Abstract: Papermaking fibers are treated with certain hydrolytic enzymes, specifically including cellulases, such as truncated endo-glucanases, which have been freed of their cellulose binding domain, to generate aldehyde groups at or near the surface of the fibers. Paper sheets made from the resulting fibers exhibit improved strength characteristics relative to paper sheets made from untreated fibers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 29, 2001
Date of Patent:
October 21, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Werner Franz Wilhelm Lonsky, Alberto Ricardo Negri
Abstract: Synthetic polymers having hydrogen bonding capability and one or more polysiloxane moieties are capable of providing two distinct properties to paper products, such as tissues, which properties heretofore have been imparted through the use of at least two different molecules. The backbone of these synthetic polymers is based on modified vinyl polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamides and polyacrylic acids.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 7, 2001
Date of Patent:
October 14, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Wen Zyo Schroeder, Daniel Arthur Clarahan, Mike Thomas Goulet, Thomas Gerard Shannon
Abstract: Modified polysaccharides (such as starches, gums, chitosans, celluloses, alginates, sugars, etc.), which are commonly used in the paper industry as strengthening agents, surface sizes, coating binders, emulsifiers and adhesives, can be combined into a single molecule with amphiphilic hydrocarbons (e.g. surface active agents) which are commonly utilized in the paper industry to control absorbency, improve softness, enhance surface feel and function as dispersants. The resulting molecule is a modified polysaccharide having surface active moieties which can provide several potential benefits, depending on the specific combination employed, including: (a) strength aids that do not impart stiffness; (b) softeners that do not reduce strength; (c) wet strength with improved wet/dry strength ratio; (d) debonders with reduced linting and sloughing; (e) strength aids with controlled absorbency; and (f) surface sizing agents with improved tactile properties.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 5, 2002
Date of Patent:
September 16, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas Gerard Shannon, Daniel Arthur Clarahan, Mike Thomas Goulet, Wen Zyo Schroeder
Abstract: Wet wipes impregnated with an aqueous solution containing cationic fatty acid surfactants provide improved tactile properties and cleaning efficacy without excessive skin irritation or foaming when compared to conventional wet wipes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 27, 2000
Date of Patent:
September 2, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Douglas Bryan Cole, Katherine Denise Stahl, Rhonda Sue Solberg
Abstract: Disclosed is a fibrous absorbent structure that is wet stable and has large void volume with a density below the critical density of the fiber employed. In one embodiment, the fibrous absorbent uses open-celled foam technologies to keep the fibrous structure expanded and bonded. In other embodiments, the resulting fibrous structure resembles an open-celled polymeric foam, with fibers serving as struts stabilized by binder material. In another embodiment, the resulting fibrous structure is filled with hydrophilic open-celled foams with the cell size substantially smaller than the fibrous pores. Such a wet-stable, high void volume fibrous absorbent can be used in a disposable product intended for the absorption of fluid such as body fluid, including extensible absorbent articles.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 26, 2001
Date of Patent:
August 5, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Fung-jou Chen, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Jian Qin, Yong Li
Abstract: A tissue product having improved hand feel and good wettability is produced by printing onto one or both sides of the tissue an aqueous emulsion containing a hydrophilically-modified amino-functional polydimethylsiloxane. The hydrophilically-modified amino-functional polydimethylsiloxane structure has one or more pendant groups containing an ethylene oxide moiety and/or propylene oxide moiety.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2002
Date of Patent:
July 29, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Kou-Chang Liu, Amber Marie Fortune, Geoffrey Fenn Carlow, Timothy Dale Ferguson, Roger Edward Wendler, Jr., Heath David Van Wychen, Daniel John VanderHeiden
Abstract: A tissue product having improved hand feel and good wettability is produced by printing onto one or both sides of the tissue an aqueous emulsion containing a hydrophilically-modified amino-functional polydimethylsiloxane. The hydrophilically-modified amino-functional polydimethylsiloxane structure has one or more pendant groups containing ethylene oxide moieties.
Abstract: Modified polysaccharides (such as starches, gums, chitosans, celluloses, alginates, sugars, etc.), which are commonly used in the paper industry as strengthening agents, surface sizes, coating binders, emulsifiers and adhesives, can be combined into a single molecule with modified aliphatic hydrocarbons, which are commonly utilized, in conjunction with cationic moieties, as softeners, debonders, lubricants and sizing agents. The resulting molecule is a modified polysaccharide having an aliphatic moiety which can provide several potential benefits, depending on the specific combination employed, including: (a) strength aids that do not impart stiffness; (b) softeners that do not reduce strength; (c) wet strength with improved wet/dry strength ratio; (d) debonders with reduced linting and sloughing; (e) strength aids with controlled absorbency; and (f) surface sizing agents with improved tactile properties.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 20, 2000
Date of Patent:
July 22, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas Gerard Shannon, Daniel Arthur Clarahan, Mike Thomas Goulet, Wen Zyo Schroeder
Abstract: A tissue product having improved hand feel and good wettability is produced by printing onto one or both sides of the tissue an aqueous emulsion containing a hydrophilically-modified amino-functional polysiloxane.
