3m Innovative Properties Company

Timothy V Stagg

Leigh E Wood

Neelakandan Chandrasekaran

Robert L W Smithson

David Adams Ender

Jayant Chakravarty

Barry S Carpenter

Thomas J Gilbert

Mark E Napierala

Delton R Thompson, Jr

Mark A Peltier

Lori-Ann S Prioleau

Steven J Perron

Thomas R LaLiberte

Richard L Sheehan, Jr

Dean A Miner

Absorbent article including a chassis and fastening tab. The fastening tab includes a carrier, a first fastener having first male fastening elements, and a second fastener. The second fastener includes a backing with first and second opposing surfaces, with second male fastening elements on the first surface. A first portion of the second surface of the backing is connected to the carrier, and a second portion of the second surface of the backing is attached to the topsheet side of the chassis. The carrier is attached to the backsheet side of the chassis. Some fastening laminates, before attachment to the article, have the second portion of the second fastener folded over to face the first portion of the second fastener. Other laminates have the second fastener positioned with its first surface toward the carrier and attached to the carrier with a film.

Absorbent article and fastening laminate

A fastening tape, mechanical fastener, methods of making them, and personal hygiene articles including them are disclosed. The fastening tape includes a tape backing having a fastening portion, an adhesive disposed on the fastening portion, and a release surface for the adhesive. The release surface is a either a release tape attached along one of its edges to the tape backing or a release coating disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the tape backing. At least one of the tape backing or the release surface comprises a microporous film having an opaque, microporous region and at least one see-through region of lower porosity within the opaque, microporous region. The mechanical fastener includes such a microporous film and mechanical fastening elements on at least one surface. The at least one see-through region extends through the thickness of the microporous film.

Fastening tape and mechanical fastener including microporous film

A multi-component fiber including at least first and second components. In some cases, at least a portion of the first component is opaque and microporous, and the second component is different from the first component. In some cases, at least a portion of the second component can be seen through at least a portion of the first component. A fiber having an opaque, microporous region and a see-through region of lower porosity is also disclosed. Fibrous webs including such fibers are also disclosed. In some cases, the fibrous web has at least one first region where first portions of the multiple fibers are opaque and microporous and at least one second region where second portions of the multiple fibers form a see-through region of lower porosity. Articles and laminates including the fibrous webs are disclosed. Methods of making the fibers, fibrous webs, and articles are also disclosed.

Fibers and articles including them

A personal hygiene article includes a chassis with a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent component between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least one portion of the personal hygiene article includes a microporous film having an opaque, microporous region and at least one see-through region of lower porosity within the opaque, microporous region. The microporous film can include a beta-nucleating agent or can have thermally induced phase separation caused by a diluent. A container includes a microporous film enclosing at least one personal hygiene article. The microporous film has an opaque, microporous region and at least one see-through region of lower porosity forming a window within the opaque, microporous region. Methods of making the personal hygiene article and container are also described.

Personal hygiene article and container for the same

A method of making absorbent foam composites and absorbent foam composites produced therefrom. The method comprises casting an absorbent foam layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side onto a barrier layer having a first side and second side opposite the first side, where the second side of the absorbent foam layer is in contact with the first side of the barrier layer; joining a second absorbent layer to the second side of the barrier layer before, during, or after the casting step; and breaching the barrier layer after the casting step so that the foam layer and second absorbent layer are in fluid communication. The absorbent foam composites can be used in a variety of applications, including personal hygiene articles, medical bandages, pet pads and agricultural pads.

Method of making absorbent foam composites

Light assembly having reflector (), a light source (), an outer light cover () having a first color zone () and a second, different color or clear zone (), and an inner lens () with a transflective surface. Embodiments of light assemblies described herein are useful, for example, as signs, backlights, displays, task lighting, luminaire, and vehicle (e.g., cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.) components. Vehicle comprising light assemblies include those where the light assembly is a vehicle tail light assembly.

Light assembly

A tape for use in closing a container having opposing ends includes a base layer and a tearable tape strip. The base layer includes a tear resistant backing having a first side and a second side, and an adhesive coated on at least part of the first side of the backing. The tearable tape strip is located on the first side of the backing and has a first side and a second side. The tearable tape strip permits tearing of itself and the tear resistant backing with a given force notwithstanding that the tear resistant backing is otherwise not cleanly tearable. The tearable tape strip tears through the base layer when the tape is removed from the container. The tape can include a tab at one of the ends of the tape. The tab is formed by nicks extending from at least one of the ends of the tape and is located at least partially through the tearable tape strip which facilitate beginning tears. The invention is also a container including the tape and a container having means for adhering its flap to the container to close the container and a tearable tape strip on the flap.

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, WI, United States of America

Timothy V Stagg