Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Tamara Lee Mace

Lawrence Howell Sawyer

Michael Allen Daley

Eugenio Go Varona

Sylvia Bandy Little

Connie Lynn Hetzler

David Michael Matela

Arthur Edward Garavaglia

Hoa La Wilhelm

Kuo-Shu Edward Chang

Richard Norris Dodge, Ii

Jaime Braverman

Andrew Scott Burnes

Ali Yahiaoui

Carol Ann Blaney

Yong Li

Yvette Lynn Hammonds

Stanley Michael Gryskiewicz

Billie Jean Matthews

Margaret Gwyn Latimer

Nancy Donaldson Kollin

Richard Allen Anderson

Laura Jane Walker

James Brian Riddle

Ann Louise McCormack

Clifford Jackson Ellis

Rebecca Lyn Dilnik

Mary Lucille DeLucia

Janis Wilson Hughes

Christian Lee Sanders

Audrie Tomoko Ono

Hristo Angelov Hristov

Glen Thomas Mildenhall

Cecelia M Berger Sharp

David Wayne Primm

Ann Marie Giencke

Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev

Michael Tod Morman

Thomas David Ehlert

Patrick Sean McNichols

David Martin Jackson

Heather Anne Sorebo

Michael Donald Sperl

Oomman Painummoottil Thomas

James Russell Fitts, Jr

Michael Scott Brunner

Susan Carol Paul

MeeWha Lee

David Charles Potts

Michael David Powers

Valerie Victoria Finch

Ronald Lee Edens

Stephen Avedis Baratian

Michael William Veith

Peter Michailovich Kobylivker

Andrew Michael Lake

Allan James Krueger

Patricia Hwang Calhoun

Walter George Bauer

Rodney Lawrence Abba

Alexander J Neeb

Steven R Stopper

Glynis Allicia Walton

Jayne B Nelson

Christopher Dale Fenwick

Charles Allen Smith

Thomas William VanDenBogart

Karen Lynn English

Roland Columbus Smith, Jr

Jose Siqueira

Jon Edward Tinsley

Oomman Painumoottil Thomas

Reginald Smith

Dmitry Yavich

Mark Bruce Majors

Thomas Patrick Jorgenson

Amy Michele Achter

Janice G Nielsen

Braulio Arturo Polanco

Gregory A Zelazoski

Peter Robert Elliker

Alexander M Schmidt-Foerst

Gregory Marc Lefkowitz

Rebecca Willey Griffin

Barbara Jean Burns

Charles Edward Edmundson

Alexander Schmidt-Foerst

Bruce Wilfuhr Achter

Cynthia Marie Phillips

Monica Lynn Bontrager

Dennis Lloyd Hasha

Michael Brent Kottek

Charles John Chappell

Silverio Donato De La Cruz, Jr

Sharon Rymer

Walter G Bauer

Kevin Wilson Wood

James Allyn Spiers

Ann Margaret Vanevenhoven

Sarah Elizabeth Long-Radloff

A fluid applicator device includes a cover layer and a pouch positioned adjacent a back side of said cover layer. A fluid composition is contained within the pouch. Exit structure is configured at a location on the pouch and is adjacent to the cover layer. The exit structure is in isolated fluid communication with a defined portion of the cover layer that is permeable to the fluid composition within the defined portion such that the fluid composition released from the pouch migrates through the cover layer only within the defined portion.

Fluid applicator with a press activated pouch

A nonwoven composite that exhibits latent elastic properties is provided. More specifically, latent elasticity may be imparted by blending a thermoplastic elastomer with a polyolefin that is capable of forming semi-crystalline domains among the amorphous elastomeric chains, and then forming a film from the blend. The film is then stretched in one or more directions to orient the amorphous elastomer chains. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the oriented state of the amorphous chains may be held in place by the relatively stiff semi-crystalline olefin domains. Subsequently, the stretched film may be activated (e.g., heated) to shrink the film and provide it with 'latent' stretchability. For instance, the stretched film may be heated at or above the softening temperature of the polyolefin to soften the crystalline domains and allow the amorphous chains to return to their unoriented state. As a result of the present invention, the elastic film may be extended and recover from its unoriented state.

Latent elastic nonwoven composite

A fluid applicator device includes a wipe layer, and a back layer attached to the wipe layer to form an interior space therebetween. A pouch is positioned within the interior space, and a fluid composition is contained within a cavity defined in the pouch. Exit structure is defined in the pouch through which the composition exits the cavity. A flap is defined by an extension of the pouch material and is folded over onto the pouch so as to releasably seal over the exit structure. The flap has an extension that extends out from between the wipe layer and back layer a sufficient distance so as to be grasped by a user. When the flap extension is pulled by the user, the flap is caused to unfold and unseal the exit structure. The fluid composition is the pressed out of the pouch with use of the applicator.

Fluid applicator with a pull tab activated pouch

A composite nonwoven fabric having latent elasticity is provided having a latently elastic core comprising a first component that includes a thermoplastic elastomer and a second component that includes a single site catalyzed polyolefin, and at least one gatherable facing material laminated to the elastic core. The first and second components may be, for example, in the form of alternating filaments of styrenic block copolymer and single site catalyzed polyolefin or in the form of conjugate filaments having a first section of styrenic block copolymer and a second section of single site catalyzed polyolefin. Also disclosed are methods of making the latently elastic stretch bonded laminates and personal care articles containing the latently elastic stretch bonded laminates.

