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(11)

EP 0 879 040 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 25.11.1998 Bulletin 1998/48 (21) Application number: 97904181.0 (22) Date of filing: 04.02.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61F 13/ 15( . ) A61F 13/ 82( . ) A61F 13/ 56( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1997/001659 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/028773 (14.08.1997 Gazette 1997/35)

(84) Designated Contracting States: BE DE ES FR GB IT NL SE (30) Priority: 07.02.1996 US 19960001128P 24.01.1997 US 19970789368 (71) Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC. Neenah, Wisconsin 54956 (US)	(72) Inventors: SCHLANGEN, Karen, Sue State College, PA 16803 (US) MANZO, Christine, Dawn Appleton, WI 54915 (US) MATELSKI, Billie, Darlene Neenah, WI 54956 (US) (74) Representative: Diehl, Hermann, Dr. Dipl.-Phys., et al  DIEHL, GLÄSER, HILTL & PARTNER Patentanwälte Flüggenstrasse 13 80639 München 80639 München (DE)