Patents by Inventor Bennett C. Ward
Bennett C. Ward 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).
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Patent number: 9872517Abstract: A tip for a smoking article such as a cigar is disclosed. The tip comprises a longitudinally extending element comprising a plurality of bicomponent fibers which define at least one channel extending longitudinally of the element.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2013Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: ESSENTRA FILTER PRODUCTS DEVELOPMENT CO. PTE. LTD.Inventors: James D. Reed, Bennett C. Ward
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Patent number: 9330580Abstract: A wick for use in determining sufficiency of an amount of analyte fluid provided to an analyte test section of an assay device is provided. The wick comprises a primary wick portion attached or attachable to the analyte test section so as to be in fluid communication therewith. The primary wick portion has a receiving surface adapted for receiving the analyte fluid and is configured to draw the analyte fluid from a first area to a second area of the primary wick portion. The assay wick further comprises an indicator portion having a contrasting visual characteristic. The indicator surface is covered by at least a portion of the primary wick portion, which comprises a wicking material that becomes more light transmissive when wetted by the analyte fluid. The contrasting visual characteristic is viewable through the at least a portion of the primary wick portion only when the at least a portion of the primary wick portion is suffused by the analyte fluid.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Essentra Porous Technologies Corp.Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Jian Xiang, Stacey L. Tibbs, Yelena N. Rogova
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Publication number: 20150272207Abstract: A tip for a smoking article such as a cigar is disclosed. The tip comprises a longitudinally extending element comprising a plurality of bicomponent fibres which define at least one channel extending longitudinally of the element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2013Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventors: James D. Reed, Bennett C. Ward
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Publication number: 20150129486Abstract: A multi-layer, fluid transmissive structure is provided that comprises first and second fiber layers each comprising a plurality of polymeric fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart contact points. The polymeric fibers of these fiber layers have diameters greater than one micron and collectively define interconnected interstitial spaces providing tortuous fluid flow paths through the first and second fiber layers. The structure also comprises a plurality of nanofibers disposed intermediate at least a portion of the first fiber layer and at least a portion of the second fiber layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2014Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Geoffrey M. Stoltz
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Publication number: 20150125504Abstract: Melt blown bicomponent fibers comprising a first thermoplastic polymeric material and a second thermoplastic polymeric material comprising homo- or co-polymer(s) of poly(m-xylene adipamide) or polyphenylene sulfide. The first thermoplastic polymeric material may be one or more homo- or co-polymer(s) of nylon 6 (polycaprolactam), nylon 6,6 (poly(hexamethylene adipamide)), polypropylene, and/or polybutylene terephthalate. A plurality of bicomponent fibers may thermally bonded to one another at spaced apart points of contact to define a porous structure that substantially resists crushing. The nonwoven fabric webs and rovings and self-supporting, three-dimensional porous elements may be formed from the plurality of bicomponent fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Brenton D. Dillie
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Patent number: 8939295Abstract: A multi-layer, fluid transmissive structure is provided that comprises first and second fiber layers each comprising a plurality of polymeric fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart contact points. The polymeric fibers of these fiber layers have diameters greater than one micron and collectively define interconnected interstitial spaces providing tortuous fluid flow paths through the first and second fiber layers. The structure also comprises a plurality of nanofibers disposed intermediate at least a portion of the first fiber layer and at least a portion of the second fiber layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2010Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Essentra Porous Technologies Corp.Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Geoffrey M. Stoltz
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Publication number: 20140137792Abstract: A wick for use in determining sufficiency of an amount of analyte fluid provided to an analyte test section of an assay device is provided. The wick comprises a primary wick portion attached or attachable to the analyte test section so as to be in fluid communication therewith. The primary wick portion has a receiving surface adapted for receiving the analyte fluid and is configured to draw the analyte fluid from a first area to a second area of the primary wick portion. The assay wick further comprises an indicator portion having a contrasting visual characteristic. The indicator surface is covered by at least a portion of the primary wick portion, which comprises a wicking material that becomes more light transmissive when wetted by the analyte fluid. The contrasting visual characteristic is viewable through the at least a portion of the primary wick portion only when the at least a portion of the primary wick portion is suffused by the analyte fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Jian Xiang, Stacey L. Tibbs, Yelena N. Rogova
