Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Wordwide, Inc.

Michael Donald Sperl

Michael John Faulks

Robert Lee Popp

Sandra Marie Rogers

Nancy Meetz

Suzanne Marie Schmoker

Michael Lee Lohoff

Andrew Thomas Hammond

Heidi Bauerlein Hopkins

Kyle Mark Barriger

Alyssa Kimberly DeYoung

Russell Joseph Brumm

Jeffrey Alan DeBroux

Daniel Mark Duhm

Kimberly Marie Downs

Anita Marie-Nanette Gilgenbach

Joseph P Fell

Darin Allen Engelhart

Ellen Elizabeth Pelky

James Richard Schermerhorn

Lorelle M Scheibe

Christine Ann Caneba

Kenneth James Quella

David Kyle Stankewicz

Luis Alberto Tenorio

Marcille Faye Ruman

Seth M Newlin

Aaron Dee Schilpp

Gregory John Jansen

Joseph Daniel Coenen

Christopher Peter Olson

Mark Michael Mleziva

Eugenio Go Varona

Eric Donald Johnson

Thomas Michael Ales

Kuo-Shu Edward Chang

Tamara Lee Mace

Arthur Edward Garavaglia

Gordon Allen Shaw

Shannon Kathleen Melius

Thomas Allan Eby

Davis Dang Hoang Nhan

Richard Joseph Kamps

Jaime Braverman

Jeffrey Lawrence McManus

Valerie Victoria Finch

Alan Francis Schleinz

Michael Allen Daley

Joseph John Sina

David W Heyn

David Michael Matela

Paula Mary Sosalla

Gregory Todd Sudduth

Kathleen Irene Bennett

Nancy Donaldson Kollin

Allen Todd Leak

Dean M Wydeven

Roland Columbus Smith, Jr

Karen Lynn English

Hristo Angelov Hristov

Reginald Smith

Lisa LaRae Bushman

Todd Christopher Larson

Thomas Earl Williamson

Dale Arthur Peterson

Sherry Ann VanDyke

Walter Andrew Mattingly

Andrew Edward Neubauer

Paula Kay Zoromski

Joy Patricia Bauman

Troy Leonard Tipton

Brandon B Kussow

Marty J Granius

Paula K DeBruin

Frederique Vignali

Tami Lynn Kurtz

Jean Feyen Niemeyer

Monica Lynn Bontrager

Steven Carl Strubbe

Davis Dang Hoang Hhan

Steven Walter Moster

Frank Rosch

Frédérique Vignali

Amanda Lauren Plump

W Ann Imsangjan

Sharon Rymer

Anita M Gilgenbach

Aaron Dee Schlipp

Brandon Benjamin Kussow

Sandra M Rogers

Tami L Kurtz

Aaron D Schilpp

Valerie V Finch

Sherry A Vandyke

Ann W Imsangjan

Absorbent articles comprising pleats and methods for forming pleated absorbent articles are disclosed. In one embodiment, an absorbent article extending in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction may comprise a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent core disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, and a pleat extending in the longitudinal direction and having a lower pleat portion and an upper pleat portion, the pleat having a pleat height, wherein the lower pleat portion has a greater stiffness than the upper pleat portion.

Absorbent article with pleats

An absorbent article can have a topsheet layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer. The absorbent article can further include an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned on a body facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a first component which defines an opening for direct passage of body exudates into the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a second component which at least partially overlaps the first component of the exudate management layer and further extends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in a direction towards the posterior region of the absorbent article.

Absorbent article with an exudate management layer

An absorbent article having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions. The article comprises an outer cover, a body-side liner, an absorbent assembly between the outer cover and the body-side liner, and leg and flap elastic composites including a containment flap portion and a gasket portion. Each of the composites are attached to the liner such that one of the composites is disposed adjacent one side edge of the liner and the other composite is disposed adjacent the other side edge of the liner, each of the composites extend longitudinally from the front waist region to the back waist region, and each of the composites have a deadened portion in the front waist region or the back waist region. The article further includes a waist elastic member extending longitudinally between the deadened portions.

Leg and flap elastic composite for an absorbent article and method of manufacturing same

An absorbent article which has a one-piece chassis and integral side portions. The one-piece chassis can be a bi-laminate material and can have a liquid permeable layer and a liquid impermeable layer bonded together. The side portions can be integrally formed from the one-piece chassis.

