Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Other

Michael Tod Morman

Thomas Harold Roessler

Charles John Morell

Howard Martin Welch

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

Duane Girard Uitenbroek

Patricia Hsiaoyin Hwang

Thomas Walter Odorzynski

Sjon-Paul Lee Conyer

Yung Hsiang Huang

David Arthur Fell

Paul Theodore VanGompel

Jacqueline Ann Gross

Yung Hsaing Huang

Prasad Shrikrishna Potnis

Tony J Wisneski

James Arthur Davis

Audrie Tomoko Ono

Bernard H Cohen

Pamela Jean Mayberry

James Marcus Carr

Gregory Todd Sudduth

Randall James Palmer

Georgia Lynn Zehner

Susan Elaine Shawver

Paul Joseph Datta

John Philip Vukos

David Michael Matela

Patricia Hwang Calhoun

Ruth Lisa Levy

Robert John Schwartz

Eric Donald Johnson

Bryan David Haynes

Rosann Marie Kaylor

James Russell Fitts, Jr

Kevin George Hetzler

William Bela Haffner

Lavada Campbell Boggs

Michael Allen Daley

Gary Lee Travis

Charles Edward Bolian, Ii

James D Cotton

Mary Jo Meyer

Jack Draper Taylor

Gabriel Hamman Adam

Jennifer L Marvin

Leslie Warren Collier, Iv

Mark George Everson

Jon Edward Tinsley

David W Appel

Glen Thomas Mildenhall

Robert Lee Popp

Ali Yahiaoui

David Martin Jackson

Peiguang Zhou

Ann Louise McCormack

David Michael Schertz

Cristian M Neculescu

Richard Warren Tanzer

MaryAnn Zunker

Michael Scott Brunner

Tamara Lee Mace

Carol Ann Blaney

Sarah Jane Marie Freiburger

Jay Sheldon Shultz

Stanley Michael Gryskiewicz

Michael Joseph Garvey

Douglas Bryan Cole

Debra Hartley Durrance

John Joseph Sayovitz

Wanda Walton Jackson

Bryon Paul Day

Sharon Linda Greene

Matthew Boyd Lake

Andrew Edsel Huntoon

Marianne Keevill Leick

Lynn Kirkpatrick LeMahieu

Gary H Meitner

Robert James Gerndt

Robert David Wright

Joel Brostin

Jose F Pazos

Nancy Donaldson Kollin

Donald V Willitts

Monica Graciela Varriale

Reginald Smith

Raymond Jeffrey May

Sharon L Greene

Paul Means Linker, Iii

Mary Garvie Weber

Courtney Eileen Shea

Sandy Chi-Ching Tan

Leslie D Dobbins

Mark G Kupelian

Robert D Harris, Jr

Augusto Rodriguez

Jason K Wehner

Linda Jeanette Morgan

Rebecca Jean Kuepper

Steven B Warner

An absorbent article incorporates a material having a base layer of a generally fluid permeable material and at least two strips or regions of elastomeric material attached to the base layer material with a space therebetween such that a center region of the base layer material is bordered on at least two sides by composite regions of the elastomeric materials and the base layer material. The center region of base layer material remains generally non-elastic and the composite regions are stretchable in at least a first direction as a result of tensioning and necking-in the base layer material prior to attaching the elastomeric materials. The material may be incorporated as a bodyside liner in the absorbent article.

Absorbent article with elastomeric bordered material

An elastomeric film includes a first layer co-extruded with a second layer. The first layer includes a single-site catalyzed ethylene-alpha olefin copolymer having a density of about 0.860 to about 0.900 grams per centimeter. The second layer includes a styrene copolymer selected from styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, or styrene-(ethylene/propylene)-styrene-(ethylene/propylene). The first layer may optionally include filler particles. An extensible laminate including the elastomeric film is also disclosed.

