Patents Examined by John J. Guarriello
  • Patent number: 6680265
    Abstract: A nonwoven web made from a polymeric fiber blend comprising at least one elastomeric polyolefin and at least one nonelastomeric polyolefin useful as the elastic base sheet for a nonwoven laminate is disclosed. Preferably, the polymeric blend will comprise a nonelastomeric resin in the range of from about 10 to about 90 percent by weight, and an elastomeric resin of from about 90 to about 10 percent by weight. The elastomeric polyolefin will have a density of less than about 0.885 g/cm3 and the nonelastomeric polyolefin will have a density of at least about 0.890 g/cm3. In one particular embodiment, the polymeric blend may comprise about 50 percent to about 90 percent by weight of a narrow molecular weight distribution polyethylene and about 50 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a nonelastomeric polyolefin such as a linear low density polyethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Allen Smith, Kenneth B. Close, Richard C. Beck, Jay S. Shultz, David J. Baer, Susan E. Shawver, Paul W. Estey, Deepak R. Parikh, Kenneth B. Stewart, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6673727
    Abstract: An orthopedic casting material comprising a substrate impregnated with a water-curable resin comprising an aromatic polyisocyanate and a polyol, wherein the free NCO level of said prepolymer is from about 6% to about 10%. Preferably the free NCO level is from about 7% to about 8%. Preferably the polyol has a molecular weight of at least 2,000, and a hydroxyl number of from about 28 to about 56, preferably from about 35 to about 40. The casting material may be packaged as a kit with a casting aid comprising a substrate impregnated with a lubricating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: EBI, L.P.
    Inventors: Roy A. Morris, Jose A. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 6667254
    Abstract: New fibrous nonwoven webs are taught that comprise a mass of polyethylene terephthalate fibers that exhibit a double melting peak on a DSC plot: one peak is representative of a first molecular portion within the fiber that is in non-chain-extended crystalline form, and the other peak is representative of a second molecular portion within the fiber that is in chain-extended crystalline form and has a melting point elevated over that of the non-chain-extended crystalline form. Webs comprising fibers having such a morphology have a unique combination of durability and dimensional stability. The fibers are generally autogenously bonded at points of fiber intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Delton R. Thompson, Jr., David A. Olson, David C. Brownlee, Pamela A. Percha, Myles L. Brostrom
  • Patent number: 6658670
    Abstract: A composite structure for a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter, or a glove for a firefighter, has a moisture absorber, a moisture barrier covering the moisture absorber, and an outer shell covering the moisture barrier. The moisture absorber has a fibrous matrix incorporating a superabsorbent polymer, as particles or as fibers, and is disposed between an inner cover pervious to moisture and an outer cover. The inner and outer covers may be quilted so as to segregate discrete regions of the fibrous matrix. In one contemplated embodiment, the moisture barrier is affixed to the outer shell so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between an outer surface of the moisture barrier and an inner surface of the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Morning Pride Manufacturing, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William L. Grilliot, Mary I. Grilliot
  • Patent number: 6660667
    Abstract: A coating composition for fabrics includes wetted microspheres containing a phase change material dispersed throughout a polymer binder, a surfactant, a dispersant, an antifoam agent and a thickener. Preferred phase change materials include paraffinic hydrocarbons. The microspheres may be microencapsulated. To prepare the coating composition, microspheres containing phase change material are wetted and dispersed in a dispersion in a water solution containing a surfactant, a dispersant, an antifoam agent and a polymer mixture. The coating is then applied to a fabric. In an alternative embodiment, an extensible fabric is coated with an extensible binder containing microencapsulated phase change material to form an extensible, coated fabric. The coated fabric is optionally flocked. The coated fabrics are manufactured using transfer techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignees: Outlast Technologies, Inc., R. H. Wyner Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Zuckerman, Robert J. Pushaw, Bernard T. Perry, Daniel M. Wyner
  • Patent number: 6656858
    Abstract: A laminate wall structure which can be used as an exterior wall in manufactured housing and site built construction is made up of a low density layer having a density of from about one-half pound to three pounds per cubic foot, a second, reinforcing layer laminated to the low density layer and, optionally, a cellulosic layer laminated to the second, reinforcing layer. The low density layer is preferably a foamed polymer layer, the second, reinforcing layer is a polymer fabric, a biaxially oriented polymeric film or a fiberglass reinforced material and the cellulosic layer can be impregnated with an adhesive and/or resin in order to strengthen the laminate structure. This laminate wall structure has a low weight and yet is strong enough to meet wind zone wall diaphragm requirements for housing construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: National Shelter Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John Cahill
