Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

Thomas Harold Roessler

Jacqueline Ann Gross

Yung Hsaing Huang

Georgia Lynn Zehner

Russell Evan Thorson

Yung Hsiang Huang

Jody Dorothy Suprise

Michael Tod Morman

Joyce Ann Damico

Cindy Lou Price

David Arthur Fell

Daniel Robert Schlinz

Suzanne Marie Schmoker

Lori Sue Schutkoske

Sarah Jane Marie Freiburger

Mary Anne Bruemmer-Prestley

Donald Joseph Sanders

Jennifer L Marvin

Paul William Christoffel

Gregory John Rajala

Eric Donald Johnson

Patricia A Mitchler

James Marcus Carr

Robert J Schleinz

Paul Daniel Suke

Mary Jo Meyer

Gregory K Hall

Shelley Rae Rasmussen

Kenneth John Wagner

Mark Gordon Heath

Cedric Arnett Dunkerly, Ii

Harold Norbert Heller

Glen R Fleischer

William M Heran

Veronica Maria Lingnowski

Mark Scott Schrading

Jacqueline Ann Martin

Apiromraj Srisopark

Geoffrey Walter Frost

Robert Eugene Vogt

Timothy James Blenke

Thomas Michael Ales

David Fleger Bishop

Gary Mack Reynolds

Jerome Steven Veith

Jesse Paul Sorenson

Leona G Boland

Kent William Abel

A Todd Leak

Apiromraj Srisopark Roslansky

Bridget Ann Balogh

Nancy E Dawson

Gary Alan Krueger

Monica Graciela Varriale

David T Strohbeen

Edward Herman Ruscher

Monica Signoret Diaz

Thomas J Vanselow

Kathleen Ann O'Rourke

Jean Feyen Niemeyer

Daniel M Guralski

David H Swanton

Karen M Yaccarino

Lu Ann Marie Beckman

Judith A Musil

Heidi K Wudi

Cindi Maas

Steve Veith

Cynthia D Maas

Larry Neal Johns

James M Carr

Russel E Thorson

Jean F Niemeyer

Jerome Steve Veith

Monica S Diaz

Donald J Sanders

Jesse P Sorenson

Improved fastening systems are described. More particularly, improved fastening systems for disposable absorbent articles are described.

Selective modification of a nonwoven surface

A method of manufacturing an undergarment includes moving a web of body panel material in a machine direction and cutting the web of body panel material along the machine direction to form front and rear body panel webs each having a maximum rise and a minimum rise respectively. The method further includes shifting at least one of the rear and front body panel webs in the machine direction and thereby aligning the maximum rises of the rear and front body panel webs. The method further includes centering a crotch member with the maximum rises of the rear and front body panel webs and connecting the crotch member to a garment side surface of the front and rear body panel webs. The crotch member includes a base panel having opposite side edges and at least a pair of folds extending from the side edges of the base panel.

Three-piece disposable undergarment with folded crotch member and method for the manufacture thereof

A disposable undergarment includes a body chassis member elongatable in at least a first direction between at least a first condition and second condition. The body chassis member has a greater elongation when in the second condition than when in the first condition. The disposable undergarment further includes a crotch member detachably connected to the body chassis member at at least one attachment location. At least a portion of the at least one attachment location is detached as the body chassis member is elongated between the first and second conditions. In one preferred embodiment, the crotch member includes an absorbent component. Methods of using the undergarment and of instructing a user about the use of the garment are also provided.

Disposable undergarment with a detachable crotch member and method for the use thereof

A disposable absorbent garment has an elastic inner layer having an interior surface for facing a wearer of the garment, and an exterior surface. The elastic inner layer has an elongate opening therein disposed at least within a crotch region of the garment, and is stretchable in at least a lateral direction of the garment. An outer layer of the garment is in opposed relationship with the elastic inner layer and is stretchable in at least the lateral direction of the garment. An absorbent assembly is secured to the elastic inner layer between the elastic inner layer and the outer layer and is sized larger than the opening of the elastic inner layer for underlying substantially the entire opening. The absorbent assembly is stretchable in at least the lateral direction of the garment for lateral stretching thereof in response to lateral stretching of the elastic inner layer.

