Patents Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11236469
    Abstract: The present invention provides an embossed multi-ply tissue product that is visually pleasing and has improved physical attributes. For example, the inventive multi-ply tissue products have reduced stiffness, such as a GM Flexural Rigidity less than about 600 mg*cm, improved absorbency, such as a Residual Water (WResidual) value less than about 0.15 g, and improved wet resiliency, such as a Wet Elastic Strain Ratio greater than about 32 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Steven LeCount, Bryce David Walbrun, Kevin Joseph Vogt, Sarah Ann Funk, Jeffrey Dean Holz, Kenneth John Zwick, Jason Daniel Hanke
  • Patent number: 11224546
    Abstract: A hollow fiber that extending along at least a portion of the fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and is defined by an interior wall is provided. Through selective control over the manner in which it is formed, the present inventors have discovered that the hollow fiber can exhibit a unique combination of a high void fraction and small fiber size that makes it particularly suitable for use in certain applications, such as in nonwoven webs for absorbent articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric E. Lennon, John H. Conrad, Douglas J. Hulslander, David W. Hall
  • Patent number: 11224221
    Abstract: Antibacterial compositions and methods for inhibiting bacterial growth are disclosed. The antibacterial compositions can include a carrier and an antibacterial agent including a benzoic acid ester. The benzoic acid ester can have a carbon chain having a length of two to ten. The benzoic acid ester can have a hydroxyl group on the carbon chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Scott W. Wenzel, Corey T. Cunninghan, Andrew R. Kischnick, Vinod Chaudhary
  • Patent number: 11219556
    Abstract: Methods for forming absorbent articles and side seam bonds of absorbent articles are described. In one embodiment, a method of forming absorbent articles may comprise advancing webs, coupling absorbent cores to the webs intermittently to form open absorbent article chassis, folding the absorbent article chassis, forming a first side seam bond first bond pair between a first region of the webs and a second region of the webs with a first ultrasonic horn, forming a second side seam bond of the bond pair between the first region and the second region with a second ultrasonic horn, the first bond being associated with a first absorbent article chassis and the second side seam bond being associated with a second absorbent article chassis, and cutting the folded absorbent article chassis between the first bond and the second bond to separate the first absorbent article chassis from the second absorbent article chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Meisner, John W. Hoffman, John J. Garcia
  • Patent number: 11220085
    Abstract: An elastic laminate is provided including at least one gathered outer facing layer of a fabric and an apertured elastic film attached thereto. The aperture film includes a series of alternating first and second segments that extend continuously along the direction of elasticity. The first segments of the film are substantially devoid of any apertures and the second segments are strewn with apertures of irregular size and shape. The regionally limited and irregular apertures are formed by the controlled rupturing of the film within those segments. The elastic laminate has excellent air-permeability and elastic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Jose Augusto Vidal De Siqueira, Michael R. Vaughan
  • Patent number: 11192680
    Abstract: The present invention provides an enclosed carton for storing and dispensing a plurality of consumer goods. The carton is reclosable and resealable using an interior tuck tab that is formed from one of the carton panels. The tab has a perimeter defined by a line of weakness for separating the interior tuck tab from the carton panel, a first fold line for hingedly connecting the interior tuck tab to the panel and a second fold line spaced apart from the first fold line; and a pair of notches disposed on the interior tuck tab substantially parallel to the second fold line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon Mark Hokanson, Sydney Leigh Kallenbach, Timothy Scott Burnham
  • Patent number: 11192681
    Abstract: Provided are cartons, particularly cartons for storing and dispensing consumer products and more particularly absorbent consumer products and still more particularly tissue products, such as rolled tissue products, which eliminates plastic packaging while still protecting the carton contents from dirt and grime. The carton contents are protected by providing a carton having a top panel formed from opposing flaps that overlap to some extent. The overlapped portion however, is designed to compress on center and not to add material height to the perimeter of the carton so that multiple cartons may be stacked one on top of another to form a stable unit load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventor: Brandon Mark Hokanson
  • Patent number: 11186927
    Abstract: A hollow fiber that generally extends in a longitudinal direction is provided. The hollow fiber comprises a hollow cavity that extends along at least a portion of the fiber in the longitudinal direction. The cavity is defined by an interior wall that is formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and a nanoinclusion additive dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined in the composition that includes a plurality of nanopores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Mark M. Mleziva, Ryan J. McEneany, Neil T. Scholl, Antonio J. Carillo
  • Publication number: 20210362125
