Patents Examined by James C. Cannon
  • Patent number: 5759929
    Abstract: A bio-degradable composite nonwoven fabric for plant cultivation includes a wood pulp paper sheet laminated on a bio-degradable aliphatic polyester filament nonwoven fabric, wherein the polyester filaments and the pulp fibers are entangled to each other and a plurality of spot regions which are spaced from each other, are substantially free from the pulp fibers and have a decreased distribution density of the polyester filaments of 30 to 50%, an area of 0.16 to 16 mm.sup.2 and a total area coresponding to 5 to 60% of the total surface area of the composite nonwoven fabric, are formed. The polyester filament distribution density is defined as the ratio of the total area of the polyester filaments appearing within the spot regions to the total surface area of the spot regions, determined from photographs of the spot regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: New Oji Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Ikezawa, Masaru Kadota, Tomotsugu Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 5753340
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to composites and multi-composites of a prefabricated core of a cellulosic honey comb filled with a rigid polyurethane and layers of fiber saturated thermoset resins. More specifically, the present invention is directed to composites and multi-composites of a cellulosic honey comb filled with rigid polyurethane prefabricated core and a fiber reinforced material, either fibers or woven fibers selected from the group consisting of glass, polyester, carbon and aramid fibers as a mat or cloth saturated with a thermoset resin selected from the group consisting of catalyzed polyester, amine catalyzed epoxy, catalyzed vinyl ester and acid catalyzed furan resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Welch-Sluder IP Partners
    Inventors: William L. Welch, Don W. Sluder, Richard L. Cory
  • Patent number: 5753351
    Abstract: A nubuck-like woven fabric comprising a two-layered structural yarn wherein ultra-fine polyester multifilaments are primarily disposed in a sheath portion and polyester multifilaments having a larger single fiber thickness are primarily disposed in a core portion, and having an apparent specific gravity of 0.35-0.7 and a shear rigidity of 0.5-1.2 gf/cm.multidot.deg. This woven fabric is produced by a method wherein a woven fabric of a two-layered structural yarn composed of (i) side-by-side type or islands-in-sea type composite multifilaments comprising (a) a readily soluble ingredient and (b) ultra-fine multifilaments-forming ingredient and (ii) highly shrinkable multifilaments, is subjected to a treatment for dissolving and removing ingredient (a) without substantial shrinkage of the two-layered structural yarn, then, the woven fabric is shrunk in a widespread state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Norio Yoshida, Kojiro Shimada, Fumio Shibata, Seiji Tachika
  • Patent number: 5750444
    Abstract: A breathable laminate comprises at least two porous webs laminated together with a porous adhesive matrix, preferably a random fibrous adhesive pattern having a coat weight of between 1.5 and 12 grams per square meter. The two or more porous webs comprise woven or non-woven materials and the resulting breathable fabric or laminate has good hand and flexibility. Breathable fabric is adhered to foam by such random fibrous adhesive patterns of similar coat weights. Coating widths of up to 80 inches or more are produced in a slot die fed by a selected plurality of recessed lands within the die, with motors and pumps controlled to maintain consistent, uniform coat weights regardless of coat widths and substrate speeds selected. Single ply coated webs, apparatus and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Curt Jarrell, Manfred Kubo, Hans-Jurgen Meissner, Gustav Rieckmann, Jurgen Benecke
  • Patent number: 5750446
    Abstract: An absorbent body formed of an absorbent web having a blend of multi-limbed regenerated cellulosic fibers and non-limbed cellulosic fibers has surprisingly improved specific absorption capacity. This absorbent body may be in the form of sanitary napkins, tampons, diapers, and adult incontinence devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Hien Nguyen, Nicolas Martens, Glenn Garbolino
  • Patent number: 5741567
    Abstract: A method of making beaded foam molded products with corrosion inhibitor incorporated therein includes the steps of expanding a foamable synthetic resin into puffed beads, spraying onto the puffed beads a liquid containing a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor to provide a coating thereon, and molding the coated puffed beads into a beaded foam molded product with the corrosion inhibitor dispersed throughout the thickness thereof and migratable to the surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventor: Eugene R. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5736220
    Abstract: A synthetic reinforcement having surface features that facilitate adhesion of the reinforcement to another surface and a process for making the same is disclosed. The synthetic reinforcement is comprised of a plurality of continuous fibers that are maintained in position by a resin encasement. An external surface of the synthetic reinforcement can be characterized by micro-recesses that are located in a generally random pattern, which increases the surface area of the resin encasement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Daniel A. Tingley
  • Patent number: 5736214
    Abstract: A laminated assembly forming the female, loop portion of a self-gripping hook-and-loop fastener. The assembly includes a light-weight, open, mechanically fragile and dimensionally unstable knitted fabric adhered in a flat condition onto a support member, the knitted fabric including interknitted warp and weft yarns, and a multitude of loops having feet cooperating with the warp and weft yarns and a pair of elongate legs extending from the feet and forming a free loop top remote from the feet. The loops are sized in relation to the spacing of the warp and weft yarns of the fabric so that at least one of the two legs of the loop intersects at least one of the warp or weft yarns in spaced-apart relation from the foot of the at least one leg so that each of the loops bears on at least one warp or weft yarn to form an overlapping zone where the loop does not adhere to the support member, thus maintaining the self-gripping ability of the loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Aplix
