Deborah L Proxmire

US Patent:

49368400, Jun 26, 1990

Filed:

Dec 31, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/140000

Inventors:

Deborah L. Proxmire - Larsen WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1316

US Classification:

6043852

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for making a fastener landing zone within a selected area on the front waist panel of a diaper. The front waist panel and a rear waist panel are stretchable in a cross-body direction, the rear panel having elongated ears bearing mechanical fasteners on inner, body-facing surfaces thereof which are releasably engageable with mechanical fasteners provided on the landing zones. The landing zones are shaped, sized and oriented on the front waist panel so as to impart a tensile force distribution pattern thereacross, directing tensile stresses away from the leg and waist openings while providing a band of abdominal support across the front waist panel between the landing zones.

US Patent:

58272593, Oct 27, 1998

Filed:

Dec 18, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/560524

Inventors:

Daniel Richard Laux - Appleton WI
Lynn Carol Brud - Appleton WI
Barbara Ann Gossen - Oshkosh WI
Eric Donald Johnson - Larsen WI
Cynthia Helen Nordness - Oshkosh WI
Deborah Lynn Proxmire - Larsen WI
Mark Louis Robinson - Appleton WI
Paula Mary Sosalla - Appleton WI
Robert Alan Stevens - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1315

US Classification:

6043852

Abstract:

An absorbent article includes a longitudinal length dimension, a lateral cross-dimension, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion, an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions, and a pair of laterally opposed elasticized side margins. The article has a backsheet layer, and a liquid permeable topsheet layer connected in superposed relation to the backsheet layer. An absorbent body is sandwiched between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer, and an elasticized, waist pocket member is connected to at least one of the backsheet and topsheet layers along at least one end margin of the article. The waist pocket member includes an extending flange section and an extending pocket section. The pocket section of the waist pocket member includes a substantially fixed edge portion secured to the article, and an elasticized, gathered moveable edge portion, which is longitudinally spaced from the fixed edge portion. The pocket section can also include a substantially liquid impermeable pocket barrier layer, and a pocket fabric layer connected in facing relation with the pocket barrier layer.

US Patent:

59046759, May 18, 1999

Filed:

Oct 16, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/950105

Inventors:

Daniel Richard Laux - Appleton WI
Lynn Carol Brud - Appleton WI
Barbara Ann Gossen - Oshkosh WI
Eric Donald Johnson - Larsen WI
Cynthia Helen Nordness - Oshkosh WI
Deborah Lynn Proxmire - Larsen WI
Mark Louis Robinson - Appleton WI
Paula Mary Sosalla - Appleton WI
Robert Alan Stevens - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F13/15

US Classification:

6043852

Abstract:

An absorbent article has a longitudinal length dimension, a lateral cross dimension, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion and an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions. The article includes a backsheet layer having a pair of laterally opposed side margins, with each side margin having an outwardly concave, terminal side edge contour located at appointed leg opening regions in an intermediate portion of each of the side margins. Each concave side edge contour has a selected longitudinal extent along the length dimension of the article. A liquid permeable topsheet layer is connected in superposed relation to the backsheet layer, and an absorbent body is sandwiched between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. A separate, elasticized and gathered leg gusset is connected to the article along each of the appointed leg opening regions, and each leg gusset is configured to extend beyond and to bridge between opposed, spaced-apart portions of an associated one of the concave side edge contours of the backsheet layer.

US Patent:

49234560, May 8, 1990

Filed:

Dec 31, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/140009

Inventors:

Deborah L. Proxmire - Larsen WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1316

US Classification:

604391

Abstract:

A disposable diaper comprises an absorbent structure integrated within an outer cover. The outer cover includes front and rear elasticized waist panels, an intermediate crotch panel separating the waist panels from one another, a pair of sides extending between and interconnecting the waist panels, a pair of leg openings delimited along the sides and front and rear pairs of ears delimited at the sides of the front and rear waist panels, respectively. The rear pair of ears define elongated shapes with internal, body-facing surfaces, a proximal portion spaced from a line centered on the longitudinal axis of the diaper, suer end portions spaced distally from the proximal portions and elastomeric medial portions adjustably spacing and separating the user portions from the proximal portions. The front pair of ears have externally-facing surfaces presenting appointed landing zones, including fixed-position fasteners, cooperable with fixed fasteners provided on the user ends, and including variable-position fasteners selectably engageable with cooperating variable fasteners provided on the proximal portions, wherein the medial portions stretch to allow adjustment and fastening of the fixed-position fasteners once the variable-position fasteners have been selectably fastened.

