Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Yung Hsaing Huang

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

Jacqueline Ann Gross

Michael Tod Morman

Thomas Harold Roessler

David Arthur Fell

Russell Evan Thorson

Gerald Keith Sosalla

Gregory K Hall

Cedric Arnett Dunkerly, Ii

Herb F Velazquez

Michael John Faulks

Eric Donald Johnson

Cherry Ann Bochmann

David Louis Zenker

Nathan John Vogel

William Robert Newman

Ligia A Rivera

Richard Norris Dodge, Ii

Paige Annette Dellerman

James Marcus Carr

Mary Jo Meyer

Jennifer L Marvin

Scott Richard Lange

John Eugene Peluso

Christopher Martin Pieper

Steve J Romme

Sara Jane W Stabelfeldt

Ellen S Green

Improved fastening systems are described. More particularly, improved fastening systems for disposable absorbent articles are described.

Selective modification of a nonwoven surface

A disposable undergarment includes a body panel and an absorbent insert having a back sheet connected to a top sheet and a retention portion disposed between the back sheet and the top sheet. At least one of the back sheet and the top sheet is stretchable and includes an elastic material. At least one of the back sheet and the top sheet is connected to the body panel. A method of using a disposable undergarment includes stretching at least one of the back sheet and the top sheet. A method of instructing a user on the use of the disposable undergarment is also provided.

Disposable undergarment with a stretchable absorbent insert and method for the use thereof

An absorbent garment includes an extensible backsheet having opposite side regions, a liquid permeable topsheet having opposite side portions, and a retention portion having opposite side edges and an inner surface defining an area. The retention portion is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet with the inner surface facing the topsheet and with the opposite side portions of the backsheet and the topsheet extending beyond the side edges of the retention portion. The opposite side portions of the topsheet are attached to the opposite side portions of the backsheet on opposite sides of the retention portion. Less than 30% of the area of the inner surface of the retention portion is attached to the topsheet. A method for absorbing bodily exudates with an absorbent garment is also provided.

Absorbent garment with an extensible backsheet

An absorbent garment includes a chassis having first and second layers and an elastic core sandwiched therebetween. The chassis defines front and rear body panels each having elastic regions exhibiting a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10% when elongated 80% for a period of 30 minutes at 37&#xb0; C. and 60% relative humidity and then allowed to relax under a zero applied force. An absorbent composite is coupled to the chassis.

Body conforming absorbent garment and methods for the use and manufacture thereof

An absorbent garment includes a front body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge and a rear body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge. The terminal crotch edge of the rear body panel is longitudinally spaced from and forms a gap with the terminal crotch edge of the front body panel. An absorbent composite bridges the gap between the front and rear body panels with first and second terminal edges overlying and connected to the front and rear body panels respectively. In one embodiment, the terminal edges of the absorbent composite are the only portion of the absorbent composite connected to the front and rear body panels. In another embodiment, the absorbent composite is further connected to the front and rear body panels at first and second attachment locations proximate a longitudinally extending centerline of the absorbent composite and longitudinally spaced from the first and second terminal edges. Methods of using the absorbent garments are also provided.

Absorbent garment having a body conforming absorbent composite

In a method of evaluating a product worn on a body, a computer based body sub-model of at least a portion of the body is created. A computer based product sub-model of the product is created, at least one parameter of which is variable as a function of fluid loading of the product. A computer based interaction model is also created to define instructions as to how the body sub-model and the product sub-model interact and to further define instructions corresponding to a fluid loading of the product. The body sub-model, the product sub-model and the interaction model are combined in a use model to simulate interaction between the body sub-model and the product sub-model in response to fluid loading of the product. The use model is evaluated to determine the performance of at least one product feature of the product in response to fluid loading of the product.

Method of evaluating the performance of a product using a virtual environment

A method of manufacturing a disposable undergarment includes moving a web of body panel material in a longitudinal machine direction, forming a cross-machine direction slit in the web, and connecting a crotch member to the web. The crotch member extends in the cross-machine direction and covers the slit. A disposable undergarment having a slit, and a method for the use thereof, is also provided.

