Patents by Inventor A. Todd Leak

A. Todd Leak has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7063245
    Abstract: There is provided a wet wipes dispensing system. The system includes a plurality of separably joined wet wipes and the plurality of separably joined wet wipes include a lubricant. The system also includes a dispenser including a sealed chamber, the sealed chamber housing the plurality of separably joined wet wipes therein. The dispenser also includes a flexible elastic sealing orifice through which wet wipes from the plurality of separably joined wet wipes can be dispensed from the sealed chamber. At least a portion of the lubricant is automatically transferable to the flexible elastic sealing orifice when wet wipes from the plurality of separably joined wet wipes are dispensed from the sealed chamber through the flexible elastic sealing orifice whereby a drag relationship between the wet wipes and the flexible elastic sealing orifice is reduced by at least about 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Faulks, Yung Hsiang Huang, Jennifer Cappel Larson, Steven John Romme, A. Todd Leak, Paige Annette Dellerman, Ligia A. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6994698
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical fastening tab formed from a substrate adapted to be joined to a disposable absorbent product and a first mechanical fastener component. The fastening tab has a Gurley stiffness value of less than about 1000 milligrams in an area of the fastening tab which includes said first mechanical fastening component. Also disclosed are disposable products comprising such mechanical fastening tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: A. Todd Leak, Apiromraj Srisopark Roslansky, Paul Theodore Van Gompel, Georgia Lynn Zehner, Edward Herman Ruscher, Yung Hsiang Huang
  • Patent number: 6869554
    Abstract: A hook fastener member having rows of molded hook-shaped fastener elements that lie in planes aligned with the rows, with generally planar plate portions at the outermost ends of at least some of the fastener elements, the plate portions lying generally parallel to the base of the fastener member. The plate portions can enhance engagement of the hook fastener members with mating loop fastener members, particularly with low loft non-woven loop fastener members. A method of making fastener members is provided. Molten resin is extruded and applied to a molding roller, creating preforms. The outermost portions of at least some of the preforms are flattened, thereby forming generally plate shaped portions. Disposable absorbent garments advantageously incorporate the hook fastener members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: George A. Provost, Mark J. Condon, A. Todd Leak, Apiromraj S. Roslansky, Paul J. Serbiak
  • Patent number: 6627289
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fastening tape for use on a disposable absorbent garment. The fastening tape comprises a first substrate and an interlocking material attached to said first substrate. The interlocking material extends the entire width of the fastening tape, and the interlocking material is longitudinally spaced from both transverse edges of the fastening tape. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the fastening tape. The process involves providing a continuous length of an interlocking material having a width and traveling in a first direction. The interlocking material is attached to a first substrate to form a composite. The composite is then cut along a second direction to form fastening tapes suitable for attachment on a disposable absorbent garment. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca Lyn Dilnik, Allen Todd Leak, Mark Michael Mleziva, Michael A. Snyder, Patrick Sean McNichols, Scott Leslie Williams, Robert John Leveille, Scott Lee Pennings, Paul John Serbiak, Bruce Michael Siebers, Robert Eugene Vogt, Georgia Lynn Zehner, Thomas David Ehlert, John Gerard Hein, Timothy Raymond Heindel, Tim Joseph Janssen, Kathleen Ann Peterson
  • Publication number: 20030135964
    Abstract: A hook fastener member having rows of molded hook-shaped fastener elements that lie in planes aligned with the rows, with generally planar plate portions at the outermost ends of at least some of the fastener elements, the plate portions lying generally parallel to the base of the fastener member. The plate portions can enhance engagement of the hook fastener members with mating loop fastener members, particularly with low loft non-woven loop fastener members. A method of making fastener members is provided. Molten resin is extruded and applied to a molding roller, creating preforms. The outermost portions of at least some of the preforms are flattened, thereby forming generally plate shaped portions. Disposable absorbent garments advantageously incorporate the hook fastener members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Velcro Industries, B.V., a Netherlands corporation
