Patents by Inventor Dean W. Westphal

Dean W. Westphal 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).

  • Patent number: 4739910
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for inverting a child's training pant or the like. The apparatus generally comprises a pair of mutually facing, diverging conveyor belt assemblies and a pair of suction systems respectively associated with the conveyor belt assemblies. As the conveyor belt assemblies move the training pant therealong, the suction systems act on opposite surfaces of the training pant to draw them apart, thereby opening the training pant. At the end of the conveyor belt assemblies is an inverting assembly for inverting the opened pant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Dean W. Westphal, David T. Strohbeen
  • Patent number: 4694978
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for simultaneously folding and pleating a child's training pant or the like. The apparatus generally includes a plunger that is reciprocative through a tube member. The tube member has an interior surface defining an interior space and a pleating surface disposed on the interior surface. Upon the plunger member forcibly urging the training pant through the interior space, it is simultaneously folded by the interior surface and pleated by the pleating surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Dean W. Westphal, David T. Strohbeen