Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-03
2002-08-06
Weiss, John G. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06428526
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of mechanical fastening means on disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinent products, feminine care products, and the like, are well known. A common type of mechanical fastener employed on disposable absorbent articles is a hook-and-loop type fastener in which a hook or hook-like element is provided which is adapted for releasably engaging with a loop or loop-like material. Such hook-and-loop type fasteners are also well known in the prior art. Other well known types of mechanical fasteners include snaps, buttons, zippers, mushroom fasteners and the like.
While the use of mechanical fasteners, such as hook-and-loop type fasteners, on disposable absorbent articles is known, such use has not become widespread. This is due, in part, to the increased cost of such mechanical fasteners relative to the more common adhesive tapes currently used on disposable absorbent articles. An additional reason that mechanical fasteners have not been widely used on disposable absorbent articles relates to the difficulty of forming and controlling such fasteners at the high speeds generally associated with the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles. The process issues associated with the formation of such mechanical fasteners also affects the relative cost of such fasteners.
The process difficulties associated with the mechanical fasteners relates not only to the formation and attachment of the mechanical fasteners to other elements of the disposable absorbent articles but also to the control and protection of the mechanical fasteners as the absorbent article is manufactured and packaged. This is particularly true when trying to form and control hook-and-loop type fasteners. For example, the hook material must be controlled and protected to reduce or eliminate damage to the hook material during the manufacturing and packaging processes. Thus, in order to render the use of mechanical fasteners, such as hook-and-loop type fasteners, on disposable absorbent articles more feasible, it is desirable to provide improved processes for the control and protection of such fasteners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In response to the discussed difficulties and problems encountered in the prior art, a new process for attaching and protecting mechanical fasteners on disposable absorbent articles and a disposable absorbent article produced by the same has been discovered.
In one aspect, the present invention concerns a process for attaching a mechanical fastener to a disposable absorbent article and protecting said mechanical fastener before said disposable absorbent article is handled by a user. The process comprises the following steps: (1) providing a disposable absorbent article which includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner; (2) providing a mechanical fastener which includes a first fastening element; (3) attaching the first fastening element of the mechanical fastener to the disposable absorbent article; (4) releasably engaging the first fastening element with the disposable absorbent article to protect the first fastening element; and (5) subsequently packaging the disposable absorbent article for commercial sale. In a particular aspect of the invention, the first fastening element and a portion of the disposable absorbent article are releasably engaged by passing them between a pair of rotatable nip rolls.
In another aspect, the invention concerns a process for attaching a hook material of a hook-and-loop type mechanical fastener to a disposable absorbent article and protecting the hook material before the disposable absorbent article is handled by a user. The process comprises the following steps: (1) providing a disposable absorbent article which includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner; (2) providing the hook material which includes a base sheet and stemlike projections which extend from the base sheet; (3) attaching the base sheet of the hook material to the disposable absorbent article; (4) releasably engaging the stemlike projections without the disposable absorbent article to protect the hook material; and (5) subsequently packaging the disposable absorbent article for commercial sale. In a particular aspect of the invention, the disposable absorbent article includes at least one ear tab and the base sheet of the hook material is attached to the ear tab.
In another aspect, the invention concerns a disposable absorbent article which includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner, an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner and at least one hook-and-loop type mechanical fastener which includes a hook material. The disposable absorbent article is produced by a process which comprises the following steps: (1) providing the hook material which includes a base sheet and stemlike projections which extend from the base sheet; (2) attaching the base sheet of the hook material to the disposable absorbent article; (3) releasably engaging the stemlike projections of the hook material with the disposable absorbent article to protect the stemlike projections before the disposable absorbent article is handled by a user; and (4) subsequently packaging the disposable absorbent article for commercial sale.
In still another aspect, the invention concerns a package of disposable absorbent articles which comprises a plurality of the disposable absorbent articles. Each of the disposable absorbent articles includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner, an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and at least one mechanical fastener. The mechanical fastener is releasably engaged with the disposable absorbent article to protect the mechanical fastener before the disposable absorbent article is handled by a user. In a particular aspect of the invention, the mechanical fastener is a hook-and-loop type mechanical fastener which comprises a hook material. The hook material includes a base sheet and stemlike projections which extend from the base sheet. The stemlike projections of the mechanical fastener are releasably engaged with the disposable absorbent article to protect the hook material before the disposable absorbent article is handled by a user.
In yet another aspect, the present invention concerns a package of a plurality of disposable absorbent articles. Each of the disposable absorbent articles includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner, an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and at least one hook-and-loop type mechanical fastener. The hook-and-loop fastener includes a hook material which includes a base sheet and stemlike projections which extend from the base sheet. The stemlike projections are releasably engaged with the disposable absorbent article to protect the hook material and provide a pant-like structure before the disposable absorbent article is handled by a user.
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Heindel Timothy Raymond
Janssen Tim Joseph
Pennings Scott Lee
Reynolds Gary Mack
Serbiak Paul John
Curtin Jeffrey B
Dudkowski Alyssa A
Kidwell Michele
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Yee Paul
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