    Inventors: George A. Provost, Mark J. Condon, A. Todd Leak, Apiromraj S. Roslansky, Paul J. Serbiak
  • Publication number: 20030100878
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical fastening tab formed from a substrate adapted to be joined to a disposable absorbent product and a first mechanical fastener component. The fastening tab has a Gurley stiffness value of less than about 1000 milligrams in an area of the fastening tab which includes said first mechanical fastening component. Also disclosed are disposable products comprising such mechanical fastening tabs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: A. TODD LEAK, APIROMRAJ S. ROSLANSKY, PAUL T. VAN GOMPEL, GEORGIA L. ZEHNER, EDWARD H. RUSCHER, YUNG HSIANG HUANG
  • Patent number: 6526633
    Abstract: A hook fastener member having rows of molded hook-shaped fastener elements that lie in planes aligned with the rows, with generally planar plate portions at the outermost ends of at least some of the fastener elements, the plate portions lying generally parallel to the base of the fastener member. The plate portions can enhance engagement of the hook fastener members with mating loop fastener members, particularly with low loft non-woven loop fastener members. A method of making fastener members is provided. Molten resin is extruded and applied to a molding roller, creating preforms. The outermost portions of at least some of the preforms are flattened, thereby forming generally plate shaped portions. Disposable absorbent garments advantageously incorporate the hook fastener members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: George A. Provost, Mark J. Condon, A. Todd Leak, Apiromraj S. Roslansky, Paul J. Serbiak
  • Publication number: 20020088815
    Abstract: There is provided a wet wipes dispensing system. The system includes a plurality of separably joined wet wipes and the plurality of separably joined wet wipes include a lubricant. The system also includes a dispenser including a sealed chamber, the sealed chamber housing the plurality of separably joined wet wipes therein. The dispenser also includes a flexible elastic sealing orifice through which wet wipes from the plurality of separably joined wet wipes can be dispensed from the sealed chamber. At least a portion of the lubricant is automatically transferable to the flexible elastic sealing orifice when wet wipes from the plurality of separably joined wet wipes are dispensed from the sealed chamber through the flexible elastic sealing orifice whereby a drag relationship between the wet wipes and the flexible elastic sealing orifice is reduced by at least about 20%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Michael John Faulks, Yung Hsiang Huang, Jennifer Cappel Larson, Steven John Romme, A. Todd Leak, Paige Annette Dellerman, Ligia A. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6406468
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fastening tape for use on a disposable absorbent garment. The fastening tape comprises a first substrate and an interlocking material attached to said first substrate. The interlocking material extends the entire width of the fastening tape, and the interlocking material is longitudinally spaced from both transverse edges of the fastening tape. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the fastening tape. The process involves providing a continuous length of an interlocking material having a width and traveling in a first direction. The interlocking material is attached to a first substrate to form a composite. The composite is then cut along a second direction to form fastening tapes suitable for attachment on a disposable absorbent garment. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca Lyn Dilnik, Allen Todd Leak, Mark Michael Mleziva, Scott Lee Pennings, Paul John Serbiak, Bruce Michael Siebers, Thomas David Ehlert, John Gerard Hein, Timothy Raymond Heindel, Tim Joseph Janssen, Kathleen Ann Peterson
  • Patent number: 6406467
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fastening tape for use on a disposable absorbent garment. The fastening tape comprises a first substrate and an interlocking material attached to said first substrate. The interlocking material extends the entire width of the fastening tape, and the interlocking material is longitudinally spaced from both transverse edges of the fastening tape. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the fastening tape. The process involves providing a continuous length of an interlocking material having a width and traveling in a first direction. The interlocking material is attached to a first substrate to form a composite. The composite is then cut along a second direction to form fastening tapes suitable for attachment on a disposable absorbent garment. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca Lyn Dilnik, Allen Todd Leak, Mark Michael Mleziva, Michael A. Snyder, Patrick Sean McNichols, Scott Leslie Williams, Robert John Leveille, Scott Lee Pennings, Paul John Serbiak, Bruce Michael Siebers, Robert Eugene Vogt, Georgia Lynn Zehner, Thomas David Ehlert, John Gerard Hein, Timothy Raymond Heindel, Tim Joseph Janssen, Kathleen Ann Peterson
  • Publication number: 20020053119
    Abstract: A hook fastener member having rows of molded hook-shaped fastener elements that lie in planes aligned with the rows, with generally planar place portions at the outermost ends of at least some of the fastener elements, the plate portions lying generally parallel to the base of the fastener member. The plate portions can enhance engagement of the hook fastener members with mating loop fastener members, particularly with low loft non-woven loop fastener members. A method of making fastener members is provided. Molten resin is extruded and applied to a molding roller, creating preforms. The outermost portions of at least some of the preforms are flattened, thereby forming generally plate shaped portions. Disposable absorbent garments advantageously incorporate the hook fastener members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V., a Netherlands corporation
    Inventors: George A. Provost, Mark J. Condon, A. Todd Leak, Apiromraj S. Roslansky, Paul J. Serbiak
  • Patent number: 6357088
    Abstract: A hook fastener member having rows of molded hook-shaped fastener elements that lie in planes aligned with the rows, with generally planar plate portions at the outermost ends of at least some of the fastener elements, the plate portions lying generally parallel to the base of the fastener member. The plate portions can enhance engagement of the hook fastener members with mating loop fastener members, particularly with low loft non-woven loop fastener members. A method of making fastener members is provided. Molten resin is extruded and applied to a molding roller, creating preforms. The outermost portions of at least some of the preforms are flattened, thereby forming generally plate shaped portions. Disposable absorbent garments advantageously incorporate the hook fastener members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: George A. Provost, Mark J. Condon, A. Todd Leak, Apiromraj S. Roslansky, Paul J. Serbiak
  • Publication number: 20010000365
    Abstract: A hook fastener member having rows of molded hook-shaped fastener elements that lie in planes aligned with the rows, with generally planar plate portions at the outermost ends of at least some of the fastener elements, the plate portions lying generally parallel to the base of the fastener member. The plate portions can enhance engagement of the hook fastener members with mating loop fastener members, particularly with low loft non-woven loop fastener members. A method of making fastener members is provided. Molten resin is extruded and applied to a molding roller, creating preforms. The outermost portions of at least some of the preforms are flattened, thereby forming generally plate shaped portions. Disposable absorbent garments advantageously incorporate the hook fastener members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: April 26, 2001
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V. Netherlands corporation
    Inventors: George A. Provost, Mark J. Condon, A. Todd Leak, Apiromraj S. Roslansky, Paul J. Serbiak
  • Patent number: 6206679
    Abstract: An enhanced flexibility fastener product has a base and hook elements extending from the base. Rip-stops integrally molded with the base and with the hook elements are offset relative to the hook elements to reduce widthwise stiffness of the fastener product. Edge margins of the fastener are feathered in that they taper or otherwise reduce in thickness over an extended distance, preferably from at or near the hooks to an edge, resulting in a softer, less irritating fastener tape. Fasteners according to the invention are particularly advantageous on disposable absorbent garments such as diapers, sanitary napkins, and other articles of wear which come into contact with a user's skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: George A. Provost, James V. Stumpf, A. Todd Leak, Apiromraj S. Roslansky
  • Patent number: 6140551
    Abstract: An absorbent article, such as the shown diaper (10), has a front waistband portion (14), a back waistband portion (12) and an intermediate portion (16) interconnecting said front and back waistband portions. The article includes a backsheet member (30), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (28), and an absorbent body (32) sandwiched between the topsheet layer (28) and backsheet member (30). The backsheet member includes an air permeable, polymer sheet layer (96), and a first, outward nonwoven fibrous web (94) attached to or otherwise operatively joined with a major facing surface (78) of the polymer sheet layer (96) at a plurality of individual, spaced apart thermal bonds (98).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Feyen Niemeyer, Thomas Allan Eby, David Willis Heyn, Allen Todd Leak, Jeffrey Lawrence McManus, Steven Walter Moster, Dale Arthur Peterson, Alan Francis Schleinz, Gordon Allen Shaw, Michael Donald Sperl, Gregory Todd Sudduth, Paula Kay Zoromski
