Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Timothy James Blenke

Robert Eugene Vogt

Patrick Sean McNichols

Peiguang Zhou

Thomas David Ehlert

Georgia Lynn Zehner

Jennifer Elizabeth Pozniak

Jody Dorothy Suprise

Gregory L Malchow

Daniel Hoo

Jeffry Jon Radke

Tauhid Husain

Thomas Harold Roessler

Thomas Walter Odorzynski

Bruce Michael Siebers

Paulette Mary Rosch

Julie Ann Moser

John Philip Vukos

Cassandra E Morris

Harold Norbert Heller

Paul Gordon Klemp

Barton Andrew Laughlin

John Ford Condron

David William Koenig

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

Bernard H Cohen

Yung Hsiang Huang

Michael Barth Venturino

Kaiyuan Yang

Sridhar Ranganathan

Andrew Thomas Baker

Daniel Robert Schlinz

Duane Girard Uitenbroek

Jeffrey Eldon Fish

Sheng-Hsin Hu

Paul Joseph Datta

Richard Warren Tanzer

Fred R Radwanski

Donald Eugene Waldroup

Paul John Serbiak

Edward A Colombo

Charles Wilson Colman

Barbara Oakley Sauer

Carl Gerard Rippl

Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke

Michael Joseph Garvey

Paul Theodore VanGompel

MeeWha Lee

James Jay Tanner

Alan Francis Schleinz

Dan D Endres

Thomas J Kopacz

Norman Rudolf Stegelmann

Kristi Jo Bryant

Joseph Earl Pierce

Barbara Ann Gossen

Jennifer L Marvin

Richard Thomas Wehrle

Jane Louise Clough

Nancy E Dawson

David Peter Kielpikowski

Mary A Bruemmer

Mark George Everson

James Bennington Stopher

Stephen Carl Baumgartner

Jeffrey Jennings Krueger

Peter Shawn Lortscher

Laura Linda Elsberg

Dale Alan Burghardt

Tom Russell Belau

Mary F Mallory

Carl G Schroth

Rebecca Jean Kuepper

Thomas Tanakon Ungpiyakul

Mary E Partridge

Stephen R Everson

Steven H Levine

James F Hyatt

James Richard Larsen

Daniel Edward Wallander

Hugh Michael Sexton

Robert Micheal Letterman

Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cook

Tom Ehlert

Pam Thompson

Rebecca J Kuepper

Alan F Schleinz

A hybrid absorbent foam includes an integrated hybrid foam layer having an open surface, a closed surface, and a foam body extending between the open and closed surfaces. The integrated hybrid foam layer has an open-cell content of at least 50%, while the closed surface provides a barrier to aqueous liquids. The integrated hybrid foam layer is formed as a single layer, and has a substantially uniform polymer composition throughout its thickness. The integrated hybrid foam layer combines the functions of liquid absorbency, retention, and barrier into a single layer, and is useful in a wide variety of absorbent articles.

Hybrid absorbent foam and articles containing it

Facetted impression elements are disclosed. The impression elements can be located, for instance, on an anvil roll and may be used during an embossing or bonding process. The impression elements include at least two chamfered surfaces that at least partially surround the top surface. The chamfered surfaces are at an angle to the top surface that lower and reduce drag that may occur between the impression element and a sheet of material as the impression element enters and exits the sheet. In one embodiment, the impression element includes a first chamfered surface having an angle of from about 5&#xb0; to about 40&#xb0; and a second chamfered surface having an angle of from about 40&#xb0; to about 70&#xb0;.

Embossing or bonding device containing facetted impression elements

Ultrasonically bonded laminated absorbent products comprising a first substrate, a second substrate, and an adhesive composition are disclosed. The first and second substrates are dissimilar or non-bondable materials. The adhesive composition comprises a mixture of atactic and isotactic polymers such that it has melt and flow characteristics similar to those of the materials.

Ultrasonic bonding of dissimilar materials

The present invention is generally directed to a process for increasing the strength of a component of a laminated absorbent article. The material basis weight of the component may be increased by introducing a material basis weight increasing agent onto at least a portion of the component. The material basis weight increasing agent comprises selected ratios of crystalline and amorphous polymers. In some versions of the invention, polymers capable of existing in different configurations (e.g., a polymer such as polypropylene which can exist in an atactic, syndiotactic, or isotactic configuration) are used to prepare the material basis weight increasing agents of the present invention.

