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:
Mar. 09, 2004
Filed:
May. 14, 2001
Paul T. Van Gompel, Hortonville, WI (US);
David A. Fell, Neenah, WI (US);
Jacqueline A. Gross, Neenah, WI (US);
Yung H. Huang, Appleton, WI (US);
Michael T. Morman, Alpharetta, GA (US);
Thomas H. Roessler, Menasha, WI (US);
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
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.