Kimberly-clark Corporation

Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Robert A Stevens

Leona G Boland

John C Wilson

Georgia Lynn Zehner

Gregory John Rajala

Stanley Roy Kellenberger

Edward E Werner

Barbara Ann Gossen

Deborah Lynn Proxmire

Bruce Reed Shafer

Lynn Carol Brud

Timothy L Wehman

Jeffrey W King

Christopher M Pieper

Eric Donald Johnson

Mark Louis Robinson

Paula Mary Sosalla

Cynthia Helen Nordness

Daniel R Laux

Robert Lee Popp

Christopher Peter Olson

Jian Qin

William S Pomplun

Thomas Walter Odorzynski

MaryAnn Zunker

David Louis Zenker

Bruce Michael Siebers

Billie Jean Matthews

Clifford Jackson Ellis

Dan D Endres

Rob David Everett

Sandra M Yarbrough

Mark Steven Franke

Paul S Woon

Shannon K Byerly

Lynn A Johnson

Carl G Schroth

John P Allison

Stephan R Bornslaeger

David K LeMahieu

David G Iwanski

Violet M Grube

William D Hanson

Tom K Wentzel

Paul A Woon

John L Chiatalas

A pant-like absorbent article, such as a child's training pant, includes an outercover with at least three elastic regions, that is two in the side seam areas, and one in the central crotch areas. In an alternative, such articles include a fourth elastic region in the article waist band area. In this fashion, the article can demonstrate progressive stretch functionality to help accommodate various consumer body sizes and provide for more conforming fit and reduced leakage.

Progressively functional stretch garments

An absorbent article has a longitudinal length dimension, a lateral cross dimension, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion and an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions. The article includes a backsheet layer having a pair of laterally opposed side margins, with each side margin having an outwardly concave, terminal side edge contour located at appointed leg opening regions in an intermediate portion of each of the side margins. Each concave side edge contour has a selected longitudinal extent along the length dimension of the article. A liquid permeable topsheet layer is connected in superposed relation to the backsheet layer, and an absorbent body is sandwiched between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. A separate, elasticized and gathered leg gusset is connected to the article along each of the appointed leg opening regions, and each leg gusset is configured to extend beyond and to bridge between opposed, spaced-apart portions of an associated one of the concave side edge contours of the backsheet layer.

Absorbent article with improved elastic margins and containment system

An absorbent article includes a longitudinal length dimension, a lateral cross-dimension, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion, an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions, and a pair of laterally opposed elasticized side margins. The article has a backsheet layer, and a liquid permeable topsheet layer connected in superposed relation to the backsheet layer. An absorbent body is sandwiched between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer, and an elasticized, waist pocket member is connected to at least one of the backsheet and topsheet layers along at least one end margin of the article. The waist pocket member includes an extending flange section and an extending pocket section. The pocket section of the waist pocket member includes a substantially fixed edge portion secured to the article, and an elasticized, gathered moveable edge portion, which is longitudinally spaced from the fixed edge portion. The pocket section can also include a substantially liquid impermeable pocket barrier layer, and a pocket fabric layer connected in facing relation with the pocket barrier layer. Additionally, a plurality of separate, laterally extending pocket elastic members can be sandwiched between the pocket barrier layer and the pocket fabric layer to thereby provide an elasticized waist pocket composite which is substantially laterally gathered.

Absorbent article with waist elastic and containment system

Generally stated, the present invention provides a distinctive absorbent article comprising a backsheet layer, and a topsheet layer which is disposed in facing relation with the backsheet layer. An absorbent body is interposed between the backsheet layer and topsheet layer. The absorbent body includes a retention portion which comprises a matrix of substantially hydrophilic fibers having a distribution of high-absorbency particulate material therein. The hydrophilic fibers and high-absorbency particles can be provided in a fiber-to-particle weight ratio within the range of about 70:30 to about 30:70. A surge management layer, comprising bicomponent fibers having a denier of not more than about 3 d, is located adjacent at least one major, facing surface of the topsheet layer, and can cooperate with the article components to provide for a liquid Penetration Rate index of not less than about 2.67 ml/sec.

Thin absorbent article having rapid uptake of liquid

An apparatus for forming a zoned distribution of particulate material within a fibrous web includes a conveying mechanism for providing a gas entrained supply of the particulate material and a segregating mechanism for centrifugally directing at least a portion of the particulate material into an accumulation region of the apparatus. A transferring mechanism selectively directs particulate material from the accumulation region into a delivery gas stream to provide an intermittent flow volume of a selected quantity of particulate material from the accumulation region through a delivery conduit and into a web forming chamber. A fiberizing mechanism provides a flow of a selected fibrous material into the web forming chamber, and a directing mechanism controls the intermittent flow of particulate material from the delivery conduit into the forming chamber. A foraminous forming layer is disposed within the forming chamber for receiving the fibrous material and the particulate material to produce a fibrous web which includes zoned regions having selected, different amounts of the particulate material therein.

Method and apparatus for intermittently depositing particulate material

A method for forming a zoned distribution of particulate material within a fibrous web includes a conveying step for providing a gas entrained supply of the particulate material and a segregating step centrifugally directing at least a portion of the particulate material into an accumulation region. A transferring step selectively directs particulate material from the accumulation region into a delivery gas stream to provide an intermittent flow volume of a selected quantity of particulate material from the accumulation region through a delivery conduit and into a web forming chamber. A fiberizing step provides a flow of a selected fibrous material into the web forming chamber, and a directing step controls the intermittent flow of particulate material from the delivery conduit into the forming chamber. A foraminous forming layer is disposed within the forming chamber for receiving the fibrous material and the particulate material to produce a fibrous web which includes zoned regions having selected, different amounts of the particulate material therein.

