Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

James Marcus Carr

Robert Lee Popp

Michael Tod Morman

Christopher Peter Olson

Michael John Faulks

Lawrence Howell Sawyer

Katherine Carol Wheeler

Sherry Ann VanDyke

Joseph Daniel Coenen

Thomas Harold Roessler

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

Mark Michael Mleziva

Eric Donald Johnson

Mary Jo Meyer

Patricia Hwang Calhoun

Jennifer L Marvin

David Martin Jackson

Yung Hsiang Huang

Oomman Painummoottil Thomas

James Russell Fitts, Jr

Yung Hsaing Huang

Hannong Rhim

Lavada Campbell Boggs

Richard Harry Thiessen

Thomas Gerard Vercauteren

Raymond Jeffrey May

Daniel Wideman

Adrian Roy Eggen

Elwood W Harke

Kenneth Michael Salter

Victor Charles Lang

Absorbent articles with stretch direction properties are disclosed, having at least three stretch zones. A first edge zone and a second edge zone are separated by a middle zone. The middle zone, which may the same length as each edge zone, has different stretch-direction characteristics than the edge zones. The middle zone may stretch in a single direction, whereas the edge zones may stretch in a different single direction or in bi- or multi-axial directions. The flaps may be created from the edge zones. Through this construction, the absorbent article exhibits improved fit and appearance.

Absorbent garments with multipart liner having varied stretch properties

Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles have a percentage of stretch in the lateral direction at the widest portion in the front region of the article and/or in the back region in the range of from about 25% to about 150%. Additionally, at least about 70% of the above stretch resides in a first edge zone and in a second edge zone of the chassis. The first edge zone and the second edge zone are separated by a middle zone. The middle zone, which has the same length as each edge zone, is stretchable, but to a lesser extent than the edge zones. Through this construction, the absorbent article exhibits improved fit and appearance. Of particular advantage, the carefully controlled stretch properties prevent sagging or drooping of the crotch region, even after the crotch region has been wetted.

Absorbent garments with tailored stretch properties in the lateral direction

An absorbent article incorporates a material having a base layer of a generally fluid permeable material and at least two strips or regions of elastomeric material attached to the base layer material with a space therebetween such that a center region of the base layer material is bordered on at least two sides by composite regions of the elastomeric materials and the base layer material. The center region of base layer material remains generally non-elastic and the composite regions are stretchable in at least a first direction as a result of tensioning and necking-in the base layer material prior to attaching the elastomeric materials. The material may be incorporated as a bodyside liner in the absorbent article.

Absorbent article with elastomeric bordered material

Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are disclosed. In particular, the articles exhibit stretch not only in the lateral direction but also in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the articles have a biaxial stretch ratio, which refers to a ratio of stretch along the hip circumference of the article to the amount of stretch in the longitudinal direction, that is from about 1.0 to about 2.5, and particularly from about 1.1 to about 1.5. Absorbent articles made in accordance with the present invention are capable of accommodating a relatively large size range of wearers. The articles also exhibit improved fit and prevent sagging or drooping of the crotch region, even after the crotch region has been wetted.

Stretchable absorbent article having lateral and longitudinal stretch properties

An improved mechanical fastening system that includes a male component and a female component is disclosed. The female component is adapted for releasable engagement with the male component, and the female component comprises a fibrous web, wherein the fibrous web comprises a layer of elastomeric fibers. A disposable absorbent article employing the improved mechanical fastening system is also disclosed.

Fastening system having elastomeric engaging elements and disposable absorbent article made therewith

An elastic laminate that contains a nonwoven web bonded to an elastic layer is provided. The elastic layer contains one or more elastomeric polymers that are generally polar in nature, such as polyurethanes. To the contrary, the nonwoven web is formed from a material that is non-polar in nature. Nevertheless, one or more surfaces of the nonwoven web are fluorinated so that the resulting surface tension is increased. In this manner, the present inventors have discovered that, despite the difference in polarity between the layers, good attachment may be achieved without necessarily requiring an adhesive. Not only will such layers remained attached, but the functionality of the resulting laminate is also not adversely affected.

Laminate containing a fluorinated nonwoven web

A method for producing a machine direction and cross-machine direction elastic laminate includes the steps of providing a one direction elastic laminate material including at least one elastic layer and one facing layer and having a single direction of elasticity and coursing the one direction elastic laminate material through at least one stretching apparatus, such that the stretching apparatus stretches the laminate material in a direction perpendicular to the single direction of elasticity of the elastic laminate material, thereby producing a material that extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elasticity and also extends the elastic performance of the laminate in the single direction of elasticity.

Machine and cross-machine direction elastic materials and methods of making same

An absorbent garment includes a front body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge and a rear body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge. The terminal crotch edge of the rear body panel is longitudinally spaced from and forms a gap with the terminal crotch edge of the front body panel. An absorbent composite bridges the gap between the front and rear body panels with first and second terminal edges overlying and connected to the front and rear body panels respectively. In one embodiment, the terminal edges of the absorbent composite are the only portion of the absorbent composite connected to the front and rear body panels. In another embodiment, the absorbent composite is further connected to the front and rear body panels at first and second attachment locations proximate a longitudinally extending centerline of the absorbent composite and longitudinally spaced from the first and second terminal edges. Methods of using the absorbent garments are also provided.

Absorbent garment having a body conforming absorbent composite

A material is provided that is particularly suited for use in absorbent articles. The material has a base layer of a generally non-elastic material and at least two strips or regions of elastomeric material attached to the base layer material with a space therebetween such that a center region of the base layer material is bordered on at least two sides by composite regions of the elastomeric materials and the base layer material. The center region of base layer material remains generally non-extensible and the composite regions are stretchable in at least a first direction as a result of tensioning and necking-in the base layer material prior to attaching the elastomeric materials. The invention includes methods for making the material, as well as absorbent articles incorporating the materials.

Absorbent article material with elastomeric borders

A targeted elastic laminate material is provided having at least one low tension zone with first filaments having a first basis weight and at least one high tension zone having second filaments with a second basis weight greater than the first basis weight. The second basis weight is greater due to increased average thickness of the second filaments and/or increased frequency of second filaments relative to the first filaments. Methods and modifications of those methods are provided to produce a targeted elastic laminate material according to the preferred embodiments of this invention.

Targeted elastic laminate having zones of different basis weights

Disposable absorbent article

An absorbent article is provided with inversely related basis weight and density gradients for absorbing and retaining body liquids. A central target area of the absorbent article has an average higher basis weight and a lower average density than end areas. Superabsorbent material is selectively disposed within the article.

Absorbent article with inversely related gradients

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Kaukauna, WI, United States of America

James Marcus Carr