Patents by Inventor Steven W. Fitting

Steven W. Fitting 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: 11850133
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an embossed patterned elastic laminate. The elastic laminate has an embossed pattern of at least three surface areas. The current disclosure also includes a process for making an embossed patterned elastic laminate. The embossed patterned elastic laminate provides a permanent change to visual aesthetic without adversely impacting the elastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn E. Jenkins, David W. Primm, Chris M. Allen, Howard M. Welch, David J. Reader, Steven W. Fitting, Vikram S. Kaul
  • Publication number: 20220071812
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an apparatus for using a patterned stranded elastic laminate. The stranded elastic laminate is patterned by an anvil roll. The current disclosure also includes a process for making a patterned elastic laminate The patterned elastic laminate provides an aesthetic effect and is visible at least in both the stretched and unstretched states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Shawn E. Jenkins, Howard M. Welch, Susan E. Shawver, James R. Fitts, Jr., David J. Reader, Steven W. Fitting, Vikram S. Kaul
  • Publication number: 20220062069
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an embossed patterned elastic laminate. The elastic laminate has an embossed pattern of at least three surface areas. The current disclosure also includes a process for making an embossed patterned elastic laminate. The embossed patterned elastic laminate provides a permanent change to visual aesthetic without adversely impacting the elastic film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Shawn E. Jenkins, David W. Primm, Chris M. Allen, Howard M. Welch, David J. Reader, Steven W. Fitting, Vikram S. Kaul
  • Patent number: 10226908
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonwoven composite comprising an elastic film bonded to a nonwoven web at a plurality of strategic, geometric bond points to provide a tactile pattern, enhanced breathability and comfort to the end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Palzewicz, Steven W. Fitting
  • Publication number: 20170326832
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonwoven composite comprising an elastic film bonded to a nonwoven web at a plurality of strategic, geometric bond points to provide a tactile pattern, enhanced breathability and comfort to the end user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: David A. Palzewicz, Steven W. Fitting
  • Patent number: 6762137
    Abstract: Nonwoven webs with good barrier properties are disclosed. The nonwoven webs can be, for instance, meltspun webs such as meltblown webs and spunbonded webs. In accordance with the present invention, a hydrophobic agent is incorporated into the polymer that is used to produce the web for improving the barrier properties of the web. Hydrophobic agents that may be used in accordance with the present invention include polydimethyl siloxanes and guerbet esters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Powers, Steven W. Fitting
  • Publication number: 20020142691
    Abstract: Nonwoven webs with good barrier properties are disclosed. The nonwoven webs can be, for instance, meltspun webs such as meltblown webs and spunbonded webs. In accordance with the present invention, a hydrophobic agent is incorporated into the polymer that is used to produce the web for improving the barrier properties of the web. Hydrophobic agents that may be used in accordance with the present invention include polydimethyl siloxanes and guerbet esters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Wordwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Powers, Steven W. Fitting
  • Patent number: 5573719
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a highly absorbent, high strength wiper, which includes the steps of providing a bonded nonwoven web selected from the group consisting of spunbond fiber webs and staple fiber webs, stretching the nonwoven web by applying a stretching tension in at least one direction, aperturing the nonwoven web while maintaining the stretching tension, and relaxing the apertured web, thereby returning the apertured nonwoven web substantially to its pre-stretched dimensions, wherein the process is conducted at a temperature below the softening point of the nonwoven web. The invention also provides a nonwoven wiper produced in accordance with the production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Steven W. Fitting
  • Patent number: 5458590
    Abstract: Low basis weight nonwoven fibrous web, which can be incorporated into personal care articles, has an ink printed thereon and has an average wet crockfastness value of at least about 4 or greater. A method is provided for making the ink-printed web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Schleinz, Steven W. Fitting, Joseph S. Kucherovsky, Daniel J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 5441056
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a repellent-treated, barrier coated nonwoven web. Nonwoven webs with small fiber and pore sizes can often be surface coated with a barrier coating such as latex to form a nonwoven which will act as a barrier to liquids. Surface coating of nonwovens having larger pores and fibers is more difficult as the coating often sinks into the thickness of the nonwoven web. The material of the present invention is a larger fiber/pore nonwoven web which will permit surface coating to form a material which has a good hand and cloth-like feel while also acting as a barrier to liquids. Such a material has a wide variety of applications including, but not limited to, personal care products, surgical drapes and gowns and other applications requiring barrier properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Weber, Steven W. Fitting, Patricia A. Jegier
  • Patent number: 5413811
    Abstract: There is provided a method of softening a nonwoven web by wetting a nonwoven web having a starting, unstretched width and a starting cup crush value, with an aqueous solution of softening chemicals, necking the saturated nonwoven web, drying the nonwoven web at a temperature and time sufficient to remove at least 95 percent of the moisture from the nonwoven web, wherein the web has a final cup crush value which is less than 50 percent of the starting cup crush value. The method may optionally include the step of un-necking the nonwoven web to about between 80 and 125 percent of its starting, unstretched width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Fitting, John J. Sayovitz, Joel E. Edwards, Gregory T. Sudduth
  • Patent number: 5370132
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a repellent-treated, barrier coated nonwoven web. Nonwoven webs with small fiber and pore sizes can often be surface coated with a barrier coating such as latex to form a nonwoven which will act as a barrier to liquids. Surface coating of nonwovens having larger pores and fibers is more difficult as the coating often sinks into the thickness of the nonwoven web. The material of the present invention is a larger fiber/pore nonwoven web which will permit surface coating to form a material which has a good hand and cloth-like feel while also acting as a barrier to liquids. Such a material has a wide variety of applications including, but not limited to, personal care products, surgical drapes and gowns and other applications requiring barrier properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Weber, Steven W. Fitting, Patricia A. Jegier
  • Patent number: 5161686
    Abstract: Disclosed is an odor-absorbing, non-dusting porous web material and a method of making the same. The web material includes a porous base web (for example, a fibrous base web, such as a non-woven or paper web) having distributed throughout odor-absorbing particulate (such as zeolite). Alkaline salt or alkaline earth oxide particulate, to better effect removal of acidic malodor, desirably also is distributed throughout the base web, in the final product. The odor-absorbing particulate is bound to the base web (e.g., fibers of a fibrous base web) by a binding system, containing a binding agent. The binding system, in the odor-absorbing web materials, is transparent to the odors so as not to substantially effect the ability of the particulate to absorb odor-causing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Mary G. Weber, Steven W. Fitting, Robert E. Weber, Richard S. Yeo
  • Patent number: 4818600
    Abstract: A breathable barrier which includes:A. a first layer which is a porous sheet having a first side and a second side; andB. a second layer joined to the first side of the first layer, which second layer is a continuous film of a polymeric latex material, in which:the film is not microporous in that it is substantially free of voids which connect the two surfaces of the film; andthe film has an average thickness of from about 10 to about 250 microns;wherein the first layer side of the second layer is intimately comingled with at least some of the fibers at the surface of the first side of the first layer, none of the pores at the surface of the first side of the first layer are so large as to significantly adversely affect the barrier properties of the breathable barrier as a consequence of the comingling, and the breathable barrier has a water vapor transmission rate at 37.degree. C. and about 50 percent relative humidity of from about 100 to about 2,200 g/m.sup.2 /24 hours and is impermeable to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph V. Braun, Christine H. Brown, Steven W. Fitting, Lance J. Garrett, Jr., David C. Law, Robert E. Weber