Subsequent Treatment By Irregular Or Configured Die Patents (Class 162/117)
  • Patent number: 11548258
    Abstract: The novel tissue products of the present invention are generally produced by calendering a tissue basesheet using at least one patterned roll. In one embodiment the patterned roll replaces the flat steel roll commonly used in calendering. The elements on the patterned roll provide a means of providing a nip having variable loading that yields a web having a smooth surface without subjecting the web to excessive compression forces and preventing excessive caliper loss. Thus, webs converted according to the present invention have comparable or better surface smoothness compared to webs converted using conventional calendering means and also retain a greater percentage of their caliper and bulk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Donald John Slayton, Samuel August Nelson
  • Patent number: 11421384
    Abstract: Provided are tissue webs and products that have a modest degree of surface texture, but are still soft. In certain instances the tissue products and webs may also have good sheet bulk and low stiffness. For example, the tissue products may have good softness, such as a TS7 value (measured using the EMTEC Tissue Softness Analyzer) less than 11.0, and a textured surface, such as an R2 value from about 11,000 to about 20,000 (measured using an OpTiSurf tester). The foregoing tissue products may have a sheet bulk greater than about 8.0 cc/g and a Stiffness Index less than about 15.0. In certain instances the tissue product and webs may be through-air dried and may be either creped or uncreped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael John Rekoske, David Matthew VanBergen, John Paul David, Jessica Jan O'Connor, Gary Lee Shanklin
  • Patent number: 11278165
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stack of absorbent sheets, such as paper towels, toilet tissue, napkins, facial tissue and the like. The stack is sewn with a first line of stitching disposed adjacent to a first edge of the bound stack, such as the top edge. The stack further comprises a second line of stitches, which may be disposed adjacent to the first line of stitches. The second line of stitches comprises an unbalanced stitch to facilitate separation and removal of individual sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Julie Ann Paveletzke, Christopher Peter Olson
  • Patent number: 10626557
    Abstract: A fibrous sheet having a basis weight of between 20 and 1000 g/m2 that disintegrates in water, has 10% to 70% starch on the basis of the total weight of the dry fibrous sheet. The disintegration time in water, measured in accordance with standard NF Q34-020 applied to a specimen of the sheet of 9×8 cm2, is less than 50 seconds. A loss of strength of the sheet measured in accordance with a defined table test corresponds to a loss of strength of a specimen of said sheet forming an angle of at least 85° after having being wetted with water for a duration of 6 seconds, and/or a residual wet strength of the sheet relative to its dry strength, as measured according to a defined ring crush test, is less than 1%. The fibrous sheet may be used for the manufacture of a water disintegrable core in a roll of tissue paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ESSITY OPERATIONS FRANCE
    Inventors: Philippe Colin, Jean-Claude Dozzi, Pierre Probst, Véronique Wiss, Rémy Ruppel
  • Patent number: 10544596
    Abstract: An anti-slip, liquid management cover article for a flooring surface. The article includes a film defining a working face. A microstructured surface is formed at the working face, and includes a plurality of primary ridges and capillary microchannels each having a bottom surface. Each primary ridge is an elongated body having a length. A shape of a portion of at least one of the primary ridges is non-uniform in a direction of the length. The capillary microchannels facilitate spontaneous wicking of liquid. With this construction, the non-uniform shape establishes an elevated coefficient of friction at the working face as measured in multiple directions. The cover article minimizes the risk of pedestrian slippage, even in the presence of water or other liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven P Swanson, Kurt J Halverson, James P. Gardner, Jr., Lauren K Carlson, Jonathan C Dilley
  • Patent number: 10351997
    Abstract: Sanitary tissue products employing fibrous structures that exhibit novel compressibility properties alone and in combination with plate stiffness properties and methods for making same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ward William Ostendorf, Guillermo Matias Vidal, Jeffrey Glen Sheehan, David Warren Loebker, Ryan Dominic Maladen, John Allen Manifold
  • Patent number: 10040265
    Abstract: The novel tissue products of the present invention are generally produced by calendering a tissue basesheet using at least one patterned roll. In one embodiment the patterned roll replaces the flat steel roll commonly used in calendering. The elements on the patterned roll provide a means of providing a nip having variable loading such that Z-direction variability in the web is reduced, yielding a smoother web, but without subjecting the web to excessive compression forces and preventing excessive caliper loss. Thus, webs converted according to the present invention tend to retain a greater percentage of their caliper and bulk when converted compared to webs converted using conventional calendering means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald John Slayton, Samuel August Nelson
  • Patent number: 9909261
    Abstract: Sanitary tissue products employing fibrous structures that exhibit novel compressibility properties alone and in combination with plate stiffness properties and methods for making same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ward William Ostendorf, Guillermo Matias Vidal, Jeffrey Glen Sheehan, David Warren Loebker, Ryan Dominic Maladen, John Allen Manifold
