitudinally extending side sections and 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 to provide an operative fastening, and the web of hook material has an extending section of carrier web material attached to extend laterally outboard from each of the side sections of the web of hook material. Each section of carrier web material has an extending web of panel material attached to extend laterally outboard from each section of carrier web material. The composite web is divided along first and second, non-intersecting, serpentine division lines which repeatedly traverse across a complete lateral width of the hook web and extend generally longitudinally along a medial region of the composite web to provide for a serpentine strip which can be removed away and separated from the composite web. The first serpentine division line has a first plurality of laterally inboard hill regions and relatively outboard valley regions which alternate in occurrence along said longitudinal dimension of said composite web. The second serpentine division line has a second plurality of laterally inboard hill regions and relatively outboard valley regions which alternate in occurrence along the longitudinal dimension of the composite web. The hill regions of the first and second serpentine division lines do not extend into the webs of panel material.

Process for making a mechanical fastener

A method for forming a plurality of fastener components comprises providing a composite web which includes a web of hook material. The hook material includes a hook base layer which has a longitudinally extending medial section located between first and second, laterally opposed, longitudinally extending side sections of the web of hook material. Each of the side sections 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, and the hook elements are configured to operably engage a selected, cooperating loop material to provide an operative fastening. The medial section has a relatively lower density of the hook elements per unit area, as compared to the side sections. The web of hook material has an extending section of carrier web material attached to extend laterally outboard from each of the side sections of the web of hook material. Each section of carrier web material may have an extending web of panel material attached to extend laterally outboard from each section of carrier web material. At least the web of hook material is divided along a serpentine division line which extends generally longitudinally along the web of hook material, and the composite web is selectively segmented to provide for the plurality of fastener components.

Process for making a mechanical fastener having a grip tab

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Hortonville, WI, United States of America

David Andrae Justmann