The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 29, 1997
Filed:
May. 19, 1995
Mark Kevin Melius, Appleton, WI (US);
Earle Harry Sherrod, Appleton, WI (US);
Lynn Kirkpatrick LeMahieu, Hortonville, WI (US);
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
An incontinence article is manufactured by providing a formable, liquid impermeable moisture barrier material, an absorbent assembly, and a liquid permeable liner material. At least the moisture barrier, and desirably a composite structure including the moisture barrier, absorbent assembly and liner, are heated to the softening point of the moisture barrier. The composite structure is conformed such as by vacuum forming to the shape of a mold surface. Afterward, a shaped structure is recovered wherein the liner is bonded to the moisture barrier with the absorbent assembly sandwiched therebetween. The shaped structure, which may also include a retaining member and a cover, is adapted to fit the male anatomy and address urine-specific incontinence. The shaped structure includes a central portion and an ungathered peripheral wall outward of the central portion. The peripheral wall has a height above the central portion of at least about 5 millimeters transversely outward from a target zone and at least about 25 millimeters transversely outward from a transition zone. The shaped structure desirably has a Resulting Length of from about 10 to about 25 centimeters, a Body Conforming Angle of less than about 130 degrees, and a Skew Angle of at least about 15 degrees.