Patents by Inventor Deborah Nickel

Deborah Nickel 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: 20070137810
    Abstract: Tissue products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the web as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the strength of the tissue web without substantially affecting the perceived softness of the web in an adverse manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Dyer, Michael Lostocco, Deborah Nickel, Troy Runge
  • Publication number: 20070137809
    Abstract: Tissue products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the web as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the strength of the tissue web without substantially affecting the perceived softness of the web in an adverse manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Dyer, Michael Lostocco, Deborah Nickel, Troy Runge
  • Publication number: 20060144536
    Abstract: A thermoplastic complex comprises an emulsified hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer and a complexing agent. The thermoplastic complex can formed by pre-mixing an emulsified hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer with a complexing agent to form a paste-like complex. The thermoplastic complex can then be dispersed in a water-fiber suspension in the wet-end section of a tissuemaking process. The fibers in the water-fiber suspension retain a substantial amount of the complex. A fibrous web can be formed comprising the treated fibers, which can then be converted into a tissue product that exhibits improved softness with minimized slough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Deborah Nickel, Troy Runge, Gil Bernard Garnier, Thomas Dyer