Patents Represented by Attorney James B. Robinson
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Patent number: 6190758Abstract: There is provided herein a multilayer laminate comprised of a layer of a film and a layer of a nonwoven fabric. The film is made from polymers and has as one surface a semi-crystalline/amorphous or “heterophasic” polymer, an optional inner, less expensive, filler type polymer, and as the other surface, a polymer with a lower coefficient of friction. The nonwoven fabric may be a spunbond or meltblown fabric, preferably spunbond and preferably also including a heterophasic polymer. The film and nonwoven components are bonded together using thermal point bonding preferably while the film is stretched at least 5 percent. Such a laminate may be made into a personal care product like a diaper, training pant, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence product, and feminine hygiene product.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1998Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Steven Ray Stopper
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Patent number: 6172276Abstract: There is provided a distribution material for personal care products which is a fabric which wicks artificial menses according to a horizontal wicking test a distance of about 1 inch in less than about 1.5 minutes. Materials meeting this performance criteria generally have a pore size distribution with a high percentage (usually more than 50 percent) of pore diameters between about 80 and 400 microns and a density below about 0.15 g/cc.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Connie Lynn Hetzler, Nancy Donaldson Kollin, Crystal Sutphin Leach, Jack Nelson Lindon, Lawrence Howell Sawyer, Heather Anne Sorebo, Garry Roland Woltman
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Patent number: 6152904Abstract: There is provided an absorbent system for personal care products which may be transversely divided into about an equally sized center zone, two intermediate zones and two end zones where the ratio of the amount of liquid stored in the center zone to the amount of liquid stored in at least one of the end zones 30 minutes after each of three insults of 80 ml according to a MIST Evaluation Test is less than 5:1. Such an absorbent system may be used in personal care products like diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1996Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Billie Jean Matthews, Richard Allen Anderson, Andrew Scott Burnes, Kuo-Shu Edward Chang, Richard Norris Dodge, II, Stanley Michael Gryskiewicz, Connie Lynn Hetzler, Margaret Gwyn Latimer, Yong Li, Sylvia Bandy Little, Tamara Lee Mace, James Brian Riddle, Lawrence Howell Sawyer, Eugenio Go Varona, Hoa La Wilhelm
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Patent number: 6103647Abstract: There is provided a laminate having at least one layer of meltblown elastic fibers bonded on either side with a layer of soft non-elastic fibers of greater than 7 microns in average diameter. The laminate has a drape stiffness less than half of a similar fabric having a layer of meltblown non-elastic fibers in place of the layer of meltblown elastic fibers.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1996Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Jay Sheldon Shultz, Susan Elaine Shawver, Leslie Warren Collier, IV, Paul Windsor Estey
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Patent number: 6060638Abstract: The present invention is directed to a matched permeability liner/absorbent structure system, suitable for use in absorbent articles, in which the permeability of the bodyside liner is correlated with the permeability of the subjacent layer of the absorbent structure, such as a surge layer. The inventors have observed that by appropriately matching the permeability of the liner material to the permeability of the subjacent layer, liquid intake performance of the liner and subjacent layer materials can exceed liquid intake performance of the subjacent layer material alone. Thus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the permeability of the bodyside liner is set within a specified range of that of the subjacent layer such that the liner/subjacent layer liquid intake performance is improved.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1996Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Susan Carol Paul, Philip Anthony Sasse, David George Crowther, Eric Mitchell Johns
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Patent number: 6040255Abstract: A stabilizing additive package for nonwoven fabrics is provided. The package has a bismuth vanadate based pigment and a hindered amine light stabilizer. The bismuth vanadate is added to a nonwoven fiber polymer prior to extrusion in an amount between about 0.1 and 3 weight percent based on the weight of the fabric and the hindered amine in an amount between about 0.25 and 2.5 weight percent based on the weight of the fabric. The nonwoven fabric also provided by this invention may be used as protective covers for, for example, boats and cars, and as an outdoor fabric for, for example, canopies and tents.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1996Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Robert Leslie Hudson
