Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Wordwide, Inc.

Ross Thomas Kaufman

Joseph Daniel Coenen

Kelly D Farmer

Jerry L Hameister

Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev

Gregory James Wideman

Richard Warren Tanzer

James Hongxue Wang

Bo Shi

Jayant Chakravarty

Stephen Avedis Baratian

Sarah Ann Funk

Steven R Stopper

Rob Lee Jacobs

Jared Lockwood Martin

Jared L Martin

Julia R Selden

Stephen A Baratian

Elasticated materials and articles comprising elasticated materials are disclosed. A method may comprise advancing first and second substrate materials and a stretched elastomeric strand in the machine direction. The method may further comprise advancing the first and the second substrate materials with the elastomeric strand positioned therebetween to a bonding apparatus. The bonding apparatus may comprise first and second elements forming a bonding nip. The method may further comprise oscillating the strand in a cross-machine direction and advancing the first and second substrate materials, and the strand, through the bonding nip and bonding the first and second substrate materials together with at least first and second bonds. The first and second bonds may be disposed on opposite sides of the strand and spaced apart a distance less than its un-tensioned diameter, and the first and second bonds may be located along an arcuate portion of the strand.

Elastic laminates with curved elastics and methods for manufacturing

Elasticated materials and absorbent articles comprising elasticated materials are disclosed. In an embodiment, an elasticated material may comprise a first layer bonded to a second layer by first bonds and second bonds. A plurality of elastomeric strands may extend between the first layer and the second layer. A first bond and a second bond are disposed on opposite sides of a first strand and are separated by a longitudinal distance less than an un-tensioned diameter of the first strand, and a third bond and a fourth bond are disposed on opposite sides of a second strand and are separated by a longitudinal distance less than an un-tensioned diameter of the second strand. The first bond forms a first angle with respect to the first strand, the third bond forms a second angle with respect to the second strand, and the first angle is different than the second angle.

Elasticated materials with directional stretch properties

Exemplary wearable articles including regions with differing visual patterns are disclosed. In one embodiment, an article may comprise an elasticated front chassis region and an elasticated front waistband region, a rear region, a crotch region, and an absorbent body disposed at least partially within the crotch region. The front chassis and front waistband regions may comprise a plurality of elastomeric strands disposed between a first material and a material and are bonded together by a plurality of discrete bonds, at least some of which entrap the strands. The strands of the front chassis region are spaced apart a first distance, while the strands of the front waistband region are spaced apart a second distance, with the second distance being less than the first distance.

Absorbent articles with visually different chassis and waistbands

Elasticated materials and absorbent articles comprising elasticated materials are disclosed. In an embodiment, an elasticated material can comprise a first web material, a second web material bonded to the first web material, and a plurality of elastomeric strands extending in a lateral direction and disposed between the first and second web materials. The material may comprise a pair of bonds disposed on opposite sides of an elastomeric strand and spaced apart across the elastomeric strand a distance less than an untensioned diameter of the elastomeric strand of the plurality of elastomeric strands. Additionally, the elasticated material may exhibit a first amount of elongation in a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction at a given tension along a first length of the elasticated material and a second amount of elongation in a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction at the given tension along a second length of the elasticated material.

A biodegradable nonwoven laminate is provided. The laminate comprises a spunbond layer formed from substantially continuous filaments that contain a first aliphatic polyester having a melting point of from about 50&#xb0; C. to about 160&#xb0; C. The meltblown layer is formed from microfibers that contain a second aliphatic polyester having a melting point of from about 50&#xb0; C. to about 160&#xb0; C. The first aliphatic polyester, the second aliphatic polyester, or both have an apparent viscosity of from about 20 to about 215 Pascal-seconds, as determined at a temperature of 160&#xb0; C. and a shear rate of 1000 sec-1. The first aliphatic polyester may be the same or different than the second aliphatic polyester.

Biodegradable nonwoven laminate

A breathable film having a base layer comprising first filler particles and second filler particles dispersed within a biodegradable polymer matrix is provided. The first filler particles constitute from about 25 wt. % to about 75 wt. % of the base layer and the second filler particles constitute from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of the base layer. The ratio of the average size of the first filler particles to the average size of the second filler particles being from about 2 to about 100. The film exhibits a water vapor transmission rate of about 2,000 g/m/24 hours or more and a peak load in the machine direction of about 800 grams-force per inch or more.

Highly breathable biodegradable films

A biodegradable and renewable film that may be employed in a wide variety of applications is provided. The film is formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains at least one starch and at least one plant protein. Even at a high renewable material content, the present inventors have discovered that films may be readily formed from plant proteins and starches by selectively controlling the individual amount of the starch and plant proteins, the nature of the starch and plant proteins, and other components used in the film. Balancing the amount of starches and plant proteins within a certain range, for instance, can reduce the likelihood of plant protein aggregation and enhance the ability of the composition to be melt processed. The composition also contains at least one plasticizer that improves the thermoplastic nature of the protein and starch components. The selection of the plasticizer may also help reduce the tendency of the plant protein to aggregate during melt processing. For example, a relatively acidic plasticizer (e.g., carboxylic acid) may be employed in certain embodiments to minimize the formation of disulfide bonds in a gluten protein, and thereby decrease its tendency to aggregate.

Biodegradable and renewable film

An absorbent article comprising a laminated outer cover is disclosed. The laminated outer cover comprises an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester film including a filler material. The aliphatic-aromatic copolyester films have suitable breathability, vapor transfer and tensile strength properties while being substantially biodegradable.

Absorbent articles having an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester film

Biodegradable aliphatic-aromatic films are disclosed. The films comprise filler particles and a copolyester. The films have high vapor permeability and tensile strength and are suitable for use in absorbent and non-absorbent products.

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Ross Thomas Kaufman