Patents Examined by John J. Guarriello
  • Patent number: 6548433
    Abstract: A fibrous, porous web material of the heat seal type having improved particulate retention properties for use in the manufacture of beverage infusion bags. The material comprises juxtaposed, successively wet laid first (1), second (5) and third (7) fibrous layers, at least one of said layers incorporating heat sealable fibres. The fibres in the first layer are of greater aspect ratio than those in the second layer which are of higher aspect ratio than those in the third layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: J. R. Compton Limited
    Inventors: Ivan Gbur, Brian Tomkinson, Joyce Alston
  • Patent number: 6548427
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a tissue product with improved flushability. Specifically, the incorporation of both a temporary wet strength agent and an alkaline reagent into the tissue product results in the tissue product having high initial wet tensile strength and a high rate of wet tensile loss. The high rate of wet tensile loss is caused by the high pH of the alkaline reagent that is incorporated during the dry end of a tissue manufacturing process. The temporary wet strength agent is added in the wet end of a tissue manufacturing process. In certain embodiments of the present invention, glyoxylated polyacrylamide may be used as the temporary wet strength agent, while the alkaline reagent may be in dry form or may be encapsulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Shannon, Michael J. Smith, Patrick P. Chen, Graciela Jimenez
  • Patent number: 6544912
    Abstract: Provided is a water-decomposable fibrous sheet includes fibers containing fibrillated rayon. The fibrillated rayon has primary fibers of a predetermined fiber length and microfibers extending from the primary fibers. The fibrillated rayon includes a first type of fibrillated rayon having a degree of beating of at most 700 cc, of which the length of the primary fibers falls between 1.8 mm and 4.0 mm at the peak of its self-weighted, average fiber length distribution profile curve, and a second type of fibrillated rayon having a degree of beating of at most 700 cc, of which the length of the primary fibers falls between 4.5 mm and 10.0 mm at the peak of its self-weighted, average fiber length distribution profile curve. The microfibers extending from the first and second, types of fibrillated rayon are entangled with and/or hydrogen-bonded to at least either of other microfibers and other fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tanio, Jyoji Shimizu, Kazuya Okada, Naohito Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6537935
    Abstract: A nonwoven fabric sheet comprising a multiplicity of generally parallel elongate strands of inelastic thermoplastic material extending in a first direction in spaced relationship, each of said strands having opposite elongate side surface portions that are spaced from and are adjacent elongate side surface portions of adjacent strands, and each of said strands also having corresponding opposite first and second elongate surface portions extending between said opposite elongate side surface portions, and a first sheet of flexible nonwoven material having spaced anchor portions bonded at first bond sites of the strands along said first elongate surface portions wherein the elongate strands thermoplastic material is oriented at least between adjacent bond sites along the length of the strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jayshree Seth, William Melbye
  • Patent number: 6534426
    Abstract: A layered composite is disclosed having improved resistance to penetration by knives and knife blades. The layers of fabric in the composite are woven with low fabric tightness; and, are arranged in the composite free to move relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Minshon J. Chiou
  • Patent number: 6533977
    Abstract: A high temperature, composite structure includes a blank of wire mesh material fabricated from drawn wire from a stainless steel rod. The drawn wire is annealed and mixed to create raw material. The mixed raw material is knitted to create the blank of wire mesh material, the blank of wire mesh material having voids formed therein. A dispersion comprising vermiculite as a binder is impregnated within the blank of wire mesh material. The dispersion substantially fills the voids of the blank of wire mesh material. A method of manufacturing the structure is further disclosed. Specifically, the method includes the steps of providing a blank of wire mesh material having voids formed therein, impregnating the blank of wire mesh material with a dispersion consisting of vermiculite, the dispersion substantially filling the voids, eliminating a water fraction of the dispersion, and pressing the impregnated blank of wire mesh material to a desired shape and density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: ACS Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Zettel, Zlatomir Kircanski
  • Patent number: 6524978
    Abstract: The present invention is a polyurethane dispersion that can be used to prepare polyurethane polymers which have moisture resistant properties. Moisture resistant polymers of the present invention are obtained by preparing the polymers from a polyurethane dispersion using a prepolymer formulation which includes an aliphatic mono, di or polyhydroxy compound which has an aliphatic side chain substituent which contains from 5 to 30 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Douglas R. Moore
  • Patent number: 6521554
    Abstract: A wear resistant stitchbonded fabric is provided. The stitchbonded fabric includes a first yarn loosely stitchbonded into the substrate so as to substantially cover one side of the substrate. The fabric further includes a second yarn that is tightly stitchbonded into the substrate. In one embodiment, the nonwoven substrate can further contain binder fibers which are fused to adjacent fibers. Through this configuration, a fabric is produced having a tapestry-like look. The fabric can be used in many diverse applications, such as being used as an upholstery fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Tietex International, Ltd.