  • Patent number: 9513069
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an excellent total heat exchanging element paper and a total heat exchanging element which are excellent in heat transferability, water vapor permeability and gas barrier properties and cause no mixing of supplied air and discharged air. The present invention provides a total heat exchanging element paper using a paper made using mainly a natural pulp beaten to a Canadian modification freeness of not more than 150 ml, a substantially non-porous total heat exchanging element paper comprising a substantially non-porous cellulosic base which contains a moisture absorbing agent, a non-porous total heat exchanging element paper having a high gas barrier property which has a thickness of not more than 100 ?m and a carbon dioxide permeation constant specified in JIS K7126 of not more than 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI PAPAER MILLS LIMITED
    Inventors: Junji Harada, Masayuki Tsubaki, Takehiko Ajima
  • Patent number: 9453303
    Abstract: A fabric structure used to make textured tissue or towel or nonwovens, the structure being permeable to air and water, comprising a sheet contact surface having a pattern including a series of raised land areas and corresponding depressions adapted to impart a texture to the tissue or towel or nonwoven, and a series of through voids adapted to allow passage of both water and/or air from the fabric surface into and/or through the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Bo-Christer Aberg, Cary P. Johnson, Francis L. Davenport, Pierre Riviere, John J. Lafond, Jonas Karlsson, Jean-Louis Monnerie
  • Patent number: 9249541
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a roof-covering element out of molded cellulose impregnated with bitumen for roofing. In a first step, an element, preferably of cellulose, is made by hot compression molding in a mold, in a second step, once the element has a dry matter content of at least 60% when extracted from the mold, the element is covered in a pigmented varnish and dried, and in a third step, once the element has a dry matter content of at least 98%, the element is impregnated with hot bitumen. Specific operating conditions are given. The covering elements include in particular a ridge side portion, a ridge cap, a ridge-covering kit, a fillet or curb, and a hip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: ONDULINE
    Inventors: Michel Thomas, Melih Kamil, Francois Ruffenach, Martin Foutel
  • Patent number: 9139957
    Abstract: A fibrous sheet having a basis weight of between 20 and 1000 g/m2 being manufactured according to a wet papermaking process, and disintegrating in water in less than 120 seconds, has 10 to 70% starch and at least 30% of papermaking fibres on the basis of the total weight of the dry fibrous sheet. The sheet may be used for the manufacture of a water disintegrable core in a roll of tissue paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SCA TISSUE FRANCE
    Inventors: Philippe Colin, Jean-Claude Dozzi, Pierre Probst, Veronique Wiss, Remy Ruppel
  • Patent number: 9017517
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface moving at a transfer surface speed. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt provided with a plurality of perforations through the belt, the belt-creping step occurring under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt travels at a belt speed that is slower than the transfer surface speed, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web. The web includes hollow domed regions, connecting regions, and transition areas. The web is dried to produce the belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 9011641
    Abstract: Fibrous structures that exhibit a Free Fiber End Count greater than the Free Fiber End Count of known fibrous structures in the range of free fiber end lengths of from about 0.10 mm to about 0.75 mm as determined by the Free Fiber End Test Method, and sanitary tissue products comprising same and methods for making same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Khosrow Parviz Mohammadi, John Allen Manifold, James Edmond Haas
  • Patent number: 8980057
    Abstract: A fibrous structure. The fibrous structure can be a paper product treated with a waterborne shape memory polymer. The waterborne shape memory polymer can include structural units, wherein each structural unit comprises: a) a switching segment comprising a semicrystalline or amorphous polymer; b) a chargeable unit comprising a cationically or anionically chargeable group; and c) a cross-linkable unit comprising a monomer, wherein the cross-linkable unit connects the switchable segment to the chargeable unit, wherein the waterborne shape memory polymer is dispersible in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ward William Ostendorf, Patrick Thomas Mather, Pamela Tiffany Wilson, Kazuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8980052
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a nascent web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed. The web is fabric creped from the transfer surface utilizing a patterned creping fabric. The fabric creping step occurs under pressure in a fabric creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping fabric. The creping fabric travels at a fabric speed that is slower than the transfer surface speed. The creping fabric contacts the transfer surface and applies pressure to the web against the transfer surface such that the fibers of the web are redistributed on the creping fabric to form a web with a drawable reticulum having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Frank C. Murray
  • Patent number: 8968516
