Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

David Joseph Nickel

Matthew D Woods

Robert J Makolin

Tom Porter

Todd M Ake

David Martin Jackson

Sylvia Bandy Little

Charles Wilson Colman

Jaime Braverman

Jason Gene Csida

Rodney Lawrence Abba

Nancy Donaldson Kollin

Palani Raj R Wallajapet

Maureen Myrl Falls

Yen-Ling Lai

Glory Alcantara

Steven Rashad Inabinet

Tiffany Marshalle Lee Hunter

John Thomas Cooper

Arthur Wesley Leiphart

Hwa Y Kim

An absorbent article can have a topsheet layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer. The absorbent article can further include an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned on a body facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a first component which defines an opening for direct passage of body exudates into the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a second component which at least partially overlaps the first component of the exudate management layer and further extends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in a direction towards the posterior region of the absorbent article.

Method of manufacturing an exudate management layer for use in an absorbent article

A process () for forming an article () includes delivering an article web () which provides an interconnected plurality of article-segments (). At least one selected article-segment () can include at least one wing-panel component or member (), which has been operatively joined to its corresponding, selected article-segment () and configured to extend beyond at least one laterally-opposed side edge of said article web () in an intermediate portion () of the corresponding article-segment (). The process () can also include a substantially continuous severing of the article web () and the at least one wing-panel member () to provide a contoured composite web. The contoured composite web can include at least one contoured wing-panel (). In addition, a contoured side-edge () of the contoured wing-panel () can be configured to extend substantially continuously from a cooperatively contoured side-edge () of the article web.

Process for making a feminine sanitary napkin or other absorbent article having place and cut wings

A personal care product that has a liquid impermeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent composite located between the topsheet and backsheet. The absorbent composite has an upper layer made of synthetic fiber with at most 20 weight percent pulp and the upper layer has a density between about 0.03 and 0.15 g/cc and a basis weight between about 20 to 75 gsm. The composite has a lower layer having from 80 to 95 weight percent pulp, at most 20 weight percent binder, and has a density greater than the upper layer and between 0.06 and 0.20 g/cc, and a basis weight between 120 and 200 gsm.

Pulp and synthetic fiber absorbent composites for personal care products

A process for splicing a first section of absorbent material to a second section of absorbent material to form a longer, continuous length ( ) of absorbent material suitable for a substantially uninterrupted sequential in-feed to a processing machine. The process includes a placing of a trailing end ( ) of a first portion ( ) of absorbent material in a position that substantially overlaps a leading end ( ) of a second portion ( ) of absorbent material to provide an overlapped splicing region ( ). The trailing end ( ) of the first portion ( ) is attached to the leading end ( ) of the second portion ( ) along at least a part of the overlapped splicing region ( ) with a thermal bond that provides a splice between the first portion ( ) of absorbent material and the second portion ( ) of absorbent material, and in a particular aspect, the absorbent material can be configured to provide an airlaid, nonwoven absorbent material. In another aspect, the trailing end ( ) of the first portion ( ) can be aligned with the leading end ( ) of the second portion ( ). In a further aspect, the splice has an operative tensile strength which is sufficient to support the sequential in-feed.

Usable splice for a stabilized absorbent and method for making the splice

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Menasha, WI, United States of America

David Joseph Nickel