Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

James Martin Kaun

Michael Barth Venturino

David W Heyn

Susan Joan Daniels

Derek Paul Murphy

David Louis Zenker

Timothy M McFarland

James Hongxue Wang

Eric Donald Johnson

Michael John Rekoske

Stacy Averic Mundschau

Marvin E Swails

Shannon Kathleen Melius

Frank Gerald Druecke

Paul Windsor Estey

Michael John Smith

Theodore T Tower

Sandra Marie Rogers

Kenneth Raymond Schueler, Jr

Amber Marie Fortune

Louise Cynthia Ellis Coe

Toan Thanh LeMinh

Dale Arthur Peterson

Peter Robert Elliker

Barbara Jean Burns

Melanie J Milslagle

Billie D Matelski

Karen Hargett Bean

Alberto Ricardo Negri

Michael Francis Drymalski

Daniel Scott Westbrook

Robert E Gee

Dean M Laux

Eric Francis Sweeney

Angie M Provost

Victor Robert Gentile

Werner F W Lonsky

Sherri Lynn Laufenberg

Matthew J Barron

Sonya L Eggen

An absorbent article includes a stretchable substrate layer and an absorbent core formed directly on the substrate layer, and adhesively attached to the substrate layer. The absorbent core includes about 40-99% by weight superabsorbent particles and about 1-60% by weight adhesive fibers. The absorbent core does not prevent the substrate layer or absorbent article from stretching. The absorbent article can be a personal care absorbent article or a medical absorbent article, and is suitably stretchable or elastic in at least one direction.

Absorbent article having shaped absorbent core formed on a substrate

An absorbent structure can include a matrix of fibers, wherein the matrix is reinforced with a reinforcing member, such as scrim. Preferably, the scrim is secured to the fibrous matrix by entanglement of fibers with the scrim and entanglement of fibers in the matrix from opposite sides of the scrim with each other. The scrim layer can be restricted to a longitudinally extending, medial region of the absorbent. In a particular arrangement, the scrim has a cross-directional width dimension which is less than a narrowest width dimension of the fibrous matrix. The scrim can be located between two, opposed, major surfaces of the fibrous matrix.

Absorbent article with reinforced absorbent structure

An absorbent structure and method for making the absorbent structure including an absorbent core made from a matrix of fibers, wherein the matrix is reinforced with a stretchable reinforcing member, such as scrim. The absorbent matrix may be secured to the web of scrim with the scrim in a stretched condition. When the web of scrim is in an unstretched condition, the web of scrim partially gathers the absorbent core to form rugosities on the core. The reinforcing member can have a non-uniform transverse width to conform to the shape of the absorbent core. The absorbent structure can have multiple layers of reinforcing members. The reinforcing member has strands arranged in a pattern to facilitate stretching. A first set of strands can cross a second set of strands at junction in a non-orthogonal relationship.

Absorbent article having a stretchable reinforcement member

Apparatus for making a reinforced absorbent member includes a forming chamber adapted to contain a fluent fibrous material. A forming surface is moveable within the forming chamber along an arcuate path generally from an entrance of the forming chamber to an exit thereof. The forming surface is adapted to collect fibrous material thereon to form the absorbent member. A source of reinforcing web is disposed generally exterior of the forming chamber. The forming chamber has an opening through which the reinforcing web is received into the forming chamber for subsequent conveyance within the forming chamber toward the forming surface. The opening is disposed downstream of the forming chamber entrance generally in the direction of movement of the forming surface along the path.

Apparatus for making a reinforced fibrous absorbent member

An absorbent structure can include a matrix of fibers, wherein the matrix is reinforced with a reinforcing member, such as scrim. The scrim is secured to the fibrous matrix by entanglement of fibers with the scrim and entanglement of fibers in the matrix from opposite sides of the scrim with each other. The scrim layer can be restricted to a longitudinally extending, medial region of the absorbent. In a particular arrangement, the scrim has a cross-directional width dimension which is less than a narrowest width dimension of the fibrous matrix. The scrim can be located between two, opposed, major surfaces of the fibrous matrix. The scrim has a reduced stiffness in the cross direction which promotes fit and comfort of the absorbent structure as incorporated into a disposable absorbent garment.

Scrim reinforced absorbent article with reduced stiffness

Apparatus for making a reinforced fibrous absorbent member includes a forming chamber adapted to receive a fluent fibrous material and a forming surface moveable within the forming chamber and adapted to collect fibrous material to form the absorbent member. A source of reinforcing web is disposed exteriorly of the forming chamber. A delivery tube has an inlet end open to the forming chamber exterior, a discharge end open to the forming chamber interior, and a central passage extending between the inlet end and the discharge end. At least a portion of the delivery tube adjacent the discharge end extends within the forming chamber interior. The delivery tube is arranged for receiving the reinforcing web from the source of reinforcing web into the central passage of the tube at the inlet end and for guiding the web to the discharge end for conveyance within the forming chamber toward the forming surface.

In a process and apparatus for making a reinforced fibrous absorbent member, fibrous material is collected on a forming surface to at least partially form the absorbent member. Fibrous material is entangled with a reinforcing web which is overlaid on at least a portion of the partially formed absorbent member. Additional fibrous material is collected on the forming surface to further form the absorbent member whereby at least a portion of the fibrous material forming the absorbent member becomes entangled with at least one of the reinforcing web and the fibrous material entangled with the reinforcing web to secure the reinforcing web within the absorbent member.

Process for making a reinforced fibrous absorbent member

A paper product containing hardwood fibers that are treated with certain hydrolytic enzymes, such as endo-glucanases, is provided. Moreover, the paper product includes other types of fibers, such as softwood fibers, that may also be treated with certain hydrolytic enzymes. In addition, other ingredients, such as cross-linking agents, debonders, strength agents, etc., can be applied to further enhance the properties of the paper product. In particular, paper products formed according to the present invention can be strong, soft, and have low lint and slough production.

Soft paper products with low lint and slough

Soft tissues, such as facial tissues, having improved softness can be produced by incorporating two different softening compounds into the tissue, namely an imidazolinium quaternary compound and a cationic amidoamine compound.

Soft creped tissue

Facial tissue is rendered resistant to water penetration while retaining softness by treating the fibers with a sizing agent prior to forming the sheet, or topically after the sheet is formed. The resulting tissue prevents the user's hands from becoming wetted during nose care.

Facial tissue with reduced moisture penetration

Permanent wet strength agents are applied to the surface of the Yankee dryer along with the creping adhesive formulation and thereafter transferred to the tissue web as the tissue web is being adhered to the Yankee. When a sufficient amount of permanent wet strength agent is applied, improved temporary wet strength is attained.

Method of applying permanent wet strength agents to impart temporary wet

The addition of a relatively small amount of a cationic silicone to the aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers in the wet end of the tissue making process provides improved tactile properties (softness) to the resulting tissue.

Method for making soft tissue using cationic silicones

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

James Martin Kaun