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet that has an upper surface and a lower surface. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface. The web is belt creped from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60% utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt having a plurality of perforations. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt is traveling at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 8944075
    Abstract: A smoking article such as a cigarette 1 has a wrapper in the form of a tube 5 that has lines of weakness 10 formed e.g. by laser cutting on the inside to define an array of visually discernable facets 12 on the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: Steven Holford, Aaron McKenzie
  • Patent number: 8940376
    Abstract: Spirally wound paper products are disclosed having desirable roll bulk, firmness and softness properties. The rolled products can be made from single ply tissue webs formed according to various processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Wayne Stage, Jennifer Leigh Jeschke, Richard Joseph Behm, Donald John Slayton, Jeffrey Dean Holz, Mark William Sachs, Kevin Joseph Vogt, Mark Alan Burazin, Lynda Ellen Collins, Richard Allen Zanon, Joseph Walter Buyeske
  • Patent number: 8911592
    Abstract: A multi-ply absorbent sheet of cellulosic fiber includes continuous outer surfaces, and an absorbent core between the outer surfaces. The absorbent core includes a non-woven fiber network comprising a plurality of pileated fiber enriched regions of a relatively high local basis weight interconnected by way of a plurality of lower local basis weight linking regions whose fiber orientation is biased along the direction between pileated fiber enriched regions, interconnected thereby, and a plurality of fiber-deprived cellules between the fiber enriched regions and the linking regions, also being characterized by a local basis weight lower than that of the fiber enriched regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Ronald R. Reeb, Hung Liang Chou, Kang Chang Yeh, John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper
  • Patent number: 8900409
    Abstract: A web product having at least two plies and having a Basis Weight, BW, value greater than 51.6 gsm and a Dry Bulk, DB, value greater than 15.5 cc/g is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Osman Polat, Jeffrey Glen Sheehan
  • Patent number: 8900411
    Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a nonwoven fabric that can produce a nonwoven fabric having high strength, high bulk and softness. The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to the invention comprises a step of supplying a water-containing paper-making material onto a support to form a paper layer 21 on the support, a step of injecting a high-pressure water jet stream onto the paper layer 21 from a high-pressure water jet stream nozzle 12 provided above the support, a step of injecting high-pressure steam onto the paper layer 21 on which the high-pressure water jet stream has been injected, from a steam nozzle 14 provided above the support, and a step of drying the paper layer on which the high-pressure steam has been injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Masaki Yoshida, Toshifumi Hikosaka, Noritomo Kameda
  • Patent number: 8864945
    Abstract: A method of making a multi-ply wiper/towel product with cellulosic microfibers. The method includes compactively dewatering a nascent web that includes at least about 10% fibrillated cellulosic microfibers and has an apparently random distribution of fibers. The dewatered web having the apparently random distribution of fibers is applied to a transfer surface. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt provided with a plurality of perforations through the belt. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The web is dried to form a dried web that includes a plurality of fiber-enriched hollow domed regions protruding from an upper side of the dried web. The hollow domed regions have a sidewall of a relatively high local basis weight formed along at least a leading edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Joseph H. Miller, Daniel W. Sumnicht, Ayanna M. Bernard, Sanjay Wahal
  • Patent number: 8864944
    Abstract: A method of making a multi-ply wiper/towel product with cellulosic microfibers. The method includes compactively dewatering a nascent web that includes at least about 10% fibrillated cellulosic microfibers and has an apparently random distribution of fibers. The dewatered web having the apparently random distribution of fibers is applied to a transfer surface. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface utilizing a creping belt. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The web is dried to form a dried web having a plurality of fiber-enriched hollow domed regions protruding from an upper side of the dried web. The hollow domed regions have a sidewall of a relatively high local basis weight formed along at least a leading edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Joseph H. Miller, Daniel W. Sumnicht, Ayanna M. Bernard, Sanjay Wahal
  • Patent number: 8852397
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. The method includes compactively dewatering a papermaking furnish to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer. The web from the transfer surface is belt-creped at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60%, utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt having a plurality of perforations. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt travels at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 8834677
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue products having an MD/CD Tensile Ratio less than about 0.95, yet relatively high geometric tensile strength, such as geometric mean tensile strengths greater than about 1500 g/3? and more preferably greater than about 2000 g/3?. The combination of a tough, yet relatively supple sheet is preferably achieved by subjecting the embryonic web to a speed differential as it is passed from one fabric in the papermaking process to another, commonly referred to as rush transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Maurizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick, Angela Ann Johnston, Mark John Hassman
