Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Lawrence Howell Sawyer

Sylvia Bandy Little

Richard Norris Dodge, Ii

Christopher Peter Olson

Debra Jean McDowall

Tamara Lee Mace

Robert Lee Popp

Mark Michael Mleziva

Yong Li

Shannon Kathleen Melius

Stanley Michael Gryskiewicz

Sridhar Ranganathan

Kuo-Shu Edward Chang

David Louis Zenker

Dave Allen Soerens

Michael John Faulks

Peiguang Zhou

Eugenio Go Varona

Heather Anne Sorebo

David Arthur Fell

Shirlee Ann Weber

Davis Dang Hoang Nhan

Joseph Daniel Coenen

Jian Qin

David Martin Jackson

William Grover Reeves

Frank Paul Abuto

Richard Daniel Pike

Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet

Henry Louis Griesbach, Iii

James Hongxue Wang

Marcille Faye Ruman

Scott J Smith

Eric Donald Johnson

Garry Roland Woltman

Daniel Robert Schlinz

Jeffrey Eldon Fish

Joseph DiPalma

Cathleen Mae Uttecht

Davis-Dang H Nhan

Candace Dyan Krautkramer

Jaeho Kim

Michael John Niemeyer

David Charles Potts

Lei Huang

Yanbin Huang

Connie Lynn Hetzler

Billie Jean Matthews

Andrew Scott Burnes

Hoa La Wilhelm

Violet May Grube

Margaret Gwyn Latimer

Clifford Jackson Ellis

James Marcus Carr

Michael William Veith

Rob David Everett

Xiaomin Zhang

David Michael Matela

Ruth Lisa Levy

Nancy Donaldson Kollin

Charles Wilson Colman

Brendon Frank Ribble

Samuel Edward Marmon

Edward E Werner

Michael Allen Daley

Philip A Sasse

Linda A Connor

Andrew Edsel Huntoon

Jason Matthew Laumer

William A Georger

Robert David Wright

Eric Scott Kepner

Jacek K Dutkiewicz

Susan Carol Paul

Wing-Chak Ng

Kenneth Yin Wang

MeeWha Lee

David Craige Strack

Jay Sheldon Shultz

Brenda Marie Nelson

Christopher Cosgrove Creagan

Valerie Victoria Finch

Rebecca Lyn Dilnik

Hannong Rhim

Henry L Griesbach

Jack Nelson Lindon

Allan James Krueger

Andrew Michael Lake

Mark Joy

Kendell Jean Williams

Rodney Lawrence Abba

Sandra Marie Rogers

Markus Frank

Whei-Neen Hsu

Jayne B Nelson

Terry K Timmons

Thomas William VanDenBogart

Jose Augusto Vidal De Siqueira

Kenneth Raymond Schueler, Jr

Steven Michael Hurley

A method for making an absorbent article includes the steps of applying a layer of adhesive composition to a stretchable substrate and applying a layer of particulate superabsorbent material to the stretchable substrate, whereby the adhesive composition holds the superabsorbent material on the substrate.

Method for making a stretchable absorbent article

As described herein, an extensible sheet material includes a first and a second zone that is separate from the first zone. The first zone exposes a first color or pattern when the extensible sheet material is stretched beyond a first percentage. The second zone exposes a second color or pattern when the extensible sheet material is stretched beyond a second percentage greater than the first percentage. Absorbent articles that include the extensible sheet material are capable of indicating to a wearer when the extensible sheet material has been stretched too little, too much, or just the right amount.

Extensible sheet material with visual stretch indicator

An absorbent article having improved handling of liquid and improved intake and retention of liquid loadings during use. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of moisture in contact with a wearer's skin and can provide a feeling of softness on the skin of the wearer.

Absorbent article with point fusion bonding

A method for making an absorbent article includes the steps of applying a layer of adhesive composition to a stretchable substrate and applying a layer of particulate superabsorbent material to the adhesive composition after applying the adhesive composition to the stretchable substrate.

Stretchable absorbent article

Absorbent articles with stretch direction properties are disclosed, having at least three stretch zones. A first edge zone and a second edge zone are separated by a middle zone. The middle zone, which may the same length as each edge zone, has different stretch-direction characteristics than the edge zones. The middle zone may stretch in a single direction, whereas the edge zones may stretch in a different single direction or in bi- or multi-axial directions. The flaps may be created from the edge zones. Through this construction, the absorbent article exhibits improved fit and appearance.

Absorbent garments with multipart liner having varied stretch properties

An absorbent article having a stretchable substrate and an absorbent composite comprising a layer of adhesive composition in contact with the stretchable substrate. A layer of particulate superabsorbent material is applied to and held by the adhesive composition. The absorbent composite is secured to the substrate by the adhesive composition. The stretchable substrate has a recovery in at least one of the lateral direction and the longitudinal directions of the article as determined by an Elongation and Recovery Test, and the absorbent article has a recovery in the at least one of the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction as determined by the Elongation and Recovery Test that is at least about 60 percent of the recovery of the substrate in the at least one of the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction.

Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles have a percentage of stretch in the lateral direction at the widest portion in the front region of the article and/or in the back region in the range of from about 25% to about 150%. Additionally, at least about 70% of the above stretch resides in a first edge zone and in a second edge zone of the chassis. The first edge zone and the second edge zone are separated by a middle zone. The middle zone, which has the same length as each edge zone, is stretchable, but to a lesser extent than the edge zones. Through this construction, the absorbent article exhibits improved fit and appearance. Of particular advantage, the carefully controlled stretch properties prevent sagging or drooping of the crotch region, even after the crotch region has been wetted.

Absorbent garments with tailored stretch properties in the lateral direction

A garment-like absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis that defines a waist opening and first and second leg openings. A longitudinal length of the chassis is optimized in a linear relationship with the waist circumference of the chassis, the circumference measured at 500 grams tension. With respect to the linear relationship, the thickness of the garment is substantially constant along the same line defined by the length and the circumference, and decreases as the y-intercept increases.

Garment-like absorbent article

Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are disclosed. In particular, the articles exhibit stretch not only in the lateral direction but also in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the articles have a biaxial stretch ratio, which refers to a ratio of stretch along the hip circumference of the article to the amount of stretch in the longitudinal direction, that is from about 1.0 to about 2.5, and particularly from about 1.1 to about 1.5. Absorbent articles made in accordance with the present invention are capable of accommodating a relatively large size range of wearers. The articles also exhibit improved fit and prevent sagging or drooping of the crotch region, even after the crotch region has been wetted.

Stretchable absorbent article having lateral and longitudinal stretch properties

An improved mechanical fastening system that includes a male component and a female component is disclosed. The female component is adapted for releasable engagement with the male component, and the female component comprises a fibrous web, wherein the fibrous web comprises a layer of elastomeric fibers. A disposable absorbent article employing the improved mechanical fastening system is also disclosed.

Fastening system having elastomeric engaging elements and disposable absorbent article made therewith

An absorbent structure made at least in part from a superabsorbent material having a retention capacity (CRC) as determined by a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test of at least about 25 g/g and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) as determined by a Free Swell Gel Bed Permeability Test of at least 575&#xd7;10cm. In another embodiment, the absorbent structure is made at least in part from a superabsorbent material having a retention capacity (CRC) as determined by a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test of at least about 25 g/g, an absorbency under load (AUL) at 0.9 psi as determined by an Absorbency Under Load Test of at least 18 and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) as determined by a Free Swell Gel Bed Permeability Test of at least about 350&#xd7;10cm.

Absorbent structure with superabsorbent material

A method of making absorbent pads is disclosed. The method includes homogeneously mixing superabsorbent material and fluff in a forming chamber of an online drum former and wrapping a porous fabric over a forming screen on a forming drum of the drum former. The method further includes forming an absorbent pad from the homogeneously mixed superabsorbent material and fluff pulp as the homogeneously mixed superabsorbent material and fluff pulp exits the forming chamber onto the forming screen and compacting the absorbent pad to a density of at least 0.28 grams per cubic centimeter after the absorbent pad leaves the forming screen.

Method for producing thin, high capacity absorbent structure

An absorbent article having a built-in size indicator is disclosed. The size indicator, for instance, comprises a stretchable panel that changes color when stretched. The panel may change color to indicate that the article is the correct size for the wearer or may change color to indicate that the article is too small. Still another embodiment, the stretchable panel may change from a first color indicating that the article is too large, to a second color that indicates the article is the correct size, and to a third color that indicates the article is too small. The stretchable panel may be made from any suitable color changing materials. For example, in one embodiment, the panel may include a gathered layer that is printed with a particular color only at the peaks of the gathered layer. As the gathered material is stretched, the material changes color due to the newly exposed regions. In other embodiments, the stretchable panel comprises a film that changes color when stretched. For example, the film may comprise a polyethylene that crystallizes when stretched or may comprise a polarized film that increases in polarization when stretched.

Absorbent garment with color changing fit indicator

An absorbent article having a thin, flexible absorbent pad that can accommodate one or two insults with a low probability of leakage. The absorbent article can be less than about 5 millimeters thick, with the absorbent pad being less than about 3 millimeters thick. The absorbent article has a low absorbent capacity of, for example, less than three times an anticipated single insult volume, or less than twice an anticipated single insult volume. The absorbent article is particularly suitable for use as a toilet training aid.

Thin, flexible, low capacity absorbent article with leakage protection

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Lawrence Howell Sawyer