Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Stacy Elaine Evenson

Andrew Thomas Hammond

Sarah A Kleuskens

Marcille Faye Ruman

Angela Ann Johnston

Mark John Beitz

Connie May McMorrow

Kevin Leon LaBerge

Patrick Dean Abney

Katherine Carol Shaw

Brooke Ann Robaidek

Stephen Carl Baumgartner

Brooke Ashley Berg

Lewis Preole Orchard, Iv

Paula Katherine De Bruin

Patricia Ann Abney

Robert Lee Popp

David Fleger Bishop

Davis Dang H Nhan

Kyle Mark Barriger

Antonio J Carrillo Ojeda

Kroy Donald Johnson

Niall Finn

Stephen Robert Kehn

Andy R Butler

Robert Michael Hill, Jr

Anita Marie-Nanette Gilgenbach

Sarah Anne Olson

Kevin Gerald Dolan

Paula Kathleen De Bruin

Gay Lynn Wolf

Frederique Vignali

Nicole Minotti

Alissa Frances Stein

Kevin Michael Jauquet

David J Schurr

Elisa Kathleen DeGroot

Frederique Vignall

Jennifer Ann Diedrich

Phil Penaia

Amy Q Feng

Danielle Kirby

Lewis Orchard

Lewis Preole Orchard Iv

Stephen Kehn

Lewis Preole Iv Orchard

Undergarment

An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. The benefits of the absorbent article are achieved, in part, by a body facing material having features that help minimize contact of body exudates with the wearer's skin while also being constructed so that the body facing material does not stick to the wearer's skin in use. The body facing material includes a plurality of hollow projections, a plurality of apertures and bonded areas. The bonded areas may be formed with adhesive or by mechanical bonds.

Incorporation of apertured area into an absorbent article

An absorbent article is described that includes leg elastics that form the outermost edges of the product. The leg elastics can include an increased number of elastomeric strands and can extend outboard of the chassis. In this manner, the leg elastics can form a proper seal with the legs of the wearer without interference and can be visually inspected by a caregiver. Placing the leg elastics outboard of the chassis also provides for an efficient manner of producing the garment by attaching multiple elastic components to the garment along a vertical bonding seam.

Absorbent articles with extended leg elastics

The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for formation of a fluid-entangled laminate web. The laminate web includes a support layer and a nonwoven projection web having a plurality of projections which are preferably hollow. The laminate web also includes a plurality of apertures interspersed with the projections. As a result of the fluid-entangling process, entangling fluid is directed through the support layer and into the projection web which is situated on a forming surface. The force of the entangling fluid causes the two layers to be joined to one another and the fluid causes a portion of the fibers in the projection web to be forced into openings present in a forming surface thereby forming the hollow projections. The force of the entangling fluid also causes the fibers of the two layers to be moved around protrusions present in the forming surface thereby forming the apertures.

Process for making fluid-entangled laminate webs with hollow projections and apertures

A permanently closed containment pant including a chassis and a sling that is positioned within the chassis and is joined to the front waist region and the back waist region is disclosed. The sling is attached to the chassis with an attachment mechanism to secure the sling to the chassis. The attachment mechanism may comprise a bonded attachment and an attachment elastic material at a middle portion of the sling to the chassis at the crotch region; a bond attachment adjacent the pouch in a transition material; or elastics extending from the leg openings and attaching to the sling in the crotch region.

Containment pant with attachment mechanisms

A permanently closed containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis. The sling is joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a containment flap joined with the base sheet to create a fluid-impervious pouch. The sling also includes a first transition and a second transition that are elastically extensible in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. The base sheet is a fabric laminated with polyurethane and the containment flap is a fabric laminated with polyurethane. The polyurethane surface of the base sheet is ultrasonically joined in facing relationship with the polyurethane surface of the containment flap. The permanently closed containment pant is substantially devoid of an integrated absorbent core.

Containment pant

A permanently closed containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis. The sling is joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a containment flap joined with the base sheet to create a fluid-impervious pouch. The sling also includes a first transition and a second transition that are elastically extensible in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. Material properties of the pouch and chassis provide the proper fit for comfort and leakage protection.

A permanently closed containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis. The sling is joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a first containment flap, and a second containment flap each joined with the base sheet to create a fluid-impervious pouch. The first end of the first containment flap is joined to the first end of the second containment flap and the second end of the first containment flap is joined to the second end of the second containment flap. The sling also includes a first transition and a second transition that are elastically extensible in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. In some embodiments, the containment pant has a tension in the longitudinal direction from about 1000 grams force to about 2400 grams force at an elongation of about 150%.

A discrete absorbent insert includes an absorbent core positioned between a first sheet and a second sheet. The first sheet and the second sheet extend beyond the core and are joined together to form a seal. The absorbent core has at least 40% superabsorbent. The absorbent insert has an intake layer of at least 100 gsm between the first sheet and the absorbent core. The first sheet and the second sheet are fluid permeable, spunbond webs of synthetic polymer filaments. The absorbent insert is devoid of a fluid-impervious layer and has an absorbent capacity of at least 600 g. The first end section of the absorbent core has a maximum width of at least 135 mm, the central section of the absorbent core has a maximum width of less than 90 mm, and the second end section of the absorbent core has a maximum width of at least 135 mm.

Absorbent insert

A method for providing a containment system includes providing a permanently closed containment pant and providing a discrete absorbent insert. The containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis that includes a fluid-impervious pouch. The pouch has a first end section maximum width of at least 145 mm, a central section maximum width of less than 115 mm, and a second end section maximum width of at least 145 mm. The containment pant is substantially devoid of an integrated absorbent core. The absorbent insert includes an absorbent core with a first end section maximum width of at least 120 mm, a central section maximum width of less than 100 mm, and a second end section maximum width of at least 120 mm. The absorbent insert is devoid of a fluid-impervious layer.

Containment system

A package includes a plurality of disposable absorbent articles and a packaging having a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, and a pair of side panels. The panels cooperatively define an interior compartment. At least one of the side panels has a longitudinal central axis, a pair of side edges, a gusset disposed adjacent the top panel, and a line of weakness having a first portion disposed on one side of the longitudinal central axis, a second portion disposed on the opposite side of the longitudinal central axis, and a third portion spanning between and connecting the first and second portions. The third portion of the line of weakness is spaced from the ends of the first and second portions. The plurality of disposable absorbent articles is compressed within the interior compartment and arranged in at least one row extending between the side panels.

Opening feature for packaging having absorbent articles contained therein

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Stacy Elaine Evenson