  • Patent number: 6075178
    Abstract: An absorbent article (10) has a front waistband portion (14), a back waistband portion (12) and an intermediate portion (16). The article comprises a flexible backsheet member (30), and a liquid permeable topsheet layer (28). An absorbent body structure (32), with a retention portion (48), is sandwiched between the backsheet member (30) and the topsheet layer (28), and a wetness indicator (40) visually shows a presence of liquid in selected areas of the article. The wetness indicator is provided by at least one indicator section of the backsheet member (30) which includes a polymer sheet layer (96). Desirably, The wetness indicator is provided by at least one indicator section of the backsheet member (30) which includes a backsheet laminate material having a fibrous nonwoven web (94) attached to a polymer sheet layer (96).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Hoa La Wilhelm, Jennifer Marie Bauerle, David Willis Heyn, Allen Todd Leak, Dale Arthur Peterson, Carl Gerard Rippl, Diane Michele Underhill, Jerome James Workman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5997522
    Abstract: An enhanced flexibility fastener product has a base and hook elements extending from the base. Rip-stops integrally molded with the base and with the hook elements are offset relative to the hook elements to reduce widthwise stiffness of the fastener product. Edge margins of the fastener are feathered in that they taper or otherwise reduce in thickness over an extended distance, preferably from at or near the hooks to an edge, resulting in a softer, less irritating fastener tape. Fasteners according to the invention are particularly advantageous on disposable absorbent garments such as diapers, sanitary napkins, and other articles of wear which come into contact with a user's skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: George A. Provost, James V. Stumpf, A. Todd Leak, Apiromraj S. Roslansky
  • Patent number: 5953797
    Abstract: A hook fastener member having rows of molded hook-shaped fastener elements that lie in planes aligned with the rows, with generally planar plate portions at the outermost ends of at least some of the fastener elements, the plate portions lying generally parallel to the base of the fastener member. The plate portions can enhance engagement of the hook fastener members with mating loop fastener members, particularly with low loft non-woven loop fastener members. A method of making fastener members is provided. Molten resin is extruded and applied to a molding roller, creating preforms. The outermost portions of at least some of the preforms are flattened, thereby forming generally plate shaped portions. Disposable absorbent garments advantageously incorporate the hook fastener members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: George A. Provost, Mark J. Condon, A. Todd Leak, Apiromraj S. Roslansky, Paul J. Serbiak
  • Patent number: 5843056
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a substantially liquid impermeable, vapor permeable composite backsheet, a liquid-permeable topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet and an absorbent body located between the backsheet and topsheet. The composite backsheet includes a polymeric film of relatively low basis weight and a nonwoven facing layer which enhances the strength of the composite backsheet and a provides a clothlike feel to the composite backsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristeen Elaine Good, Allen Todd Leak, Dale Arthur Peterson, Daniel Robert Schlinz
  • Patent number: 5763041
    Abstract: A laminate suitable for use as the hook component of a hook-and-loop fastener. The laminate comprises a first extensible substantially non-elastic layer and a second layer comprising a nonwoven material. The nonwoven material is prebonded by a number of first spaced-apart bond sites to form first bonded and first unbonded areas. The second layer is attached to the first layer by a plurality of second spaced-apart bond sites to form a bulked laminate having a plurality of second bonded and second unbonded areas. The second bonded and second unbonded areas together define a surface area of said bulked laminate with said second bonded areas covering from about 5 to about 20 percent of the surface area. At least 50 percent of the second bonded areas have an area of less than about 4 square millimeters and have a density of greater than about 2 bonds per square centimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: A. Todd Leak, Mark Michael Mleziva, Duane Girard Uitenbroek, Monica Signoret Diaz, Lance James Garrett, Jr.