Patents Represented by Attorney Nicholas N. Leach
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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: 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: 5858515Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pattern-unbonded nonwoven fabric having continuous bonded areas defining a plurality of discrete unbonded areas, which is suitable for use as an improved loop fastening material for hook and loop fastening systems. The fibers or filaments within the discrete unbonded areas of the present invention are dimensionally stabilized by the continuous bonded areas that encircle or surround each unbonded area. The spaces between fibers or filaments within the unbonded areas remain sufficiently open or large to receive and engage hook elements of a complementary hook material. The hook material can be any of a wide variety of commercially available hook components which, as is known in the art, typically include a base material from which a plurality of hook elements project.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1996Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Ty Jackson Stokes, Cedric Arnett Dunkerly, II, Darryl Franklin Clark, Scot Patrick Honer
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Patent number: 5843057Abstract: The present invention is directed to film-nonwoven laminates incorporating stretch-thinned, breathable films onto which a pattern or network of adhesive areas is applied to improve durability and strength of the stretch-thinned film. The present invention has applicability in a wide variety of areas where strength, comfort, liquid impermeability and breathability are needed or desired, including without limitation, personal care absorbent articles, articles of clothing, roll goods and health care-related items.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1997Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Ann Louise McCormack
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Patent number: 5837352Abstract: Disclosed herein is a film/nonwoven laminate which incorporates a low gauge machine direction oriented film layer laminated to a nonwoven support layer. The individual layers are designed such that the film layer in the laminated state has an elongation at break value in the cross machine direction that is greater the elongation at peak load value for the nonwoven layer in the same direction. Consequently, if the laminate is subjected to severe stretching forces in the cross machine direction, the nonwoven layer will fail before the film layer. In addition, the laminate has a peak load value of at least 300 grams. As a result, the laminate is particularly useful as, for example, an outercover material for personal care absorbent articles.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Karen Lynn English, Ann Louise McCormack
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Patent number: 5817394Abstract: This invention relates to a fibrous laminated material wherein a first fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of a thermoplastic material and a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of two or more thermoplastic or other materials are bonded together in a spaced apart bonding pattern having apertures formed therein to form a fibrous laminate having improved liquid distribution and management properties as well as enhanced comfort and softness when placed in contact with human skin. Also disclosed are a method and apparatus for making such a fibrous laminate, as well as absorbent articles incorporating such fibrous laminate.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1995Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: Kimberly-Clark CorporationInventors: Mir Inayeth Alikhan, Deborah Lynn Proxmire, Edward Bruce Richter
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Patent number: 5804021Abstract: The present invention is directed to elastic fibrous nonwoven web laminates which exhibit elastic properties in at least one direction and, if desired, two or more directions due to the use of at least one fibrous nonwoven web facing layer which contains a plurality of slits. The resultant laminates are useful in a wide variety of applications not the least of which include garments, surgical drapes and other supplies as well as personal care absorbent articles including diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, incontinence garments, bandages and the like. Processes for forming such laminates are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1996Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Frank Paul Abuto, Andrew Edward Diamond, Ruth Lisa Levy, Stephen Clark Smith
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Patent number: 5704101Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for aperturing, creping and optionally laminating webs such as, for example, films and fibrous nonwovens. The present invention is also directed to the resultant materials. The process for aperturing and creping webs utilizes a pattern roll and an anvil roll with the anvil roll being rotated faster that the pattern roll. The resultant material is visually much different than conventional materials which are typically run through similar rolls wherein the pattern roll and anvil roll are run at the same speed or wherein the pattern roll is run faster than the anvil roll. The resultant materials have a wide variety of applications not the least of which includes a liner material for personal care absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products, bandages and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1995Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Mark Bruce Majors, Benjamin John DeCorso, William Anthony Georger, Richard John Schmidt, Howard Martin Welch, Gregory Alan Zelazoski
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Patent number: 5702377Abstract: Disclosed herein a personal care absorbent product which when first insulted, has a high initial surface moisture value which is maintained for several minutes but then, after a short period of time, drops to a lower value. As a result, the product has an initial "wet" feel but quickly changes to a drier feel so as to provide more comfort.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1995Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Leslie Warren Collier, IV, Ali Yahiaoui, Eric Mitchell Johns, Debra Hartley Durrance