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Billarant
  • Patent number: 5733636
    Abstract: A closure arrangement for a polymeric bag with first and second opposing films comprises first and second opposing base strips, a first peelable strip of a first color, and a second peelable strip of a second color. An outer surface of the first base strip is attached to an inner surface of the first film. An outer surface of the second base strip is attached to an inner surface of the second film. The first peelable strip is attached to the inner surface of the first base strip, and the second peelable strip is attached to the inner surface of the second base strip. The first and second peelable strips are disposed between the first and second base strips. The second peelable strip is generally parallel to and opposes the first peelable strip. The second color of the second peelable strip is lighter than the first color of the first peelable strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventor: Timothy J. May
  • Patent number: 5733635
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laminated non-woven fabric of a multi-layer structure comprising a layer of a composite, spun bond non-woven fabric composed of long fibers containing a low melting point resin component and a high melting point resin component, and a layer of a non-woven fabric of melt-blow ultrafine mixed fibers comprising low melting point ultrafine fibers and high melting point ultrafine fibers both of the fibers have an average fiber diameter of 10 .mu.m or less, both of the layers are laminated, and fibers in each of the non-woven fabrics and both of the layers are heat-melt adhered with each other. The laminated non-woven fabric has a good hand feeling and a high peeling strength of adjacent layers, but has no rough feeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Taiju Terakawa, Shingo Horiuchi, Satoshi Ogata
  • Patent number: 5733822
    Abstract: The present invention provides composite nonwoven fabric laminates and processes for producing such. The fabric is comprised of a web of thermoplastic filaments laminated to at least one other web. Preferably, the filaments are spunbonded continuous polyolefin filaments which have an oxidatively degraded outer sheath portion to promote better interfilamentary bonding and improved fabric laminate strength. In a preferred embodiment, two outer nonwoven webs comprise oxidatively degraded spunbonded filaments and are positioned around and laminated to a web of meltblown microfibers thus forming an spunbond/meltblown/spunbond fabric. Additionally, a stretch compatible fabric may be formed in which a web of oxidatively degraded filaments is laminated to an elastic web. The fabrics of the invention may be advantageously used in numerous applications such as medical garments and disposable adsorbent products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Fiberweb North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Gessner, Lloyd E. Trimble
  • Patent number: 5728448
    Abstract: In a reflective warp-knit tape, a narrow-width warp-knit tape is knitted of chain-stitch yarns, which form loops along longitudinal wales of the warp-knit tape, and weft inlaid yarns. And a reflective film is knitted in the warp-knit tape at a selected interwale space by the weft inlaid yarns and additional weft inlaid yarns. A heat-melting film also is knitted in the warp-knit tape at another selected interwale space by the weft inlaid yarns. Alternatively, the heat-melting film may be substituted by heat-melting yarns inlaid in the wales. In another alternative form, all the knitting yarns of the warp-knit tape may be thermoplastic resin monofilament yarns so that the light-reflecting function of the tape can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Sadaji Okeya, Syuji Wakata
  • Patent number: 5725929
    Abstract: The reinforced wood piece of the present invention includes a wood body having a first wood panel adhered to a second wood panel. The wood body has a bottom and a top so that the first wood panel is disposed at the top of the laminated wood body. A laminated stock piece is adhered to the wood body. A second laminated stock piece may be adhered to the top of the wood body if the first laminated stock piece is adhered to the bottom of the laminated wood body. Each laminated stock piece includes a plurality of wood members and a fiber reinforced composite sheet material that are intermittently glued to one another. The stock piece is glued to the wood body so that the fiber reinforced polymer composite sheet material is perpendicular to a neutral plane disposed between a compression zone and a tension zone of the wood body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Fiber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Cooke, Kenneth J. KarisAllen
  • Patent number: 5723209
    Abstract: Described is a rollable thermal insulation comprising synthetic fiber material and having a thermal conductivity of not more than 0.04 W/m*K (determined in accordance with DIN 4108 Part 1) and a DIN 4102 Part 1 fire behavior corresponding to building material class B1, wherein the synthetic fiber material is composed of carrier and bonding fibers made of polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate, the bonding fibers consisting in at least parts of the surface of a polyester having a melting point which is below the melting point of the carrier fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Hoechst Trevira GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Heinz-Werner Borger, Peter Knobloch
  • Patent number: 5720832
    Abstract: A method of making a non-woven web of melt blown polymeric fibers wherein the melt blown fibers have particles introduced into the stream of microfibers after the microfibers have been extruded. If the particles are of super absorbent material they are distributed substantially individually and spaced throughout the web and provide effective results when used for example in a sanitary napkin, diaper or incontinence pad. If the particles are for example, clay, calcium carbonate, kaolin chalk or the like, then a wiper product made from the web has improved wiping properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Ltd.
