Patents Represented by Attorney Gregory E. Croft

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  • Soft tissue
    Patent number: 5656132
    Abstract: Soft throughdried tissues, which are sufficiently soft to serve as premium bathroom tissues, can be made without the use of a Yankee dryer. The typical Yankee functions of building machine direction and cross-machine direction stretch are replaced by a wet end rush transfer and the throughdrying fabric design, respectively. It is particularly advantageous to form the tissue with chemimechanically treated fibers in at least one layer. The resulting tissues have high bulk (about 6 cubic centimeters per gram or greater) and low stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Edwin Farrington, Jr., Julia Smith Bahlman, Mark Alan Burazin, Fung-jou Chen, Kristin Ann Goerg, Michael Alan Hermans, Robert John Makolin, Michael John Rekoske
  • Method for making uncreped throughdried towels and wipers
    Patent number: 5616207
    Abstract: Uncreped throughdried basesheets can be made with the caliper of the basesheet being independent of the basis weight of the basesheet. Multi-ply wipers and towels produced by plying together two or more of such basesheets having a relatively low basis weight can provide products with improved caliper and absorbency for a given strength level and the amount of fiber used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Sudall, Steven A. Engel
  • Soft treated uncreped throughdried tissue
    Patent number: 5614293
    Abstract: A soft uncreped throughdried tissue product is disclosed having uniformly distributed surface deposits of a chemical composition which imparts a benefit to the user, such as a reduction in skin irritation during use. Particularly suitable compositions are those which have a melting point of from about 30.degree. C. to about 70.degree. C. and which are applied to the outer surfaces of the tissue product in melted form, preferably by rotogravure printing. A suitable composition contains an oil, a wax, and preferably a fatty alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Duane G. Krzysik, Theodore E. Farrington, Jr., Lee P. Garvey, Cynthia W. Henderson, Robert D. Sauer, Michael J. Smith, Michael C. Tuck
  • Soft tissue
    Patent number: 5607551
    Abstract: Soft throughdried tissues, which are sufficiently soft to serve as premium bathroom tissues, can be made without the use of a Yankee dryer. The typical Yankee functions of building machine direction and cross-machine direction stretch are replaced by a wet end rush transfer and the throughdrying fabric design, respectively. It is particularly advantageous to form the tissue with chemimechanically treated fibers in at least one layer. The resulting tissues have high bulk (about 6 cubic centimeters per gram or greater) and low stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore E. Farrington, Jr., Julia S. Bahlman, Mark A. Burazin, Fung-jou Chen, Kristin A. Goerg, Michael A. Hermans, Robert J. Makolin, Michael J. Rekoske
  • Capillary dewatering method and apparatus
    Patent number: 5598643
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing the moisture content of a paper web in a papermaking process from in the range of 10% to 32% dry to the range of 33% to 50% dry wherein the embryonic web is supported on a knuckled through drier fabric and lightly pressed between the knuckled through drier fabric and a capillary membrane of a capillary dewatering roll. The capillary membrane has capillary pores therethrough which have a substantially straight through, non-tortuous path with a pore aspect ratio of from about 2 to about 20. A vacuum is drawn within the capillary dewatering roll which is not greater than the negative capillary suction pressure of the capillary pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Tissue Company
    Inventors: Strong C. Chuang, Kenneth Kaufman, Robert H. Schiesser
  • Method for making uncreped throughdried tissue products without an open draw
    Patent number: 5593545
    Abstract: A method for making uncreped throughdried tissues is disclosed in which the dried tissue sheet is fully supported by a fabric up to the reel. This method eliminates the open draw between the throughdryer and the reel and thereby eliminates sheet breaks normally associated with such open draws. In addition, the machine direction strength of the sheet can be reduced since the added strength is not needed to traverse the open draw normally present in current processes. Reducing the MD strength in turn enables the production of more square, less stiff sheet, which improves the tactile properties of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: James S. Rugowski, Michael J. Rekoske, Philip S. Lin, Ronald F. Gropp, Paul A. B. L. M. Arnold
  • Preserved polysiloxane emulsions for treating tissues
    Patent number: 5580566
    Abstract: Polysiloxane emulsions, useful for treating tissues to improve tactile characteristics, are effectively preserved with at least about 0.1 weight percent of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate. Preferably the preservative further contains one or more p-hydroxybenzoate esters and 2-phenoxyethanol and/or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Rae E. Syverson, Wendell E. Landin, Rebecca S. Walter
  • Perforated rolled paper or nonwoven products with variable bonded length and method of manufacturing
    Patent number: 5562964
