Patents by Inventor Alan Grady Shuman

Alan Grady Shuman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Absorbent structure including a thin, calendered airlaid composite and a process for making the composite
    Patent number: 6479061
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an airlaid composite which is made of pulp fibers, at least about 2% by weight bicomponent fiber, and moisture. This airlaid composite is unique in that a uniformly even composite is made which upon calendering, becomes a thin structure which maintains significant absorbency when saturated. The bicomponent fibers of the present invention include a first polymer component and a second polymer component, and the first polymer component melts at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the second polymer component. Mixing of the pulp fibers with the bicomponent fibers is done in such a way that the fibers are evenly dispersed in the airlaid composite. This airlaid composite is then heated such that at least a portion of the first polymer component of the bicomponent fiber is melted, which bond the bicomponent fibers to many of the pulp and bicomponent fibers when cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica C. Fontenot, Terry Pearce Ford, James Jay Tanner, Jonathan Robert Owen, John Joseph Lassig, Barbara Jean Burns, Alan Grady Shuman, Victor Michael Gentile
  • Absorbent structure including a thin, calendered airlaid composite and a process for making the composite
    Publication number: 20020068081
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an airlaid composite which is made of pulp fibers, at least about 2% by weight bicomponent fiber, and moisture. This airlaid composite is unique in that a uniformly even composite is made which upon calendering, becomes a thin structure which maintains significant absorbency when saturated. The bicomponent fibers of the present invention include a first polymer component and a second polymer component, and the first polymer component melts at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the second polymer component. Mixing of the pulp fibers with the bicomponent fibers is done in such a way that the fibers are evenly dispersed in the airlaid composite. This airlaid composite is then heated such that at least a portion of the first polymer component of the bicomponent fiber is melted, which bond the bicomponent fibers to many of the pulp and bicomponent fibers when cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Monica C. Fontenot, Terry Pearce Ford, James Jay Tanner, Jonathan Robert Owen, John Joseph Lassig, Barbara Jean Burns, Alan Grady Shuman, Victor Michael Gentile
  • Absorbent structure including a thin, calendered airlaid composite and a process for making the composite
    Patent number: 6368609
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an airlaid composite which is made of pulp fibers, at least about 2% by weight bicomponent fiber, and moisture. This airlaid composite is unique in that a uniformly even composite is made which upon calendering, becomes a thin structure which maintains significant absorbency when saturated. The bicomponent fibers of the present invention include a first polymer component and a second polymer component, and the first polymer component melts at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the second polymer component. Mixing of the pulp fibers with the bicomponent fibers is done in such a way that the fibers are evenly dispersed in the airlaid composite. This airlaid composite is then heated such that at least a portion of the first polymer component of the bicomponent fiber is melted, which bond the bicomponent fibers to many of the pulp and bicomponent fibers when cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica C. Fontenot, Terry Pearce Ford, James Jay Tanner, Jonathan Robert Owen, John Joseph Lassig, Barbara Jean Burns, Alan Grady Shuman, Victor Michael Gentile