Elastomeric film and laminates thereof

In a mechanical fastening system for an article, a first fastening component of the fastening system is constructed of an oriented nonwoven loop material. The nonwoven loop material is constructed at least part of an nonwoven web of fibers that is extensible from a relaxed configuration to an extended configuration wherein in the extended configuration a greater number of fibers of the nonwoven web are oriented in the direction in which the web is extended than in the relaxed configuration of the web. In one embodiment, the web is in its extended configuration and secured to a substrate A second fastening component of the mechanical fastening system comprises a hook material wherein the oriented nonwoven loop material of the first fastening component is adapted for releasable connection with the hook material of the second fastening component.

Mechanical fastening system for an absorbent article

An absorbent garment includes an extensible backsheet having opposite side regions, a liquid permeable topsheet having opposite side portions, and a retention portion having opposite side edges and an inner surface defining an area. The retention portion is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet with the inner surface facing the topsheet and with the opposite side portions of the backsheet and the topsheet extending beyond the side edges of the retention portion. The opposite side portions of the topsheet are attached to the opposite side portions of the backsheet on opposite sides of the retention portion. Less than 30% of the area of the inner surface of the retention portion is attached to the topsheet. A method for absorbing bodily exudates with an absorbent garment is also provided.

Absorbent garment with an extensible backsheet

A method for producing a machine direction and cross-machine direction elastic laminate includes the steps of providing a one direction elastic laminate material including at least one elastic layer and one facing layer and having a single direction of elasticity and coursing the one direction elastic laminate material through at least one stretching apparatus, such that the stretching apparatus stretches the laminate material in a direction perpendicular to the single direction of elasticity of the elastic laminate material, thereby producing a material that extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elasticity and also extends the elastic performance of the laminate in the single direction of elasticity.

Machine and cross-machine direction elastic materials and methods of making same

An absorbent garment includes a front body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge and a rear body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge. The terminal crotch edge of the rear body panel is longitudinally spaced from and forms a gap with the terminal crotch edge of the front body panel. An absorbent composite bridges the gap between the front and rear body panels with first and second terminal edges overlying and connected to the front and rear body panels respectively. In one embodiment, the terminal edges of the absorbent composite are the only portion of the absorbent composite connected to the front and rear body panels. In another embodiment, the absorbent composite is further connected to the front and rear body panels at first and second attachment locations proximate a longitudinally extending centerline of the absorbent composite and longitudinally spaced from the first and second terminal edges. Methods of using the absorbent garments are also provided.

Absorbent garment having a body conforming absorbent composite

A disposable, leakproof, containment garment for a wearer is formed from a liquid-impermeable containment shell in a substantially humanoid shape with elastic marginal seal areas, such as torso and appendage margins. The elastic margins are designed to conformably surround the torso and appendages of the wearer and form tensioned and liquid-tight seals against the skin of the wearer when donned. By forming liquid tight seals against the body of the wearer, the garment is favorably constructed to utilize the full capability of any absorbent structures placed within the shell.

Disposable leak-proof containment garment

Stretchable film laminates including a layer of elastomeric openwork, such as a plurality of elastic strands or an elastomeric mesh structure. The stretchable film laminates may include a film layer bonded to the layer of elastomeric openwork, with the film layer having cross-directional stretch and the laminate having a multi-phase stretchability profile. The stretchable film laminates may be made by extruding a film from a die, stretching the film, forming and stretching a layer of elastomeric openwork, conveying the stretched elastomeric openwork onto the film while the film is stretched, and passing the film and the elastomeric openwork through a nip. The invention also includes a machine capable of producing machine-direction, cross-direction, and biaxial stretch materials. The machine includes at least one extruder, at least one filament die and at least one film die both attached to the extruder(s), and at least one nip downstream of the extruder(s).

Stretchable film laminates and methods and apparatus for making stretchable film laminates

An extensible laminate having improved set and hysteresis is disclosed. The extensible laminate includes an extensible nonwoven web laminated to an elastomeric sheet that have been mechanically stretched in the cross direction after lamination. A method for making the extensible laminate includes laminating an extensible nonwoven web to an elastomeric sheet to form a laminate and mechanically stretching the laminate in a cross direction by at least about 50 percent.