Latent elastic articles and methods of making thereof

A technique for incorporating a liquid additive into a nonwoven web is disclosed. Specifically, the liquid additive is loaded into filler particles to form a 'dry liquid concentrate', i.e., pulverulent granular solid or powder loaded with the liquid additive. The incorporation of the liquid additive into dry liquid concentrates provides a variety of benefits. For example, prior to extrusion, the dry liquid concentrates generally retain the properties of filler particles from which they are formed as the liquid remains isolated. In this manner, a higher level of the liquid additive may be compounded with a melt-extrudable base composition without adversely affecting the extrusion process. Only upon extrusion of the composition will a significant portion of the liquid additive be released to provide the desired properties to the resulting nonwoven web.

Technique for incorporating a liquid additive into a nonwoven web

The present invention provides an improved elastomeric composition that includes from about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent of a polyorganosiloxane or a combination of polyorganosiloxanes.

Method of thermally processing elastomeric compositions and elastomeric compositions with improved processability

Compositions of high and low performance elastomer are formed using a process that chemically reacts some of the high and low performance elastomers together to form a graft copolymer. The elastomeric compositions provide intimately mixed elastomeric compositions which are thermodynamically stable and do not phase separate. The elastomeric compositions exhibit a variety of improved properties compared to simple blends of the same high and low performance elastomers in the same weight proportions. The elastomeric compositions are useful for producing films, fabrics, and laminates for use in a wide variety of personal care and medical articles.

Elastomer compositions and method of making them

An elastic laminate is provided which has an elastic layer and one or two outer facing layers. The elastic layer is formed from an improved styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene-(ethylene-butylene) tetrablock copolymer, or a blend of the copolymer. The copolymer has a number average molecular weight of at least about 70,000. The two ethylene-butylene blocks have number average molecular weights which together constitute more than 75% of the number average molecular weight of the copolymer.

High performance elastic laminates made from high molecular weight styrenic tetrablock copolymer

There is provided a resilient, three dimensional material having fibrous texture and appearance and capable of fluid handling. It consists of a top surface and a bottom surface wherein fiber-like elements typically extend from one surface to the other forming flat to undulating surfaces characterized by a multiplicity of interconnected fluid passageways. Deformed, discontinuous film-like or encapsulated regions connect fiber-like elements and stabilize the material. The material of this invention is unique based on the three principle characteristics which are communicated in this application: 1) f(&#x3c8;)&#x3c;0.87, 2) SA/VV&#x3c;186 cm/cm, and 3) caliper&#x3c;0.150 inches. This material is useful for a number of purposes, such as for use as a liner for personal care products like diapers, absorbent underpants, swim wear, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products and the like. The properties of the material may be tailored within the ranges of this invention to deliver optimal material performance for use in specific personal care products.

Creped materials

An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable top layer, an absorbent core layer, a breathable outer cover, and a creped inner nonwoven fibrous layer between the absorbent core and breathable outer cover. The creped inner nonwoven fibrous layer has a level of creping of about 5-75%, and is preferably permanently creped. The creped inner nonwoven fibrous layer serves as a dampness inhibitor which reduces or prevents perceived dampness on the external surface of the outer cover by lowering thermal conductivity between the absorbent core and the outer cover surface.

Absorbent product with creped nonwoven dampness inhibitor

An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable top layer, an absorbent core layer, and a breathable outer cover is provided with a breathable inner laminate between the absorbent core and the outer cover. The breathable inner laminate includes a breathable film and a nonwoven filament web, and is less breathable than the outer cover. The low to moderately breathable inner laminate substantially reduces perceived dampness occurring on the external surface of the highly breathable outer cover, following a liquid insult, when the article is being worn, without seriously hampering moisture flux out of the diaper. Direct pathways for moisture near the wearer's skin to exit the article are maintained, and a concentration gradient is enhanced. Alternate embodiments include an apertured absorbent core, or the absence of a nonwoven filament web wherein the film and the absorbent core are apertured together, or a surge layer positioned between the top layer and the absorbent core wherein the surge layer extends to fill apertures in the absorbent core.

Breathable diaper with low to moderately breathable inner laminate and more breathable outer cover

There is provided an intake/retention/transfer material for personal care products like feminine hygiene products, which is a heterogeneous composite containing between 5 and 25 weight percent of a superabsorbent or gelling material and having a density less than 0.17 g/cc. A more particular embodiment contains less than 20 weight percent and a still more particular embodiment contains 15 weight percent or less of a superabsorbent or gelling material. Also provided are absorbent articles which contain the class of intake/transfer materials mentioned above along with additional absorbent layers such that the absorption of a menses simulant provides fluid partitioning of less than 72% of fluid in the intake/transfer/retention composite. Additionally said composite should have retention capacity values greater than 2.7 g/g.

Personal care product with fluid partitioning

A personal care absorbent article having a fluid intake/distribution layer, a fluid transfer delay layer disposed beneath said fluid intake/distribution layer, said fluid transfer delay layer enabling the transfer of fluid from the fluid intake/distribution layer(s) to a pad layer disposed beneath the fluid transfer delay layer while still allowing fluid distribution by the fluid intake/distribution layer along the machine direction of the article resulting in saturation levels of less than or equal to about 0.86 g/g/in of fluid in the intake/distribution layer(s) and/or essentially equal to or greater than 0.06 g/g/in. of fluid in the pad layer.

Transfer delay for increased access fluff capacity

Stabilized absorbent material and systems for personal care products having controlled placement of visco-elastic fluids

An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent core layer and a breathable outer cover is provided with a hydrophobic foam dampness-inhibiting layer between the absorbent core and the outer cover. The hydrophobic foam dampness-inhibiting layer maintains an air space within the foam. The air space acts as a thermal insulator, dampness-perception inhibitor and moisture passageway. The resulting product is an absorbent garment having a breathable outer cover material with reduced perception of dampness on the outer surface of the outer cover.

Breathable diaper outer cover with foam dampness inhibitor

Growing community of inventors

Doraville, GA, United States of America

Tamara Lee Mace