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Patent number: 8334034Abstract: A fluid reservoir for retaining a particular fluid against an environmental force is disclosed. The fluid reservoir includes a three dimensional porous body that has a plurality of reservoir capillaries formed therein and has a transport volume and effective capillarity in the force direction for the particular fluid when the porous body is oriented in a predetermined orientation. The fluid reservoir also includes at least one lateral indentation in a surface of the porous body. Each of the at least one lateral indentation defines opposing reservoir surfaces each having a lateral surface component orthogonal to the force direction. The at least one lateral indentation is configured so that at least a majority of the reservoir capillaries have a force-aligned length component that is less than the effective capillarity for the particular fluid.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2007Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Filtrona Porous Technologies Corp.Inventors: Geoffrey M. Stoltz, Bennett C. Ward, Ronald J. Binshtok, James R. Lisk
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Patent number: 8047453Abstract: Aspects of the invention include an air freshener device that emits fragrance through the evaporation of a fragrance-containing fluid comprising: a container, comprising a particular volume of the fragrance-containing fluid; a wick disposed partially in, and partially out of the fragrance-containing fluid, the wick having an immersion section immersed in the fluid so as to displace a displacement volume of fluid and a non-immersion section extending outward from a surface of the fluid, the immersion and non-immersion section being disposed on opposite lateral ends of the wick; the wick further comprising a displacement portion and a wicking portion, the displacement portion being configured to displace a desired first volume of fluid, the wicking portion being configured to wick a second volume of fluid; the displacement portion and the wicking portion designed to achieve a desired ratio between the displaced first volume of fluid and the wicked second volume of fluid.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2010Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Filtrona Porous Technologies Corp.Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Wolfgang Broosch, Bernhard Kutscha
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Publication number: 20110108630Abstract: A hydrophilic fiber wick is provided, the wick made up of a self-sustaining fluid transmissive body having a plurality of bicomponent fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart contact points. The bicomponent fibers have at least one biodegradable material and collectively define tortuous fluid flow paths through the fluid transmissive body.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2010Publication date: May 12, 2011Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Wolfgang Broosch, Bernhard Kutscha, Richard M. Berger, Nancy B. Berger
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Patent number: 7888275Abstract: An integrally formed multi-component structure is disclosed, the multi-component structure comprising a plurality of components, at least one of which is a three-dimensional bonded fiber fluid transmissive component comprised of a plurality of polymeric fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart contact points, the fibers collectively defining tortuous fluid flow paths, and wherein each component has an interface with at least one other component.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2006Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Filtrona Porous Technologies Corp.Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Wolfgang Broosch, Bernhard E. Kutscha, Dirk H. Kemper
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Publication number: 20100243755Abstract: Aspects of the invention include an air freshener device that emits fragrance through the evaporation of a fragrance-containing fluid comprising: a container, comprising a particular volume of the fragrance-containing fluid; a wick disposed partially in, and partially out of the fragrance-containing fluid, the wick having an immersion section immersed in the fluid so as to displace a displacement volume of fluid and a non-immersion section extending outward from a surface of the fluid, the immersion and non-immersion section being disposed on opposite lateral ends of the wick; the wick further comprising a displacement portion and a wicking portion, the displacement portion being configured to displace a desired first volume of fluid, the wicking portion being configured to wick a second volume of fluid; the displacement portion and the wicking portion designed to achieve a desired ratio between the displaced first volume of fluid and the wicked second volume of fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: FILTRONA RICHMOND, INC.Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Wolfgang Broosch, Bernhard Kutscha
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Publication number: 20100206803Abstract: A multi-layer, fluid transmissive structure is provided that comprises first and second fiber layers each comprising a plurality of polymeric fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart contact points. The polymeric fibers of these fiber layers have diameters greater than one micron and collectively define interconnected interstitial spaces providing tortuous fluid flow paths through the first and second fiber layers. The structure also comprises a plurality of nanofibers disposed intermediate at least a portion of the first fiber layer and at least a portion of the second fiber layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Geoffrey M. Stoltz
