The Procter Gamble Company

The Proctor 'Gamble Company

Sandra H Clear

Kenneth B Buell

Danielia T Falcone

Leane Kristine Davis

Amy Michelle Martini

William Robert Ouellette

George Stephen Reising

Timothy Alan Burkett

Kurt E Holstein

Elizabeth M Harvey

Jean Mallett

Rolando Gomez-Santiago

Susan E Guinn

Bruce H Bergman

Miguel Alvaro Robles

Kimberly A Dreier

Ronald Dean Cramer

Hiroshi Nakahata

Merlene Adams Cummins

Dawn Michele Kimble

Keith W Rollag

Denis G Weil

Miguel Alemany

Denise Marie Stelljes

Absorbent article such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders and the like, that have a unique elastic waist feature that improves the dynamic fit of the elasticized waistband as well as the containment characteristics of the absorbent article. The elastic waist feature preferably comprises an interconnecting panel zone, a first flexural hinge zone joining the interconnecting panel zone with the containment assembly, an elasticized waistband, and a second flexural hinge zone joining the elasticized waistband with the interconnecting panel zone. The elasticized waistband comprises a shaping panel zone; a waistline panel zone; and a predisposed, resilient, waistband flexural hinge zone joining the shaping panel zone and the waistline panel zone. The waistband flexural hinge zone is predisposed to allow the panel zones to flexurally bend about a defined axis or zone and is resilient to provide a restoring force/moment that returns the panel zones to their preceeding in-use configuration, especially when the elasticized waistband has been pretensioned by a closure system. The closure system dynamically creates/maintains lateral tension through the elasticized waistband thereby allowing the elasticized waistband to more dynamically expand and contract with the motions of the wearer. The absorbent article additionally preferably comprises a pair of elasticized side panels disposed in the second waist region. The elasticized side panels preferably comprise a &ldquo;zero strain&rdquo; stretch laminate and an extension panel. The present invention also relates to alternative waist features comprising &ldquo;an expansive tummy panel&rdquo; elasticized waistband.

Garment having elastomeric laminate

The present invention relates to disposable thermal neck wraps having one or more thermal packs comprising a unified structure having at least one continuous layer of semirigid material, which has different stiffness characteristics over a range of temperatures, and a plurality of heat cells, wherein the heat energy is applied to specific areas of the upper back, neck and shoulders. More particularly, the present invention relates to disposable thermal neck wraps having good conformity to user's upper back, neck, and shoulders which provides consistent, convenient, and comfortable heat application.

Disposable thermal neck wrap

Neck wrap

Absorbent article such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders and the like, that have a unique elastic waist feature that improves the dynamic fit of the elasticized waistband as well as the containment characteristics of the absorbent article. The elastic waist feature preferably comprises an interconnecting panel zone, a first flexural hinge zone joining the interconnecting panel zone with the containment assembly, an elasticized waistband, and a second flexural hinge zone joining the elasticized waistband with the interconnecting panel zone. The elasticized waistband comprises a shaping panel zone; a waistline panel zone; and a predisposed, resilient, waistband flexural hinge zone joining the shaping panel zone and the waistline panel zone. The waistband flexural hinge zone is predisposed to allow the panel zones to flexurally bend about a defined axis or zone and is resilient to provide a restoring force/moment that returns the panel zones to their preceeding in-use configuration, especially when the elasticized waistband has been pretensioned by a closure system. The closure system dynamically creates/maintains lateral tension through the elasticized waistband thereby allowing the elasticized waistband to more dynamically expand and contract with the motions of the wearer. The absorbent article additionally preferably comprises a pair of elasticized side panels disposed in the second waist region. The elasticized side panels preferably comprise a 'zero strain' stretch laminate and an extension panel. The present invention also relates to alternative waist features comprising 'an expansive tummy panel' elasticized waistband.

Absorbent article with dynamic elastic waist feature having a window

Neck wrap having thermal cells

A substantially rectangular piece of flexible web having a first end and a second end and an elastic portion therebetween, stretchable along a longitudinal axis of the piece of web. The piece of web has a length great enough to encircle a user's waist such that the first and second ends overlap. The first end has a reclosable fastening system for attaching the first end to the piece of web near the second end in order to hold the piece of web around the user's waist when the piece of web is stretched. The back wrap further comprises a plurality of individual thermal elements embedded in the piece of web. The plurality of thermal elements have a substantially planar diamond-shaped pattern which approximates the shape of erector muscles in the user's back. The pattern has a gap transverse to the longitudinal axis which corresponds to the user's spine. The elastic back wrap may further include an individual thermal element located in the gap of the pattern such that the single thermal element covers the user's sacroiliac at the base of the user's spine. The elastic back wrap has a means for increasing friction between the piece of web and a user's body in order to reduce slippage of the wrap during use. The means for increasing friction may include a foam strip attached transverse to the longitudinal axis of the piece of web on the body-facing side thereof.

Elastic back wrap having diamond-shaped thermal pattern and anti-slip

Absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, incontinence briefs, diaper holders, training pants, and the like having fit panels that improve body contact of the containment assembly, with resulting improved fit, are provided. The fit panels have longitudinal elastic extensibility that provides a body contact force causing the containment assembly to have improved contact with a wearer throughout the full range of wearer motions. The longitudinal elastic extensibility of the fit panel also allows the absorbent article to adapt to the change in body rise dimensions that occurs during normal movement. An alternative embodiment of the invention also provides a stretchable attachment component allowing the waist feature of the absorbent article to be attached to the waistband of a wearer's clothing in a manner such that it can stretch and contract with the waistband while remaining attached.

Absorbent article with fit enhancement system

Absorbent article with elasticized side panels

Growing community of inventors

Maineville, OH, United States of America

Sandra H Clear