(19)

(11)

EP 0 851 748 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 08.07.1998 Bulletin 1998/28 (21) Application number: 96928841.0 (22) Date of filing: 08.08.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61F 5/ 44( . ) A61F 13/ 49( . ) A61F 13/ 15( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/013015 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/010785 (27.03.1997 Gazette 1997/14)

(84) Designated Contracting States: BE DE ES FR GB IT NL SE (30) Priority: 22.09.1995 US 19950004212 06.11.1995 US 19950554640 (71) Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC. Neenah, Wisconsin 54956 (US)

(72) Inventors: ROESSLER, Thomas, Harold Menasha, WI 54952 (US) VAN GOMPEL, Paul, Theodore Hortonville, WI 54944 (US) SCHLINZ, Daniel, Robert Greenville, WI 54942 (US) HEATH, Mark, Gordon Butte des Morts, WI 54927 (US) FROST, Geoffrey, Walter Ogden, UT 84404 (US) (74) Representative: Diehl, Hermann, Dr. Dipl.-Phys., et al  DIEHL, GLÄSER, HILTL & PARTNER Patentanwälte Flüggenstrasse 13 80639 München 80639 München (DE)