Method for intermittently depositing particulate material in a substrate

Apparatus for intermittently depositing particulate material in a

A method of integrating a fluid-absorbing component into a holding component of an anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting absorbent garment is disclosed. An elastomeric outer cover is provided for holding a relatively inelastic absorbent insert in selected bodily registration for absorbing and containing bodily fluids. A slidable hem retaining arrangement operatively connects the insert to the outer cover, including cooperating fasteners engageable with one another through a plurality of fenestrations, allowing unrestricted elongation or retraction of the outer cover relative to the insert. The fasteners are releasably engageable with one another to allow removal and replacement of the insert when soiled. Alternatively, ultrasonic bonds may be used instead of refastenable closures, where a single-use disposable garment is contemplated.

Method of integrating an absorbent insert into an elastomeric outer

An anatomically form-fitting generally self-adjusting disposable absorbent garment and methods of integrating and using the garment. The garment comprises a breathable elastomeric nonwoven fabric outer cover resiliently stretchable in cross-body direction, including a pair of leg openings, front and rear waist sections fastenable with one another defining a waist opening, a crotch section situated between the leg openings and opposing front and rear panels separated by the crotch section. An absorbent insert structure is substantially superposable on the front and rear panels and the crotch section, including a liquid impermeable barrier, a liquid permeable body side liner and an absorbent composite disposed therebetween. The absorbent insert has opposed longitudinal ends which are attached to the outer cover by bonds or snaps at selected waist attachment zones, defining one or more free-span zones of the outer cover underlying the insert and having substantially unrestricted functional stretchability therein. The insert may also be attached along the leg openings.

Disposable absorbent garment having elastic outer cover and integrated

An anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting disposable absorbent garment comprising a breathable elastomeric nonwoven laminar outer cover having an absorbent insert structure attached and integrated thereinto while allowing substantially unrestricted functional stretchability of the outer cover. The insert is attached to the outer cover by selectively breakable sonic bonds along either of the waist and leg openings of the outer cover to accommodate various body shapes and sizes. Upon exertion of certain stresses against the garment by wearers having larger waist and/or leg sizes, the bonds break away and restore the inherent stretch properties of the corresponding region of the outer cover. The breakable bonds also maintain a neat, aesthetic appearance of the product and minimize interference of loose, unattached material during processing, storage and use of the article.

Disposable absorbent garment having elastic outer cover and absorbent

A disposable absorbent garment (10) of the type having opposed waistband portions (14 ) separated by an intermediate portion (16), comprises a breathable elastomeric nonwoven fabric outer cover (12) having an absorbent structure (32) integral therewith, including a liquid-impervious baffle (36), a liquid-pervious bodyside liner (34), and an absorbent core (38) therebetween. The absorbent structure (32) preferably forms an insert attached to the outer cover (12) without restricting the stretchability thereof. The garment (10) has a generally asymmetrical hourglass profile with leg cut-out openings (18) converging together to define a narrow crotch with front (28) and rear (30) panels on either side thereof, having pairs of front (20, 22) and rear (24, 26) ear portions, respectively. Laterally-opposed pairs of rear fastener members (42, 44) and front (46, 48) fastener members extend across the rear ear portions (20, 22) and front ear portions (24, 26), respectively. Longitudinally opposed pairs (42, 46; 44, 48) of the fastener members are engagable with one another, forming substantially full-length closures from the waistband (14) to each leg opening (18) of the garment (10). Each fastener member (42, 46; 44, 48) comprises at least two spaced snap elements (50A, 50B), representing primarily fixed-point closures, separated by an abutment surface (52, 54, 56, 58) presenting a secondary load-bearing closure, such as a cohesive adhesive strip (64), for effecting and maintaining a substantially continuous closure between the primary closures formed by the snap elements (50A, 50B) when longitudinally opposed pairs (42, 46; 44, 48) of the fastener members are fastened together about the body of a wearer, providing full-length, fixed-point fastening substantially from waist to leg of the wearer, resulting in a neat, trim fit and appearance.

Fastening system for a disposable absorbent garment

An anatomically form-fitting self-adjusting disposable garment with a three-section resiliently stretchable outer cover (20) with a back waist section (64) resiliently stretchable in a cross body direction (71), a front waist section (66) resiliently stretchable in a cross body direction (75) and a crotch section (68) resiliently stretchable in a vertical direction (73).

Form-fitting self-adjusting disposable garment with a 3-section

An anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting disposable absorbent slip-on undergarment that may be easily raised and lowered by the wearer during use, e.g., a training pant or incontinence pad. The garment comprising a breathable elastomeric nonwoven laminar outer cover having an absorbent insert structure attached and integrated thereto while allowing substantially unrestricted functional stretchability of the outer cover. The outer cover has closed side panels connecting the front and rear panels and the leg and waist openings thereof, including manually separable side seams having breakable ultrasonic bonds for removing the garment from the wearer upon soiling, without removal of the wearer's outer clothing.

Stretchable disposable absorbent undergarment

An anatomically form fitting, self-adjusting disposable garment with a resiliently stretchable outer cover (20) with an absorbent structure (22) retained therein. The absorbent structure (22) has a resiliently stretchable bodyside liner (42) which causes the absorbent structure (22) to assume a body conforming shape. The disposable garment also features fixed position fasteners to fasten the garment around a wearer.

Form-fitting self-adjusting disposable garment with a stretchable

An anatomically form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable garment with a resiliently stretchable outer cover (20), stretchable in two directions (67) (69), an absorbent structure (22) and fixed position, full-length fasteners (70) (72) (74) (76) attached to the outer cover (20).

Form-fitting self-adjusting disposable garment with two-direction

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Robert A Stevens