Patents Examined by Amy B. Vanatta
  • Patent number: 7854019
    Abstract: A garment accessory for attachment to a hem of a garment for prevention of entrapment of the garment beneath a foot or shoe of the wearer, comprising an adhesive-backed flexible and conforming film having a low-friction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: Catherine Delaney
  • Patent number: 7854020
    Abstract: Safety drain holding systems are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system can include a medical support garment comprising a medical container holder having first and second ends and at least one pocket. The pocket is adapted to support at least one container for storing bodily fluid output from a patient to the container. The medical support garment comprises a belt including first and second ends adapted for releasable attachment to the first and second ends, respectively, of the medical container holder such that the pocket is held adjacent to the waist of the patient when the first and second ends of the belt are attached to the first and second ends, respectively, of the medical container holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: Patricia Anne Ehrlickman
  • Patent number: 7854046
    Abstract: A stationary working surface of a one roll microcreper member is of plastic resin having low wear and friction properties. As a primary pressing member subject to concentrated force it is 0.040 inch thick. One or both opposed retarder members of a bladed microcreper are of the plastic. Thermoplastics meeting wear and friction limits, e.g. ultra high density polyethylene, are employed. Primary extensions, some having openings, slots or holes serve as flexible retarders to engage treated material. By a load-spreading surface, the thermoplastic primary member is restrained without distortion. By this surface being linear it slideably inserts into a mounting. By this surface being parallel to the roll axis the primary member is free for cross-machine thermal expansion. A primary member shown is sheet form, mounted between sheet metal members, one with a restraint surface. Sheet materials of polyolefins, wood pulp, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Micrex Corporation
    Inventors: J. Drew Horn, Peter R. Smith, Richard C. Walton
  • Patent number: 7845055
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing absorbent tampons with reduced fiber fluff includes a novel needlepunching unit. The method includes the steps of providing a continuous nonwoven fibrous web; separating individual nonwoven web sections from the continuous nonwoven fibrous web; forming distinct side edges of each individual nonwoven web section; rolling the nonwoven web section to form a substantially cylindrical tampon blank; and compressing the substantially cylindrical tampon blank to form the absorbent tampon. The distinct side edges of each individual nonwoven web section are formed by needlepunching proximate the longitudinal side edges of each individual nonwoven web section, folding both longitudinal side edges inwardly to form distinct side edges of the individual nonwoven web section, and needlepunching the folded longitudinal side edges to stabilize the distinct side edges of the individual nonwoven web section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Kimball, Anthony C. Lalama
  • Patent number: 7836518
    Abstract: An apron for use by dentists and the like is provided with a main body portion and a collar portion for securing the apron to the wearer in which the collar portion is adjustably securable at any position within a predetermined range such that it forms a close fit around the wearer wherein the collar and body portions comprise an absorbent side and a substantially waterproof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventors: David Richard Bloom, Claudine Nicola Bloom, Jayseelan Nadasen Padayachy
  • Patent number: 7832068
    Abstract: A method of producing a spread multi-filament bundle along with an apparatus used in the same, by which a multi-filament bundle is spread with high speed and facility, and a high quality spread multi-filament bundle or sheet with the component monofilaments thereof aligned in parallel widthwise and uniformly distributed in density is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fukui Prefectural Government
    Inventors: Kazumasa Kawabe, Shigeru Tomoda
  • Patent number: 7827618
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a non-permanent liquid resistant protector. More particularly the invention relates to single/multiple use non-permanent liquid resistant protector. The invention also relates to a bib protector and liner. The invention further encompasses a liquid resistant protector liner that can be temporarily attached and detached to another material via at least one securing or fastening means. Also disclosed is a bib liner that is either washable and reusable or disposable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventors: Bridgette Lucy Adwoa Ampobeng Arthur-Mensah, Kojo Arthur-Mensah
  • Patent number: 7818853
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drum wherein the lateral surface thereof is provided with perforations that are separated by full parts from recessed parts and which are present on the full parts with an outer lateral surface. Application: in an entanglement machine for a nonwoven, using water jets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Rieter Perfojet
    Inventors: Frédéric Noelle, Christian Decolin
  • Patent number: 7814627
    Abstract: Process for treating threads by knitting-unraveling includes: knitting several individual threads (2) on a multi-feed knitting machine (1); carrying out one or more heat, chemical or other treatments, in one or more chambers (7); carrying out, in an unraveling unit (4), an unraveling with pulling on the first knit thread and winding or beaming the unraveled threads (2) individually or carrying out on these individual threads another treatment operation or a production operation, optionally with an intermediate accumulation of the threads. The invention can be applied more particularly in the field of the textile industry, in particular the treatment of threads, particularly texturing by knitting-unraveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Superba
    Inventors: Philippe Massotte, Didier Thibault, Hubert Liebmann
  • Patent number: 7814625
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-woven fabric comprising at least two separate but interconnected layers, each of the layers being provided with discrete interconnections so as to provide discrete voids between the two layers of fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute Limited
    Inventors: Stephen J. Russell, Alireza Pourmohammadi, Ningtao Mao, Idris A. Ahmed, Manoj K. Rathod
  • Patent number: 7805769
