Patents by Inventor Andreas Flohr

Andreas Flohr 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).

  • Publication number: 20090043005
    Abstract: Superabsorbent polymer particles having improved surface cross-linking and their use in absorbent articles. The superabsorbent polymer particles comprise a water-absorbing resin and the reaction product of a radiation activatable surface cross-linker. The reaction product of the radiation activatable surface cross-linker is present at the surface of the superabsorbent polymer particle. The radiation activatable surface cross-linker includes at least two radiation activatable groups R, which are covalently bound to each other or to at least one spacer group S.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Andreas Flohr
  • Patent number: 7449219
    Abstract: Superabsorbent polymer particles with improved surface cross-linking for use in absorbent articles and a process for making the superabsorbent polymer particles. The superabsorbent polymer particles include a water-absorbing resin and the reaction product of a radiation activatable surface cross-linker. The reaction product of the radiation activatable surface cross-linker is present at surfaces of the superabsorbent polymer particles. The radiation activatable surface cross-linker includes at least two radiation activatable groups R, which are covalently bound to each other or to at least one spacer group S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Andreas Flohr
  • Publication number: 20080249206
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a material for acquisition of liquids comprising individualized, crosslinked cellulosic fibers having an effective amount of a polymeric acid crosslinking agent reacted with the fibers in intra-fiber crosslink ester bond form. The material further comprises at least one basic substance, selected from basic polymers. The invention also relates to disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers, containing this material. The material can be used in a method of reducing the electrolyte concentration of aqueous mediums containing electrolytes, such as urine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Marion Lutsche
  • Patent number: 7371919
    Abstract: An apertured laminate web which may be used as a topsheet on a disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper. The laminate web is formed of a liquid pervious first material and a liquid pervious second material attached to the first material. The first material has an effective open area of at least about 10% and a plurality of apertures with an effective size of at least than 0.2 square millimeters. The second material has an effective open area of at least about 10% and a plurality of apertures with an effective size of at least 0.2 square millimeters. The apertures of the second material are aligned with the apertures of the first material. The second material preferably has a hydrophilicity which is greater than the hydrophilicity of the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ludwig Busam, Michael Divo, Andreas Flohr
  • Publication number: 20070118087
    Abstract: A liquid acquisition material for use in an absorbent article. The liquid acquisition material having first fibers and second fibers. The first fibers are chemically cross-linked cellulose fibers and the second fibers are selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, rayon, lyocell, and mixtures thereof. The liquid acquisition material has a total dry weight, the first fibers have a first dry weight, and the second fibers have a second dry weight. The first dry weight is from 30 to 95 percent of the total dry weight and the second dry weight is from 5 to 70 percent of the total dry weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Paschalia Makavou-Jennen
  • Publication number: 20070082142
    Abstract: The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer particles with improved surface cross-linking and their use in absorbent articles. The superabsorbent polymer particles of the present invention comprise a water-absorbing resin and the reaction product of a radiation activatable surface cross-linker wherein the reaction product of the radiation activatable surface cross-linker is present at surfaces of the superabsorbent polymer particles. The radiation activatable surface cross-linker comprises at least two radiation activatable groups R, which are covalently bound to each other or to at least one spacer group S. Moreover, the invention relates to a process for making these superabsorbent polymer particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventor: Andreas Flohr
  • Publication number: 20070048517
    Abstract: A method of surface cross-linking superabsorbent polymer particles using UV irradiation is provided. The method is carried out in a so-called drum reactor, which comprises a hollow drum and an irradiation source. The drum has a longitudinal axis and a cross-section. Radical former molecules are applied on the surface of superabsorbent polymer particles. These superabsorbent polymer particles are fed into the drum and are irradiated while they move within the drum, which is rotated around its longitudinal axis. The irradiation source is provided such that the radiation emitted by the irradiation source is able to reach superabsorbent polymer particles within said drum. The irradiation source for use in the method is able to emit UV radiation of a wavelength between about 201 nm and about 400 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Torsten Lindner, Esther Oliveros, Yoshiro Mitsukami
  • Publication number: 20070048516
    Abstract: A method of surface cross-linking superabsorbent polymer particles using UV irradiation is provided. The method is carried out in a so-called drum reactor, which comprises a hollow drum and an irradiation source. The drum has a longitudinal axis and a cross-section. Superabsorbent polymer particles are fed into the drum and are irradiated while they move within the drum, which is rotated around its longitudinal axis. The irradiation source is provided such that the radiation emitted by the irradiation source is able to reach superabsorbent polymer particles within said drum. The irradiation source for use in the method is able to emit UV radiation of a wavelength between about 100 nm and about 200 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Torsten Lindner, Esther Oliveros, Yoshiro Mitsukami
  • Publication number: 20070048518
    Abstract: A method of surface cross-linking superabsorbent polymer particles using UV irradiation is provided. The superabsorbent polymer particles for use in the method have a relatively high degree of neutralization. Brønsted acids are selectively applied onto the surface of the superabsorbent polymer particles to selectively facilitate a relatively high number of protonated carboxyl groups at the surface of the superabsorbent polymer particles while the relatively high degree of neutralization in the core of the superabsorbent polymer particles remains substantially unaffected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Torsten Lindner, Yoshiro Mitsukami
  • Publication number: 20070049689
