(19)
(11) EP 1 453 552 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication:
08.09.2004 Bulletin 2004/37

(21) Application number: 02790081.0

(22) Date of filing: 10.12.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7A61L 15/60
(86) International application number:
PCT/US2002/039561
(87) International publication number:
WO 2003/051417 (26.06.2003 Gazette 2003/26)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO

(30) Priority: 14.12.2001 US 17683
08.11.2002 US 291239
08.11.2002 US 291187

(71) Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Neenah, Wisconsin 54956 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • DODGE, II, Richard, Norris
    Appleton, WI 54911 (US)
  • LANGE, Nancy, Birbiglia
    Oshkosh, WI 54901 (US)
  • CHAKRAVARTY, Jayant
    Appleton, WI 54915 (US)
  • QIN, Jian
    Appleton, WI 54915 (US)
  • RANGANATHAN, Sridhar
    Suwanee, GA 30024 (US)
  • TSAI, Fu-Jya, Daniel
    Appleton, WI 54915 (US)
  • UTTECHT, Cathleen, M.
    Menasha, WI 54952 (US)
  • ZHANG, Xiaomin
    Appleton, WI 54911 (US)

(74) Representative: Davies, Christopher Robert 
Frank B. Dehn & Co.Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys,179 Queen Victoria Street
London EC4V 4EL
London EC4V 4EL (GB)

   


(54) ABSORBENT MATERIALS HAVING IMPROVED FLUID HANDLING PROPERTIES