Patents Assigned to Milliken & Company
  • Energy absorbing panel
    Patent number: 8293353
    Abstract: An energy absorbing panel containing a pair of generally parallel spaced apart rigid end plates having a stiffness of at least about 200 N-m and a plurality of fabric layers extending between the rigid end plates oriented in a z-axis direction defined as being perpendicular to the rigid end plates. Each fabric layer contains a plurality of monoaxially drawn, thermoplastic fibers. The plurality of fabric layers are fused together forming a bonded structure. Methods of making the energy absorbing panel are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Howell B. Eleazer, Heather J. Hayes, Yunzhang Wang
  • Optical brighteners and compositions comprising the same
    Patent number: 8262743
    Abstract: Novel compounds based on distyryl-biphenyl are provided. The compounds conform to the general structure The compounds are useful as optical brighteners. Compositions, such as laundry care compositions, containing such compounds are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Eduardo Torres, Robert L. Mahaffey, Dominick J. Valenti, Patrick D. Moore, Leland G. Close, Jr.
  • Cleaning device
    Patent number: 8263183
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cleaning device comprising a cleaning composition and a substrate. The cleaning composition comprises an absorbent particulate, a binding agent, and optionally, a thickening agent. The cleaning composition may be applied to a substrate, such as a textile substrate, by applying the composition to at least one portion of the surface of the substrate or by incorporating the composition throughout the substrate. The absorbent particulate generally exhibits a high affinity for particles, color, grease, oil, and other staining materials and is a soft material which allows for gentle cleaning of most surfaces without detrimentally abrading and scratching soiled surfaces. The absorbent particulate also serves as an indicator providing a visual cue of its cleaning efficacy and may be used in either a wet or dry state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Emily W. Michaels, Dominick J. Valenti, Diana C. Balasca, Eduardo Torres
  • Optical brighteners and compositions comprising the same
    Patent number: 8262744
    Abstract: Novel compounds based on diaminostilbene are provided. The compounds conform to the general structures The compounds are useful as optical brighteners. Compositions, such as laundry compositions, containing such compounds are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Mahaffey, Eduardo Torres, Dominick J. Valenti, Patrick D. Moore, Leland G. Close, Jr.
  • Cleaning device
    Patent number: 8258066
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cleaning device comprising a cleaning composition and a substrate. The cleaning composition comprises an absorbent particulate, a binding agent, and optionally, a thickening agent. The cleaning composition may be applied to a substrate, such as a textile substrate, by applying the composition to at least one portion of the surface of the substrate or by incorporating the composition throughout the substrate. The absorbent particulate generally exhibits a high affinity for particles, color, grease, oil, and other staining materials and is a soft material which allows for gentle cleaning of most surfaces without detrimentally abrading and scratching soiled surfaces. The absorbent particulate also serves as an indicator providing a visual cue of its cleaning efficacy and may be used in either a wet or dry state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Emily W. Michaels, Dominick J. Valenti, Diana C. Balasca, Eduardo Torres
  • Adhesion composition and textile materials and articles treated therewith
    Patent number: 8247490
    Abstract: This invention relates to improved adhesion compositions and textile materials and articles treated therewith. The improved adhesion composition comprises a non-crosslinked resorcinol-formaldehyde and/or resorcinol-furfural condensate (or a phenol-formaldehyde condensate that is soluble in water), a rubber latex, and an aldehyde component such as 2-furfuraldehyde. The composition may be applied to textile substrates and used for improving the adhesion between the treated textile substrates and rubber materials. End-use articles that contain the treated textile-rubber composite include, without limitation, automobile tires, belts, and hoses as well as printing blankets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Shulong Li
  • Flexible spike and knife resistant composite
    Patent number: 8236711