    Inventors: Mansoor Ahmad Minto, Dennis Graham Storey, Geoffrey Robert Owen
  • Patent number: 5721048
    Abstract: An improved method for producing hydrophobic polyolefin-containing staple fiber for processing, with reduced waste and improved crimp by sequential treatment with two finish compositions comprising at least one neutralized phosphoric acid ester and at least one polysiloxane of defined classes and amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Fiberco, Inc.
    Inventor: A. Chandler Schmalz
  • Patent number: 5716686
    Abstract: A quantity of fluid resin material is rendered into a flowable state without the use of solvents. The fabric then is beaded with at least one elongate bead of the flowable resin, wherein at least a portion of bead remains on the surface of the fabric to tackify the fabric and facilitate lay-up of the beaded fabric in the composite molding process. The fabric then is laid-up into a molding apparatus, wherein the bead adheres to surfaces in the molding apparatus and assists in positioning of the fabric therein. A further quantity of resin is disposed or injected under pressure into the molding apparatus and into contact with the fabric and contours of the mold. The resin then is cured to form the composite body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Marvin D. Black
  • Patent number: 5709933
    Abstract: A composite cellulose fiber reinforced polyolefin is enclosed. The polyolefin is manufactured by a process that includes preparing and mixing a blend of molten polyolefin, a coloring concentrate and a coupling agent in a kneading extruder, preheating cellulose fibers in an enclosed cram feed and mixing the blend of polyolefin, preheated cellulose fibers and ozone gas in a ozone chamber to form a polyolefin and fiber matrix. The polyolefin and fiber matrix is then fed to a twin screw extruder where it is further heated, mixed and then conveyed to a die to extrude the mixer to a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventor: Daniel W. Evans
  • Patent number: 5709921
    Abstract: There is provided herein a multilayer material comprised of layers of elastomeric films, fiber, or webs wherein at least one layer is comprised of an elastomeric polyolefin and at least one additional layer is comprised of an elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, copolyether esters, polyamide polyether block copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetates (EVA), and block copolymers having the general formula A-B-A', A-B-A-B or A-B like copoly(styrene/ethylene-butylene), (polystyrene/poly(ethylene-butylene)/polystyrene), and poly(styrene/ethylene-butylene/styrene). Such a material also includes at least one gatherable web to which the elastic webs are joined and may be made into a personal care product, an infection control product, a protective cover or a garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Susan Elaine Shawver
  • Patent number: 5707737
    Abstract: A cellulose acetate fiber excellent in gloss and feeling, formed from a mixture which consists essentially of (a) 100 parts by weight of cellulose acetate and (b) 5 to 40 parts by weight of a polymer substance which can plasticize the cellulose acetate, wherein, in a cross-sectional form at right angles with the lengthwise direction of the fiber,(i) the cross-sectional form is non-circular,(ii) the cross-sectional form has 1 to 4 axes of symmetry, and(iii) the cross-sectional form has a contour formed of smooth curves or formed of smooth curves and straight lines.The above cellulose acetate fiber can be produced by dry-spinning a spinning dope consisting essentially of(a) 100 parts by weight of cellulose acetate,(b) 5 to 40 parts by weight of a polymer substance which is soluble in solvent and can plasticize the cellulose acetate, and(c) a solvent which can dissolve the above (a) and (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mori, Kenkichi Nose