Patents by Inventor Donald Joseph Sanders
Donald Joseph Sanders 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).
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Patent number: 8007622Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing personal care absorbent articles. Such personal care absorbent article includes a fastening area in the front portion for receiving fastener material thereon. First and second fault lines are formed on opposing sides of the fastening area leaving uncut web portions at the fault lines during selected manufacturing operations, thus to support machine direction stresses on the front portion web, and subsequently trimming away such uncut web portions of the fault lines. Fastener material is applied over the first and second fault lines, thus bridging the fault lines. The fastener material is releasably secured to the fastening area, non-releasably secured to the front portion outwardly of the respective fault lines, and unsecured to the front portion between the fastening area and the fault lines thus to support a re-fastening feature of such personal care absorbent articles.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Harold Norbert Heller, Donald Joseph Sanders, Paul Theodore Van Gompel, Lori Sue Schutkoske, Cindy Lou Price, Suzanne Marie Schmoker, Sarah Jane Marie Freiburger, Mary Anne Bruemmer-Prestley, Paul William Christoffel
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Publication number: 20090008030Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing personal care absorbent articles. Such personal care absorbent article includes a fastening area in the front portion for receiving fastener material thereon. First and second fault lines are formed on opposing sides of the fastening area leaving uncut web portions at the fault lines during selected manufacturing operations, thus to support machine direction stresses on the front portion web, and subsequently trimming away such uncut web portions of the fault lines. Fastener material is applied over the first and second fault lines, thus bridging the fault lines. The fastener material is releasably secured to the fastening area, non-releasably secured to the front portion outwardly of the respective fault lines, and unsecured to the front portion between the fastening area and the fault lines thus to support a re-fastening feature of such personal care absorbent articles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Harold Norbert Heller, Donald Joseph Sanders, Paul Theodore Van Gompel, Lori Sue Schutkoske, Cindy Lou Price, Suzanne Marie Schmoker, Sarah Jane Freiburger, Mary Anne Bruemmer-Prestley, Paul William Christoffel
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Patent number: 7431791Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing personal care absorbent articles. Such personal care absorbent article includes a fastening area in the front portion for receiving fastener material thereon. First and second fault lines are formed on opposing sides of the fastening area leaving uncut web portions at the fault lines during selected manufacturing operations, thus to support machine direction stresses on the front portion web, and subsequently trimming away such uncut web portions of the fault lines. Fastener material is applied over the first and second fault lines, thus bridging the fault lines. The fastener material is releasable secured to the fastening area, non-releasable secured to the front portion outwardly of the respective fault lines, and unsecured to the front portion between the fastening area and the fault lines thus to support a re-fastening feature of such personal care absorbent articles.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2006Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Harold Norbert Heller, Donald Joseph Sanders, Paul Theodore Van Gompel, Lori Sue Schutkoske, Cindy Lou Price, Suzanne Marie Schmoker, Sarah Jane Marie Freiburger, Mary Anne Bruemmer-Prestley, Paul William Christoffel
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Patent number: 6712922Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assembly of extensible composite webs and web sausages, and personal care articles manufactured from such webs. The invention comprises fabricating a resiliently extensible web by bringing together and securing to each other as discrete elements, intervening web substrate elements between resiliently stretchable elastic elements. Securement between elastic elements and web substrate elements is defined by alternating zones of securement and non-securement along a length of the web substrate. The invention comprises deactivating elastic elements in the non-securement zones thereby to retract elastic strands in the non-securement zones without retracting the corresponding web or webs in such non-securement zones, and correspondingly, to distinguish the securement zones as relatively more resiliently stretchable and the non-securement zones as relatively less resiliently stretchable.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2001Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Jesse Paul Sorenson, Donald Joseph Sanders, Paul William Christoffel
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Publication number: 20040010241Abstract: It has been found that an absorbent article having improved fit at the waist region can be made by changing the stretch properties about the waist region such that the sides stretch more than the front or back. One method of performing this function is to change the modulus of elasticity of the side regions relative to the front and back regions. For instance, by use of more elastic or stronger elastic in the front and back of the waist relative to the side of the waist, the modulus of elasticity in the front and back will be higher than at the sides of the absorbent article. If the same tension is applied uniformly to such a waist, the sides will stretch more than the front or back. This improves the absorbent article's fit because the hips of the body can curve more than the front or back waist portion, which can be relatively flat. By having the greatest stretch at the sides, they can conform to the body's increased curvature at the hips.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2002Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Donald Joseph Sanders, Paul VanGompel, Jennifer Lynn Marvin