    Inventor: Martin Wildeman
  • Patent number: 6518329
    Abstract: A non-erasable liquid ink for a marking instrument including a colorant and a solvent and having a water content of about 0-15% by weight and a viscosity of about 15 to 4,500 cps. Also disclosed is a marking instrument filled with an ink of such a viscosity or lower in its reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Berol Corporation
    Inventors: Nan-Jae Lin, Andrew R. Klassman, Roy Nicoll, Charles Christopher Packham, Vliet Hulse, John Thompson
  • Patent number: 6511929
    Abstract: This invention relates to metallized, particularly aluminized, fabrics which are coated with specific polyurethane finishes. Such specific polyurethanes must be cross-linked and present in latex form. Upon impregnation within metal-coated fabrics, these particular polyurethanes provide vastly improved washfastness properties to the fabrics and thus ensure the retention of substantially all the metal coating within and on the target fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Kirkland W. Vogt, Tina Louise Kanipe
  • Patent number: 6506697
    Abstract: The present invention provides a textile material comprising a tightly woven paper fabric having a backing applied on only one side. The tight weave allows the backing to be applied as a liquid, whereupon curing cause the liquid to harden. The backing confers additional strength and durability to the paper fabric and allows mass production of paper fabrics by the formation of a continuous sheet that can be cut to desired dimensions and shapes without fraying at the edges. The present invention also provides methods for forming tightly woven fabrics and for applying a backing onto this fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Merida Meridian, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiram M. Samel
  • Patent number: 6500292
    Abstract: A non-woven fiber pad having a convoluted surface formed by cutting a non-woven fiber batt having a plurality of low melt synthetic fibers. The non-woven batt is compressed generally toward a cutting device by a pair of counter-rotating drums having convoluted surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Niels S. Mossbeck, Steven Eugene Ogle
  • Patent number: 6485811
    Abstract: Nonwoven fabric for pleated filters comprising a sheath-core conjugate filament in which the core component is made of a polymer higher in melting point and the sheath component is made of a polymer lower in melting point, having compressively bonded portions dotted by embossing, with a weight per unit area X (g/m2) of the nonwoven fabric and a stiffness Y (mgf) obtained according to the Gurley method of JIS L 1096 of Y/X2≧0.03 and X≧120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Horiguchi, Makoto Nishimura, Kaori Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 6479412
    Abstract: Textiles are treated with a polymer or copolymer of epihalohydrin and polyalkylene amine prior to ink jet printing onto the textile. A softener such as a quaternary ammonium salt may also be used, as may be a cationic binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Encad, Inc.
    Inventors: Dheya Alfekri, Gary Staley, Bob Chin, Brian Hardin, Cincin Siswanto
  • Patent number: 6468647
    Abstract: Infrared reflective visually colored metal substrates or metal-coated particles are prepared by burnishing colored pigments into the metal. Proper selection of the pigment allows for intense visual color without degradation of the infrared reflective properties. The resulting visually colored infrared reflective composition may be utilized in a variety of applications, such as coatings, fabrics, tapes, and face paint, to provide infrared signature control as well as visual camouflage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Spectro Dynamic Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Richard Sutter, Richard August Petelinkar, Rebecca Edythe Reeves
  • Patent number: 6458726
    Abstract: Process of producing skin-core fibers and the resulting fibers and nonwoven materials and articles wherein the fibers are composed of a polymer blend of a polyolefin and polymeric bond curve enhancing agents, such as ethylene vinyl acetate polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Fiberco, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Harrington, Randall E. Kozulla, John F. L. Newport, Edward J. Engle, Elizabeth L. Fahey, Walter J. Freeman, Rakesh K. Gupta, Carl J. Wust
  • Patent number: 6455614
    Abstract: A zero VOC aqueous coating composition comprising a halogen-free propylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer having an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or anhydride grafted thereon, a neutralizing base, a water-dispersible resin containing at least two epoxy groups and an acid catalyst is applied to a plastic substrate comprising a propylene polymer. The dried coating promotes adhesion of a subsequent coating to the polypropylene-based surface of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Jackson, Frank A. Stubbs, Joseph M. Mecozzi, David J. Miklos, Alexander L. Neymark
  • Patent number: 6444594
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel airbag coating compositions and systems comprising heat-expandable microspheres that provide effective insulation for the target airbag fabric during exothermic inflation. The inventive airbag fabrics are either pre-calendered prior to application of this composition or are coated through a floating knife method with such heat-expandable microsphere-containing compositions. The coated airbag fabrics and cushions may then be heated to expand the microsphere constituents of the coating compositions both within the interstices between the individual yarns of the fabric and over the raised yarns of the fabric. Such a coating system thus provides an extremely high degree of protection from heat exposure that permits structural integrity of the target airbag cushion airbag and provides protection from such high inflation temperatures to a vehicle passenger cushion during such a highly exothermic inflation event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Andrew D. Child, Derek S. Kozlowski
  • Patent number: 6436234
    Abstract: Paper sheets useful for tissues, paper towels, napkins, disposable absorbent products and the like can be made to exhibit a high degree of wet resiliency. This property is achieved by using a combination of high yield pulp fibers (such as bleached chemithermomechanical pulp fibers) and a wet strength agent in an uncreped throughdrying process. The resulting product, when wetted, can spring back after being crumpled in one's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fung-jou Chen, Mark Alan Burazin, Michael Alan Hermans, David Henry Hollenberg, Richard Joseph Kamps, Bernhardt Edward Kressner, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay
  • Patent number: 6436529
    Abstract: Microtextured elastomeric materials having at least one elastomeric core layer or region and at least one skin layer wherein the skin layer has a semi-crystalline or amorphous polymer and an elastomeric block copolymer or pressure sensitive adhesive, the combination of which is less elastic than the core layer and will undergo permanent deformation at the stretch percentage that the elastomeric laminate will undergo. The materials are suited for use in applications such as respirators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gerald Steven Deeb, Dennis Louis Krueger, Jane K. Peterson