  • Patent number: 8815054
    Abstract: The invention relates to the making of a cellulosic fibrous structure by adding a waterborne shape memory polymer to cellulosic papermaking slurry and forming a web from the waterborne shape memory polymer containing slurry. The web can be optionally foreshortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ward William Ostendorf, Patrick Thomas Mather, Pamela Tiffany Wilson, Kazuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8808501
    Abstract: A method for individualizing a trichome from an epidermis of a non-seed portion of a trichome-bearing plant in the Asteraceae family and Melastomataceae family to form a fibrous structure is provided. The method comprises contacting the plant with a device to separate the trichome from the epidermis and incorporating the separated trichome into fibrous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Douglas Vinson, Teresa Jean Franklin
  • Patent number: 8771466
    Abstract: The invention proposes an embossed sheet (10) comprising at least one ply (12) of tissue having an embossing pattern comprising at least one series of protuberances (18) formed projecting from one surface of the said ply (12) of tissue, and at least one ply joined to the said at least one ply (12) of tissue and located opposite the said surface of the ply (14) of water-soluble material, characterized in that the ply (14) of water-soluble material is joined to the said at least one ply (12) of tissue at the summits (18a) of at least part of the protuberances (18). The invention also proposes a method for manufacturing such a multi-ply sheet (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Tissue France
    Inventors: Yoann Denis, Hubert Pfister
  • Patent number: 8763523
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed which include forming selected perforation designs and patterns. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed in linear or nonlinear fashion, can extend in the cross direction or the machine direction and can be formed to complement or match an embossed or printed design on the web. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed utilizing various mechanical perforating techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kevin Benson McNeil, André Mellin
  • Patent number: 8764940
    Abstract: A rolled web of cellulosic paper. The rolled web having a machine direction and a cross direction, the rolled web comprising at least two visually distinct repeating emboss patterns of machine direction oriented embossments. Each the repeating emboss pattern comprise a first region comprising a first emboss design and a first width; a second region comprising a second emboss design and a second width; and a third region disposed between and contiguous with the first and second regions, the third region comprising a third emboss design and a third width. Each of the repeating emboss patterns have a repeat pattern width, the repeat pattern width being measured in the cross direction of the rolled web, the repeat pattern width being the sum of the first, second, and third widths of the repeating emboss pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Stacey Ann Espinosa, Cathy Marie Sanders, Nakomi Lee Feldman, Angela Michelle Roberts, Marion Janet Lopez Fernandez, Jeffrey Glen Sheehan, Katherine Hope Poli
  • Patent number: 8757058
    Abstract: Methods for perforating web products are disclosed that include forming selected perforation designs and patterns. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed in linear or nonlinear fashion, can extend in the cross direction or the machine direction and can be formed to complement or match an embossed or printed design on the web. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed utilizing various mechanical perforating techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kathryn Christian Kien, Charles Allen Redd
  • Patent number: 8702905
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue products having a high degree of stretch and low modulus at relatively high tensile strengths, such as geometric mean tensile strengths greater than about 1500 g/3? and more preferably greater than about 2000 g/3?. The combination of a tough, yet relatively supple sheet is preferably achieved by subjecting the embryonic web to a speed differential as it is passed from one fabric in the papermaking process to another, commonly referred to as rush transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Angela Ann Johnston, Gretchen Sarah Koch, Maurizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick, Mark William Sachs, Jeffrey Dean Holz, Peter John Allen, Kevin Joseph Vogt
  • Patent number: 8673115
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet includes forming a nascent web from a papermaking furnish, the nascent web having a generally random distribution of papermaking fiber, transferring the nascent web having the generally random distribution of papermaking fiber to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed, drying the web, to a consistency of from about 30 to about 60 percent, including compactively dewatering the web prior to or concurrently with transfer of the web to the transfer surface, fabric-creping the web from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30 to about 60 percent utilizing a creping fabric with a patterned creping surface, the fabric-creping step occurring under pressure in a fabric creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping fabric, the web being creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Ronald R. Reeb, Hung Liang Chou, Kang Chang Yeh, John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper
  • Patent number: 8657997
