Patents Examined by Amy B. Vanatta
  • Patent number: 7493678
    Abstract: A method of inspecting cloth includes conveying a continuous cloth by activating a belt transfer device; disposing a transverse label bar assembly on the cloth wherein the label bar assembly is adapted to slide about a transverse label meter on a top edge of the belt transfer device; and in response to finding a defective point of the cloth sliding the label bar assembly to record a distance between the label bar assembly and a left end of the label meter as a value in an X axis, activating a stop watch proximate the top edge of the belt transfer device to record length of the cloth as a value in a Y axis, and representing the defective point as (Xn1, Yn2) where n1 is a number in a range of 1 to a predetermined number, and n2 is the length of the cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Ming-Tse Chen
  • Patent number: 7490362
    Abstract: A cover for use in breast feeding or bottle feeding an infant is disclosed, wherein the 5 cover (11) is formed from a sheet of fabric or the like shaped so that it may be comfortably draped around a mother's torso during breast feeding in order to allow discrete breast feeding of an infant. The cover is provided with a single strap means (15) to fit over a shoulder of the mother to prevent the cover from falling away from the torso. The cover may also be provided with one or more pockets (18) to hold nursing pads and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventor: Jennifer Owen
  • Patent number: 7484277
    Abstract: To provide a method of producing a nonwoven fabric for artificial leather and substrate for artificial leather which is capable of providing the substrate for artificial leather having a sufficient shape stability by producing the nonwoven fabric for artificial leather without causing serious damages to the scrim. A method of producing a nonwoven fabric for artificial leather, including a step of entanglement for uniting superposed fiber web and scrim by a needle punching, wherein the needle punching is performed in a manner satisfying the following formulae 1 and 2: S1<2P?S1/cos(D1×(?/180))??(1) S2<2P?S2/cos(D2×(?/180))??(2) wherein S1 is a diameter of warps constituting the scrim, S2 is a diameter of wefts constituting the scrim, D1 is an angle between the warps and barbs which penetrate the scrim, D2 is an angle between the wefts and barbs which penetrate the scrim, and P is a total barb depth of the barbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tanaka, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Hisao Yoneda
  • Patent number: 7484276
    Abstract: A manufacturing process of a composite nonwoven composed of two webs, respectively, a lower web comprising long artificial and/or synthetic fibres, the size of which is between 15 and 80 mm, and an upper web comprising short natural fibres, the size of which is between 0.5 and 8 mm, characterized, on-line, by: dispersing fist of all the natural fibres into the water; then, putting the aqueous dispersion thus obtained on a carded lower web that is about to form or has been manufactured beforehand; then filtering the excess water through the lower web; then interlacing the fibres of the upper web with the fibres of the lower web with water jets; finally drying and then reeling up the obtained nonwoven composite. An installation for carrying out the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick Jeambar
  • Patent number: 7484249
    Abstract: This invention provides an apron having at least one beverage pocket specifically designed for holding beverage containers at a convenient location for easy access by the user. The pocket includes a reinforced outer rim, formed from a durable polymer ring or gusset in an illustrative embodiment. In one implementation, the pocket is located along the lower end of a side wing of the apron so that it is generally below and within easy reach of the wearer's right (or left) hand. The ring/gusset secures an appropriately sized inner beverage pocket pouch that has a depth and perimeter size sufficient to house an average-sized beverage container. The depth of is arranged so that the top of an average container either protrudes slightly, or is completely recessed within the pouch. The pouch may be constructed from one or more layers of insulating material to allow the drink to retain its heat or coolness and preventing transfer of heat/cold to the wearer's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: The Gem Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Quincy Reese, Mark T. Salander
  • Patent number: 7480969
    Abstract: A yarn conditioning apparatus for removing interlace nodes from a multifilament, crimped yarn, and including a first roll assembly for accepting the multifilament, interlaced yarn from a yarn supply at a predetermined yarn feed rate and outputting the yarn, and a second yarn roll assembly having a yarn feed rate greater than the yarn feed rate of the yarn input roll assembly for accepting the output yarn from the first roll assembly and stretching the yarn to a degree sufficient to remove interlace nodes from the yarn and outputting the conditioned yarn to downstream processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Rhyne
  • Patent number: 7478463
