Patents by Inventor Brigitte C. Wertheim
Brigitte C. Wertheim 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: 6953622Abstract: A biodegradable hydrophilic binder fiber. These fibers may be produced by co-spinning an aliphatic polyester material in a side-by-side configuration with a polylactide polymer to obtain a fiber with improved material attributes. A multicarboxylic acid may be incorporated into either or both components of the fiber. The aliphatic polyester polymer may be selected from a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, or a blend of these polymers. The biodegradable bicomponent fiber exhibits substantial biodegradable properties, yet has improved thermal stability and has significantly reduced shrinkage. The bicomponent fiber may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2002Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Publication number: 20040126578Abstract: A biodegradable hydrophilic binder fiber. These fibers may be produced by co-spinning an aliphatic polyester material in a side-by-side configuration with a polylactide polymer to obtain a fiber with improved material attributes. A multicarboxylic acid may be incorporated into either or both components of the fiber. The aliphatic polyester polymer may be selected from a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, or a blend of these polymers. The biodegradable bicomponent fiber exhibits substantial biodegradable properties, yet has improved thermal stability and has significantly reduced shrinkage. The bicomponent fiber may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2002Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Publication number: 20030022581Abstract: Nonwoven webs for use as the surge layer of personal care articles are provided. The webs include a first, binder fiber, which is a biodegradable thermoplastic fiber that does not undergo severe heat shrinkage. The webs further include a second fiber which is a biodegradable, thermoplastic fiber. The first and second fibers are combined to form a web that has a moderate permeability, in the range of 500 to 1500 &mgr;m2, and a high void volume, greater than 25 cm3/g.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 1999Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: FU-JYA DANIEL TSAI, BRIGITTE C. WERTHEIM
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Patent number: 6475418Abstract: A disposable article including a biodegradable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The nonwoven material may be produced using thermoplastic compositions which comprise an unreacted mixture of a poly(lactic acid) polymer; a polybutylene succinate polymer or a polybutylene succinate adipate polymer, or a mixture of such polymers; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition exhibits substantial biodegradable properties yet is easily processed. The biodegradable nonwoven materials may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2000Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Patent number: 6309988Abstract: Disclosed is a biodisintegratable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The biodisintegratable nonwoven material demonstrates a higher contact angle hysteresis, quicker intake times, and improved skin dryness as compared to prior art nonwoven materials. In addition, these biodisintegratable nonwoven materials also exhibit high wetting rates, which is unexpected based upon the higher hysteresis values. The nonwoven material may be produced using thermoplastic compositions which comprise an unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer as a continuous phase, polyolefin microfibers as a discontinuous phase encased within the aliphatic polyester polymer continuous phase, and a compatibilizer for the aliphatic polyester polymer and the polyolefin microfibers. The multicomponent fiber exhibits substantial biodisintegratable properties and good wettability yet is easily processed.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1999Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Patent number: 6306782Abstract: Disclosed is a biodisintegratable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The biodisintegratable nonwoven material demonstrates a higher contact angle hysteresis, quicker intake times, and improved skin dryness as compared to prior art nonwoven materials. In addition, these biodisintegratable nonwoven materials also exhibit high wetting rates, which is unexpected based upon the higher hysteresis values. The nonwoven material may be produced using thermoplastic compositions which comprise an unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer as a continuous phase, polyolefin microfibers as a discontinuous phase encased within the aliphatic polyester polymer continuous phase, and a compatibilizer for the aliphatic polyester polymer and the polyolefin microfibers. The multicomponent fiber exhibits substantial biodisintegratable properties and good wettability yet is easily processed.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1999Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Patent number: 6268434Abstract: A biodegradable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The nonwoven material may be produced using thermoplastic compositions which comprise an unreacted mixture of a poly(lactic acid) polymer; a polybutylene succinate polymer or a polybutylene succinate adipate polymer, or a mixture of such polymers; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition exhibits substantial biodegradable properties yet is easily processed. The biodegradable nonwoven materials may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1999Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Patent number: 6245831Abstract: A disposable article including a biodisintegratable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The nonwoven material may be produced using a thermoplastic composition that comprises a unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer selected from the group consisting of a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, a polycaprolactone polymer, a mixture of such polymers, or a copolymer of such polymers; a multicarboxylic acid; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition exhibits substantial biodegradable properties yet is easily processed. The biodisintegratable nonwoven materials may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2000Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Patent number: 6225388Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that comprises a unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer selected from the group consisting of a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, a polycaprolactone polymer, a mixture of such polymers, or a copolymer of such polymers; a multicarboxylic acid; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition is capable of being extruded into fibers that may be formed into nonwoven structures that may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1998Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Patent number: 6218009Abstract: A hydrophilic binder fiber. These fibers may be produced by co-spinning a polyolefin core material with a highly wettable aliphatic polyester blend sheath material. The highly wettable aliphatic polyester blend comprises an unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer selected from the group consisting of a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, a polycaprolactone polymer, a mixture of such polymers, or a copolymer of such polymers; a multicarboxylic acid; and a wetting agent. The hydrophilic binder fiber exhibits substantially improved biodegradable properties, yet is easily processed. The hydrophilic binder fiber may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1999Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Patent number: 6201068Abstract: A disposable article including a biodegradable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The nonwoven material may be produced using thermoplastic compositions which comprise an unreacted mixture of a poly(lactic acid) polymer; a polybutylene succinate polymer or a polybutylene succinate adipate polymer, or a mixture of such polymers; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition exhibits substantial biodegradable properties yet is easily processed. The biodegradable nonwoven materials may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1999Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Patent number: 6197860Abstract: A biodisintegratable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The nonwoven material may be produced using a thermoplastic composition that comprises a unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer selected from the group consisting of a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, a polycaprolactone polymer, a mixture of such polymers, or a copolymer of such polymers; a multicarboxylic acid; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition exhibits substantial biodegradable properties yet is easily processed. The biodisintegratable nonwoven materials may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Patent number: 6194483Abstract: A disposable article including a biodisintegratable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The nonwoven material may be produced using a thermoplastic composition that comprises a unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer selected from the group consisting of a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, a polycaprolactone polymer, a mixture of such polymers, or a copolymer of such polymers; a multicarboxylic acid; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition exhibits substantial biodegradable properties yet is easily processed. The biodisintegratable nonwoven materials may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
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Patent number: 6177193Abstract: A biodegradable hydrophilic binder fiber. These fibers may be produced by co-spinning a high-melting aliphatic polyester core material with a highly wettable aliphatic polyester blend. The highly wettable aliphatic polyester blend comprises an unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer selected from the group consisting of a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, a polycaprolactone polymer, a mixture of such polymers, or a copolymer of such polymers; a multicarboxylic acid; and a wetting agent. The biodegradable hydrophilic binder fiber exhibits substantial biodegradable properties, yet is easily processed. The biodegradable hydrophilic binder fiber may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1999Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim