Patents Examined by Sam Chuan Yao
  • Patent number: 6893522
    Abstract: The method generally comprises the steps of providing a hydroentangled non-woven layer having a first binder component, and depositing a second non-woven layer having a high bulk and loft on to the hydroentangled layer to form an unbonded composite fabric. The second layer also has a binder component with a melting temperature substantially equal to the first binder melting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Sorin Crainic
  • Patent number: 6893524
    Abstract: A method includes wetting fibers with a resin capable of being cured by at least two different cure treatments. At least partially curing the resin by subjecting the resin to a first cure treatment and at least partially curing the resin by subjecting the resin to a second cure treatment. A plurality of fibers are located adjacent each other so that a plurality of valleys are formed between the plurality of fibers along an outer side of the reinforcement. The resin is cured to retain the valleys in the outer side of the reinforcement. The outer side of the reinforcement is adhered to the structural member. An apparatus including a fiber locating mechanism adapted to retain the peaks and valleys during curing of the resin without rigidly confining the outer side of the reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Glastic Corporation
    Inventor: David E. Green
  • Patent number: 6893525
    Abstract: A method of making an embossed air-laid absorbent sheet includes: depositing a dry web of fibers on a foraminous support; embossing the compacted web with a laser engraved roll provided with a hard rubber embossing surface having an embossing pattern with a depth of from about 5 mils to about 100 mils. The hard rubber embossing surface is biased toward a second embossing surface selected from the group consisting of the surface of a nip roll and a foraminous web support engaging a support embossing roll. The process further includes bonding the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley G. Schmidt, James R. Vande Hey, James M. Zadrazil, Edward J. Yock
  • Patent number: 6886618
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process and system for the manufacture of wood-based composites that implement feedback adjusted in-line addition of a curing accelerator/catalyst to a thermosetting resin adhesive based on at least one of: present moisture content of the wood substrate being bonded and the temperature of the wood substrate being bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Resins, Inc.
    Inventors: Millard E. Foucht, Robert A. Breyer
  • Patent number: 6881288
    Abstract: A method of preparing a reinforcing structure for use in manufacture a pultruded part where the reinforcing structure is pulled through a pultrusion die in a continuous longitudinal pull direction. The method includes arranging a plurality of first reinforcing fibers in a transverse direction and attaching a permeable transport web of staple fibers to the first reinforcing fibers such that the portion of the first reinforcing fibers oriented in the direction transverse comprises at least 40% of a volume of materials comprising the reinforcing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Pella Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence W. Davies, Peter J. Fritz, Kenneth D. Beer
  • Patent number: 6872275
    Abstract: A process for forming an absorbent fibrous web composite includes the initial step of forming a fibrous web from hydrophilic fibers and, optionally, thermoplastic fibers. Then, a superabsorbent polymer is completely formed in situ on or in the fibrous web by adding one or more superabsorbent polymer precursor compositions to the fibrous web using a non-contact process, and performing the polymerization reaction(s) completely on or in the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Young C. Ko, Stanley R. Kellenberger, David Martin Jackson, Dave A. Soerens, Jason M. Laumer, Sridhar Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 6872267
    Abstract: A method of producing refastenable side seams in an absorbent garment results in an absorbent garment that is adapted to easy application and removal. The refastenable side seams can be produced in either a cross direction or a machine direction. Each of the refastenable side seams is a dual side seam that includes a standing butt seam formed between a front lap seam and a back lap seam. The resulting garment can be opened and closed on either a front side of the garment or a back side of the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Popp, Joseph D. Coenen, Jack L. Couillard, Christopher Peter Olson, David Arthur Kuen, Shawn A. Quereshi
  • Patent number: 6872273
    Abstract: A method of making a pultruded part having a uniform cross-section using a novel reinforcing mat. The method comprises orienting a plurality of longitudinal rovings along a longitudinal axis of a pultrusion die; providing a reinforcing structure comprising a permeable transport web of staple fibers attached to a plurality of first reinforcing fibers oriented so that the portion of the first reinforcing fibers oriented in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis comprises at least 40% of a volume of materials comprising the reinforcing structure; shaping the reinforcing structure to generally conform with a profile of the pultrusion die; combining a resin matrix with the longitudinal rovings and the reinforcing structure in the pultrusion die so that the longitudinal rovings and the reinforcing structure are substantially surrounded by the resin matrix; at least partially curing the resin matrix in the pultrusion die; and pulling the pultruded part from the pultrusion die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Pella Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence W. Davies, Peter J. Fritz, Kenneth D. Beer
  • Patent number: 6872274
    Abstract: A nonwoven has low tensile and high elongation in the first direction (typically the CD) and high tensile and low elongation in the second direction (typically the MD). The nonwoven has a plurality of bonding points defining a total bonding area along the second direction greater than along the first direction. Accordingly, the nonwoven has unbonded fiber portions and bonded fiber portions, with a bonded portion/unbonded portion ratio greater along the second direction than along the first direction. The bonding points are preferably either circular or oval in plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: First Quality Nonwovens, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kauschke, Mordechai Turi
  • Patent number: 6866740
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a contoured, consolidated cellulosic article, with variable basis weight, is disclosed. The method employs a former to create a mat having a substantially uniform thickness which is pre-pressed to retain its shape. The pre-pressed mat is then machined along at least one surface to result in a desirable contour. The contoured mat is then consolidated within a secondary press. The secondary press preferably includes platens shaped complimentarily to the surfaces of the mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis H. Vaders
  • Patent number: 6866743
    Abstract: A structural polyurethane adhesive composition comprising a polyurethane reaction product and a curative for isocyanate groups, characterized in that the polyurethane reaction product consists essentially of at least 80 wt % perfect prepolymers and less than 2 wt % free isocyanate monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Evelyn Jennifer Lin Paulsen, Andrea Karen Smith
  • Patent number: 6863761
    Abstract: A power transmission belt using an open mesh textile material in the belt overcord which is stabilized with a material promoting permeation of an underlying gum rubber layer through interstices in the textile material during vulcanization of the belt. The coefficient of friction of the backside of the belt is sufficient to enable the belt to drive backside pulleys, tensioners and other mechanical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: The Gates Corporation
    Inventor: Paul S. Knutson
  • Patent number: 6863762
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fiber aggregate formed by fiber having reforming surface comprises the steps of providing a fiber surface having thermoplastic resin at least on the surface layer thereof with a hydrophilic processing liquid containing polymer having a first portion with more hydrophilic group than the surface, and a second portion having interfacial energy different from that of the hydrophilic group, and interfacial energy substantially equal to the surface energy of the fiber; orientating the second portion toward the fiber surface, while orientating polymer to the side different from the surface of the first group; and forming a fiber absorber by heating the fiber having the reformed surface in the step of orientating polymer to thermally bond the contact points of fibers themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio Sanada, Sadayuki Sugama, Shozo Hattori, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Hiroki Hayashi, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6860959
    Abstract: An abrasive material comprises an integral mass of discrete lengths, not bonded to each other, of abrasive-coated non-woven synthetic fibres. In particular, the entanglement force between the said lengths is great enough to maintain a wad of the material when in use but small enough to allow the product to be shaped in the hand of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: SIA Abrasives Holding AG
    Inventors: Neill Rawson, Richard Lees
  • Patent number: 6860960
    Abstract: A polymeric material may be bonded to a polymeric catheter tube by generating at least one annular beam of electromagnetic energy at a wavelength that is at least partially absorbed by at least one of the polymeric material and the polymeric catheter tube, controllably directing the annular beam of energy onto the polymeric material to concentrate the energy in a bond site circumscribing the catheter tube to at least partially melt at least one material selected from the group consisting of the polymeric material and the polymeric catheter tube along the bond site and the immediate region thereof and allowing the at least one partially melted polymeric material to cool and solidify to form a fusion bond between the tube and the polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Aiden Flanagan
  • Patent number: 6858106
    Abstract: The invention provides a manufacturing method of a good laminate packaging which does not have the delamination between layers and a method of manufacturing of the laminate for packaging containing a barrier layer such as an aluminum foil and, fibrous carrier layer, etc. The deoxidant of vitamin E, ascorbic acid or its derivative is adhered/attached, to the inside of a barrier layer web, the barrier layer is temporarily rolled round by the reel shape, kept, and laminated by the extrusion lamination by the molten polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Tadakatsu Ikenoya
  • Patent number: 6855220
    Abstract: A composite sheet material for use as a portion of a tear away fastening system. The sheet material includes a substrate layer and yarns extending through the substrate layer such that the define an arrangement of looped elements projecting away from one side of the substrate layer. The looped elements are interconnected by portions of the yarns disposed across the other side of the substrate layer. A backing layer is disposed in overlying relation to the substrate layer to hold the yarns in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Tietex International, Ltd.
    Inventor: Martin Wildeman
  • Patent number: 6843871
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing a fibrous web. The fibrous web includes a microencapsulated material, such as a microencapsulated phase change material, adhered to the web. Preferably, the web is prepared in a melt-blowing or spun-bonding process. In the melt-blowing process, cooling water containing the microcapsules is used to cool melt blown fibers prior to collection on a collector. In the spun-bonding process, microcapsules are applied in liquid suspension or in dry form to a heated web, for instance, after the web has been calendared. The fibrous webs thus prepared have numerous uses, and are particularly suited to the manufacture of clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Appleton Papers Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Bouchette, David Paul Kendall
  • Patent number: 6841023
    Abstract: A process for the manufacturing of a core forming a carrying structure for decorative laminates. The core comprises particles of cured, and optionally foamed, rigid, polyurethane, polyisocyanurate and/or phenolic resin. The particles are bonded to each other in a pressing procedure with a bonding agent comprising an adhesive such as a polymerizing monomer. i) The particles are achieved by grinding cured, and optionally foamed, rigid, polyurethane, polyisocyanurate and/or phenolic resin so that it passes through a 2 mm screen, preferably a 1 mm screen, ii) 100 parts per weight of particles is mixed with 1-100 parts per weight of fiber, the fiber additive having an average length in the range 1-15 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Pergo (Europe) AB
    Inventor: Laurence Mott
  • Patent number: 6835256
    Abstract: A laminated composite suitable for use in medical products such as tapes and wraps. The composite includes, for example, a first nonwoven fiber layer, an elastic layer, a melt blown adhesive fiber layer, and a second nonwoven fiber layer. A scrim layer serves as a deadstop, or stretch limit, to prevent over stretching. The non-woven fiber layer(s) and/or the scrim layer form suitable loops for a hook and loop fastening system. The scrim layer in some embodiments is employed to make the composite finger tearable. The melt blown adhesive layer, nonwoven web layer and elastic layer form a breathable, porous elastic composite. Methods of manufacturing the composite are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert H. Menzies, Jason L. Edgar, Scott J. Tuman, David L. Seidel, Robert J. Maki, John E. Riedel, Eugene G. Joseph, Leon Levitt, Brandon T. Berg