Processes for increasing strength in defined areas of a laminated absorbent product

The present invention is generally directed to adhesive compositions comprising selected ratios of crystalline and amorphous polymers. In some versions of the invention, polymers capable of existing in different configurations (e.g., a polymer such as polypropylene which can exist in an atactic, syndiotactic. or isotactic configuration) are used to prepare adhesives of the present invention. As an example, a selected amount of isotactic polypropylene is blended with a selected amount of atactic polypropylene to prepare an adhesive composition having one or more performance properties (e.g., bond strength) that are superior to the performance properties of a conventional hot-melt adhesive. The adhesive compositions of the present invention are suitable for use in the preparation of laminated disposable absorbent products.

Laminated absorbent product

The present invention is generally directed to adhesive compositions comprising selected ratios of crystalline and amorphous polymers. In some versions of the invention, polymers capable of existing in different configurations (e.g., a polymer such as polypropylene which can exist in an atactic, syndiotactic. or isotactic configuration) is used to prepare adhesives of the present invention. As an example, a selected amount of isotactic polypropylene is blended with a selected amount of atactic polypropylene to prepare an adhesive composition having one or more performance properties (e.g., bond strength) that are superior to the performance properties of a conventional hot-melt adhesive.

Hot-melt adhesive based on blend of amorphous and crystalline polymers for multilayer bonding

Laminated absorbent product with increased strength in defined areas

A package for consumable products is disclosed. The package includes a plurality of subpackages connected together by a connecting member. For instance, the package may contain two subpackages or alternatively four subpackages all connected at one end to a connecting member. The package is particularly well suited to holding relatively large quantities of the consumable product. Because the subpackages are connected at one end, the package may be draped over an adjacent structure, such as a shopping cart. In this way, the package can be placed in a shopping cart without taking up an excessive amount of space.

Package for consumable products with separately sealed compartments

Absorbent articles including ultrasonically bonded laminated structures

A process for the destruction of microorganisms on a product using ultrasonic energy is disclosed. The process comprises contacting a product with an ultrasonic horn assembly and generating ultrasonic energy sufficient to result in a microorganism destruction rate of at least a 1-log kill.

Process for the destruction of microorganisms on a product

A pant-like, prefastened, disposable absorbent article having side seams which include a front ear passively bonded to a back ear, wherein the front ear is releasable from the back ear desirably without tearing or damaging the back ear. The tearable front ear has a basis weight less than a basis weight of the back ear.

Product seal of dissimilar materials

Laminated absorbent product with increased material strength in defined areas

A pant-like, refastenable, disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis, a pair of opposed side panels, a pair of releasable joints and a pair of proportional fasteners. The absorbent chassis defines a pair of laterally opposed side edges and a pair of longitudinally opposed waist edges. The side panels extend between and connect the side edges of the absorbent chassis to define a waist opening and a pair of leg openings in the pant-like disposable absorbent article. Each of the opposed side panels defines a first side margin which is permanently attached to the side edge of the absorbent chassis in one waist region of the absorbent article to provide a permanent joint. Each of the opposed side panels further defines a second side margin opposite the first side margin which is releasably attached to the side edges of the absorbent chassis in the other waist region of the absorbent article to provide the releasable joints. The proportional fasteners are located adjacent the releasable joints and are configured to be smaller in the longitudinal direction than the releasable joints. The fasteners are used to refastenably engage the second side margins of the side panels to the opposite waist region of the absorbent article.

Pant-like disposable absorbent articles

The present invention provides a pattern-unbonded material that has at least two distinct regions. One region has different bond pattern than another region. The different bond pattern provides different, specific functionality or characteristics to the material. In an embodiment, the one region provides an optimal mechanical fastener, hook engagement. The different characteristics include, but are not limited to, opacity, tensile strength or stiffness. The different characteristics are provided by a bond pattern specific to the particular region. The outer regions, in an embodiment, are stronger and appear more substantial by being more opaque than or color-shifted relative to an inner region. The outer regions, in an embodiment, are not directly backed or supported by the garment to which the material is attached. Accordingly, it is important for the outer regions to provide adequate strength, stiffness, color, and opacity absent the garment backing the outer regions.

Pattern unbonded nonwoven web and process for making same

Bonded composites, absorbent articles comprising such bonded composites, and processes for bonding thin-section elements. The bonded composite has first and second thin-section elements bonded to each other, at least in part by bond elements and at least in part by adherent material. The adherent material is disposed between the first and second thin-section elements proximate and about the bond elements. The adherent material, at least in part, bonds the thin-section elements to each other at loci of the adherent material. The bond patterns are arranged and configured to preferentially direct stresses imposed on the bond pattern, inwardly into the interior of the bond pattern for distribution, dissipation, and termination.

Method of making tear-resistant adhesive/combination bond pattern

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Timothy James Blenke