Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Jeffery Michael Tabor

Joseph Andrew Mlinar

Steven Charles Schapel

Melanie J Milslagle

Thomas J Vanselow

Suzanne Marie Schmoker

Paul William Christoffel

Michael Schrlau

Mark John Jung

John E Flannery

Paul Hasler

Willard Hawley

Joel Curtis Krueger

Mark Joseph VanGroll

Mark David Spiegelberg

Mark James VanRossum

Willard Frances Hawley, Jr

An absorbent garment includes a body panel having a terminal waist edge, at least first and second layers terminating at the terminal waist edge and at least one elastic element disposed between the first and second layers. The body panel has at least first and second adhesive regions. The first adhesive region is defined by the at least one elastic element, which is strand coated with a first adhesive. The second region is defined by a control coating of a second adhesive applied between the first and second layers. In one embodiment, the first region has a greater sensory softness than the second region. In one embodiment, the body panel, in an unstretched condition, has a surface softness with a can deviation of coefficient of friction less than about 0.020 in the first adhesive region. A method of assembling an absorbent garment include strand coating at least one elastic element with a first adhesive and applying a control coating of a second adhesive to a portion of at least one of a first and second layer of web material.

Absorbent garment with strand coated adhesive components

An absorbent garment includes a body panel having a terminal waist edge, at least first and second layers terminating at the terminal waist edge and at least one elastic element disposed between the first and second layers. The body panel has at least first and second adhesive regions. The first adhesive region is defined by the at least one elastic element, which is strand coated with a first adhesive. The second region is defined by a control coating of a second adhesive applied between the first and second layers. In one embodiment, the first region has a greater sensory softness than the second region. In one embodiment, the body panel, in an unstretched condition, has a surface softness with a mean deviation of coefficient of friction less than about 0.020 in the first adhesive region.

An apparatus and method for engaging and transferring a discrete part having a varying thickness to a substrate web. The apparatus includes one or more transfer assemblies and a web conveyor supporting the substrate web. Each transfer assembly includes a carrier member adapted to engage and transport the discrete part. One of the carrier member and the web conveyor includes a recessed portion for receiving portions of the discrete part that are relatively thicker than other portions of the discrete part, thereby ensuring more uniform contact between the discrete part and the web substrate.

Apparatus for applying discrete parts to a moving web

A refastenable pant-like disposable undergarment for absorbing human discharge is disclosed. The undergarment includes a front panel, a back panel, and an absorbent assembly secured therebetween. The front and back panels are joined together to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. A pair of tear lines is formed in the front panel with each extending from the waist opening to one of the respective leg openings. A pair of attachment members is secured across the pair of tear lines and one side of the attachment members is removeably fastened to the front panel. The undergarment further includes a pair of ear flaps formed in the front panel under the pair of attachment members. Each ear flap extends to a portion of one of the pair of tear lines and is fixed to one of the attachment members. As the attachment members are opened, the pair of ear flaps will cause the pair of tear lines to break.

Refastenable pant-like disposable undergarment

An apparatus for breaking a perforation of a moving web includes a web conveyor adapted to move a web in a machine direction, wherein the web has at least one perforation, and at least one breaking member moveable between a first position and a second position. The at least one breaking member is adapted to be positioned remote from the at least one perforation at the first position and is adapted to be positioned adjacent the at least one perforation at the second position. A tensioning device is adapted to sufficiently tension the web against the at least one breaking member such that the at least one perforation is broken. A system and method for breaking a perforation of a moving web is also provided.

Method and system for breaking a web perforation

A folded absorbent article including a front portion, back portion, and an intermediate crotch portion. The front portion joins the back portion by first and second side seams forming a waist opening and leg openings. Each of the front and back portions includes a demarcation line positioned between first and second zones. Each of the front and back portions includes a first section, a second section, and a third section. The first section is longitudinally folded over the second section providing a first side seam positioned laterally outboard of a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article to form a first longitudinal fold line. The third section is folded over the first section providing the second side seam positioned laterally outboard of the longitudinal centerline to form a second longitudinal fold line. The first zone is transversely folded along the demarcation line over a portion of the crotch forming a folded absorbent article.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Jeffery Michael Tabor