Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

David Jerome Arteman

David Arthur Fell

Lynn Kirkpatrick LeMahieu

Phillip Eugene Keck

Jerry Alan Johnston

Nancy Jo Myers

Brendon Frank Ribble

David James Van Eperen

Lyle T Lamers

Thomas W Van Eperen

An absorbent article includes a moisture barrier, a bodyside liner bonded to the moisture barrier, and an absorbent structure disposed between the bodyside liner and moisture barrier. Elasticized bumpers which function as three-dimensional physical barriers to liquid movement are disposed in the margins of the article. The elasticized bumpers include an internal barrier structure and an elasticized cover disposed over the internal barrier structure and bonded to one of the margins. In particular embodiments, the elasticized cover is formed of a hydrophobic material, is unadhered to the internal barrier structure, and/or is comprised of elastic strands of variable degrees of power.

Absorbent article having elasticized bumpers

This invention relates to absorbent pads, and methods for fabricating absorbent pads, having improved fluid intake and preferential wicking in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent pads have patterns of apertures which encourage the preferential wicking. The apertures are characterized by size, spacing from each other, and depth of penetration into the absorbent pad, such that fluid intake rate is increased and distribution of fluid in the longitudinal direction is improved. Apertures are preferably spaced close enough to each other that aqueous liquid is preferentially transferred from aperture to aperture by capillary effect, along the length of the absorbent pad. Preferential wicking between apertures in the longitudinal direction increases the overall effective liquid absorption rate of the absorbent pad, thereby increasing overall effective liquid capacity of the respective absorbent article. A novel method of fabricating an absorbent pad of the invention includes penetrating into but not through the absorbent pad using heated pin elements. The heated pin elements fork a plurality of apertures in a first surface of the pad, the pad having higher density proximate the apertures than the overall density of the absorbent pad. The lower density areas of the-pad have greater aqueous intake rates than higher density portions of the absorbent pad.

Method of distributing liquid in apertured absorbent pads

This invention relates to absorbent pads, and methods for fabricating absorbent pads, having improved fluid intake and preferential wicking in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent pads have patterns of apertures which encourage the preferential wicking. The apertures are characterized by size, spacing from each other, and depth of penetration into the absorbent pad, such that fluid intake rate is increased and distribution of fluid in the longitudinal direction is improved. Apertures are preferably spaced close enough to each other that aqueous liquid is preferentially transferred from aperture to aperture by capillary effect, along the length of the absorbent pad. Preferential wicking between apertures in the longitudinal direction increases the overall effective liquid absorption rate of the absorbent pad, thereby increasing overall effective liquid capacity of the respective absorbent article. A novel method of fabricating an absorbent pad of the invention includes penetrating into but not through the absorbent pad using heated pin elements. The heated pin elements form a plurality of apertures in a first surface of the pad, the pad having higher density proximate the apertures than the overall density of the absorbent pad. The lower density areas of the pad have greater aqueous intake rates than higher density portions of the absorbent pad.

Apertured absorbent pads for use in absorbent articles

Absorbent article having tubular, elasticized bumpers

A method of making an absorbent article includes the steps of providing a continuous carrier web having opposite side edges and disposing a continuous absorbent web on the continuous carrier web between the side edges Continuous strands of an internal barrier material are disposed on the continuous carrier web with one of the strands being located between the absorbent web and each of the side edges. The continuous carrier web, absorbent web and strands of internal barrier material forming a continuous in-process composite structure which is transversely cut to form a plurality of individual, in-process composite structures. Each individual, in-process composite structure includes an absorbent structure and a pair of internal barrier structures disposed on a carrier sheet. The method also includes disposing the individual, in-process composite structures on a continuous moisture barrier web, and providing a pair of continuous covers. The continuous covers are elasticized over at least part of their length and are positioning over the internal barrier structures. The continuous covers are bonded to the moisture barrier and the moisture barrier web and the covers are cut between the individual, in-process composite structures.

Continuous process for placing discrete, elastic bumpers on an absorbent

An apparatus and method for forming a discrete layer of particulate material within a composite fibrous web includes a first forming chamber and a supplying mechanism for providing a flow of a selected fibrous material into the first forming chamber. A second forming chamber is selectively located within the first forming chamber to selectively divide the flow of fibrous material. A conveying mechanism transports a particulate material into the second forming chamber. A depositing mechanism is located within the second forming chamber to selectively dispense the particulate material. A foraminous forming layer is movably disposed within the first forming chamber and receives the fibrous material and the particulate material. As the foraminous forming layer moves, a first fibrous layer is formed on the foraminous forming layer, the particulate material is selectively deposited on the first fibrous layer, and a second fibrous layer is formed on the particulate material thereby providing the discrete layer of particulate material within the composite fibrous web. The depositing mechanism can be configured to dispense the particulate material in a selected pattern. The depositing mechanism can also be configured to intermittently dispense the particulate material at spaced apart locations along a length of the composite fibrous web.

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

David Jerome Arteman