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes an absorbent member positioned between a topsheet and a backsheet. The absorbent member contains at least one layer that includes superabsorbent particles containing a porous network that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 10 to about 500 nanometers, wherein the superabsorbent particles exhibit a Vortex Time of about 80 seconds or less and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) of 5 darcys or more, of 10 darcys or more, of 60 darcys or more, or of 90 darcys or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Austin N. Pickett, Karen Goeders, Mark M. Mleziva, Theodore T. Tower, WanDuk Lee, Neil T. Scholl, Lori A. Eslinger, Yuriy Galabura, Dave Soerens
  • Patent number: 11179010
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus for dispensing of paper products. The dispenser includes two spindle arms. A rolled paper product rests on top of the two spindle arms and during dispensing the roll rotates on top the two spindle arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Sexton, Eric M. Chalko, Klemen Erzen
  • Patent number: 11172794
    Abstract: A rolled paper product dispenser having a dispensing nozzle with inner and outer portions that cooperate to enable single sheet dispensing and resist sheet product falling back into the dispenser and out of reach of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventor: SungWoo Kim
  • Patent number: 11166968
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions, particularly compositions useful in maintaining and supporting healthy microflora in the female urogenital tract which could lead to inhibition of vaginal infections, as well as methods of treating and preventing vaginal infections. Compositions useful in supporting healthy microflora, disclosed herein, generally comprise a therapeutic amount of a first saccharide and a therapeutic amount of a second saccharide or an organic acid. The saccharides may be, for example, a pentose, a disaccharide, a cyclodextrin, a pectic substance or a non-digestible polysaccharide. The organic acid may be, for example, malic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingru Li, Lindsay Adrienne Peed, Cheryce Francina Joyner, Rebecca Ann Vongsa, David William Koenig, Ryan Daniel Bartell, Paige Nicole Hollmaier
  • Patent number: 11168287
    Abstract: Methods of inhibiting microbes from attaching to a surface and anti-adherent compositions are disclosed. One method can include providing an anti-adherent composition that includes an anti-adherent agent configured to inhibit microbes from attaching to the surface. The anti-adherent agent can be: Acrylates Copolymer, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin crosspolymer, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkylmethacrylate Copolymer, Octocrylene, Ethylene Oxide/Propylene Oxide Block Copolymer, Polyquaternium-101, or any combinations thereof. The method can include applying the composition to the surface and allowing at least some of the composition to remain on the surface such that the anti-adherent agent inhibits microbes from attaching to the surface. The anti-adherent composition can include a humectant and can be non-antimicrobial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathleen C. Engelbrecht, Stacy A. Mundschau, David W. Koenig, Scott W. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 11162223
    Abstract: The invention relates to fibrous structures having desirable physical properties, such as good tensile strength, low stiffness and high bulk, manufactured using a fiber furnish comprising cellulosic fibers having a pH of 5.0 or less and at least one strength resin. Not only do structures prepared with acidic fibers have desirable physical properties, they may also be manufactured in an energy efficient manner. To achieve the greatest energy savings it is generally desirable that acidic fibers not be subjected to mechanical treatment, such as by refining, prior to forming the fiber into a fibrous structure. Further, it may be desirable to subject the remainder of the fiber furnish to a minimal degree of mechanical treatment, such as by refining, so as to produce a furnish having a freeness greater than about 550 mL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: David John Paulson, Richard Louis Underhill, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick
  • Patent number: 11155935
    Abstract: A method for forming porous fibers is provided. The fibers are formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase, which includes a matrix polymer, and a nanoinclusion additive that is at least partially incompatible with the matrix polymer so that it becomes dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. The method generally includes traversing a bundle of the fibers over one or more draw bars that are in contact with a fluidic medium (e.g., water). In certain embodiments, for example, the draw bar(s) are submerged in the fluidic medium. The fluidic medium is lower than the melting temperature of the matrix polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil T. Scholl, Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Antonio J. Carrillo Ojeda, Ryan J. McEneany, Theodore T. Tower
  • Patent number: D934883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, Joseph M. Sexton
  • Patent number: D937087
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy T. Gauger, Bryan Eliot Rolfs, Heidi Ellen Gehrke, Amanda Ann Thelen, Maggie VanderHeiden Berger
  • Patent number: D937675
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Maggie VanderHeiden Berger, Heidi Ellen Gehrke, Jeremy T. Gauger, Bryan Eliot Rolfs, Amanda Ann Thelen
  • Patent number: D941680
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Boon, Paige E. Chapman, Benjamin Greengrass, Christopher R. Reynolds
  • Patent number: D941681
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Boon, Paige E. Chapman, Benjamin Greengrass, Christopher R. Reynolds