Disposable garment with stretchable absorbent assembly

A disposable undergarment includes a body panel and an absorbent insert having a back sheet connected to a top sheet and a retention portion disposed between the back sheet and the top sheet. At least one of the back sheet and the top sheet is stretchable and includes an elastic material. At least one of the back sheet and the top sheet is connected to the body panel. A method of using a disposable undergarment includes stretching at least one of the back sheet and the top sheet. A method of instructing a user on the use of the disposable undergarment is also provided.

Disposable undergarment with a stretchable absorbent insert and method for the use thereof

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing personal care absorbent articles. Such personal care absorbent article includes a fastening area in the front portion for receiving fastener material thereon. First and second fault lines are formed on opposing sides of the fastening area leaving uncut web portions at the fault lines during selected manufacturing operations, thus to support machine direction stresses on the front portion web, and subsequently trimming away such uncut web portions of the fault lines. Fastener material is applied over the first and second fault lines, thus bridging the fault lines. The fastener material is releasably secured to the fastening area, non-releasably secured to the front portion outwardly of the respective fault lines, and unsecured to the front portion between the fastening area and the fault lines thus to support a re-fastening feature of such personal care absorbent articles.

Method of assembling personal care absorbent article

A disposable undergarment includes a front body panel having a pair of opposite first side edges, a first waist edge and a first crotch edge spaced from said first waist edge. A rear body panel has a pair of opposite second side edges, a second waist edge and a second crotch edge spaced from said second waist edge. The crotch edges of each of the front and rear body panel webs includes at least one peak and at least one valley. Each of the front and rear body panels have a minimum rise defined between the valley of each of the respective front and rear body panels and the first and second waist edges respectively. The valleys defining the minimum rises form at least in part leg opening portions of the front and rear body panels. The crotch edges of the front and rear body panels are spaced apart and form a gap therebetween in a non-overlapping relationship. A crotch member bridges the gap and has opposite end portions connected to the front and rear body panels respectively. The crotch member does not cover the valleys defining the minimum rises of each of the front and rear body panels.

Three-piece disposable undergarment

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 disposable absorbent garment includes a front body panel having a first waist edge and a first crotch edge defining a first lobe having a first profile in plan view that extends outwardly relative to the first waist edge. The first lobe has a first maximum rise along a first direction at substantially a centerline of the front body panel. A rear body panel has a second waist edge and a second crotch edge defining a second lobe having a second profile in plan view that extends outwardly relative to the second waist edge. The second lobe has a second maximum rise along the first direction at substantially a centerline of the rear body panel. The first lobe of the front body panel is aligned with the second lobe of said rear body panel. A crotch member is aligned with and overlaps the first and second lobes of the front and rear body panels respectively.

Three-piece disposable undergarment with folded crotch member

A disposable absorbent garment having an inner layer with a first end panel, a second end panel, and a pair of side panels formed separate from the first and second end panels. The first and second end panels are stretchable in at least the lateral direction of the garment. The side panels extend longitudinally between the first and second end panels in laterally spaced relationship with each other such that the end panels and side panels together define a central opening of the inner layer. The side panels are each secured to the first and second end panels and are extensible in at least the lateral direction of the garment. The garment includes an outer layer is in opposed relationship with the inner layer and an absorbent assembly disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer.

Disposable garment with biaxially stretchable inner layer

An absorbent garment includes a chassis having first and second layers and an elastic core sandwiched therebetween. The chassis defines front and rear body panels each having elastic regions exhibiting a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10% when elongated 80% for a period of 30 minutes at 37&#xb0; C. and 60% relative humidity and then allowed to relax under a zero applied force. An absorbent composite is coupled to the chassis.

Body conforming absorbent garment and methods for the use and manufacture thereof

The present invention relates to improvements in structure of disposable garments. The disposable garments of the invention may include an outer layer and an elastic inner layer. The elastic inner layer has an elastic inner layer perimeter and defines an opening, which may be in the form of a slit or aperture, located in an internal position to the elastic inner layer perimeter. The elastic inner layer perimeter may be bonded to the outer layer.

Dual-layered disposable garment

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

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

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Hortonville, WI, United States of America

Paul Theodore Van Gompel