    Abstract: Improved detaching of perforated roll products of paper or nonwovens is achieved by selectively reducing strength of the sheet along the perforation line at the edges of the sheet. This is achieved by lowering the bonded length (the sum total of the distance between perforations) at the edges of the sheet relative to that within the central portion of the sheets. Greater bonded lengths in the middle of the sheet enable the sheet to pass through converting operations with minimal breaks, while having lower bonded lengths at the outer edges allows the user to more easily start a tear in the sheet at the perf line and reduce the number of "ears" left on the roll as a result of detaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Jones
  • Method for making soft high bulk tissue
    Patent number: 5562805
    Abstract: Tissue sheets, such as are useful for facial or bath tissue, can be embossed with a fine scale embossing pattern to increase bulk with a minimal loss in strength. The fine scale embossing pattern contains at least about 15 discrete intermeshing embossing elements per square centimeter (100 per square inch) and can enable the tissue manufacturer to produce premium quality tissues having adequate softness, bulk and strength from conventional tissue basesheets without layering or throughdrying equipment. Depending on the starting basesheet material, tissues having a unique balance of properties can be produced, especially for conventional wet-pressed basesheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Kamps, Janica S. Behnke, Fung-jou Chen, Darnell C. Radtke
  • Soft tissue containing glycerin and quaternary ammonium compounds
    Patent number: 5558873
    Abstract: A soft tissue having a soothing feel is disclosed which contains a softening composition comprising from about 20 to about 98 weight percent glycerin and from about 0.2 to about 5 weight percent of a selected quaternary ammonium compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara S. Funk, Duane G. Krzysik, Patrick A. Pazdernik
  • Tissue products containing softeners and silicone glycol
    Patent number: 5552020
    Abstract: Tissue products having improved bulk and softness are made by adding one or more softeners/debonders and a silicone glycol copolymer of the papermaking fibers at the wet end of the tissue machine, prior to the formation of the tissue web. Suitable softeners/debonders include organoreactive polysiloxanes, quaternary ammonium compounds, quaternized protein compounds, phospholipids, and silicone quaternaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Smith, Wen Z. Schroeder, Gary L. Shanklin
  • Method for embossing webs
    Patent number: 5529563
    Abstract: Embossing a web between unmatched male and female embossing elements, wherein the sidewall slope of the female element is different than the sidewall slope of the male element, provides an embossed web having markedly improved embossing pattern definition and, in the case of roll products, greater roll bulk at equivalent roll firmness. The unmatched male and female embossing elements are preferably made by laser engraving rubber embossing rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Jerome S. Veith, Edward H. Grupe, Joseph W. Brown
  • Method for making soft tissue using cationic silicones
    Patent number: 5529665
    Abstract: The addition of a relatively small amount of a cationic silicone to the aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers in the wet end of the tissue making process provides improved tactile properties (softness) to the resulting tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Kaun
  • Facial tissue pocket pack
    Patent number: 5524759
    Abstract: A tissue package containing a stack of tissues, commonly referred to as a pocket pack, has a resealable opening which is positioned over an exposed edge of the top tissue of the stack, thereby providing easier dispensing and opening of the tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: John L. Herzberg, Thomas W. Cerull, Anne L. Miller
  • Sulfonated cellulose and method of preparation
    Patent number: 5522967
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the surface modification of cellulose fiber and the resulting product, sulfonated cellulose. Cellulose is first oxidized, preferably with sodium metaperiodate (NaIO.sub.4), to form dialdehyde oxycellulose, which is then reacted with sodium bisulfite (NaHSO.sub.3) to produce sulfonated cellulose. Sulfonation of the cellulose fiber significantly increases the dry and wet tensile strength as well as the wet strength:dry strength ratio, making this modified cellulose fiber extremely useful in a wide variety of paper products requiring a combination of good strength in both wet and dry applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Ramakant T. Shet
  • Container
    Patent number: D373952
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Patricia M. Exarhos, William H. Valls, David W. Schweitzer, Wayne S. Marcus
  • Embossed tissue
    Patent number: D378876
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Ellen G. Spanagel, Sandra A. Enderby
  • Top surface of tissue
    Patent number: D381810
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Cheri Lee Schultz, Michael John Ognacevic, MaryAnn Zunker
  • Tissue products made from low-coarseness fibers
    Patent number: H1672
    Abstract: Tissue products made with fibers having a low Coarseness Index have improved softness relative to tissue products made with conventional papermaking fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Robert Dale Sauer, Shafi Ul Hossain, John Dennis Litvay
  • Paper towel
    Patent number: D382119
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Tissue Company
    Inventor: Carlo Ferrero