    Abstract: A web product having at least one ply and having a Basis Weight, BW, to Dry Bulk, DB, value satisfying the equation DB?34.63?0.31*BW is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Osman Polat, Jeffrey Glen Sheehan
  • Patent number: 8652634
    Abstract: Fibrous structures that exhibit a Geometric Mean Elongation of greater than 15.8% as measured according to the Elongation Test Method are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Allen Manifold, Charles Chidozie Ekenga, Douglas Jay Barkey, Kathleen Diane Sands, Thorsten Knobloch, Robert Lenord Powers, Christopher Gerald Donner
  • Patent number: 8652300
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A paper making furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60% utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt having a plurality of perforations, under pressure, in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt travels at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface. The web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights. The web is then dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 8636874
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet includes (i) a plurality of fiber-enriched pileated regions having fibers that are oriented in a direction transverse to a machine direction (MD) of the sheet, and (ii) a plurality of linking regions that link the fiber-enriched regions together. The linking regions have fibers that have an orientation that is offset from the orientation of the fibers in the plurality of fiber-enriched pileated regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Frank C. Murray
  • Patent number: 8632658
    Abstract: A multi-ply wiper/towel product includes at least one wet laid web having at least 10% fibrillated cellulosic microfiber, and at least about 40% wood pulp derived papermaking fibers. The at least one wet laid web has formed therein (i) a plurality of fiber-enriched hollow domed regions on the upper side of the at least one wet laid web having a relatively high local basis weight, (ii) connecting regions having a relatively lower local basis weight forming a network interconnecting the relatively high local basis weight domed regions of the one wet laid web, and (iii) transition areas with upwardly and inwardly inflected consolidated fibrous regions transitioning from the connecting regions into the domed regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Joseph H. Miller, Daniel W. Sumnicht, Ayanna M. Bernard, Sanjay Wahal
  • Patent number: 8568559
    Abstract: A method of making a cellulosic absorbent sheet. A cellulosic web is prepared from an aqueous papermaking furnish. The web is fabric-creped. The fabric-creping step forms a creped web with a drawable reticulum having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights including at least: (i) a plurality of fiber-enriched regions of a relatively high local basis weight, interconnected by way of (ii) a plurality of lower local basis weight linking regions. The drawable reticulum includes a cohesive fiber matrix capable of increasing in void volume upon drawing. The creped web is dried, while substantially preserving the drawable reticulum, to form a dried web, and the dried web is drawn. The drawing step increases the void volume of the dried web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Frank C. Murray, Greg A. Wendt, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Guy H. Super
  • Patent number: 8568560
    Abstract: A method of making a cellulosic absorbent sheet. A cellulosic web is prepared from an aqueous papermaking furnish. The web is fabric-creped. The fabric-creping step forms a creped web with a drawable reticulum having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights including at least: (i) a plurality of fiber-enriched regions of a relatively high local basis weight, interconnected by way of (ii) a plurality of lower local basis weight linking regions. The drawable reticulum includes a cohesive fiber matrix capable of increasing in void volume upon drawing. The creped web is dried, while substantially preserving the drawable reticulum, to form a dried web, and the dried web is drawn. The drawing step increases the bulk of the dried web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Frank C. Murray, Greg A. Wendt, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Guy H. Super
  • Patent number: 8562786
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a nascent web. The nascent web is applied to a translating transfer surface and is fabric-creped from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30 to about 60 percent utilizing a creping fabric. The creping fabric travels at a fabric speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface. The nascent web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping fabric to form a creped web with a drawable reticulum having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights. The creped web is dried to form a dried web, and the dried web is drawn. The drawing step includes drawing the dried web between a first draw roll and a second draw roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Frank C. Murray, Greg A. Wendt, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Guy H. Super
  • Patent number: 8545676
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet includes a papermaking-fiber reticulum. The paper-making-fiber reticulum includes a plurality of fiber-enriched regions that are oriented in a cross-machine direction (CD) of the sheet, and the fiber-enriched regions have (i) a local basis weight and (ii) papermaking fibers that are oriented in the CD of the sheet. The paper-making-fiber reticulum further includes a plurality of linking regions that link corresponding ones of the fiber-enriched regions together in linking directions. The linking regions have (i) basis weights that are lower than those of the corresponding ones of the fiber-enriched regions and (ii) papermaking fibers that are oriented in the linking directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Frank C. Murray