  • Patent number: 6649546
    Abstract: An elastically stretchable composite sheet that includes an elastic layer and an inelastic layer formed with stretchable fibers having a relatively small diameter and bonded to at least one surface of the elastic layer. In the inelastic layer bonded to the elastic layer is formed with thermoplastic synthetic fiber, at least 80% by weight of stretchable fibers includes thermoplastic synthetic fiber containing lubricant of 0.1˜5.0% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ohata
  • Patent number: 6642299
    Abstract: An aqueous binder composition containing a urea-formaldehyde resin modified with an additive comprising (1) styrene acrylic acid or styrene acrylate, (2) an adduct of styrene, maleic anhydride, and an acrylic acid or acrylate or (3) a physical mixture of a styrene acrylic acid or styrene-acrylate copolymer and a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer. The resulting binder is used in the preparation of fiber mats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Resins, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacey L. Wertz, George J. Anderson, Kurt D. Gabrielson, John B. Hines, William S. King
  • Patent number: 6638882
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of preparing improved fiber glass compositions using an improved resin binder. The resin binder comprises an aqueous solution of a resole resin, a catalyst comprising an ammonia salt of an aryl sulfonic acid, and optional binder modifiers. It has been found that the use of ammonium aryl sulfonate salts in resin binder compositions, as in the present invention, provides an enhanced cure rate and also enables manufacture of a fiber glass composition exhibiting enhanced uncured storage properties, increased thermal stability, and reduced corrosiveness to metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Knauf Fiber Glass GmbH
    Inventors: Clarence H. Helbing, Brian Lee Swift
  • Patent number: 6638605
    Abstract: Disposable surgical drapes and gowns exhibiting desirable softness, foldability, absorbency and breathability characteristics incorporate cluster bonded nonwoven laminates. Film layers and nonwoven web layers are secured together by spaced apart unbounded adhesive clusters. Each adhesive cluster includes a perimeterless grouping of discrete spaced apart adhesive droplets. A method and modified apparatus for making the cluster bonded laminates is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Allegiance Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Ankuda, Jr., Eric S. Thompson, Joe Miller, Daniel L. Swanberg
  • Patent number: 6626964
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to flame resistant fabrics that comprise a plurality of inherently flame resistant fibers and a plurality of cellulosic fibers containing a flame retardant compound. In one arrangement, the inherently flame resistant fibers have been dyed and/or shrinkage controlled with a dye-assistant such that the fabric contains a residual amount of a dye-assistant selected from the group consisting of N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, benzyl alcohol, N,N-dibutylformamide, N,N-diethylbenzamide, hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium salt, N,N-dimethylbenzamide, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, N-octylpyrrolidone, aryl ether, an approximately 50/50 blend of N,N-dimethylcaprylamide and N,N-dimethylcapramide, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventors: Clyde C. Lunsford, Phillip H. Riggins, Michael T. Stanhope
  • Patent number: 6607825
    Abstract: As a technique capable of stably providing various metal film adhered bodies for printed circuit boards having an excellent peel strength even in the wiring having higher density and higher pattern accuracy and other industrial parts, there are provided adhesive, adhesive layer and metal film adhered body in which a mixed resin consisting of a thermoplastic resin and an uncured thermosetting resin including a resin substituted at a part of its functional group with a photosensitive group and/or an uncured photosensitive resin is used as a heat-resistant resin matrix constituting the adhesive and further a cured homogeneous resin composite forming a quasi-homogeneous compatible structure, co-continuous phase structure or spherical domain structure is used as a heat-resistant resin matrix of the adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Dong Wang, Motoo Asai
  • Patent number: 6582810
    Abstract: A one-step method of imparting breathability and elasticity to a film includes coextruding elastic fibers within a matrix of a filled, semi-rigid film structure. Once the elastic fibers are within the film structure, the film can be stretched to impart breathability, while the elastic fibers provide elasticity. Furthermore, the elastic fibers can include an absorbent material. The resulting breathable, elastic film is particularly useful in diapers and other personal care products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. Heffelfinger
