Folded absorbent article

US6702798B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Paul Christoffel · Appleton, US
• Joel Curtis Krueger · Oshkosh, US
• Mark Jung · Menasha, US
• Willard Hawley · Oneida, US
• Steven Charles Schapel · Appleton, US
• Mark David Spiegelberg · Neenah, US
• Jeffery Tabor · Appleton, US
• Mark Joseph VanGroll · Kaukauna, US
• Mark James VanRossum · Appleton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 16, 2001
• Grant date: Mar 9, 2004
• Expiry date: Apr 26, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F13/55115
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A folded absorbent article including a front portion, back portion, and an intermediate crotch portion. The front portion joins the back portion by first and second side seams forming a waist opening and leg openings. Each of the front and back portions includes a demarcation line positioned between first and second zones. Each of the front and back portions includes a first section, a second section, and a third section. The first section is longitudinally folded over the second section providing a first side seam positioned laterally outboard of a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article to form a first longitudinal fold line. The third section is folded over the first section providing the second side seam positioned laterally outboard of the longitudinal centerline to form a second longitudinal fold line. The first zone is transversely folded along the demarcation line over a portion of the crotch forming a folded absorbent article.