  • Patent number: 8540846
    Abstract: A multi-ply wiper/towel product includes at least one wet laid web including at least 10% fibrillated cellulosic microfiber, and at least about 40% wood pulp derived papermaking fibers. The at least one wet laid web has formed therein (i) a plurality of fiber-enriched hollow domed regions on the upper side of the at least one wet laid web having a relatively high local basis weight, and (ii) connecting regions of a relatively lower local basis weight forming a network interconnecting the relatively high local basis weight domed regions of the one wet laid web. Transition areas are provided in the at least one wet laid web with upwardly and inwardly inflected consolidated fibrous regions transitioning from the connecting regions into the domed regions, and the at least one wet laid web exhibits a differential pore volume for pores under 5 microns in a diameter of at least about 75 mm3/g/micron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Joseph H. Miller, Daniel W. Sumnicht, Ayanna M. Bernard, Sanjay Wahal
  • Patent number: 8535481
    Abstract: An embossing system for embossing at least a portion of a web is provided comprising a first embossing roll having male embossing elements, a second embossing roll having male embossing elements, wherein the first and second embossing rolls define a first nip for receiving the web, and a third embossing roll having male embossing elements, wherein the second and third embossing rolls define a second nip for receiving the web, and wherein at least a substantial portion of the embossing elements of at least one of the first, second, and third embossing rolls are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventor: Galyn A. Schulz
  • Patent number: 8524040
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet includes compactively dewatering a papermaking furnish to form a nascent web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation, applying the nascent web having the apparently random distribution of fiber orientation to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed, belt-creping the web from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60% utilizing a patterned creping belt, the belt-creping step occurring under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt, the web being creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web with a reticulum having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Ronald R. Reeb, Hung Liang Chou, Kang Chang Yeh, John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper
  • Patent number: 8506756
    Abstract: The invention proposes an embossed sheet (10) comprising at least one ply (12) of tissue having an embossing pattern comprising at least one series of protuberances (18) formed projecting from one surface of the said ply (12) of tissue, and at least one ply joined to the said at least one ply (12) of tissue and located opposite the said surface of the ply (14) of water-soluble material, characterized in that the ply (14) of water-soluble material is joined to the said at least one ply (12) of tissue at the summits (18a) of at least part of the protuberances (18). The invention also proposes a method for manufacturing such a multi-ply sheet (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: SCA Tissue France
    Inventors: Yoann Denis, Hubert Pfister
  • Patent number: 8414738
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a multiple ply tissue product that includes a first ply and a second ply. The first ply includes a first outwardly facing layer having hardwood fibers, a second layer having softwood fibers, and a third layer having at least about 10 percent by weight post-consumer recycled fiber, wherein the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Rekoske, Thomas G. Neal, Jr., Nicholas A. Kraft, Benjamin Joseph Kruchoski
  • Patent number: 8409404
    Abstract: A multi-ply absorbent towel made from papermaking fiber comprising at least a first ply and a second ply bonded together, the towel having a basis weight of greater than 30 lbs per 3000 ft2 ream (48.8 gsm) and less than 50 lbs per 3000 ft2 ream (81.4 gsm), wherein the plies are selected and adhered together such that the towel typically exhibits (i) a GM TEA, mm-g/mm2 of greater than [0.00125 (GM Tensile, g/3?)?0.75] and (ii) a GM Tensile Modulus, g/in/%, less than [0.0083 (GM Tensile Strength, g/3?)+15.4] {(i) a GM TEA, mm g/mm2, of greater than [0.00952 (GM Tensile, g/cm)?0.75] and (ii) a GM Tensile Modulus, g/cm/%, less than [0.0249 (GM Tensile Strength, g/cm)+6.06}.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Frank D. Harper, Joseph H. Miller, Mark L. Robinson, Thomas J. Phillip, Steven L. Edwards
  • Patent number: 8398818
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet having a variable local basis weight includes a patterned papermaking-fiber reticulum provided with (a) a plurality of generally machine direction (MD) oriented elongated densified regions of compressed paper-making fibers having a relatively low local basis weight as well as leading and trailing edges, the densified regions being arranged in a repeating pattern of a plurality of generally parallel linear arrays that are longitudinally staggered with respect to each other such that a plurality of intervening linear arrays are disposed between a pair of cross machine (CD) direction aligned densified regions, and (b) a plurality of fiber-enriched, pileated regions having a relatively high local basis weight interspersed between and connected with the densified regions, the pileated regions having crests extending generally in the cross-machine direction of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Ronald R. Reeb, Hung Liang Chou, Kang Chang Yeh, John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper