Patents Examined by Elizabeth Cole
  • Patent number: 8043689
    Abstract: A pyramidal geotextile fabric comprising two sets of multi-lobe filament yarns interwoven in substantially perpendicular direction to each other, each of the multi-lobe filament yarns having pre-determined, different heat shrinkage characteristics such that, upon heating, the fabric forms a three-dimensional, cuspated profile. A method of stabilizing soil and reinforcing vegetation comprises the steps of placing a three-dimensional, high-profile woven fabric into soil, wherein the fabric comprises two sets of multi-lobe filament yarns interwoven in substantially perpendicular direction to each other, each of the multi-lobe filament yarns having pre-determined, different heat shrinkage characteristics such that, upon heating, the fabric forms a three-dimensional, cuspated profile; securing the fabric to the ground; and, distributing soil and seed onto the fabric such that the section of ground is quickly revegetated and thereby protected from further erosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Propex Operating Company LLC
    Inventor: Sidney M. Weiser
  • Patent number: 8034430
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a nonwoven fabric includes a first web that is at least partially formed of extruded strands which include an auto-adhesive material. The nonwoven fabric is adapted to be bonded to another item that includes a similar auto-adhesive material. In other embodiments, a method of forming a nonwoven fabric includes extruding a plurality of strands that are formed of an auto-adhesive material. The method further includes routing the plurality of strands toward a moving support, depositing the plurality of strands onto the moving support, and then stabilizing the plurality of strands to form a web. In other embodiments, a fastening system includes a nonwoven fabric that has a web which is formed of a plurality of extruded strands that include an auto-adhesive material. The fastening system further includes a foam layer that has a surface with a plurality of free-standing struts that include a similar auto-adhesive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadezhda V. Efremova, Bruce M. Siebers, Lisha Yu, Christian L. Sanders, Gary D. Williams, Nicholas A. Kraft, Sheng-Hsin Hu, Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Fung-jou Chen
  • Patent number: 8034440
    Abstract: An elastomeric film includes a first layer co-extruded with a second layer. The first layer includes a single-site catalyzed ethylene-alpha olefin copolymer having a density of about 0.860 to about 0.900 grams per centimeter. The second layer includes a styrene copolymer selected from styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, or styrene-(ethylene/propylene)-styrene-(ethylene/propylene). The first layer may optionally include filler particles. An extensible laminate including the elastomeric film is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Tod Morman, Prasad Shrikrishna Potnis, David Michael Matela, Sjon-Paul Lee Conyer, Gregory Tod Sudduth, Randall James Palmer
  • Patent number: 8029892
    Abstract: A breathable film includes at least one polymer (a) taken from the group comprising an ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer (a1), an optionally neutralized ethylene/ (meth)acrylic acid copolymer (a2), an ethylene/vinyl monomer copolymer (a3), the (a1)/(a2) blend, the (a1)/(a3) blend, the (a2)/(a3) blend and the (a1)/(a2)/(a3) blend, and/or includes at least one functionalized polyethylene (b); and at least one copolymer (c) having copolyamide blocks or polyester blocks and polyether blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Atofina
    Inventor: Christophe Lacroix
  • Patent number: 8021995
    Abstract: A fiber mixture according to the invention comprises fibers A comprising a polymer A containing a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and fibers B comprising a thermoplastic polymer B other than the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, said thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer having a starting temperature for solidifying of 65° C. or above as measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and containing 3.00×106 or less polar-solvent-insoluble particles per g counted on a particle size distribution analyzer, which is based on an electrical sensing zone method, equipped with an aperture tube having an orifice of 100 ?m in diameter. An elastic nonwoven fabric comprises the fiber mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Shigeyuki Motomura, Satoshi Yamasaki, Daisuke Nishiguchi, Hisashi Kawanabe
  • Patent number: 8018587
    Abstract: A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric comprising a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns. The fabric exhibits both a light transmission property and a light reflection property. The amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, such as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one source of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers and at least one detector responsive to such incident radiation. The source and detector are associated with the fabric such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric when the fabric stretches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Textronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia Kuo, George W. Coulston
  • Patent number: 6716774
    Abstract: A knitted screen cloth fabric including a polymer coated, fiber-reinforced, flexible, foil-like web and method for making same are disclosed, the web including a lattice material of filaments and a polyester binding thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: John Frederick Porter, Roger Peter Lewington
  • Patent number: 6709728
    Abstract: The present invention relates to specific methods of producing cleated rubber-backed floor mats (such as dust control or rubber mats) through the utilization of the combination of a perforated coated woven fabric article and a cushioned platen liner between the article and the metal platen of an in-line dust control mat manufacturing machine. Such a procedure permits a more efficient manner of producing cleated anti-creep dust control mats than previously followed. The produced mat as well as the woven fabric article/cushioned platen liner combination are also encompassed within this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Robert C. Kerr, Amy B. Streeton