Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Hunt

Thomas F. Hunt 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: 7419570
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process and a method providing a high bulk tissue which is both strong and soft. Specifically, it has been discovered that certain low pressure printing technologies may be used to deliver a bonding material to the surface of a high bulk paper web such as an uncreped, through-dried web. The bonding material may be applied to the web either before, during or after the web is softened with a mechanical straining process which will decrease the web bulk by no more than 20% of the initial bulk in order to increase the web softness. The web may be softened by any of a variety of mechanical straining processes such as, for instance, microcreping, microstraining, rush transfer, or other low-compressive softening methods. The cured bonding material on the web may not only increase the bulk of the web when dry and wet, but also increase the wet resiliency and the wet strength of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fung-Jou Chen, Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Thomas F. Hunt, Maurizio Tirimacco, John J. Urlaub
  • Patent number: 7182837
    Abstract: A process and method which ‘locks in’ three-dimensional texturing added to a paper web by virtue of an adhesive material which is printed onto the surface of the web is generally disclosed. The adhesive may be applied to the web either before, during, or after the web is molded to increase the surface texture. The adhesive may be applied at relatively low pressure so as to preserve surface texture without significant deformation of the web. The cured adhesive material inhibits the web from reassuming a two-dimensional state or may contribute additional texture by rising above the surface of the web. This process may not only increase the bulk of the web when dry and wet, but also increase the wet resiliency, the wet strength, and the tactile properties of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fung-Jou Chen, Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Thomas F. Hunt, Maurizio Tirimacco, John J. Urlaub
  • Patent number: 6964726
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a paper web with a highly textured surface and a method of forming the highly textured web. The process includes printing a viscous material onto the surface of a paper web in a pattern with a low pressure printing process. Specifically, it has been discovered that certain low pressure printing technologies may be used to deliver a viscous material to the surface of a paper web such as a tissue, an air laid web, or a fibrous nonwoven web with good control of material delivery. At some point after the viscous material is applied to the web, the material may be fibrillated into a three-dimensional structure and then cured. In various embodiments, the viscous material may be fibrillated and cured so as to provide a good scrubbing surface to the web, provide an attachment structure on the web, or provide a good contact surface against a second substrate in forming laminate products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fung-Jou Chen, Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Thomas F. Hunt, John J. Urlaub
  • Publication number: 20040123963
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a paper web with a highly textured surface and a method of forming the highly textured web. The process includes printing a viscous material onto the surface of a paper web in a pattern with a low pressure printing process. Specifically, it has been discovered that certain low pressure printing technologies may be used to deliver a viscous material to the surface of a paper web such as a tissue, an air laid web, or a fibrous nonwoven web with good control of material delivery. At some point after the viscous material is applied to the web, the material may be fibrillated into a three-dimensional structure and then cured. In various embodiments, the viscous material may be fibrillated and cured so as to provide a good scrubbing surface to the web, provide an attachment structure on the web, or provide a good contact surface against a second substrate in forming laminate products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fung-Jou Chen, Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Thomas F. Hunt, John J. Urlaub
  • Publication number: 20040099389
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process and a method providing a high bulk tissue which is both strong and soft. Specifically, it has been discovered that certain low pressure printing technologies may be used to deliver a bonding material to the surface of a high bulk paper web such as an uncreped, through-dried web. The bonding material may be applied to the web either before, during or after the web is softened with a mechanical straining process which will decrease the web bulk by no more than 20% of the initial bulk in order to increase the web softness. The web may be softened by any of a variety of mechanical straining processes such as, for instance, microcreping, microstraining, rush transfer, or other low-compressive softening methods. The cured bonding material on the web may not only increase the bulk of the web when dry and wet, but also increase the wet resiliency and the wet strength of the web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Fung-Jou Chen, Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Thomas F. Hunt, Maurizio Tirimacco, John J. Urlaub
  • Publication number: 20040099388
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process and a method which may ‘lock in’ three dimensional texturing added to a paper web by virtue of an adhesive material which is printed onto the surface of the web. Specifically, it has been discovered that certain low pressure printing technologies may be used to deliver an adhesive material to the surface of a paper web such as a tissue, an air laid web, or a fibrous nonwoven web. The adhesive may be applied to the web either before, during or after the web is molded to increase the surface texture. The web may be molded under relatively low pressure so as to increase surface texture without significant deformation of the papermaking fibers. The cured adhesive material prevents the added texture from relaxing back in to a two dimensional state or may contribute additional texture by rising above the surface of the web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fung-Jou Chen, Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Thomas F. Hunt, Maurizio Tirimacco, John J. Urlaub
  • Publication number: 20020164444
    Abstract: A polymeric film structure having one or more polymeric layers wherein an oxygen scavenging composition is affixed to the inside surface layer of the structure. The structure having usefulness in the packaging of foods and non-food articles wherein an oxygen free or a relative oxygen free environment is desirable for the contained article. The oxygen scavenging composition comprising a primer layer; a pigmented layer, an oxygen scavenger layer and an overcoat layer wherein each layer is applied one or more times to the polymeric film structure by a printing method preferably a flexographic printing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas F. Hunt, Deane Galloway, Daniel Miller