  • Patent number: 6576574
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel airbag coating compositions and systems comprising pre-expanded or non-expandable microspheres that provide effective insulation for the target airbag fabric during exothermic inflation. The inventive airbag fabrics are either pre-calendered prior to application of this composition or are coated through a gap (floating) knife method with such heat-expandable microsphere-containing compositions. The coated airbag fabrics and cushions may then be heated to evaporate the solvent within the coating composition. The resultant fabric thus exhibits the presence of the microsphere constituents of the coating compositions both within the interstices between the individual yarns of the fabric and over the raised yarns of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Andrew D. Child, Derek S. Kozlowski
  • Patent number: 6565943
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surface fastener wherein necessary engaging strength is maintained for a long term, the surface fastener is flexible and has a favorable touch without prickly feeling even when male engaging elements formed of fibers are employed, and strange peeling noise is not generated. The surface fastener includes at least a large number of male engaging elements planted on a foundation cloth which is a woven or knitted fabric or a non-woven fabric and is formed of fibers, the surface fastener being engaged with and disengaged from a mating surface fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Kondo, Masashi Doi, Mitsutoshi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6559220
    Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a water-dilutable stone impact protection and of a compensation paint and its use and processes for their production, especially in the automobile industry. The water-dilutable stone impact protection paint contains 20 to 60 wt % binder and 2 to 10 wt % pigments and possibly uncoagulated overspray of water-soluble base paints and the compensation paint contains 40 to 80 wt % binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Bollig & Kemper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans-Dieter Hille
  • Patent number: 6555489
    Abstract: A filter composite comprises a first layer of glass fibers having random orientation, and synthetic resinous fibers extending in close association with the glass fibers, the glass fibers having: i) diameters between 1 and 16 microns ii) lengths between about ¼ and 1½ inches the synthetic fibers having denier between 1.6 and 40, and length between ¼ and 2 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Consolidated Fiberglass Products Company
    Inventor: Jack R. Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 6548158
    Abstract: Provided is an absorbent article including an absorbent layer and a top sheet having a number of perforations and disposed on a body facing surface of the absorbent layer. The top sheet is made of a multi-layered resin film having at least two resin layers composing of an outer resin layer exposed outside the body facing surface and at least one inner resin layer disposed nearer to the absorbent layer than the outer resin layer thereto. At least, the outer resin layer contains a particulate material having a mean particle size of from 2 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m, and the inner resin layer has the resin density smaller than that of the outer resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Tatsuya Tamura, Yuuki Noda
  • Patent number: 6548430
    Abstract: A protective fabric includes a plurality of warp yarns interwoven with a plurality of fill yarns. The denier of each of the warp and fill yarns is less than 500. The yarns are made from at least one of liquid crystal polyesters, para-aramids, and high density polyethylenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Warwick Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Howland
  • Patent number: 6548428
    Abstract: The invention consists of a multilayer material and a process for manufacturing this material. The multilayer material comprises a polyester substrate which is provided with a thermoset plastic polymer coating and a layer of contact adhesive. The polymer coating is produced by a reaction between a polyurethane polymer containing hydroxyl groups and a low molecular linear polyisocyanate, with catalytic tin-organic additives and colorants. The multilayer material is resistant to tearing and is also weather-resistant. A transparent, reactive layer, consisting, for example of a layer to take toner or ink, or a metallic layer, can be deposited on the side opposite to the polymer-coated substrate. Multilayer materials of this kind are suitable for large-scale covering of supporting frameworks in the construction of model aircraft and are also suitable as a medium onto which images and print may be applied using a plain paper copier, and can also be used to carry advertising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventors: Siegfried Lanitz, Heinz Piesold