Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

Julie Ann Paveletzke

Andrew Mark Long

Christopher Peter Olson

Suzanne Marie Schmoker

Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt

Andrew Peter Bakken

Brian Keith Rhodes

John Timothy Hahn

Jessica Annette Ives Dieringer

Kimberly Marie Downs

Kimberly Louise Ellefson

Brent Charles Otis

Jordyn Kaylee Somerville

Robert Lee Popp

Michael John Faulks

John David Amundson

Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke

Tim G Dollevoet

Joseph Andrew Mlinar

Wendy L Hamilton

Russell Joseph Brumm

Susan Marie Trefethren

Christopher Martin Pieper

Cole William Poole

Lacey L Poole

Chris P Olson

Marie E Boll

Mary F Kutchenriter

Bradley A Colvin

Marleen R Dins

Adam Suttner

Gacia Coronado

Sandra K Walker

The invention provides a stack comprising a plurality of absorbent sheets stacked in facing arrangement. The stack is bound along its top edge by at least one line of stitches comprising a plurality of spaced apart stitch holes and a thread disposed therein. Individual sheets further comprise a line of perforations comprising a plurality of spaced apart perforation holes. The line of stitches and the line of perforations are such that there is generally a one-to-one numerical correspondence amongst at least a majority of the plurality of stitch holes and perforation holes.

Sewn stack of absorbent sheets

The invention relates to a stack of absorbent sheets, such as paper towels, toilet tissue, napkins, facial tissue and the like. The stack is sewn with a first line of stitching disposed adjacent to a first edge of the bound stack, such as the top edge. The stack further comprises a second line of stitches, which may be disposed adjacent to the first line of stitches. The second line of stitches comprises an unbalanced stitch to facilitate separation and removal of individual sheets.

A refastenable disposable garment defines a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, and comprises a first waist region contiguous with a first waist edge. The first waist region defines first and second side edges transversely spaced apart and defines first and second surfaces. The first waist region is elastomeric proximal both the first and second side edges. The garment can include a second waist region and a crotch region that interconnects the first and second waist regions. The garment comprises non-extensible, relatively rigid first and second fastening components attached to the first surface of the first waist region adjacent the first and second side edges, respectively. The first waist region defines first and second flange portions transversely outward of the first and second fastening components, respectively. Each flange portion is transversely curled toward the second surface. A process for making such an article is also disclosed.

Refastenable disposable garment having a curled edge, and process for making same

A pant-like absorbent articles having handles on side panels of the article for ease of removal and donning of the absorbent garment is disclosed. The article includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and a chassis extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions attached by at least one side panel. Formed within the side panel is at least one handle. The handle includes an aperture formed through the side panel. The handle further includes a reinforcing material operatively joined to the at least one side panel adjacent distal side edges of the aperture.

Disposable article with reinforced handle

The invention provides a sheet material dispenser and more particularly a dispenser for storing and dispensing a compact stack of folded tissue products. The compact stack of folded tissues may be secured by the tension of a pair of opposed side panels having a generally elliptical shape. The elliptically shaped side panels result in a rigid, resilient frame-work such that the dispenser has sufficient resiliency to maintain its shape even after a portion of the folded tissue products have been dispensed.

Flexible dispenser for compact stack of folded tissues

An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front and back waist regions. The front waist region has a front waist edge and the back waist region has a back waist edge. The front and back waist edges define a waist opening when the absorbent article is in a wear configuration. An elastomeric waist band extends around at least a portion of the waist opening adjacent the front and back waist edges and defines a circumference of the waist opening. Each leg cuff member of a pair of leg cuff members defines a respective leg opening when the absorbent article is in the wear configuration and operatively connected to the waist band such that movement of the waist band results in movement of the leg cuff members.

Absorbent article having interconnected waist and leg bands

A disposable absorbent article includes a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover, a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region extending between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions, and a tear away section configured to be torn from the absorbent article when at least a threshold force is applied to the tear away section. The front and back waist regions are attached to each other by side panels at least partially defining leg openings and a waist opening of the absorbent article. The tear away section extends from the waist opening to a respective leg opening and is defined by at least one line of weakness. The tear away section has a tear strength greater than the threshold force.

Absorbent article having a tear away section

Sheet material dispenser

An absorbent article having a first and a second containment flap each having a stem, an inner flap projection, and an outer flap projection. The absorbent article can include a first and a second folding line for packaging each being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first and second containment flaps can be positioned in the absorbent article such that the distal end of the outer flap projections can be positioned laterally inside of each folding line, the distal ends of the inner flap projections can be positioned laterally outside of each folding line, or such that the first fold line extends through at least a portion of the inner or the outer flap projection of the first containment flap and the second fold line extends through at least a portion of the inner or the outer flap projection of the second containment flap.

Absorbent article including containment flaps

An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can have a pair of leg opening adjustment mechanisms which a user of the absorbent article can independently adjust to provide a desired tension and/or closure of the absorbent article about the legs of the wearer of the absorbent article.

Absorbent article

A garment comprises a laminate. The laminate comprises a first layer colored a first color, and a second layer colored a second color different than the first color. The laminate includes a folded flap in the waist region, thereby defining an integral, outwardly visible waistband having a waistband lower edge. The first layer and the second layer are coterminous at the waistband lower edge and the folded flap is an outwardly folded flap. The first layer is an inner layer and the second layer is an outer layer, and the outwardly visible waistband is colored the first color. The distinction between the first color and second color in conjunction with the fold creates a visible waistband effect.

Disposable absorbent garment having colored facings and integral waistband

A method of making disposable absorbent garments includes providing an elastomeric body panel and an absorbent assembly having an absorbent core. The method includes stretching the elastomeric body panel in the transverse direction, attaching side margins of the absorbent assembly to the stretched elastomeric body panel at attachment regions, and relaxing the body panel so as to induce folds in the absorbent assembly. A center region of the absorbent assembly between the attachment regions is minimally attached to the stretched elastomeric body panel to reduce bunching of the absorbent core. A garment made thereby is also disclosed.

Process for making elastomeric absorbent garments to reduce absorbent bunching

A disposable incontinent underwear product can comprise areas having different stretch characteristics and thereby fit persons of varying body shape in a more comfortable and/or visually appealing manner. Additionally, in some embodiments, the different areas of stretch can aid in positioning absorbent components, such as an absorbent insert or core that is included in the undergarment to absorb body exudates. For example, a garment may feature at vertical stretch in an area above the crotch and below the waist while featuring horizontal stretch at the hip areas at its front and back sides. As another example, a garment may feature horizontal stretch across the front of the garment and vertical stretch across the back of the garment in areas above the crotch and below the waist. In some embodiments, the crotch also features horizontal, vertical, or biaxial stretch.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Julie Ann Paveletzke