    Abstract: A process for hydro-entangling a layer of fibers into a web includes the steps of conveying a web from a supply to lie against a traveling hydro-entangling fabric. A layer of fibers is deposited onto a traveling forming fabric, the forming fabric supporting the fiber layer from below. The forming fabric and the hydro-entangling fabric converge at a combining location where the forming fabric and hydro-entangling fabric orient and travel adjacent each other such that the fiber layer and web are sandwiched between the forming fabric and the hydro-entangling fabric with the fiber layer supported from below by the hydro-entangling fabric and web. The forming fabric is separated from the fiber layer after the web and overlying fiber layer are supported from below by the hydro-entangling fabric and the hydro-entangling fabric is conveyed through a hydro-entangling station to hydro-entangle the fibers into the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Michael Conner
  • Patent number: 7475459
    Abstract: A yarn conditioning apparatus and methods for removing interlace nodes from a multifilament, crimped yarn, and including a first roll assembly for accepting the multifilament, interlaced yarn from a yarn supply at a predetermined yarn feed rate and outputting the yarn, and a second yarn roll assembly having a yarn feed rate greater than the yarn feed rate of the yarn input roll assembly for accepting the output yarn from the first roll assembly and stretching the yarn to a degree sufficient to remove interlace nodes from the yarn and outputting the conditioned yarn to downstream processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Rhyne
  • Patent number: 7472463
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing compressed, gas-stabilized tampons are disclosed. The gas-stabilized tampons include tampons having preferably multiple folds for improved leakage protection and comfort through improved expansion characteristics. The number of folds can vary from 3 to 20 and greater. The process includes the step of forcing a gas through the compressed tampon. The gas can include steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Steven Ray Gilbert, Matthew Howard Wasson, Edward Paul Carlin, Margaret Henderson Hasse, Dale Francis Bittner, Douglas Toms
  • Patent number: 7469424
    Abstract: Protective garments that can keep the front of the wearer's clothes clean and dry are provided. The bibs include a substantially overlapping slit formed in the center of a lower section of a front panel. The bibs with the slit are easy to put on and provide substantial coverage of frontal position of a wearer. The bibs can be used during eating, drinking, sitting, playing, crawling, etc. In some examples, the open back can enable the bib to be easily slipped on an already seated person without the need to stand. One or more bibs provide the ability to fasten the apron around each leg separately resulting in mobility and coverage, as well as the ability to use in seating where there is a vertical obstruction between the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventors: Michele Annette Good, Jennifer Ting Chow
  • Patent number: 7469425
    Abstract: A bib for adult and infant use having a multi-ply construction with both a permeable and impermeable ply. The bib includes a collar section which has an aperture securable about the neck of the wearer. The dimensions of the bib are selected so that an apron portion of the bib can be detachably secured to a table surface and a pouch is formed in the area above the wearer's lap when the wearer is seated in a normal position with respect to the table surface. The opposite side edges of the bib in the pouch area are formed with barriers to prevent food from spilling from the bib to minimize clean-up and soilage. The apron portion secured to a table surface provides a sanitary placemat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sabo Worldwide LLC
    Inventor: Frank S. DeStefano
  • Patent number: 7467446
    Abstract: A system for hydroentangling a fabric material, while reducing the incidence of jet streaks therein, is provided. Various embodiments of the present invention provide an elongate hydroentangling jet strip spaced apart from the fabric material and extending substantially across a width of the fabric perpendicular to the processing direction. The strip defines a first row of orifices, each having a first diameter. The first plurality of orifices is spaced apart along a width of the elongate strip. The strip further defines a second plurality of orifices disposed downstream from the first plurality of orifices in the processing direction and offset therefrom along the width of the elongate strip. The second plurality of orifices each define a second diameter smaller than the first diameter such that fluid streams generated thereby impart a correspondingly smaller impact force on the fabric material than fluid streams generated by the first plurality of orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Hooman Vahedi Tafreshi, Nagendra Anantharamaiah
  • Patent number: 7467445
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of hydroentangling a fibrous web (N) including of positioning the web on a porous moving support (10) in translatory movement or in rotation about an axis, and of treating at least one side of the web by means of a plurality of streams of water arranged in a row perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web, characterized in that the row includes streams with a first cross-section (14A) and at least streams with a second cross-section (24A) different from the first. The invention also relates to a process including treatment of the web by means of a plurality of streams of water arranged in at least two rows perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web. The rows include streams with a first cross-section (14, 16, 17, 18, 19) and at least streams with a second cross-section (24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 39) different from the first cross-section, at least one row including streams the spacing of which is not constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific France
    Inventors: Bernard Louis Dit Picard, Philippe Gregoire
  • Patent number: 7461438
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying finishing agents onto a nonwoven web, wherein there is provided a device for pre-bonding of the nonwoven web. There is provided at least one guide surface, over which the pre-bonded nonwoven web is guided. Outlet openings for the finishing agent are provided in the guide surface, so that finishing agent can be applied onto the nonwoven web being guided over the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Reifenhaeuser GmbH & Co. Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Sebastian Sommer, Jens Guedden, Thomas Fett
  • Patent number: 7454817
    Abstract: A heat and fire resistant planar unitary shield formed of heat and flame resistant fibers and voluminous bulking fibers. The shield material has a heat and flame resistant zone with a majority of the heat and flame resistant fibers, and a voluminous bulking zone with a majority of the voluminous bulking fibers. The fibers are distributed through the shield material in an manner that the heat and flame resistant fibers collect closest to the outer surface of the shield with the heat and flame resistant zone, and the voluminous bulking fibers collect closest to the outer surface of the shield material with the voluminous bulking zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: David E. Wenstrup, Gregory J. Thompson, Jason G. Chay, Ty G. Dawson
  • Patent number: 7451494
    Abstract: A protective bib for safeguarding clothing of a user from spills, stains, or burns, while eating, drinking, or smoking while traveling in a vehicle, train, plane, bus, boat, or other mode of transportation having or not having a diagonally extending seat belt. The protective bib has a protective covering generally trapezoidal in shape, including a top edge, a top liner, and a non-permeable bottom liner. An adhesive secures the top and bottom liners together. The top edge extends diagonally across the chest of the user and has a self-contained textile adhesive envelope-like flap which secures the bib in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Inventors: Keith Monroe, Lloyd Nelson
  • Patent number: 7448089
    Abstract: A baby bib with a protective neckline is disclosed. The bib protects the baby's clothes and skin from spilled food. A protective neck strap scrunches under a child's neck to ensure that the neckline is adequately covered and protected from food and liquid spilled or drooled out of a baby's mouth when feeding. Back straps secure the bib to the torso of the baby. The bib is removed without moving or disturbing the baby. The bib is constructed from either waterproof and washable materials or disposable materials. Other features include various accessories such as pockets and tear-off attachments and a fastening system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Chez Shea Baby, LLC
    Inventor: Shea Kelly
  • Patent number: 7448090
    Abstract: A nursing garment in which the front panel is divided into upper and lower sections whereby the upper section is overlaps and is attached to the lower section via a detachable seam extending horizontally across the front of the garment below the breast. Optionally nursing pads are placed into annular pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Fresh Ideas (Australia) Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Tracey Lucock
  • Patent number: 7448118
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for decorating and fixing a non-woven material (15) in the form of a web of endless fabric, said device comprising a screening drum (6) and a decoration shell (7) which surrounds the screening drum (6) from outside. The fibres (15) of the non-woven material, located on the decoration shell (7), are needled and fixed according to the decoration formed by the holes of the decoration shell (7) by means of energy-rich water jets (14) or air flows. The invention is characterised in that the decoration shell (7) and the screening drum (6) are interconnected by mechanical means (8, 9, 10) that can be easily detached. In a preferred embodiment, the decoration shell (7) comprises a counter-toothed ring (9) and the screening drum (6) comprises a toothed ring (8), said rings positively engaging in each other in such a way that a rotation of the decoration shell (7) and the screening drum (6) in relation to each other is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Fleissner GmbH
    Inventor: Ullrich Münstermann
  • Patent number: 7444685
    Abstract: A reconfigurable mealtime accessory tote, comprising a thin, pliant bib-shaped structure that has a first pocket on the bib-shaped structure with a side opening to receive mealtime utensils (e.g. fork and spoon) in a horizontal direction, and a second pocket with a top opening to receive a drinking cup in the horizontal opening. When arranged in the transport configuration, the bib-shaped structure is adapted to wrap around the drinking cup and utensils and form a rolled up 3-D volumetric structure that can be releasably fastened together (e.g. by button snaps, Velcro or the like) as a single, compact assembly and transported to a location remote from home. When arranged in the mealtime configuration, the bib-shaped structure can function as a bib for the child while eating, using the drinking cup and utensils that were once contained within the reconfigurable mealtime accessory tote during its prior transport configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Bonobos, LLC
    Inventor: Laura Haddad Rose