Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Paul Theodore VanGompel

Yung Hsiang Huang

Thomas Harold Roessler

Michael Tod Morman

Duane Girard Uitenbroek

Jerome Steven Veith

Georgia Lynn Zehner

Russell Evan Thorson

Gary Lee Travis

Lori Sue Schutkoske

Julie Terese Brocker

Robert Lee Popp

Paul Joseph Datta

John Philip Vukos

Mark George Everson

Paul Means Linker, Iii

Betsy Carolyn Westlake

Timothy James Blenke

Barbara Oakley Sauer

Carl Gerard Rippl

Debra Hartley Durrance

Nancy E Dawson

Gary Alan Krueger

LuAnn M Beckman

Frederique You

Luann Marie Beckman

A disposable absorbent article has front and back panels, each having an elastic film layer and each having first and second zones. The first zone of each panel is extensible and retractable and the second zone of each panel is non-extensible and non-retractable. Each of the front and back panels has first and second side edges. An absorbent assembly is secured to the front and back panels. The absorbent assembly has a first end secured to the second zone of the front panel and a second end secured to the second zone of the back panel. A pair of seams join the front and back panels together at the first and second side edges to form a disposable absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.

Disposable absorbent article with overlapping absorbent assembly secured to front and back panels

An absorbent article can utilize a chassis design comprising a unitary inner layer and an expandable absorbent assembly attached to the inner layer, with the inner layer including elasticized portions so that the absorbent article conforms to the body of a person wearing the article. The expandable absorbent assembly can be minimally attached to the garment side of the inner layer and, in some embodiments at an aperture or opening in the inner layer that allows exudates to pass into the absorbent assembly. The article can further comprise an extensible outer layer attached to the garment side of the inner layer so that the outer layer covers the absorbent assembly and elastics, with the outer layer attached at the perimeter of at least portions of the article.

Stretched, necked, unitary garment and a method of manufacturing same

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

A disposable absorbent article and method of forming the article are disclosed. The article has front and back panels, each having first and second zones. The first zone of each panel is extensible and retractable and the second zone of each panel is non-extensible and non-retractable. Each of the front and back panels has first and second side edges. An absorbent assembly is secured to the front and back panels. The absorbent assembly has a first end secured to the second zone of the front panel and a second end secured to the second zone of the back panel. The absorbent assembly is capable of being folded to enable the front panel to align with the back panel, respectively. A pair of seams join the front and back panels together to form a disposable absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.

A method of forming a waist band on an absorbent article is disclosed. The method includes forming stretchable front and back panels and attaching an elastic band to at least one of the panels. Each elastic band is cantilevered outward from a distal end of the panel to which it is attached. An absorbent assembly is also secured between the front and back panels. The method further includes folding one panel over the other panel so that the outer ends of the elastic bands are aligned approximately even to one another. The first and second side edges of the front panel, back panel and elastic bands are then joined together by a pair of seams to form an absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.

Method of forming a waist band on an absorbent article

A method for increasing the bond strength of ultrasonic bonds in elastomeric materials comprising elongating the elastomeric materials prior to ultrasonically bonding the materials.

Method for improved bond strength in an elastomeric material

An elongated sanitary napkin has deflectable longitudinal side edges formed by an edge or peripheral seal along the opposite sides of an absorbent. A garment attachment panel is secured to the underside of each side edge. A fixed portion of the panel is bonded flat against the side edge so that a free portion of the panel, extending from the fixed portion, is directed inward and downward. During use, the panels are fastened together beneath an undergarment crotch portion by hook and loop type fastener. Fastener and panels are sized so that when fastened the panels exert a pull on the side edges, controlling their deflection and, for example, preventing them from folding in over the absorbent. The garment attachment panels confine the undergarment crotch portion under the absorbent so that, for example, an elasticized edge of the crotch portion is prevented from pulling up and onto the absorbent.

Sanitary napkin with garment attachment panels

A disposable pant-like undergarment is disclosed having stretchable front and back panels. An elastic band is secured to at least one of the front and back panels. The elastic band has a retracted length less than the retracted length of the panel to which it is secured. An absorbent assembly including a liquid pervious bodyside liner, a liquid-impervious outer cover, and an absorbent positioned therebetween, is secured to the front and back panels. The absorbent assembly is capable of being folded to enable the front panel to overlap the back panel. A pair of seams joins the front panel, the back panel and the elastic band together at their side edges to form a pant-like undergarment having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The elastic band creates a snug fit at the waist opening.

Disposable pant-like undergarment having an elastic band adjacent the waist opening

An absorbent article such as infant training pants is provided with a mechanical hook-and-loop type fastening system utilizing multi-directional stretchable nonwoven materials that function well with low shear strength.

An elongated, curved sanitary napkin having elasticized, raised side edges along the opposite sides of an absorbent. A garment attachment panel is secured to the underside of each side edge. A fixed portion of the garment attachment panel is bonded to each side edge so that a free portion of each of the garment attachment panels, extending from the fixed portion, is directed generally inward and downward. During use, the garment attachment panels are fastened together beneath an undergarment crotch. The fastener and the garment attachment panels are dimensioned so that, when fastened, the garment attachment panels exert a pull on the side edges and control their deflection, thereby preventing them from folding in over the absorbent. The garment attachment panels confine the crotch portion of the undergarment under the absorbent so that the edges of the panty crotch are prevented from pulling up and onto the absorbent.

Curved sanitary napkin with garment attachment panels

A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a substantially liquid-impermeable, extensible outer cover, a liquid permeable, extensible bodyside liner, and an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner. The extensible outer cover and extensible bodyside liner can be configured to provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10 percent when subjected to a tensile force of 100 gmf per inch (per 2.54 cm) of width according to the Material Elongation and Deformation Tensile Test set forth herein.

Absorbent article having an extensible outer cover and an extensible bodyside liner

A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and a pair of leg elastics located on the laterally opposed side edges of the article in at least the intermediate section of the article. The outer cover can be configured to provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10 percent when subjected to a tensile force of 100 gmf per inch (per 2.54 cm) of width according to the Material Elongation and Deformation Tensile Test set forth herein. The permanent deformation of the outer cover in use can result in the article having a substantially permanent leg elastic deformation value of at least about 3 percent when subjected to the Product Deformation Test set forth herein.

Absorbent article having enhanced leg curvature in use

A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and a pair of fasteners located on the laterally opposed side edges in one of the waist sections of the absorbent article. The outer cover can be configured to provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10 percent when subjected to a tensile force of 100 gmf per inch (per 2.54 cm) of width according to the Material Elongation and Deformation Tensile Test set forth herein. The outer cover can further define a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 800 g/m /24 hr. The permanent deformation of the outer cover in use can result in a longitudinal breathability gradient ratio between the outer cover in the waist section and the crotch or intermediate section of the article of at least about 1.25 according to the Product Deformation Test set forth herein.

Growing community of inventors

Hortonville, WI, United States of America

Paul Theodore VanGompel