Patents by Inventor Leslie D. Dobbins

Leslie D. Dobbins 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: 6969441
    Abstract: In the invention, a method is provided for producing a composite nonwoven fabric. A polymer is extruded into heated continuous filaments, possibly elastic, from the die head to a first chilled roller, wherein the extruder is configured to provide the continuous filaments to the chilled roller in a canted direction that is at a tangent or angle to the surface of the first chilled roller. The filaments are conveyed in a downward direction by way of chilled rollers to a nip. In a next step, the nonwoven web is sprayed with an adhesive and is laminated on the continuous filaments in the nip to form a composite nonwoven fabric. The continuous filaments move vertically downward approximately in line with the lamination process, facilitating automatic re-threading of filaments when they are broken or interrupted in their travel downward onto the chilled rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard M. Welch, Charles J. Morell, Michael C. Cook, James R. Fitts, Jr., Donald V. Willitts, Marion C. Morris, Ronald H. Wideman, John A. Brewer, Mark M. Mleziva, Kenneth M. Salter, Raymond J. May, Lavada Boggs, Leslie D. Dobbins
  • Patent number: 6902796
    Abstract: A simplified elastic laminate is made from nonwovens and is especially suitable for side panels of training pant garments or the like. A plurality of thermoplastic adhesive elastomeric fibers are located between first and second facing webs. The fibers have an elastic core and adhesive surfaces. The facing webs, with the elastomeric fibers between them, are calendered together thus adhering the facing webs together via contact adhesion with the elastomeric fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Morell, James Russell Fitts, Jr., Bryan D. Haynes, Leslie D. Dobbins, Donald V. Willitts, Stephen Michael Campbell, Howard Martin Welch, Todd Christopher Larson, Mark Michael Mleziva, Adrian Roy Eggen
  • Patent number: 6863959
    Abstract: New methods for and patterns of applying meltsprayed materials in single-layer web and laminate constructions so as to control various characteristics in the webs and laminates is provided. The patterns of adhesive produce scrim or cell-like patterns that allow for control of desirable characteristics. For example, the loft of a laminate may be enhanced, as well as strength properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard M. Welch, Jay S. Shultz, Leslie D. Dobbins, James R. Fitts, Jr., Charles J. Morell, Donald V. Willitts, Michael T. Morman, Jason K. Wehner, Jessica M. Rawls, David M. Schertz
  • Patent number: 6767852
    Abstract: A stretch edge elastic laminate having a plurality of elastic filaments substantially aligned in a machine direction and forming an elastic zone and at least one stretch edge positioned along a first lateral edge region of the stretch edge elastic laminate forming a first gasket zone. Desirably, an opposing second stretch edge is positioned along a second lateral edge region of the stretch edge elastic laminate to form a second gasket zone. A nonwoven facing material is bonded to at least one side of the elastic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Scott Friderich, Leslie D. Dobbins, Lavada Campbell Boggs, James R. Fitts, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040121690
    Abstract: An elastomeric laminate that includes at least one facing layer laminated to an elastomeric layer. The facing layer or layers may be nonwoven web(s) made up of thermoplastic filaments formed from a random copolymer or a random copolymer blend. The invention further includes an ultrasonically bonded seam formed by ultrasonically bonding the elastomeric laminate to a substrate, and the method therefor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Michael Mleziva, James Russell Fitts, Leslie D. Dobbins
  • Publication number: 20030124331
    Abstract: A simplified elastic laminate is made from nonwovens and is especially suitable for side panels of training pant garments or the like. A plurality of thermoplastic adhesive elastomeric fibers are located between first and second facing webs. The fibers have an elastic core and adhesive surfaces. The facing webs, with the elastomeric fibers between them, are calendered together thus adhering the facing webs together via contact adhesion with the elastomeric fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Charles Morell, James Russell Fitts, Bryan D. Haynes, Leslie D. Dobbins, Donald V. Willitts, Stephen Michael Campbell, Howard Martin Welch, Todd Christopher Larson, Mark Michael Mleziva, Adrian Roy Eggen
  • Publication number: 20020177376
    Abstract: New methods for and patterns of applying meltsprayed materials in single-layer web and laminate constructions so as to control various characteristics in the webs and laminates is provided. The patterns of adhesive produce scrim or cell-like patterns that allow for control of desirable characteristics. For example, the loft of a laminate may be enhanced, as well as strength properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard M. Welch, Jay S. Shultz, Leslie D. Dobbins, James R. Fitts, Charles J. Morell, Donald V. Willitts, Michael T. Morman, Jason K. Wehner, Jessica M. Rawls, David M. Schertz
  • Publication number: 20020119722
    Abstract: A laminated article having elastic strands or filaments contained therein for providing elasticity to the article, are provided. The particular adhesive pattern bonds the relatively inelastic nonwoven layers to the more elastic continuous filaments in a pattern that allows adhesive-to-adhesive, adhesive-to-nonwoven layer, and adhesive-to-elastic filament bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Howard M. Welch, Leslie D. Dobbins, James R. Fitts, Donald V. Willitts, Stephen M. Campbell, Raymond J. May
  • Publication number: 20020104608
    Abstract: In the invention, a method is provided for producing a composite nonwoven fabric. A polymer is extruded into heated continuous filaments, possibly elastic, from the die head to a first chilled roller, wherein the extruder is configured to provide the continuous filaments to the chilled roller in a canted direction that is at a tangent or angle to the surface of the first chilled roller. The filaments are conveyed in a downward direction by way of chilled rollers to a nip. In a next step, the nonwoven web is sprayed with an adhesive and is laminated on the continuous filaments in the nip to form a composite nonwoven fabric. The continuous filaments move vertically downward approximately in line with the lamination process, facilitating automatic re-threading of filaments when they are broken or interrupted in their travel downward onto the chilled rolls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Howard M. Welch, Charles J. Morell, Michael C. Cook, James R. Fitts, Donald V. Willitts, Marion C. Morris, Ronald H. Wideman, John A. Brewer, Mark M. Mleziva, Kenneth M. Salter, Raymond J. May, Lavada Boggs, Leslie D. Dobbins
  • Publication number: 20020086602
    Abstract: A stretch edge elastic laminate having a plurality of elastic filaments substantially aligned in a machine direction and forming an elastic zone and at least one stretch edge positioned along a first lateral edge region of the stretch edge elastic laminate forming a first gasket zone. Desirably, an opposing second stretch edge is positioned along a second lateral edge region of the stretch edge elastic laminate to form a second gasket zone. A nonwoven facing material is bonded to at least one side of the elastic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: S. Scott Friderich, Leslie D. Dobbins, Lavada Campbell Boggs, James R. Fitts