Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kenneth John Wagner

Joseph Andrew Mlinar

Jason Kyle Sieck

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

Russell Evan Thorson

Chadwick Irvin Romzek

Jason Gene Csida

Jesse Paul Sorenson

Ronald Alex Hilt

Sohyun Sara Park

Bradley W Schoon

Justin M Mueller

Eric S Krueger

Donald J Osentoski

Gregory John Rajala

Bridget Ann Balogh

Thomas J Vanselow

Jean Feyen Niemeyer

Cynthia D Maas

Todd W Hajos

Steve Veith

Cindi Maas

Heidi K Wudi

Judith A Musil

Jean F Niemeyer

Jerome Steve Veith

Pant-like absorbent articles having improved chassis structures are disclosed. One pant-like garment comprises a front panel comprising a front garment-side layer, a front body side layer, and front elastic members therebetween, and a rear panel comprising a rear garment-side layer, a rear bodyside layer, and rear elastic members between the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer, a portion of the rear elastic members proximate a rear waist end edge are being uncovered by one of the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer. The garment may further comprise a rear secondary elastic member disposed overlapping the uncovered portion of the rear elastic members, and wherein one of the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer is folded over the rear panel secondary elastic member and overlaps the other one of the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer.

Pant-like disposable absorbent articles with improved chassis construction

One example pant-like garment may comprise a front panel comprising a front garment-side layer, a front body-side layer, and one or more front chassis elastic members disposed between the front garment-side layer and the front body-side layer, and a rear panel comprising a rear garment-side layer, a rear body-side layer, one or more rear chassis elastic members disposed between the rear garment-side layer and the rear body-side layer, and one or more rear panel leg elastic members directly overlapping the one or more rear chassis elastic members in a vertical direction perpendicular to longitudinal and lateral directions. The garment may further comprise an absorbent assembly disposed between the front panel and the rear panel.

A method of bonding a first web of material to a second web of material to form a composite material is disclosed herein. First, a first web of material and a second web of material moving in a machine direction is provided. The webs of material pass over a first energy application device extending transverse in the cross-machine direction. The first energy application device includes a primary bonding pattern and a secondary bonding pattern. The primary bonding pattern in combination with the secondary bonding pattern extends continuously across the first energy application device in the cross-machine direction. In addition, a second energy application device is provided. The second energy application device is moved in the cross-machine direction, and thereby extending the second energy application device over the first energy application device and operating the first and second energy application devices in combination to bond a composite web.

Method of forming a composite web utilizing a rotary bonding system with an anvil pattern

A method of manufacturing an undergarment includes moving a web of body panel material in a longitudinal machine direction, forming a cutout in the web, cutting the web of body panel material along the longitudinal machine direction and thereby forming a rear body panel web and a front body panel web, and connecting a crotch member to each of the rear and front body panel webs. The crotch member covers said cutout when connected to the rear and front body panel webs. A disposable undergarment having a cutout, and a method for the use thereof, is also provided.

Method for the manufacture of a disposable undergarment having a cutout

A method of manufacturing a disposable absorbent article incorporating a reinforcement element adjacent a crotch edge of a body panel includes moving a web of body panel material in a longitudinal machine direction, applying a plurality of reinforcement elements to an outer surface of the web and cutting the web of body panel material along the longitudinal machine direction to thereby form a rear body panel web and a front body panel web each having a terminal crotch edge and at least a portion of the reinforcement elements secured thereto. The method further includes connecting a crotch member to each of the rear and front body pane webs thereby bridging the gab between. A disposable absorbent article incorporating a reinforcement element is also provided.

Disposable absorbent garment that incorporates a continuous reinforced leg gasket and method for the manufacture thereof

A method of forming a disposable, refastenable absorbent article is disclosed. The method includes directing a first material parallel to and spaced apart from a second material. A pair of lines of perforations is formed across the width of the first material. A pair of attachment members is then secured to the first material such that each bridges across one of the pair of lines of perforations. An absorbent assembly is secured across the first and second materials to form a subassembly. The subassembly is then folded and the first and second materials are bonded together by first and second seam lines. The first and second materials are then separated at locations outward from each of the first and second seam lines to form a disposable, refastenable absorbent article.

Method of forming a disposable, refastenable absorbent article

An apparatus for fabricating the refastenable absorbent garment includes a web perforator adapted to perforate a base web in a cross direction and a construction drum positioned downstream of the web perforator and adapted to receive the perforated base web. A landing material cutter is adapted to cut a landing material and fastener material in the cross direction. A landing member rotator is positioned adjacent the construction drum and downstream of the landing material cutter. The landing member rotator is adapted to separate successive pieces of the landing material with the fastener material attached thereto at the cross direction landing material cut, rotate the pieces of landing material with the fastener member attached thereto and apply the piece of landing material and fastener material to the base web on the construction drum.

Apparatus for assembling refastenable absorbent garments

A method for weakening a portion of a web includes moving a web in a machine direction between at least a first location and a second location, wherein the second location is positioned downstream of the first location, forming a line of weakness in the web at the first location, wherein the web has a first tensile strength across the line of weakness, and weakening the line of weakness at a second location, wherein the web has a second tensile strength across the line of weakness after the line of weakness is weakened at the second location and wherein the first tensile strength is greater than the second tensile strength.

Method for weakening a portion of a web

A method for assembling a refastenable absorbent garment includes moving a landing material in a machine direction, wherein the landing material has opposite lateral side edges, moving a fastener material in a machine direction, wherein the fastener material comprises a refastenable portion and a base portion, and removeably attaching the refastenable portion of the fastener material to at least one of the side edges of the landing material. The method preferably further includes successively cutting the landing material with the fastener material removeably attached thereto along a cross direction and thereby forming a plurality of landing members with a fastener member removeably attached thereto and successively rotating each of the plurality of landing members with the fastener members removeably attached thereto. The method further includes successively attaching each of the landing members to the base web and attaching the base portion of the fastener member to the base web.

Growing community of inventors

Greenville, WI, United States of America

Kenneth John Wagner