Disposable undergarment having a slit

A refastenable absorbent garment includes a first body panel having a body side and a garment side and a second body panel having a body side and a garment side. A fastener member is attached to the body side of the first body panel and is releasably attached to the body side of the second body panel. A method for assembling a refastenable absorbent garment includes applying a garment side of a first portion of the fastener member to a body side of a first body panel, and releasably applying the body side of the second body panel to a garment side of a second portion of the fastener member. A method of manufacturing and using the absorbent garment is also provided.

Refastenable absorbent garment and method for assembly thereof

A method of assembling an expandable absorbent garment includes providing an absorbent composite having a length, opposite ends and opposite side regions. The absorbent composite includes a backsheet, a topsheet and a retention portion disposed between the backsheet and topsheet. The backsheet includes at least one fold formed along at least one of the opposite side regions, wherein the absorbent composite is laterally expandable at least at the opposite ends thereof. The at least one fold of the backsheet is unfoldable along at least the opposite ends of the absorbent composite. The method further includes providing a pair of front body panels having lateral inboard and outboard edges, providing a pair of rear body panels having lateral inboard and outboard edges, securing the said inboard edges of the front body panels to the opposite side regions of the absorbent garment at one of the ends of the absorbent composite, and securing the inboard edges of the rear body panels to the opposite side regions of the absorbent garment at the other of the ends of the absorbent composite.

Method of assembling an expandable absorbent garment

An absorbent garment includes a body panel comprising a liquid permeable, non-woven material. The non-woven material is elastically gathered and is elongatable between a non-elongated condition and an elongated condition in response to an application of a tensile force. Preferably, the body panel is elongatable at least 75% between the non-elongated condition and the elongated condition upon the application of the tensile force. A fastener includes an adhesive that releasably engages the elastically gathered non-woven material. The fastener is releasably disengageable from the body panel in response to an application of a disengaging shear force. Preferably, the disengaging shear force is greater than the tensile force. Methods for manufacturing and using the absorbent garment are also provided.

Absorbent garment with refastenable adhesive elements engaging an elongatable body panel and methods for the use and manufacture thereof

The invention relates to a stack of fan folded material and related systems and processes. The stack includes at least two clips of fan folded material. Each clip includes a plurality of fan folded sheets, with each sheet joined to at least one adjacent sheet by a weakened line. Each clip is joined to an adjacent clip by a last sheet of one clip being separably joined to a first sheet of a succeeding clip.

Stack of fan folded material and combinations thereof

An absorbent garment comprising a longitudinally extending and laterally expandable absorbent composite having opposite ends and opposite side regions. The absorbent composite comprises a backsheet, a topsheet and a retention portion disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. In one preferred embodiment, the backsheet and retention portion each comprise at least one fold formed along at least one of the opposite side regions, with the folds being interfolded. A pair of front body panels are attached to the opposite side regions of the absorbent composite adjacent one of the opposite ends of said absorbent composite and a pair of rear body panels are attached to the opposite side regions adjacent the other of the opposite ends of the absorbent composite. In a preferred embodiment, the front and rear body panels are joined to form a pair of side body panels. A method for using the absorbent garment also is provided, together with a method for assembling the absorbent garment.

Expandable absorbent garment

There is provided a system and apparatus for dispensing wet wipes. The system may include a housing, a tray and a cartridge. The cartridge has the ability to be inserted into the dispenser in a pre-selected manner based on the desired orientation of the wipes contained therein.

System and dispenser for dispensing wet wipes

An absorbent garment includes an extensible backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, a retention portion, and an outer surface. The retention portion is between the topsheet and the backsheet with the outer surface facing the backsheet and with the opposite side portions of the backsheet and the topsheet extending beyond the side edges of the retention portion. The opposite side portions of the topsheet are attached to the opposite side portions of the backsheet on opposite sides of the retention portion. Less than 30% of the area of the outer surface of the retention portion is attached to the backsheet. In one embodiment, the retention portion is freefloating between the backsheet and topsheet. In one embodiment, the topsheet is extensible. In another embodiment, less than 30% of an inner surface of the retention portion is attached to the topsheet. In another embodiment, the retention portion includes at least one fold. Preferably, the backsheet, and more preferably the backsheet and topsheet, have ear portions that are secured to form leg openings. And define the shape or plan surface area of the garment, without the need for additional body panels.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Yung Hsaing Huang