Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Melissa Christine Putzer

Eric Donald Johnson

Michael Joseph Garvey

Timothy J Probst

Stanley Roy Kellenberger

Gary Lee Travis

Sandra M Yarbrough

Mark Kevin Melius

Shannon K Byerly

Kimberly D Anderson

Daniel Robert Schlinz

Frank Paul Abuto

Barbara Oakley Sauer

Michael John Niemeyer

Kimberly D Baer

A mass produced absorbent article having an image of a quality that is commercially acceptable. The image is produced by ink jet printheads applying ink to a web moving at high speed under the jets in the course of manufacturing the article. The image is printed at low resolution but is characterized in part by a higher coverage area ratio and brightness.

Absorbent article with high quality ink jet image produced at line speed

A method for manufacturing a hip panel for a disposable absorbent article includes feeding a web to a cutting apparatus. The web is cut at a first location with the cutting apparatus to form a curved lower edge of the hip panel. The web is cut at a second location with the cutting apparatus to form a curved upper edge of the hip panel. The curved lower edge and the curved upper edge are substantially identical with respect to each other.

Method of manufacturing a hip panel for a disposable absorbent article

A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly having a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent structure, a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region, longitudinally opposite ends, and laterally opposite side edges. A pair of hip panels releaseably secures the first and second waist regions together. One of the hip panels extends laterally outward from one of the side edges in one of the first and second waist regions and the other hip panel extends laterally outward from the opposite side edge in the one of the first and second waist regions. Each of the hip panels has an upper edge, a lower edge, a fixed and a free end. Each of the upper and lower edges has a length and is curved along at least a portion of its length. The curved portions of the upper and lower edges are substantially identical.

Hip panel for a disposable absorbent article and method of manufacturing same

An absorbent composite suitable for use in a disposable absorbent garment includes material for containing a superabsorbent material and a supersbsorbent material contained by said containment material. The superabsorbent material has a Pressure Absorbency Index of at least 100 and a 16-hour extractable level of less than about 13 weight percent; a Pressure Absorbency Index of at least 100 and a Vortex Time of less than about 45 seconds; or a Pressure Absorbency Index of at least about 110. The superabsorbent material is present in the containment means in an amount of from about 30 to about 100 weight percent based on total weight of the containment material and the superabsorbent material. A disposable absorbent garment includes an outer cover, a body-side liner, and an absorbent composite such as that described above.

Absorbent composite

An absorbent article having a material formed as a single piece having two enlarged end portions and a narrowed portion intermediate the enlarged end portions and arranged for wearing by an individual. The material includes a fluid permeable topsheet, a fluid impermeable backsheet and an absorbent layer disposed between the fluid permeable topsheet and the fluid impermeable backsheet. Integral pleats extending along opposed side of a longitudinal centerline of the material between the enlarged end portions are provided for expanding at least the absorbent layer and the fluid impermeable backsheet away from the skin of the individual for collection of fecal matter.

Pocket design for absorbent article

A personal care absorbent article, such as an infant diaper, a training pant, an incontinence garment and the like, having a structure for forming a separation barrier between a wetting point and a fecal discharge point when the wearer of the personal care absorbent article is in a sitting position. The structure having an expandable region connected to a compressible region whereby the expandable region forms the separation barrier upon compression of the compressible region.

Front/back separation barrier

An absorbent article is provided that is comfortable and suitable for absorbing and containing liquid and solid body exudates without leakage. The absorbent article may be a diaper that includes a backsheet layer, a substantially liquid-permeable liner layer, and an absorbent core located between the backsheet and the liner. The backsheet generally defines a front waistband section, a rear waistband section, and an intermediate section, with the intermediate section interconnecting the front and rear waistband sections and disposed between laterally opposed side margins. The backsheet layer has at least one pleat adjacent each side margin that defines an expanded volume when the pleat expands, the expanded volume being greater than the volume when the pleat is unexpanded. The pleat is accessible to body exudates that pass through or around the absorbent core.

Diaper with pleats for containment of liquid and solid waste

An absorbent article includes at least one multilayered containment barrier which is configured to inhibit the flow of body exudates along the surface of the absorbent article. The containment barrier includes multiple layers of material. Each of the layers defines an inner edge which remains at least partially unattached to the other layers to allow the body exudates to flow into an area between the layers in use for improved containment and absorption of exudates. In a particular embodiment, the absorbent article may include a pair of such containment barriers which are laterally spaced apart to provide a void space between the wearer's buttocks and the surface of the absorbent article for containing body exudates. In such a configuration, the absorbent article may further include a pair of longitudinally extending containment flaps located on the side edges of the article laterally outwards from the containment barriers for improved containment Alternatively, the containment barriers may be located between the topsheet layer and absorbent body of the absorbent article. In such a configuration, the topsheet layer defines an opening which is located at least partially over the containment barriers to receive fecal exudates.

Absorbent article having a multilayered containment barrier

Disclosed is an absorbent composite suitable for use in disposable absorbent garments and an absorbent garment including such a composite. The composite includes a means for containing a superabsorbent material and a superabsorbent material contained by the containment means. The superabsorbent material has a Gel Integrity Index of at least about 1500 kilograms (force).times.millimeters. Further, the superabsorbent material is present in the containment means in an amount of from about 10 to about 100 weight percent based on total weight of the containment means and the superabsorbent material.

Absorbent composite and disposable absorbent garment comprising same

One aspect of the present invention relates to an absorbent composite suitable for use in a disposable absorbent garment. The absorbent composite includes means for containing a superabsorbent material and a superabsorbent material contained by said containment means. The superabsorbent material has a Pressure Absorbency Index of at least 100 and a 16-hour extractable level of less than about 13 weight percent; a Pressure Absorbency Index of at least 100 and a Vortex Time of less than about 45 seconds; or a Pressure Absorbency Index of at least about 110. The superabsorbent material is present in said containment means in an amount of from about 30 to about 100 weight percent based on total weight of the containment means and the superabsorbent material. In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent garment including an outer cover, a body-side liner, and an absorbent composite such as that described above.

Growing community of inventors

Oshkosh, WI, United States of America

Melissa Christine Putzer