Patents by Inventor Clifford J. Ellis

Clifford J. Ellis 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: 8187697
    Abstract: A cooling product (e.g., pad, bandage, headband, wrap, cloth, and so forth) that contains a gel configured to cool the skin of a body part when placed adjacent thereto is provided. The gel is contained within a composite that has two or more fibrous layers structured to provide enhanced distribution of the gel therethrough. More specifically, a first fibrous layer may rapidly distribute the gel in primarily the -z direction (direction of thickness) to a second fibrous layer, which then distributes it primarily in the -x and -y directions. The second fibrous layer may then be placed adjacent to a user's skin to provide the desired cooling. Because the gel is distributed primarily in the -x and -y directions, however, direct contact between the gel and skin is limited, thereby reducing the “sticky” feel normally associate with such gels. The cooling product is also flexible, and may be easily adapted to a body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger B. Quincy, III, Clifford J. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20080268216
    Abstract: A cooling product (e.g., pad, bandage, headband, wrap, cloth, and so forth) that contains a gel configured to cool the skin of a body part when placed adjacent thereto is provided. The gel is contained within a composite that has two or more fibrous layers structured to provide enhanced distribution of the gel therethrough. More specifically, a first fibrous layer may rapidly distribute the gel in primarily the -z direction (direction of thickness) to a second fibrous layer, which then distributes it primarily in the -x and -y directions. The second fibrous layer may then be placed adjacent to a user's skin to provide the desired cooling. Because the gel is distributed primarily in the -x and -y directions, however, direct contact between the gel and skin is limited, thereby reducing the “sticky” feel normally associate with such gels. The cooling product is also flexible, and may be easily adapted to a body part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger B. Quincy, Clifford J. Ellis
  • Patent number: 5562650
    Abstract: Generally stated, the present invention provides a distinctive absorbent article which includes a backsheet layer and an absorbent retention portion which is superposed on the backsheet layer. The retention portion has a length and a width, and has laterally opposed side edges thereof and longitudinally opposed end edges thereof. A surge management portion is located adjacent a bodyside surface of the retention portion. The surge management portion is constructed to temporarily hold received liquid and release the liquid to the retention portion. The surge management portion has a width, opposed side edges thereof and opposed end edges thereof, and has a length thereof which is less than the length of the retention portion. The end edges of the surge management portion are located longitudinally inboard from the end edges of the retention portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Rob D. Everett, David F. Bishop, Clifford J. Ellis, Mark G. Heath, Daniel R. Laux, Maria E. Signoret
  • Patent number: 5509915
    Abstract: Generally stated, the present invention provides a distinctive absorbent article comprising a backsheet layer, and a topsheet layer which is disposed in facing relation with the backsheet layer. An absorbent body is interposed between the backsheet layer and topsheet layer. The absorbent body includes a retention portion which comprises a matrix of substantially hydrophilic fibers having a distribution of high-absorbency particulate material therein. The hydrophilic fibers and high-absorbency particles can be provided in a fiber-to-particle weight ratio within the range of about 70:30 to about 30:70. A surge management layer, comprising bicomponent fibers having a denier of not more than about 3 d, is located adjacent at least one major, facing surface of the topsheet layer, and can cooperate with the article components to provide for a liquid Penetration Rate index of not less than about 2.67 ml/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Hanson, Lynn C. Brud, Shannon K. Byerly, Clifford J. Ellis, Rob D. Everett, Barbara A. Gossen, Violet M. Grube, David G. Iwanski, David K. LeMahieu, Jian Qin, Robert A. Stevens, Tom K. Wentzel, Sandra M. Yarbrough, David L. Zenker, MaryAnn Zunker
  • Patent number: 5490846
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fibrous nonwoven web which is particularly well-suited for use as a surge layer in personal care absorbent articles including, but not limited to, diapers, training pants, incontinence garments, sanitary napkins, bandages and the like. The fibrous nonwoven web is made from a plurality of fibers heat bonded to one another to form a nonwoven web having a basis weight of at least 20 grams per square meter, a void volume of between about 40 and about 60 centimeters per gram of web while under a pressure of 689 dynes per square centimeter, a permeability of about 5,000 to about 8,000 darcy, a porosity of about 97.2 percent to about 98.8 percent and a surface area per void of about 24 to about 49 square centimeters per cubic centimeter. The fibrous nonwoven web will have a saturation capacity of between about 30 and about 50 grams of 0.9 percent saline solution per gram of web and a compression resilience in both the wet and dry state of at least about 60 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Clifford J. Ellis, Rob D. Everett
  • Patent number: 5486166
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lofty fibrous nonwoven web which is particularly well-suited for use as a surge layer in personal care absorbent articles including, but not limited to, diapers, training pants, incontinence garments, sanitary napkins, bandages and the like. The fibrous nonwoven web is made from a plurality of fibers heat bonded to one another to form a lofty nonwoven web having a basis weight of at least 20 grams per square meter, a void volume of between about 80 and about 117 centimeters per gram of web while under a pressure of 689 dynes per square centimeter, a permeability of about 8,000 to about 15,000 darcy, a porosity of about 98.6 percent to about 99.4 percent and a surface area per void of about 10 to about 25 square centimeters per cubic centimeter. The fibrous nonwoven web will have a saturation capacity of between about 55 and about 80 grams of 0.9 percent saline solution per gram of web and a compression resilience in both the wet and dry state of at least about 60 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Bishop, Clifford J. Ellis