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Patent number: 7731102Abstract: Aspects of the invention include an air freshener device that emits fragrance through the evaporation of a fragrance-containing fluid comprising: a container, comprising a particular volume of the fragrance-containing fluid; a wick disposed partially in, and partially out of the fragrance-containing fluid, the wick having an immersion section immersed in the fluid so as to displace a displacement volume of fluid and a non-immersion section extending outward from a surface of the fluid, the immersion and non-immersion section being disposed on opposite lateral ends of the wick; the wick further comprising a displacement portion and a wicking portion, the displacement portion being configured to displace a desired first volume of fluid, the wicking portion being configured to wick a second volume of fluid; the displacement portion and the wicking portion designed to achieve a desired ratio between the displaced first volume of fluid and the wicked second volume of fluid.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Filtrona Richmond, Inc.Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Wolfgang Broosch, Bernhard Kutscha
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Publication number: 20080251599Abstract: The invention is generally directed to a vapor emitting device having a container, at least one liquid in the container, and a wick. The container has an interior in which the at least one liquid is disposed. The wick has a distal portion disposed in the container interior and a proximal portion. The wick is configured and positioned so as to maintain contact with the at least one liquid and allows the wick to draw the at least one liquid into and through the distal portion toward the proximal portion, thereby making the at least one liquid available for evaporation when the proximal portion is exposed to air. A change in a visible characteristic of the wick occurs upon exhaustion of the at least one liquid from the wick.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Jian Xiang, Yelena N. Rogova
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Publication number: 20080187751Abstract: The invention is generally directed to a fluid transmissive body comprising side-by-side bicomponent fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart contact points to form a self-sustaining, three dimensional bonded fiber structure, wherein each of the side-by-side bicomponent fibers comprise a first fiber component having a first softening temperature and a second fiber component having a second softening temperature, wherein the first softening temperature is greater than the second softening temperature and wherein a cross sectional area of the first fiber component comprises between 40%-85% of a cross-sectional area of the side-by-side bicomponent fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Geoffrey M. Stoltz, Joseph B. Payne
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Patent number: 7018031Abstract: An ink absorbing substrate suitable for use in inkjet printing systems is provided. The substrate comprises at least one continuous fiber bonded to itself at points of contact to form a substantially self-sustaining structure for retaining ink. The continuous fiber preferably is a bicomponent fiber having a core material and a sheath material at least partially surrounding the core material. The core material preferably is a crystalline thermoplastic polymer and the sheath material preferably is low density polyethylene modified with a cycloolefin copolymer.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Filtrona Richmond, Inc.Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Michael W. Spencer, Jackie Payne, David B. Harris, Geoff Stoltz, Andreas Schneekloth
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Patent number: 6840692Abstract: Melt blown bicomponent fibers comprising a sheath of polyethylene terephthalate or a copolymer thereof and a core of nylon 6,6 and a reservoir or a nib in a writing or marking instrument comprising a porous element formed from such fibers bonded to each other at spaced points of contact. For use as a nib the core polymer may also be polybutylene terephthalate.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2003Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Filtrona Richmond, Inc.Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Robert D. Long, Donald F. Nelson, Raymond J. Nelson, Jackie F. Payne, Jr., E. Vaughan Yancey
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Publication number: 20040258790Abstract: A method and apparatus for incorporating an additive material into a fibrous web to be bonded into an elongated porous element by heating the fibers in a confined forming die with a heating medium adapted to bond the fibers to each other at spaced points of contact. An additive material is admixed with the heating medium and then the web of fibers is contacted with the heating medium/additive material mixture whereby the heating medium simultaneously carries the additive material into the fibrous web and heats the fibers to bond them into the porous element. The apparatus includes an adjustable venturi assembly through which the heating medium passes to create a pressure gradient adapted to aspirate a quantity of additive material and entrain a metered quantity of same in the heating medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Applicant: Filtrona Richmond, Inc.Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Raymond J. Nelson, Roy B. Pugh, Jackie F. Payne, Brian V. Nutter, Michael W. Spencer
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Patent number: 6814911Abstract: A method and apparatus for incorporating an additive material into a fibrous web to be bonded into an elongated porous element by heating the fibers in a confined forming die with a heating medium adapted to bond the fibers to each other at spaced points of contact. An additive material is admixed with the heating medium and then the web of fibers is contacted with the heating medium/additive material mixture whereby the heating medium simultaneously carries the additive material into the fibrous web and heats the fibers to bond them into the porous element. The apparatus includes an adjustable venturi assembly through which the heating medium passes to create a pressure gradient adapted to aspirate a quantity of additive material and entrain a metered quantity of same in the heating medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2003Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Filtrona Richmond, Inc.Inventors: Bennett C. Ward, Raymond J. Nelson, Roy B. Pugh, Jackie F. Payne, Jr., Brian V. Nutter, Michael W. Spencer