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Patent number: 6022818Abstract: Disclosed herein is an entangled nonwoven composite made from absorbent fibers such as wood pulp fibers and matrix fibers such as polyolefin staple fibers. The absorbent fibers are entangled with the matrix fibers in such a manner so that the composite has an absorbent-rich side and a matrix-rich side. Intermediate the two exterior sides there is an entangled interior portion made from a mixture of the absorbent and matrix fibers. The composite is particularly well-suited for use in multifunctional handling of fluids such as, for example, body fluids which are absorbed by personal care absorbent articles. The matrix fiber portion of the composite acts as a fluid intake region while the absorbent fiber portion acts as a fluid retention region and the portion of the composite intermediate the two exterior surfaces acts as a fluid transfer region.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1996Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Debra Nell Welchel, Eric Scott Kepner, Crystal Sutphin Leach
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Patent number: 6001460Abstract: A laminate material formed of an elastomeric polymer sheet and a nonwoven fabric sheet. The sheets are passed through a niproll assembly during lamination, one of the niprolls having a series of embossing points protruding therefrom, and the other niproll being substantially flat. The embossing points press selective areas of the preferably molten polymer sheet into the fabric sheet, encapsulating the fabric fibers and bonding thereto. The resulting material has points of bonding where penetration has occurred and areas of nonpenetration, providing adherence of the two sheets while permitting independent movement of the fibers and elastic properties. Preferably, a release agent is added to the elastomeric polymer to reduce the possibility of the elastomer layer sticking to the nonwoven layer when the laminate is wound onto a supply roll.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1996Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Michael Tod Morman, Cindy Janja Milicevic
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Patent number: 5994615Abstract: There is provided a surge material for personal care products which is a wettable web of fibers of 30 microns in diameter or less where the web has a permeability between about 250 and 1500 Darcys, a capillary tension between about 1.5 and 5 cm, and which maintains that permeability and capillary tension over the life of the web. Its preferred that the web have a density between about 0.02 g/cc to about 0.07 g/cc.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1998Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Richard Norris Dodge, II, Clifford Jackson Ellis, Connie Lynn Hetzler, Sylvia Bandy Little, Tamara Lee Mace, Lawrence Howell Sawyer, Hoa La Wilhelm
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Patent number: 5964743Abstract: There is provided a stretchable absorbent material for personal care products which has a liquid permeable top sheet, a bottom sheet, and beams of an absorbent composition between the top and bottom sheets whereby the beams are spaced apart by bond rows therebetween. The stretchable absorbent material provides a more conformable product and can aid in moving liquid away from the target zone, and in air circulation within the product.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1997Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Frank Paul Abuto, Penny Atieno Abuto, Stanley Michael Gryskiewicz
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Patent number: 5964742Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal bonding pattern for nonwoven fabric comprising a pattern having an element aspect ratio between about 2 and about 20 and an unbonded fiber aspect ratio of between about 3 and about 10. It has been unexpectedly found that such a fabric has a higher abrasion resistance and strength than a similar fabric bonded with different bond patterns of similar bond areas. This combination of strength and abrasion resistance has long been sought after.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1997Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Ann Louise McCormack, David Lee Fuqua, Kevin Edward Smith
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Patent number: 5965468Abstract: There is disclosed an nonwoven fabric suitable for use as, for example, an intake/distribution material for personal care products, made from nonwoven fabric where the fabric is made from directly formed, mixed size fibers. The fibers may be conjugate fibers. The fabric may have zones having larger fibers and zones having smaller fibers providing a means to vary the web properties, such as permeability, or the mixed size fibers may be uniformly distributed. The fibers may also be crimped. The process for making such a material is also disclosed.A zoned fiber fabric can provide rapid intake of an insult because of the placement of the high permeability zone in the insult target area and can also provide good distribution through the lower permeability but higher capillarity end zones.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1997Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Samuel Edward Marmon, Christopher Cosgrove Creagan