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Publication number: 20020157778Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assembly of extensible composite webs and web sausages, and personal care articles manufactured from such webs. The invention comprises fabricating a resiliently extensible web by bringing together and securing to each other as discrete elements, intervening web substrate elements between resiliently stretchable elastic elements. Securement between elastic elements and web substrate elements is defined by alternating zones of securement and non-securement along a length of the web substrate. The invention comprises deactivating elastic elements in the non-securement zones thereby to retract elastic strands in the non-securement zones without retracting the corresponding web or webs in such non-securement zones, and correspondingly, to distinguish the securement zones as relatively more resiliently stretchable and the non-securement zones as relatively less resiliently stretchable.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worlwide, Inc.Inventors: Jesse Paul Sorenson, Donald Joseph Sanders, Paul William Christoffel
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Publication number: 20020148557Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing personal care absorbent articles. Such personal care absorbent article includes a fastening area in the front portion for receiving fastener material thereon. First and second fault lines are formed on opposing sides of the fastening area leaving uncut web portions at the fault lines during selected manufacturing operations, thus to support machine direction stresses on the front portion web, and subsequently trimming away such uncut web portions of the fault lines. Fastener material is applied over the first and second fault lines, thus bridging the fault lines. The fastener material is releasably secured to the fastening area, non-releasably secured to the front portion outwardly of the respective fault lines, and unsecured to the front portion between the fastening area and the fault lines thus to support a re-fastening feature of such personal care absorbent articles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2001Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worlwide, Inc.Inventors: Harold Norbert Heller, Donald Joseph Sanders
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Patent number: 6214274Abstract: A process and apparatus for compacting a web (12) which contains a superabsorbent material (32) can include a plasticizing of the superabsorbent material contained in the web (12), and a compressing of the web (12) at a relatively low pressure. The selected, low pressure can be arranged to substantially avoid an excessive fracturing of the superabsorbent material.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Shannon Kathleen Melius, David Arthur Fell, William Grover Reeves, Donald Joseph Sanders, Heath David Van Wychen, Michael Barth Venturino, Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet
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Patent number: 6101912Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a moving substrate includes a cutter nozzle connected to a movable support. A supplying mechanism provides a cutting fluid to the cutter nozzle at a pressure which provides for a fluid flow rate from the cutter nozzle which is sufficient to cut the substrate in a selected cut pattern. A designating mechanism identifies a plurality of selected article lengths along the substrate, and a transporting mechanism moves the substrate at a predetermined speed along the machine direction during the cutting of the substrate. An actuating servo moves the cutter nozzle along a selected cutting path, and a regulating mechanism controls the actuating servo by employing a selected, electronically stored data set. The data set is configured to move the actuating servo in a selected sequence, and the sequence has a predetermined correspondence with the movement of the substrate to thereby direct the cutter nozzle along the selected cutting path and provide the selected cut pattern on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1997Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Donald Joseph Sanders, Mary Elizabeth Barker, Bruce Arthur Owen, Michael James Collom, John Harland Hise, Brian Lee Griebenow, Robert Duane Herberg
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Patent number: 6006637Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a moving substrate includes a cutter nozzle connected to a movable support. A supplying mechanism provides a cutting fluid to the cutter nozzle at a pressure which provides for a fluid flow rate from the cutter nozzle which is sufficient to cut the substrate in a selected cut pattern. A designating mechanism identifies a plurality of selected article lengths along the substrate, and a transporting mechanism moves the substrate at a predetermined speed along the machine direction during the cutting of the substrate. An actuating servo moves the cutter nozzle along a selected cutting path, and a regulating mechanism controls the actuating servo by employing a selected, electronically stored data set. The data set is configured to move the actuating servo in a selected sequence, and the sequence has a predetermined correspondence with the movement of the substrate to thereby direct the cutter nozzle along the selected cutting path and provide the selected cut pattern on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1995Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Donald Joseph Sanders, Mary Elizabeth Barker, Bruce Arthur Owen, Michael James Collom, John Harland Hise, Brian Lee Griebenow, Robert Duane Herberg
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Patent number: 5900109Abstract: A method and apparatus for enveloping a series of absorbent cores with a fluid-permeable layer includes a first web supplying mechanism for providing a first layer of fluid-permeable material, and a depositing mechanism for positioning a series of absorbent cores on the first layer. Each of the absorbent cores defines a periphery thereof and includes superabsorbent material therein. A second web supplying means provides a second layer of fluid-permeable material to sandwich the absorbent cores between the first and second layers. A sealing mechanism secures the first layer to the second layer along an attachment region thereof which is located adjacent to at least a pair of side edge regions of the absorbent cores. The attachment region is constructed to substantially prevent movement of superabsorbent material from the absorbent cores through the attachment region.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1993Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Donald Joseph Sanders, Mark Charles Jacobs, Lisette Marie Curtin, Keith Gervaise Bellin, Rob David Everett, Lee Patrick Garvey