    Abstract: A flexible spike and knife resistant composite incorporating a stack of at least ten consolidated layer groupings. Each layer grouping has a normalized stiffness of less than about 5 g/g/m2 as tested by a modified ASTM Test Method D6828-02 and contains one or two spike resistant textile layers, an adhesive layer, and one or two knife resistant textile layers. The spike resistant textile layers contain a plurality of interlocked yarns or fibers, where the yarns or fibers have a tenacity of about 8 or more grams per denier and the fiber size is less than ten denier per filament. The knife resistant textile layers contain monoaxially drawn fiber elements, where the fiber elements have an aspect ratio of greater than one and have a size greater than 100 denier per filament. The fiber elements of the knife resistant textile layer are bonded to each other or to the spike resistant layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Yunzhang Wang
  • Compositions and methods for making clarified aesthetically enhanced articles
    Patent number: 8232335
    Abstract: Thermoplastic articles may be manufactured having a high degree of visual appeal to consumers. Clarifying agents may be employed as additives in such thermoplastic articles to produce high clarity articles. A coloring agent may be mixed with clarifying agents to form a first blend, and then such a first blend may be applied in very low loadings to form a clarified polymeric article. It is possible to achieve an observable visual benefit while using very low loadings of coloring agent in a polyolefin, such as polypropylene. Carbon black is a pigment that may provide such observable benefits in polypropylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Todd D. Danielson, Jennifer Rockwood, Nathan A. Mehl
  • Pressure-sensitive adhesive tape with monofilament warp yarns
    Patent number: 8227064
    Abstract: The pressure-sensitive adhesive tape containing a woven reinforcement fabric and a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side of the woven fabric reinforcement. The woven reinforcement fabric contains weft yarns and monofilament warp yarns. The woven fabric reinforcement contains between about 30 and 100 ends per inch and the monofilament warp yarns have a linear mass density of between about 20 and 100 denier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Phillip R. Keener, Wesley A. Daniels, Jr., Charles B. Jenkinson, Jr., Carl Gadson
  • Adhesive tape
    Patent number: 8227065
    Abstract: A tape having a woven fabric and an adhesive on at least one side of the fabric. The woven fabric comprises polyester warp yarns and acetate weft yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Phillip R. Keener, William C. Gadson, Charles B. Jenkinson, Jr., Robert G. McCrary, Jerry Mickle
  • Adhesive tape
    Patent number: 8221863
    Abstract: A tape having a woven fabric and an adhesive on at least one side of the fabric. The woven fabric comprises polyester warp yarns and acetate weft yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Phillip R. Keener, William C. Gadson, Charles B. Jenkinson, Jr.
  • Tie layer compositions for fiber reinforced thermoplastic—thermoset structural element
    Patent number: 8211268
    Abstract: A process for simultaneously consolidating to form a fiber reinforced thermoplastic and thermoset structural element that contain, in order; a fiber reinforced thermoplastic member, a tie layer, and a fiber reinforced thermoset member. The fiber reinforced thermoplastic member, contains multiple layers of fibers and a thermoplastic matrix at least partially surrounding the fibers. The fiber reinforced thermoset member contains multiple layers of fibers and a thermoset matrix at least partially surrounding the fibers. The tie layer contains a first polymer and a second polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Venkatkrishna Raghavendran, Ryan W. Johnson, Pradip Bahukudumbi, Kirkland W. Vogt
  • Carpet tile curved channeling process
    Patent number: 8206786
    Abstract: A method of producing a decorative carpet tile may include providing a carpet tile in accordance with the prior art techniques and then treating at least two carpet tiles in one of various manners to provide separations internal to side edges of the carpet tile. Specifically, two tiles can be treated simultaneously, in register and/or without moving the second tile after treating the first tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Robert S. Weiner
  • Thermoplastic polymer composition
    Patent number: 8198351
    Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer and a nucleating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Jiannong Xu, Jiang Li, Cristina M. Acevedo, Robbie Willem Johan M. Hanssen, Darin L. Dotson, Daike Wang, Scott R. Trenor
  • Method of making a fiber reinforced core panel
    Patent number: 8157937