Absorbent article having a one-piece chassis and integral side portions

An absorbent article includes a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The absorbent assembly is formed separately from the chassis, and attached to the chassis by an attachment area. The attachment area includes a front attachment zone, a rear attachment zone, and a central attachment zone extending between the front and rear attachment zones. The front and rear attachment zones have a first width and a second width, respectively, and the central attachment zone has a third width less than the first and second widths.

Absorbent article having a zoned attachment area for securing an absorbent assembly to a chassis

A method of manufacturing a liner/composite web for use in an absorbent article includes joining a leg elastic member to a web moving in a machine direction and joining a flap elastic member to the web. The flap elastic member is spaced from the leg elastic member. The web is folded to form a leg and flap elastics composite including an outer side edge. The web is joined to a substrate to form the liner/composite web. The liner/composite web is joined to a web of material such that the outer side edge of the leg and flap elastics composite is coterminous with one of a pair of laterally opposing side edges of the web of material.

A disposable absorbent article comprises a first crotch elastic member adjacent a first crotch edge and a second crotch elastic member adjacent a second crotch edge, each crotch elastic member extending generally in a longitudinal direction, each crotch elastic member having a front terminal point and a rear terminal point. In one embodiment, at least one of the terminal points of the first crotch elastic member is positioned transversely inward from a remaining portion of the first crotch elastic member, and at least one of the terminal points of the second crotch elastic member is positioned transversely inward from a remaining portion of the second crotch elastic member. In another embodiment, front end portions of the first and second crotch elastic members or rear end portions of the first and second crotch elastic members converge transversely inward toward each other.

Disposable absorbent article having tailored leg edges

An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region. The front and back waist regions are permanently attached or releasably attachable to each other by an article fastening system to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article is configurable from the wear configuration to a disposal configuration. A disposal tab has an attachment region attached to one of the sides of the article and extends a greatest length La along at least a portion of a length Lp of one of the sides. A tab region extends transversely outward from the attachment region a greatest distance Dt and is attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration of the article. The attachment region has a first surface attached to one of the sides of the article and a second surface that defines part of the article fastening system.

Personal wear absorbent article with disposal tab

Absorbent articles are disclosed having extended waistbands. More particularly, the absorbent articles include a back waistband and/or a front waistband that encircle a portion of the circumference of the waist opening. The absorbent article includes a front portion attached to a back portion by a pair of stretchable side areas. Each of the side areas are made from at least two panels that are connected together along a vertical attachment area. In accordance with the present disclosure, a waistband is incorporated into the article that extends over the entire front portion or the entire back portion and terminates at opposite ends on opposing side areas. Each end of the waistband, however, terminates prior to the vertical attachment areas leaving a gap in between. The presence of the gap has been found to provide various benefits and advantages including improved stretch properties for donning the article.

Absorbent article having a functional and partially encircling waistband

An absorbent article includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner for facing the wearer, an outer cover for facing away from the wearer, and an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover. A primary fastening system is provided for securing the article in a wear configuration having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings spaced from the waist opening. A secondary fastening system comprises a pair of tabs having a fastener region selectively attachable to the article and an attachment region defining a portion of the primary fastening system.

Personal wear absorbent article with tab

Absorbent articles are disclosed that have been printed with active graphics alone or in combination with permanent graphics to create a wetness indicator. Different active graphic compositions and/or permanent graphic compositions are combined so as to make the wetness indicator very prominent on the article. In addition, when the absorbent article is wetted, the active graphics undergo a change that is easily noticed by the wearer or the caregiver for the wearer. In one embodiment, for instance, active graphics are positioned within a distinctive frame. The frame focuses a person's attention onto the active graphics. The active graphics fill most of the surface area of the frame such that when the absorbent article is wetted, a clearly noticeable change occurs.

Absorbent articles with intricate graphics

A method of manufacturing a leg and flap elastics composite for use in an absorbent article includes joining a leg elastic member to a web moving in a machine direction. A flap elastic member is joined to the web and spaced from the leg elastic member. The web is fed to a chopper assembly wherein portions of the leg and flap elastic members are rendered less elastic at spaced-apart intervals to define deadened portions of the leg and flap elastic members.

Disposable absorbent article having tailored leg edge

Growing community of inventors

Waupaca, WI, United States of America

Michael Donald Sperl