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Patent number: 5667625Abstract: This invention relates to a fibrous laminated material wherein a first fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of a thermoplastic material and a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of two or more thermoplastic or other materials are bonded together in a spaced apart bonding pattern having apertures formed therein to form a fibrous laminate having improved liquid distribution and management properties as well as enhanced comfort and softness when placed in contact with human skin. Also disclosed are a method and apparatus for making such a fibrous laminate.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1996Date of Patent: September 16, 1997Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Mir Inayeth Alikhan
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Patent number: 5667619Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a fibrous laminated material wherein a first fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of a thermoplastic material and a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of two or more thermoplastic or other materials are bonded together in a spaced apart bonding pattern having apertures formed therein to form a fibrous laminate having improved liquid distribution and management properties as well as enhanced comfort and softness when placed in contact with human skin.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1996Date of Patent: September 16, 1997Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Mir Inayeth Alikhan
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Patent number: 5658268Abstract: Disclosed herein a personal care absorbent article which when first insulted, has a high initial surface moisture value which is maintained for several minutes but then, after a short period of time, drops to a lower value. As a result, the product has an initial "wet" feel but quickly changes to a "drier" feel so as to provide more comfort long term to the wearer.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Eric Mitchell Johns, Clifford Jackson Ellis, Susan Carol Paul
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Patent number: 5614281Abstract: The creped nonwoven laminate loop material of the present invention includes a creped nonwoven layer attached to a support layer. The creped nonwoven layer may be, for example, a spunbond nonwoven web or a staple fiber bonded carded web. The support layer may be formed of any material that can be suitably attached or bonded to the creped nonwoven layer, including a foam, a plastic film or another nonwoven web. The exposed, top surface of the creped nonwoven layer includes raised "loop" areas having low fiber density and high z-directional fiber orientation that are designed to receive and engage the hook elements projecting from a hook material. The raised areas of the creped nonwoven layer are separated by non-raised areas having relatively higher fiber density and relatively lower z-directional fiber orientation when compared to the fiber density and z-directional fiber orientation of the raised areas.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1995Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Kimberly-Clark CorporationInventors: Wanda W. Jackson, Monica S. Diaz, Lance J. Garrett, Jr.
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Patent number: 5580418Abstract: This invention relates to a film laminated material wherein a first film layer comprising a thin film of a thermoplastic material and a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of two or more thermoplastic or other materials are bonded together in a spaced apart bonding pattern having apertures formed therein to form a film laminate having improved liquid distribution and management properties as well as enhanced comfort and softness when placed in contact with human skin. Also disclosed are a method and apparatus for making such a film laminate.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1994Date of Patent: December 3, 1996Assignee: Kimberly-Clark CorporationInventor: Mir I. Alikhan
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Patent number: 5522810Abstract: Disclosed herein is a compressively resistant and resilient fibrous nonwoven web which is suitable for a wide variety of uses including, but not limited to, a portion of a personal care absorbent product which is located on the side of the absorbent core of the product which faces the wearer. The nonwoven web can include bicomponent fiber and has a thickness of 2.5 mm or greater at a pressure of 68.9 pascal, a specific volume of 14 cc/g or greater at a pressure of 6,895 pascal, and a Frazier air permeability of 100 cubic meters per square meter per minute or greater.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1995Date of Patent: June 4, 1996Assignee: Kimberly-Clark CorporationInventors: Roe C. Allen, Jr., Andrew S. Burnes
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Patent number: 5370764Abstract: This invention relates to a film laminated material wherein a first film layer comprising a thin film of a thermoplastic material and a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of two or more thermoplastic or other materials are bonded together in a spaced apart bonding pattern having apertures formed therein to form a film laminate having improved liquid distribution and management properties as well as enhanced comfort and softness when placed in contact with human skin. Also disclosed are a method and apparatus for making such a film laminate.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1992Date of Patent: December 6, 1994Assignee: Kimberly-Clark CorporationInventor: Mir I. Alikhan
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Patent number: 5092815Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automated poultry processing system having a novel chicken hind quarter cutting stage that does not require the individual chicken hind quarters to be removed from the moving treadmill before or after halving the chicken hind quarters. Each chicken hind quarter is placed into a moveable shackle including a rotatable shackle assembly. Each rotatable shackle assembly includes a cam plate that, when moved into contact with a stationary cam member, causes the shackle assembly to rotate 90.degree., thereby rotating the chicken hind quarter by 90.degree.. The chicken hind quarter then moves into contact with a guide member that positions the chicken hind quarter for subsequent cutting by a rotary saw. The chicken hind quarter remains in contact with the guide member until the saw has cut the chicken hind quarter into halves, thereby facilitating a precise cut of the chicken hind quarter.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 1990Date of Patent: March 3, 1992Assignee: Starflex CorporationInventor: Robert F. Polkinghorne