Method of tucking refastenable side seams

US6776316B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. · US

Inventors

• David J. Van Eperen · Appleton, US
• Steven James Langolf · Fond du Lac, US
• Steven L. Schnasse · New London, US
• Kent A. Franklin · Appleton, US
• David Michael Lehner · Appleton, US
• Jesse Sorenson · Little Chute, US
• Rodney Steele Gardinier · Appleton, US
• David Michael Clemens · Menasha, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 28, 2001
• Grant date: Aug 17, 2004
• Expiry date: Apr 23, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T156/1051
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of tucking a pair of refastenable side seams into a body portion of a pant-like garment in which the fold locations can be controlled and the likelihood of creases occurring in the fastening components is reduced or eliminated. The garment is positioned either on one vacuum conveyor or between an upper vacuum conveyor and a lower vacuum conveyor. Vacuum zones from the conveyors hold the garment in place. While the garment is held by the vacuum zones, the refastenable side seams are pushed between the front and back regions toward one another with the fastening components being placed in a flat configuration.