Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Other

Keith Joseph Renard

Sarah Jane Marie Freiburger

Russell Evan Thorson

David Arthur Fell

Suzanne Marie Schmoker

Mary Anne Bruemmer-Prestley

Nefetari Edris Bordain

Daniel Mark Duhm

Denise Marie Bell Murie

The invention comprises methods and apparatus of changing from manufacture of pant-type refastenable articles of a first size to manufacture of articles of a second different size in a process for manufacturing pant-type refastenable personal care articles. A respective such personal care article has a front portion, rear portion, and crotch portion. The personal care article also has a fastener-receptive area at the front portion for receiving fasteners thereon, first and second fasteners on opposing sides of the fastener-receptive area, and first and second lines of weakness on opposing sides of the fastener-receptive area and between the fastener-receptive area and the respective first and second fasteners. The method comprises changing spacing between the fastener-receptive area and at least one of the first and second fasteners while maintaining the first and second lines of weakness between the fastener-receptive area and the respective first and second fasteners.

Pant-type personal care articles, and methods of making and using such personal care articles

A refastenable disposable absorbent article is disclosed having a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The front portion has a central section including first and second side edges. First and second lateral sections are releasably attached to the central section and each lateral section has an outward edge. The front portion also has a first end and a second end. The back portion has first and second side edges and first and second ends. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section has a length L measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. Multiple elastic strands extend transversely across the first section from the first side edge to the second side edge. The second section has a length L measured perpendicularly from the second end to the line drawn parallel to the first end whereby a ratio L /L is established which ranges from between about 0.1 to about 2. The absorbent article further includes a liquid permeable liner secured to at least one of said front, back or crotch portions and an absorbent core positioned below the liner. Each of the outward edges of the first and second lateral sections of the front portion are secured to one of the first and second side edges of the back portion to form a pant-like article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.

Refastenable absorbent article exhibiting improved body fit

A refastenable absorbent article is disclosed having a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The front portion has a first end, a second end, and a central section including first and second side edges. First and second lateral sections are releasably attached to the central section and each lateral section has an outer edge. The front portion also has a first end and a second end. The back portion has a first end, a second end and first and second side edges. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section has a length L measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. The second section also has a length L measured perpendicularly from the second end to the line drawn parallel to the first end. The second section has a first side edge and a second side edge and a first area A and a second area A . The first area A represents an area bounded by the first and second side edges, the second end and the line drawn parallel to the first end. The second area A represents an area bounded by the first and second lines, the second end and the line drawn parallel to the first end. The first and second lines are drawn perpendicular to the second end at points where the first and second side edges intersect the second end. The first and second lines intersecting the line drawn parallel to said first end, and said second section having a ratio A /A ranging from between about 1.3 to about 3.5. The absorbent article further includes an absorbent secured to at least one of the front, back or crotch portions. Each of the outer edges of the first and second lateral sections of the front portion are secured to one of the first and second side edges of the back portion to form a pant-like article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.

A refastenable absorbent article is disclosed having a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The front portion has a first end, a second end, and a central section including first and second side edges. First and second lateral sections are releasably attached to the central section and each lateral section has an outer edge. The front portion also has a first end and a second end. The crotch portion has a first side edge and a second side edge and first and second crotch elastics are positioned adjacent to the first and second side edges. The back portion has a first end, a second end and first and second side edges. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section has a length L measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. The second section has a length L measured perpendicularly from the second end to the line drawn parallel to the first end. The second section has a first side edge and a second side edge and a first area A and a second area A . The first area A represents an area bounded by the first and second side edges, the second end and the line drawn parallel to the first end. The second area A represents an area bounded by the first and second lines, the second end and the line drawn parallel to the first end. The first and second lines are drawn tangential to the first and second crotch elastics at points where the first and second crotch elastics are spaced closest together. The first and second lines intersect the line drawn parallel to the first end, and the second section has a ratio A /A ranging from between about 1.5 to about 5.0. The absorbent article further includes an absorbent secured to at least one of the front, back or crotch portions. Each of the outer edges of the first and second lateral sections of the front portion are secured to one of the first and second side edges of the back portion to form a pant-like article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.

Methods of changing from manufacture of pant-type refastenable personal care articles of a first size to manufacture of such pant-type refastenable personal care articles of a second different size. A method of the invention comprises defining in the workpiece, at at least one side edge of the respective workpiece, a length of material defined in the machine direction, wherein activity, or inactivity, of such length of material, in combination with other elements of the workpiece, determines the size of the pant-type refastenable personal care article being so produced, whereby the length of material so defined can be activated and thereby incorporated into the personal care article to correspondingly produce a relatively larger size such personal care article, or inactivated and thereby excluded from the personal care article to correspondingly produce a relatively smaller size personal care article.

Methods of changing size of pant-type personal care articles outputted from a manufacturing process

Breathable microporous films are provided having controlled regional breathability with high WVTR regions and thicker low WVTR regions. The zoned breathable microporous films are be made by selectively applying adhesive to the microporous film.

Microporous films having zoned breathability

Breathable microporous films are provided having controlled regional breathability with thick high WVTR regions and thinner low WVTR regions. The zoned breathable microporous films can be made by selectively applying heat and pressure to the microporous film such as by feeding a microporous film through a pair of heated nip rollers with one of the rolls having a raised surface area.

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Oshkosh, WI, United States of America

Keith Joseph Renard