Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Ronald Lee Edens

Mary Lou McDaniel

Heather Anne Sorebo

William Grover Reeves

James John Hlaban

Sylvia Bandy Little

Susan Marie Weyenberg

Thomas Patrick Keenan

Stephen Lanard Nunn

Laura J Keely

Sheng-Hsin Hu

Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet

Cheryl Ann Mocadlo

Dmitry Yavich

Michael John Faulks

Tong Sun

Cathleen Mae Uttecht

David Louis Zenker

Susan Carol Paul

Patricia A Mitchler

Pamela Jean Mayberry

Debra Jean McDowall

Audra Stefanik Wright

Shannon Kathleen Melius

Frank Jerrel Akin

Richard Joseph Hantke

Margaret Gwyn Latimer

Peter Robert Elliker

Cynthia Marie Phillips

Charles Paul Keuhn, Jr

Jeffrey Dean Lindsay

Thomas Gerard Shannon

Tamara Lee Mace

Yvette Lynn Hammonds

Jaime Braverman

Rebecca Lyn Dilnik

Michael Allen Daley

David Michael Matela

Laura Jane Walker

Alexander Schmidt-Foerst

David Michael Kale

Mary L Mcdaniel

An absorbent article (), such as a labial pad, configured for disposition within the vestibule () of a female wearer. The absorbent article () may be worn by females for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both.

Labial pad

An absorbent article () such as a labial pad configured for disposition within the vestibule () of a female wearer. The labial pad may be worn by females for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, and has at least one tab () extending outward from the periphery thereof.

Labial pad having a tab

An absorbent article () such as a labial pad configured for disposition within the vestibule () of a female wearer. The labial pad may be worn by females for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, and has at least one tab () extending from the periphery thereof.

A fibrous material, which can be an absorbent material, includes a plurality of natural fibers treated with a carboxylic acid-based odor control agent, which are able to withstand insults with an aqueous liquid without dissolving the odor control agent. The acid-based odor control agent is bound to the natural fibers by an organosilicone polymer binder. The binder is water-insoluble, and can form a highly gas permeable coating. The binder is also highly porous, so as to expose the odor control agent to ammonia and other odoriferous gases which it is intended to control.

Natural fibers treated with acidic odor control/binder systems

Activated carbon particles or fabrics are coated with a deformable or water-insoluble coating material including a binding agent and a masking agent that can be colored. The coating material can provide sufficient diffusivity to permit excellent efficiency in adsorption of materials in spite of the presence of a coating layer on the activated carbon. The use of a deformable binding agent yields coated particles that make relatively less noise when the particles flow or are moved in use, and that have improved tactile properties in use. High performance colored activated carbon materials can be produced and placed in absorbent articles, overcoming common objections about the black color of activated carbon.

Coated activated carbon

A thermoplastic layer material has at least one odor reducing surface which is treated with a carboxylic acid-based odor control agent, and which is able to withstand insults with an aqueous liquid. The acid-based odor control agent is bound to the layer material by an organosilicone polymer binder. The binder is water-insoluble, and can form a highly gas-permeable coating. The binder is also highly porous, so as to expose the odor control agent to ammonia and other odoriferous gases which it is intended to control.

Layer materials treated with durable acidic odor control/binder systems

Portion of a labial pad

A wet-formed composite defining latent voids and macro-cavities, the wet-formed composite having a basis weight greater than about 100 grams per square meter and a density of about 0.06 grams per cubic centimeter or more. The wet-formed composite comprises fibers and superabsorbent material, with the superabsorbent material present in an amount of about 10 dry weight percent or less, specifically about 5 dry weight percent or less, and particularly about 2 dry weight percent or less, but more than 0, based on the total dry weight of fibers and superabsorbent material present in the wet-formed composite. By virtue of the superabsorbent material having been allowed to swell and then shrink during the making of the wet-formed composite, macro-cavities are created. Densification compresses the macro-cavities. The resulting composite expands upon wetting and exhibits good absorbency properties.

Wet-formed composite defining latent voids and macro-cavities

An absorbent article includes a vapor permeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet; and an absorbent body located between the backsheet and the topsheet. The absorbent body may include multiple zones of high air permeability or may include materials which provide improved air exchange after being wetted. The absorbent article may also include a ventilation layer between the absorbent body and the backsheet and a surge management layer between the absorbent body and the topsheet. The article exhibits improved air exchange within the article during use. As a result, the article exhibits substantially reduced levels of hydration of the wearer's skin when in use which renders the skin less susceptible to the viability of microorganisms.

Absorbent article with increased wet breathability

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Ronald Lee Edens