Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Gary Mack Reynolds

Robert Eugene Vogt

Linda G Harris

Georgia Lynn Zehner

Paul John Serbiak

Bruce Michael Siebers

Timothy Raymond Heindel

Tim Joseph Janssen

Scott Lee Pennings

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

Patrick Sean McNichols

Yung Hsiang Huang

James Bennington Stopher

Jacqueline Ann Martin

Larry Neal Johns

The invention relates to a process for automating the positioning and fastening of a clip to a pouch. The system describes automated assembly of first and second clip members having ends, clamping surfaces, latching components, and hinge components with a product. Each of the clip members are loaded into feed mechanisms and mechanically manipulated into desired orientations. The clip members are dispensed in aligned, spaced apart relation with their clamping surfaces, latching components, and hinge components disposed one toward the other with the product situated between the clamping surfaces. The invention also relates to a product created by the automated assembly of clip members with a product.

Process for automating the attachment of a clip to a product

The invention relates to a multi-part closure device or clip having a first and a second clip body component. The clip has a releasable latch at one end, a rigid connection at an opposite end, and at least one flexible neck disposed between the releasable latch and the rigid connection. The flexible neck hinges one clip body component with respect to the other clip body component while enabling the rigid connection to remain stationary with respect to both clip body components.

Multi-part closure device

Article of manufacture resulting from automated assembly of a multi-part closure device with a product

The invention relates to methods of fabricating an absorbent article. In one method of the invention, combination containment flaps and leg cuffs are formed on a common substrate. A plurality of elastomeric elements are included in the combination article to assist in forming containment flaps. Discrete leg cuff pieces are applied to the substrate at longitudinally spaced locations. In some embodiments, a cutting device slits the substrate substantially along a center line extending the length of the substrate, forming two continuous substrate portions. A glue gun applies adhesive to the substrate portion. The substrate portions are folded lengthwise, using the adhesive to form integral containment flaps and leg cuffs in a composite substrate. The composite substrate is secured to an absorbent article web sausage in forming absorbent articles. In another embodiment, the substrate is a first substrate which supports elastomeric elements used in forming leg cuffs and containment flaps. The first substrate is secured to a second substrate, thus forming a base structure, with the elastomeric elements between the first and second substrates. A bodyside liner and an absorbent core are added on one side of the base structure, and an outer cover is added on the second side, to form a web sausage. In both embodiments the web sausage is cut transversely at spaced locations along the length of the web sausage, to form absorbent articles.

Method of making an absorbent article having leg cuffs combined with containment flaps

Shoe cover traction pattern with heel and toe areas

Shoe cover traction pattern

Disclosed is an improved process for attaching and protecting a mechanical fastener on a disposable absorbent article and a disposable absorbent article produced by the same. The process comprises the following steps: (1) providing a disposable absorbent article which includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner; (2) providing a mechanical fastener which includes a first fastening element; (3) attaching the first fastening element of the mechanical fastener to the disposable absorbent article; (4) releasably engaging the first fastening element with the disposable absorbent article to protect the first fastening element; and (5) subsequently packaging the disposable absorbent article for commercial sale. The first fastening element and a portion of the disposable absorbent article may be releasably engaged by constrictively passing them between a pair of rotatable nip rolls. In a particular aspect, the first fastening element is the hook material of a hook-and-loop type mechanical fastener.

Process of providing mechanical fasteners on disposable absorbent articles

An integral absorbent article has a longitudinal article length and a lateral article width. The article includes an absorbent composite having first and second longitudinally opposed end regions, laterally opposed side regions, a bodyside surface, an outward surface, and a first longitudinally terminal end edge. The absorbent composite further includes a substantially liquid-impermeable backsheet layer; a liquid permeable topsheet layer; and a retention portion sandwiched between said backsheet and topsheet layers. An extensible outercover is joined to extend over a major portion of said outward surface of the said absorbent composite. The extensible outercover is desirably capable of providing a the selected elongation when subjected to a tensile force. The extensible outercover is also desirably capable of providing a selected, sustained deformation, when subjected to an applied tensile force and then allowed to relax after a removal of the applied force. In particular aspects, the outercover can provide an elongation of at least about 1 cm when subjected to a tensile force of 30 gmf per inch. In further aspects, the extensible outercover may also provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 20%, when subjected to a tensile force of 50 gmf per inch and then allowed to relax for a period of 1 minute (after a removal of the applied tensile force).

Expandable cover garment

The present invention provides a combination roller, a machine and process for cutting workpieces from a web moving at a first speed and depositing them on and bonding them to a substrate web moving at a second speed with the functions of cutting, transferring, and bonding all carried out on a single roller. The reduction in roller mass achieved by this roller and machine design permits driving the combination roller at variable speeds by means of a servomotor and servomotor controller. The resulting machine permits electronic rather than machine grade changes as the machine and process are used to produce products having different configurations.

Machine and process for placing discrete components on a moving web with

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Gary Mack Reynolds