Abstract: A tissue product having improved hand feel and good wettability is produced by printing onto one or both sides of the tissue an aqueous emulsion containing a hydrophilically-modified amino-functional polydimethylsiloxane. The hydrophilically-modified amino-functional polydimethylsiloxane structure has one or more pendant groups containing ethylene oxide moieties.
Abstract: The present invention is directed to a paper product which is very flexible, tough when wet, and has a high bulk. In particular, the paper towel has a dry, specific modulus less than 0.0040 kilograms, a bulk greater than 10 cubic centimeters per gram and a wet strength ratio greater than 0.40.
Abstract: The energy efficiency of a throughdrying papermaking process is improved by recycling exhaust air from one or more throughdryers to further heat the web at various places in the process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 30, 2001
Date of Patent:
April 22, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael Alan Hermans, Charlcie Christie Kay Leitner, Frank Stephen Hada, Ronald Frederick Gropp, Marek Parszewski
Abstract: An especially soft creped tissue can be produced by the indirect addition of chemical softening agents to the tissue web by applying the chemical softening agents to the surface of the Yankee dryer, such as by spraying. More specifically, the softening agents can be included as part of the creping adhesive formulation, which is sprayed onto the surface of the Yankee dryer between the creping blade and the pressure roll. The softening agents are subsequently transferred to the tissue sheet surface as the sheet is pressed against the Yankee dryer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 21, 1997
Date of Patent:
April 15, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Sherri Lynn Drew, Peter John Allen, Stephen John McCullough
Abstract: A container for wet wipes includes a pop-up style dispensing means formed by a rigid port which surrounds a flexible, rubber-like material or sheet having one or more slits through which the wet wipes are dispensed. The configuration of the slits, in combination with the flexibility of the rubber-like material, enables the user to reach into the container through the slits to grasp a wet wipe in the event the pop-up feature fails, either due to fallback or a missed interfold.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 30, 2000
Date of Patent:
February 25, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Frederick Allan Buck, Andrew Kuo, Yvette Lynn Hammonds, John David Amundson
Abstract: Modified polysaccharides (such as starches, gums, chitosans, celluloses, alginates, sugars, etc.), which are commonly used in the paper industry as strengthening agents, surface sizes, coating binders, emulsifiers and adhesives, can be combined into a single molecule with amphiphilic hydrocarbons (e.g. surface active agents) which are commonly utilized in the paper industry to control absorbency, improve softness, enhance surface feel and function as dispersants. The resulting molecule is a modified polysaccharide having surface active moieties which can provide several potential benefits, depending on the specific combination employed, including: (a) strength aids that do not impart stiffness; (b) softeners that do not reduce strength; (c) wet strength with improved wet/dry strength ratio; (d) debonders with reduced linting and sloughing; (e) strength aids with controlled absorbency; and (f) surface sizing agents with improved tactile properties.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 20, 2000
Date of Patent:
February 11, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas Gerard Shannon, Daniel Arthur Clarahan, Mike Thomas Goulet, Wen Zyo Schroeder
Abstract: A tissue product having improved hand feel and good wettability is produced by printing onto one or both sides of the tissue an aqueous emulsion containing a derivitized amino-functional polysiloxane. The derivitized amino-functional polysiloxane structure has one or more pendant groups containing an amine derivative.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 15, 2001
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2003
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Kou-Chang Liu, Geoffrey Fenn Carlow, Timothy Dale Ferguson, Amber Marie Fortune, Daniel John VanderHeiden, Heath David Van Wychen, Roger Edward Wendler, Jr.
Abstract: A tissue product having improved hand feel and good wettability is produced by printing onto one or both sides of the tissue an aqueous emulsion containing a derivitized amino-functional polysiloxane. The derivitized amino-functional polysiloxane structure has one or more pendant groups containing an amine derivative.
Abstract: Virgin fibers or de-inked recycled fibers modified by steam explosion in the presence of certain chemicals are able to form handsheets with higher bulk while substantially retaining strength and brightness.