    Abstract: A method of surface cross-linking superabsorbent polymer particles having a relatively high degree of neutralization is provided. Brønsted acids are selectively applied onto the surface of the superabsorbent polymer particles to selectively facilitate a relatively high number of protonated carboxyl groups at the surface of the superabsorbent polymer particles while the relatively high degree of neutralization in the core of the superabsorbent polymer particles remains substantially unaffected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Axel Meyer, Andreas Flohr, Torsten Lindner
  • Patent number: 7166356
    Abstract: The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer particles with improved surface cross-linking and their use in absorbent articles. The superabsorbent polymer particles of the present invention comprise a water-absorbing resin and the reaction product of a radiation activatable surface cross-linker wherein the reaction product of the radiation activatable surface cross-linker is present at surfaces of the superabsorbent polymer particles. The radiation activatable surface cross-linker comprises at least two radiation activatable groups R, which are covalently bound to each other or to at least one spacer group S. Moreover, the invention relates to a process for making these superabsorbent polymer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Andreas Flohr
  • Publication number: 20060128827
    Abstract: An absorbent member for use in disposable diapers, wherein the absorbent member comprises a modified water absorbent resin. The modified water absorbent resin is made according to the method which comprises a) mixing a water absorbent resin and a water-soluble radical polymerization initiator or a heat-degradable radical polymerization initiator without addition of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and b) irradiating the resultant mixture with active energy rays. The method is particularly capable of exalting the absorbency against pressure and the saline flow conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Makoto Matsumoto, Yoshiro Mitsukami, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Kazushi Torii, Taku Iwamura, Andreas Flohr, Torsten Lindner
  • Publication number: 20060128902
    Abstract: The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer particles with improved surface cross-linking and improved hydrophilicity and their use in absorbent articles. Superabsorbent polymer particles of the invention consist of cross-linked poly(meth)acrylic acid and salts thereof. The polymer chains comprised by the superabsorbent polymer particles are cross-linked to each other through direct covalent bonds and comprise alcoholic hydroxyl groups. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for surface cross-linking superabsorbent polymer particles using vacuum UV irradiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Torsten Lindner
  • Publication number: 20060030829
    Abstract: The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer particles having functionalizers covalently bound to the surface of precursor superabsorbent polymer particles. The functionalizers of the present invention comprise a grafting unit with a radiation activatable group and a functional unit covalently bound to the grafting unit. The grafting unit is bound to an aliphatic C—H group comprised at the surface of the precursor superabsorbent polymer particle. The functional unit comprises chemical structures which are not present in the precursor superabsorbent polymer particle. These functional units add an additional function to the precursor suberabsorbent polymer particle or modifying an existing function of the precursor superabsorbent polymer particle. Moreover, the invention relates to a process for making these superabsorbent polymer particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Torsten Lindner
  • Publication number: 20060025734
    Abstract: The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer particles with improved surface cross-linking and their use in absorbent articles. Superabsorbent polymers of the invention comprise polymer chain segments, wherein at least a part of these polymer chain segments are cross-linked to each other through direct covalent bonds. Moreover, the invention relates to a process for making these superabsorbent polymer particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Torsten Lindner
  • Publication number: 20060020053
    Abstract: The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer particles with improved surface cross-linking and their use in absorbent articles. The superabsorbent polymer particles of the present invention comprise polymer chain segments, wherein at least a part of the polymer chain segments are covalently cross-linked to each other and wherein at least a part of the cross-links comprise the reaction product of cross-linking molecules having at least two C?C double bonds and further comprise the reaction product of radical former molecules. These cross-links are present at surfaces of the superabsorbent polymer particles. Moreover, the invention relates a method for making these superabsorbent polymer particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Torsten Lindner
  • Publication number: 20050203474
    Abstract: The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer particles with improved cross-linking and their use in absorbent articles. Superabsorbent polymers of the invention comprise polymer chain segments, wherein at least a part of these polymer chain segments are cross-linked to each other through direct covalent bonds. Moreover, the invention relates to processes for making these superabsorbent polymer particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Andreas Flohr
  • Publication number: 20050032936
    Abstract: The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer particles with improved surface cross-linking and their use in absorbent articles. The superabsorbent polymer particles of the present invention comprise a water-absorbing resin and the reaction product of a radiation activatable surface cross-linker wherein the reaction product of the radiation activatable surface cross-linker is present at surfaces of the superabsorbent polymer particles. The radiation activatable surface cross-linker comprises at least two radiation activatable groups R, which are covalently bound to each other or to at least one spacer group S. Moreover, the invention relates to a process for making these superabsorbent polymer particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventor: Andreas Flohr
  • Patent number: 6749593
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article having a fecal management member intended to handle fluids including in particular high viscosity fluids such as feces and menses. The fecal management member includes a plurality of fibers oriented in the z-direction which lead to improved fluid transportation in the z-direction and is positioned intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet of the disposable absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Georg Pescher, Jorg Muller
  • Publication number: 20040097895
    Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles comprising nonwoven fabrics, which are made hydrophilic by polymers chemically bonded to the surface of the nonwoven fabrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ludwig Busam, Andreas Flohr, Christofer Fuchs, Ekatarina Anatolyevna Ponomarenko