    Abstract: A fiber reinforced core panel having a first side and an opposing second side. The core panel contains a series of adjacent low density strips having at least three faces and having a length to width aspect ratio of at least 5:1. The longitudinal axis of the low density strips are substantially parallel and the cross-section of each strip has a major face, a first edge face, and a second edge face. The major face of each strip is disposed within the first or second side of the core panel and the major face of each strip is disposed within an opposite face of the core panel than the major face of the adjacent strips. The core panel also contains a continuous fibrous reinforcement sheet which is threaded through the low density strips such that the fibrous reinforcement sheet is disposed between adjacent strips and adjacent to the major faces of the low density strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Anthony S. Brandon, Ryan W. Johnson, James A. Renninger
  • Automated randomized pattern generation using pre-defined design overlays and products produced thereby
    Patent number: 8155776
    Abstract: Provided herein is a process for randomly patterning a plurality of carpet tiles, each tile having a composite pattern containing at least a base pattern and an overlay pattern. When installed, the random order of patterning results in random tile placement and an overall random appearance. The overlay patterns are randomly chosen from a library of patterns until each individual pattern has been used to create a tile series. The overlay patterns may be manipulated by rotating, mirror-imaging, rotating and mirror-imaging, or repositioning to produce additional variations and increase the number of tiles in the series. The base pattern may optionally be manipulated before being incorporated into the composite pattern. A tile collection, containing such randomly ordered composite patterns, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Bittner, Steven W. Cox, Ronald Magee, Jonathan C. McCay
  • Consolidated fibrous structure
    Patent number: 8147957
    Abstract: A consolidated fibrous structure including a multiplicity of fibrous layers. The fibers of each fibrous layer contain a core, a first layer and a second layer. The core has an exterior surface portion containing polypropylene. The first layer is disposed on at least a portion of the core and contains a first polymer. The first polymer contains a polymer having at least 70% ?-olefin units and is characterized by a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the exterior surface portion of the core. The second layer is disposed on at least a portion of the first layer and contains a second polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Sujith Nair, Sasha Stankovich, Yunzhang Wang, Venkatkrishna Raghavendran
  • Automated pattern generation processes
    Patent number: 8145345
    Abstract: An automated system for generating large numbers of digitally-defined patterns suitable for printing on textiles wherein each pattern is individually different but shares one or more unifying design motifs with all other patterns. In the general case, each pattern is comprised of at least two components in the form of separately configurable pattern layers that are digitally superimposed to form a composite pattern that is unique but visually related to all other unique patterns that use pattern layers taken from the same pattern sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Ronald Magee, Jonathan C. McCay, Steven W. Cox
  • Powder cleaning composition
    Patent number: 8138135
    Abstract: This invention relates to improved powder cleaning compositions and methods for cleaning textile substrates, especially carpet and upholstery fabrics. More particularly, this invention relates to powder cleaning compositions that contain absorbent particulate materials in a flowable form, which dries to a soil ladened powder, that can be removed by vacuum, brushing, and/or laundering methods. The improvement lies in the ability of the composition to remain a flowable powder, while containing a higher water content than previous powder cleaning compositions. The composition comprises an absorbent particulate material, a super absorbent polymer, and other ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Patrick D Moore, Lacey Hillard, Leonard J. Starks, Steven E. Brown, David E. Green, Daniel Y. West
  • Non-woven cover for containing and abating odiferous organic emanations
    Patent number: 8137957
    Abstract: An odiferous organic compounds cover having an inner surface and an outer surface. The cover contains a thermoplastic non-woven layer containing thermoplastic fibers having a contact angle with water greater than about 70°. The cover contains a UV barrier layer contains containing a UV blocking polymer, having a thickness of between one to three times the diameter of the thermoplastic fibers of the non-woven layer, and containing discontinuities forming microchannels through the layer thickness. The cover also contains an odor mitigation layer containing a UV translucent polymer which transmits at least about 60% of UV(C) energy and anatase titanium dioxide. The odor mitigation layer comprises discontinuities forming microchannels through the layer thickness forms the outer surface of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: David E. Wenstrup, Venkatkrishna Raghavendran