    Abstract: Disposable clothing articles for hunting and other outdoor activities are made of a low-cost, lightweight, breathable material, preferably a non-woven with particle barrier properties, and preferably include cinching elements for cinching closed with a good seal the hand and foot openings of the clothing to prevent the escape of human odors. The clothing articles are treated with one or more odor-reducing agents to absorb the human odors that pass through the clothing material. In an example method of making the clothing articles, a liquid odor-reducing agent is sprayed onto the clothing, one or two powder odor-reducing agents are sprinkled onto the inside and outside surfaces of the clothing, and the treated clothing article is stored in a sealable bag or other container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventor: C. Timothy Hunt
  • Patent number: 7802348
    Abstract: A device for stretching webs of material transversely to a travel direction thereof, includes at least one rotary stretcher extending transversely to the travel direction of the web of material. The stretcher is composed of at least two round tubes which are aligned axially with each other and are supported by ball-and-socket joints on links. The links are mounted adjustably on a base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventors: Holmer Knäbel, Horst Knäbel
  • Patent number: 7802313
    Abstract: A disposable surgical gown having a neck binding that includes a visual indicator to identify the barrier protection level associated with the disposable surgical gown. In particular, the disposable surgical gown has a neck binding that is color-coded for identifying the barrier protection level associated with the disposable surgical gown for protecting against penetration of body fluids and infectious materials. Also disclosed is a disposable surgical drape having a visual indicator, such as color-coding, to identify the barrier protection level associated with the disposable surgical drape. A surgical kit includes the disposable surgical gown and/or disposable surgical drape having visual indicators, such as color-coding, to identify the barrier protection level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis A. Czajka
  • Patent number: 7788734
    Abstract: A bib having an apron, a pocket, a waist strap, and a hip strap. The bib is especially useful for young children who may be uncomfortable wearing neck-type bibs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Athena Menoudakos
  • Patent number: 7788775
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing weft threads from an edge of a fabric is described and which includes a bed for supporting a fabric which is manufactured from both warp and weft threads, and which has a forward edge, and an opposite lateral edge; a selectively rotatable draw-off device mounted adjacent to one of the lateral edges and which forcibly engages a first end of a weft thread which is to be removed; and a plurality of wedge assemblies are mounted on the bed, and which are selectively moveable to the forward edge of the fabric, and which facilitate the separation of the weft thread which has been engaged from the forward edge of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: WIS Seaming Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Chester F. Kutzleb, Roy W. Thompson, Gary P. Wells
  • Patent number: 7788735
    Abstract: A device designed to protect a user's clothing from spills and mishaps is placed underneath a vinyl protector commonly used in beauty salons during shampooing and other hair and beauty treatments. When used in this manner, it provides additional protection for a user's clothing and ensures that water and other liquids that get underneath the vinyl protector will not contact the wearer's clothing. It is comprised of a soft absorbent material such as terry cloth and fastens about a neck of the user with the aid of a fastener system. It is perfect for eating messy foods in the home, in restaurants, or in locations where eating is awkward, such as in the car. It is also ideal for the elderly, the physically disabled, or others with diminished coordination that may frequently soil their clothes while eating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas L. Foulks
  • Bib
    Patent number: 7784108
    Abstract: A bib is described that includes multiple flaps, each flap providing a surface to prevent soiling of clothing. The flaps are secured to one another through multiple fastening mechanisms, which may include one or more magnets. A neck bridge portion couples the plurality of flaps to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Bebe au Lait LLC
    Inventors: Ronnie Michael Ekelund, Stephen Denny
  • Patent number: 7779521
    Abstract: Fibers are hydroentangled at temperatures near or above their glass transition temperature, the resultant fabrics are then rapidly cooled. A process of preparing a nonwoven fabric that includes depositing fibers on a foraminous support; impinging hot or warm water upon the fibers to hydroentangle them; and then rapidly cooling the resultant fabric is disclosed. The hydroentangled fabric resulting from this process, products made from the hydroentangle fabric, and the equipment used to prepare the fabrics are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev, John Herbert Conrad, Jared Lockwood Martin, Stephen Avedis Baratian, Jayant Chakravarty, Richard Warren Tanzer
  • Patent number: 7770271
    Abstract: The invention concerns a creel (2) comprising a plurality of winding heads (7) from which several yarns of the same type or of different types are drawn simultaneously by means of a winding machine (3). Said creel comprises at least one dynamic yarn tension device (6) which is associated with each winding head and at which a variable braking force is applied to the yarn to produce a predetermined yarn tension. Each yarn tension device (6) can be activated by means of an associated drive motor (20). Said creel (2) comprises a control device for controlling the yarn tension based on the angular speed or the yarn speed during a start-up and/or an interruption of the winding machine (3), as well as a regulator (25) for regulating the yarn tension during the normal stationary phase of the winding machine (3). The control device and the regulator (25) are designed such that the yarn tension or the output tension of each yarn can be maintained at a substantially constant level relative to a setpoint value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Karl Mayer Textilmaschinen
    Inventors: Andreas Kleiner, Alfred Jakob
  • Patent number: 7770270
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a apparatus for compacting (10) a web (N) of flexible fiber-based or filament-based material. The apparatus (10) includes at least one pair of superimposed plates (11), whose facing surfaces (11a, 11b) create therebetween at least one compaction space (12). The apparatus is fed with the continuous web (N), that is moved through said at least one space (12), so as to be subjected to compaction by the closure of the plates, actuated by thrust means (25). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for compacting webs (N) of flexible fiber-based or filament-based materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Maria Francesca Marchesi