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Patent number: 5962112Abstract: There is provided a wiper comprising a first web of fibers of at most 50 microns in diameter wherein said web has been bonded using a point unbonded pattern having a bond area between about 25 and 50 percent. The wiper can be made from thermoplastic polymer nonwoven fibers made by the meltblowing, spunbonding, carding and bonding, or airlaying processes. The wiper may be a laminate of various thermoplastic layers joined with the point unbonded pattern and may be a coform web of thermoplastic polymer and pulp or other material.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1996Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Bryan David Haynes, Laura Elizabeth Keck, Charles Allen Smith, Ty Jackson Stokes, David Craige Strack
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Patent number: 5948710Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fibrous nonwoven composite structure more commonly referred to as a coform structure. Unlike current coform structures, the material of the present invention is more water-dispersible due to the use of a water-degradable reinforcing fiber matrix.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: William Seal Pomplun, David Martin Jackson, Pavneet Singh Mumick
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Patent number: 5939341Abstract: There is provided a laminate of nonwoven fabrics for outdoor applications which has good resistance to ultraviolet light. The laminate has two meltblown layers sandwiched between spunbond layers to produce an SMMS laminate. The layers have a large amount of a UV stabilizer and metal oxide pigments. Such laminates are useful for car covers, awnings and canopies, etc. When the laminate is used as a car cover, it is preferred to skew the basis weights of the outer layers so that the layer against the car is significantly lighter than the other outer layer and to reduce the denier of the fibers in the layer against the car.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: James Page Brown, Laura Elizabeth Keck, Robert Leslie Hudson
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Patent number: 5935612Abstract: There is provided a fabric which has been produced in a pneumatic chamber which has tiny grooves over an effective amount of its fluid contacting surface. Also provided is a method of producing a web having greater uniformity by producing it with pneumatic chambers having surface grooves. Fabrics produced in such a manner have greater uniformity when measured by permeability, basis weight or CD and MD strength properties.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1996Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Gregory Triebes, Bryan David Haynes, Charles John Morell, Jeffrey Lawrence McManus, Rebecca Willey Griffin
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Patent number: 5931823Abstract: There is provided a absorbent material for personal care products which is made from wettable fibers of at most 40 microns in diameter which are made into a web and where the web has controlled spaces in the side away from a wearer point unbonded bonding pattern. The web will accept a liquid insult of 50 ml with a runover/run-through percentage ratio of less than 1.5.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Ty Jackson Stokes, Darryl Franklin Clark, Eugenio Go Varona
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Patent number: 5919177Abstract: There is provided a cushioned absorbent material which may be used as a bodyside liner for a personal care product which is made from a lofty nonwoven fabric onto which is extruded a film to form a laminate. The laminate is then apertured and has an 8 cc intake rate of at most 20 sec and a rewet of less than 1 gm. Such a liner may be used in personal care products like diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1997Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: William Anthony Georger, Mark Bruce Majors, Gregory Alan Zelazoski
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Patent number: 5916678Abstract: Disclosed herein are multicomponent fibers wherein at least one component will permit bonding of the fibers to themselves and other types of fibers and wherein the same first component is also degradable in an aqueous medium. Such fibers can be used to form fibrous nonwoven webs which can be used as components in such end-use products as medical and health care related items, wipes and personal care absorbent articles.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1996Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: David Martin Jackson, William Seal Pomplun, Pavneet Singh Mumick, Paul Windsor Estey
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Patent number: 5913329Abstract: There is provided a high speed rotary valve which is relatively simple in design and which can effectively regulate the flow of fluid under high temperature conditions in such a manner as to produce perturbations in the fluid stream. Such a valve may be used to regulate the flow of fluid, e.g. air, toward a work piece to produce a perturbation in the piece for example. The clearance between the rotor and stator is such that the flow of fluid is never completely cut off, i.e., the valve continues to "leak through" the closed outlet port even when the rotor and stator openings are not aligned. Fluids having temperatures in the range of 40 to at least 900.degree. F. may be processed through this valve. The valve is also useful in creating aerosols of liquids and gases and in producing blown fibers.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1997Date of Patent: June 22, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Bryan David Haynes, Lamar Heath Gipson, Jeffrey Lawrence McManus, Kenneth Randall Suggs, Jark Chong Lau, Paul Allan Giles