US Patent:

58173943, Oct 6, 1998

Filed:

Aug 10, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/433432

Inventors:

Mir Inayeth Alikhan - Marietta GA
Deborah Lynn Proxmire - Larsen WI
Edward Bruce Richter - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 526
B32B 704
A61F 1346
A61F 1350

US Classification:

428137

Abstract:

This invention relates to a fibrous laminated material wherein a first fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of a thermoplastic material and a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of two or more thermoplastic or other materials are bonded together in a spaced apart bonding pattern having apertures formed therein to form a fibrous laminate having improved liquid distribution and management properties as well as enhanced comfort and softness when placed in contact with human skin. Also disclosed are a method and apparatus for making such a fibrous laminate, as well as absorbent articles incorporating such fibrous laminate.

US Patent:

48728713, Oct 10, 1989

Filed:

Jul 14, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/220356

Inventors:

Deborah L. Proxmire - Larsen WI
Dan D. Endres - Appleton WI
John C. Wilson - Neenah WI
Lynn A. Johnson - DePere WI
Georgia L. Zehner - Larsen WI
Leona G. Boland - Neenah WI
Robert A. Stevens - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1316

US Classification:

604394

Abstract:

An anatomically form-fitting generally self-adjusting disposable absorbent garment and methods of integrating and using the garment. The garment comprises a breathable elastomeric nonwoven fabric outer cover resiliently stretchable in cross-body direction, including a pair of leg openings, front and rear waist sections fastenable with one another defining a waist opening, a crotch section situated between the leg openings and opposing front and rear panels separated by the crotch section. An absorbent insert structure is substantially superposable on the front and rear panels and the crotch section, including a liquid impermeable barrier, a liquid permeable body side liner and an absorbent composite disposed therebetween. The absorbent insert has opposed longitudinal ends which are attached to the outer cover by bonds or snaps at selected waist attachment zones, defining one or more free-span zones of the outer cover underlying the insert and having substantially unrestricted functional stretchability therein. The insert may also be attached along the leg openings.

US Patent:

48347388, May 30, 1989

Filed:

Jul 14, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/220354

Inventors:

David P. Kielpikowski - Appleton WI
Duane G. Uitenbroek - Little Chute WI
Deborah L. Proxmire - Larsen WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61M 3100

US Classification:

6043852

Abstract:

An anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting disposable absorbent garment comprises a breathable elastomeric nonwoven laminar outer cover, resiliently stretchable preferably in a cross-body direction from about 20% to about 200%, including a pair of leg openings, front and rear waist sections together defining a waist opening, a crotch section situated between the leg openings and front and rear panels separated by the crotch section. An absorbent insert structure, substantially superposable on the front and rear panels and the crotch section, includes a liquid impermeable barrier and a liquid permeable bodyside liner, with an absorbent composite disposed therebetween. Longitudinally opposed ends of the absorbent insert are attached to the waist sections, integrating the insert into the outer cover while allowing substantially unrestricted functional stretchability thereof. A pair of supplemental leg elastic members are applied to the outer cover in an operatively tensioned state relative thereto and extend around outermost portions of the leg openings. Either of the leg and waist elastics comprise breathable elastomeric nonwoven laminar fabric strips which are resiliently stretchable preferably from about 20% to about 300%, providing cushioned, cloth-like gathering of the garment about the body of a wearer.

US Patent:

51926067, Mar 9, 1993

Filed:

Sep 11, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/757778

Inventors:

Deborah L. Proxmire - Larsen WI
Wanda W. Jackson - Alpharetta GA
Nancy D. Kollin - Roswell GA
Tamara L. Mace - Alpharetta GA
Ann L. McCormack - Cumming GA
Daniel R. Schlinz - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 506
D04H 100
A61F 1315
A61F 1320

US Classification:

428284

Abstract:

A distinctive absorbent article includes a backsheet layer which has a width dimension and a length dimension, and which includes a front waistband section, a back waistband section, and an intermediate section interconnecting the front and back waistband sections. An absorbent body is superposed on the backsheet layer, and an intermediate transfer layer, which is liquid permeable, is disposed in facing relation with the absorbent body to generally sandwich the absorbent body between the backsheet and transfer layer. The transfer layer has an appointed bodyside, inner surface, and a bodyside liner layer is located on the inner surface of the transfer layer. The bodyside liner comprises a bonded carded web which has a basis weight within the range of about 15-40 gsm and is composed of bicomponent fibers having a fiber denier within the range of about 1. 0-3. 0 dpf. The bodyside liner is constructed to provide for a Penetration rate index of at least about 1. 5 ml/sec and a Retention index of not more than about 0. 8 gm.