Extensible laminate having improved stretch properties and method for making same

A material is provided that is particularly suited for use in absorbent articles. The material has a base layer of a generally non-elastic material and at least two strips or regions of elastomeric material attached to the base layer material with a space therebetween such that a center region of the base layer material is bordered on at least two sides by composite regions of the elastomeric materials and the base layer material. The center region of base layer material remains generally non-extensible and the composite regions are stretchable in at least a first direction as a result of tensioning and necking-in the base layer material prior to attaching the elastomeric materials. The invention includes methods for making the material, as well as absorbent articles incorporating the materials.

Absorbent article material with elastomeric borders

A method of assembling an expandable absorbent garment includes providing an absorbent composite having a length, opposite ends and opposite side regions. The absorbent composite includes a backsheet, a topsheet and a retention portion disposed between the backsheet and topsheet. The backsheet includes at least one fold formed along at least one of the opposite side regions, wherein the absorbent composite is laterally expandable at least at the opposite ends thereof. The at least one fold of the backsheet is unfoldable along at least the opposite ends of the absorbent composite. The method further includes providing a pair of front body panels having lateral inboard and outboard edges, providing a pair of rear body panels having lateral inboard and outboard edges, securing the said inboard edges of the front body panels to the opposite side regions of the absorbent garment at one of the ends of the absorbent composite, and securing the inboard edges of the rear body panels to the opposite side regions of the absorbent garment at the other of the ends of the absorbent composite.

Method of assembling an expandable absorbent garment

A one-step method of making a necked-bonded laminate, wherein the layers of the laminate are formed and laminated within the same process. The method includes forming a nonwoven web, necking the nonwoven web, and immediately feeding the nonwoven web into a laminator where an elastomeric film is laminated to the nonwoven web. The elastomeric film may also be formed during the process prior to being fed into the laminator. Additionally, more than one nonwoven web may be formed and laminated to the elastomeric film during the process. The invention further includes apparatus for carrying out the one-step method.

One-step necked-bonded laminate process and apparatus

A breathable laminate having biaxial elastic stretch, cloth-like aesthetics, and a fluid barrier is formed by bonding a breathable elastic film to a nonwoven facing material. The facing material can be inherently machine direction and cross direction stretchable, or can be necked to impart cross direction stretchability, and can be creped or crimped to impart machine direction stretchability. Alternatively, machine direction stretchability of the laminate can be achieved by bonding the elastic film in a pre-stretched condition to the facing material. The breathable laminate is particularly useful as an outer cover for diapers and other personal care products.

Biaxial stretch, breathable laminate with cloth-like aesthetics and method for making same

A neckable nonwoven web is provided with a central region and two edge regions, the central region being selectively easier to neck than the two edge regions. The nonwoven fibers in the central region have a polymer composition and/or physical properties which differ from the nonwoven fibers in the two edge regions. The selectively easier necking in the central region causes the central region to neck to about the same extent as the two edge regions, which otherwise would experience greater necking than the central region if the starting nonwoven web were completely uniform. Necked nonwoven webs and neck-bonded laminates made using the improved neckable nonwoven web, are also provided.

Nonwoven webs having improved necking uniformity

The present invention provides a method of achieving selectively elasticized zones on nonwoven web substrates, such as may be suitable for the waistbands of disposable absorbent pant garments, cuffs on sleeves of medical garments, or the like. A web, or webs, of nonwoven material which make up the substrate for the elasticized area are provided to be inherently extendable in the transverse, or lateral, direction of the material web at the time the elastic material is affixed to the substrate. If the elastic material is affixed in an untensioned state, a flat waistband without gathering of the substrate may be had for a very efficient seal against the skin of the wearer. If the elastic material is affixed to the substrate in a tensioned state, a waist band with gathering of the substrate may be had to allow for two-stage expansion via the gathers and the expansion of the substrate.

Method for making an absorbent article with elastic cuff areas and expandable substrates

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Michael Tod Morman