Patents by Inventor Andrew T. Hammond

Andrew T. Hammond 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: 11679038
    Abstract: An absorbent article is described that includes leg elastics that form the outermost edges of the product. The leg elastics can include an increased number of elastomeric strands and can extend outboard of the chassis. In this manner, the leg elastics can form a proper seal with the legs of the wearer without interference and can be visually inspected by a caregiver. Placing the leg elastics outboard of the chassis also provides for an efficient manner of producing the garment by attaching multiple elastic components to the garment along a vertical bonding seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah A. Kleuskens, Stacy E. Evenson, Andrew T. Hammond, Sarah A. Olson
  • Patent number: 11365495
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for formation of a fluid-entangled laminate web. The laminate web includes a support layer and a nonwoven projection web having a plurality of projections which are preferably hollow. The laminate web also includes a plurality of apertures interspersed with the projections. As a result of the fluid-entangling process, entangling fluid is directed through the support layer and into the projection web which is situated on a forming surface. The force of the entangling fluid causes the two layers to be joined to one another and the fluid causes a portion of the fibers in the projection web to be forced into openings present in a forming surface thereby forming the hollow projections. The force of the entangling fluid also causes the fibers of the two layers to be moved around protrusions present in the forming surface thereby forming the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Beitz, Stacy E. Evenson, Andrew T. Hammond, Sarah Kleuskens, Amy Q. Feng, Patrick D. Abney, Kevin G. Dolan, Robert M. Hill, Kroy D. Johnson, Niall Finn, Andy Butler, Danielle Kirby, Phil Penaia
  • Publication number: 20210251820
    Abstract: An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. The benefits of the absorbent article are achieved, in part, by a body facing material having features that help minimize contact of body exudates with the wearer's skin while also being constructed so that the body facing material does not stick to the wearer's skin in use. The body facing material includes a plurality of hollow projections, a plurality of apertures and bonded areas. The bonded areas may be formed with adhesive or by mechanical bonds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Mark J. Beitz, Stacy E. Evenson, Andrew T. Hammond, Sarah Kleuskens, Patrick D. Abney
  • Patent number: 11007093
    Abstract: An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. The benefits of the absorbent article are achieved, in part, by a body facing material having features that help minimize contact of body exudates with the wearer's skin while also being constructed so that the body facing material does not stick to the wearer's skin in use. The body facing material includes a plurality of hollow projections, a plurality of apertures and bonded areas. The bonded areas may be formed with adhesive or by mechanical bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Beitz, Stacy E. Evenson, Andrew T. Hammond, Sarah Kleuskens, Patrick D. Abney
  • Publication number: 20200378044
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for formation of a fluid-entangled laminate web. The laminate web includes a support layer and a nonwoven projection web having a plurality of projections which are preferably hollow. The laminate web also includes a plurality of apertures interspersed with the projections. As a result of the fluid-entangling process, entangling fluid is directed through the support layer and into the projection web which is situated on a forming surface. The force of the entangling fluid causes the two layers to be joined to one another and the fluid causes a portion of the fibers in the projection web to be forced into openings present in a forming surface thereby forming the hollow projections. The force of the entangling fluid also causes the fibers of the two layers to be moved around protrusions present in the forming surface thereby forming the apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Mark J. Beitz, Stacy E. Evenson, Andrew T. Hammond, Sarah Kleuskens, Amy Q. Feng, Patrick D. Abney, Kevin G. Dolan, Robert M. Hill, Kroy D. Johnson, Niall Finn, Andy Butler, Danielle Kirby, Phil Penaia
  • Publication number: 20200030161
    Abstract: An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. The benefits of the absorbent article are achieved, in part, by a body facing material having features that help minimize contact of body exudates with the wearer's skin while also being constructed so that the body facing material does not stick to the wearer's skin in use. The body facing material includes a plurality of hollow projections, a plurality of apertures and bonded areas. The bonded areas may be formed with adhesive or by mechanical bonds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Mark J. Beitz, Stacy E. Evenson, Andrew T. Hammond, Sarah Kleuskens, Patrick D. Abney
  • Publication number: 20200000648
    Abstract: An absorbent article is described that includes leg elastics that form the outermost edges of the product. The leg elastics can include an increased number of elastomeric strands and can extend outboard of the chassis. In this manner, the leg elastics can form a proper seal with the legs of the wearer without interference and can be visually inspected by a caregiver. Placing the leg elastics outboard of the chassis also provides for an efficient manner of producing the garment by attaching multiple elastic components to the garment along a vertical bonding seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Sarah A. Kleuskens, Stacy E. Evenson, Andrew T. Hammond, Sarah A. Olson
  • Publication number: 20190388282
    Abstract: An absorbent article is described that includes leg elastics that form the outermost edges of the product. The leg elastics can include an increased number of elastomeric strands and can extend outboard of the chassis. In this manner, the leg elastics can form a proper seal with the legs of the wearer without interference and can be visually inspected by a caregiver. Placing the leg elastics outboard of the chassis also provides for an efficient manner of producing the garment by attaching multiple elastic components to the garment along a vertical bonding seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: David J. Enz, Jim P. King, Sarah A. Kleuskens, Pat Abney, Kevin Dolan, Amy Feng, Andrew T. Hammond
  • Patent number: 10070999
    Abstract: An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Faulks, David F. Bishop, Heather Ann Diffey, Andrew T. Hammond, Scott S. C. Kirby, Niall Finn, Andy R. Butler
  • Publication number: 20180049928
    Abstract: An absorbent article (10) can include a body facing liner (28), a backsheet (26), and an absorbent body (34) disposed between the body facing liner (28) and the backsheet (26). The body facing liner (28) can include at least one embossment (64). The absorbent article (10) can also include an acquisition layer (70, 170, 270, 370, 470) including a body facing surface (70a) and a garment facing surface (70b). The acquisition layer (70, 170, 270, 370, 470) can include at least one recess (90). The at least one recess (90) can receive the at least one embossment (64) in a nested configuration. In some embodiments, the embossment (64) can include an intersecting slit formation (78).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Roger B. Quincy, III, Andrew T. Hammond, Prasad S. Potnis
  • Publication number: 20170151104
    Abstract: An absorbent article can include a body facing liner, a back-sheet coupled to the body facing liner, and an absorbent body. The absorbent article can also include a fluid acquisition layer. The fluid acquisition layer can include a plurality of apertures and at least one channel. The channel can include a length and a depth. The length can be defined in a horizontal plane by a distance between a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end can be connected to a first aperture and the depth can extend from a body facing surface of the fluid acquisition layer to a garment facing surface of the fluid acquisition layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Lisha Yu, Yung Huang, Andrew T. Hammond, Russell J. Brumm