Patents by Inventor Gene M. Altonen

Gene M. Altonen 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: 6165603
    Abstract: An improved washing implement which exhibits superior softness, while also retaining good resiliency and durability, is made from at least one piece of open cell polymer mesh. To achieve the improved softness, resiliency, and durability of the improved washing implement an improved open cell mesh is provided which is softer and sufficiently resilient as a result of its controlled material and cell structure parameters. In preferred embodiments, the controlled physical parameters of the open cell mesh include basis weight, cell count, node count, node length and node diameter. Optimizing the physical parameters of the mesh also results in a washing implement that absorbs and delivers increased amounts of water and cleansing product to the surface being cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Girardot, Gene M. Altonen, Lyle B. Tuthill
  • Patent number: 6156418
    Abstract: An improved washing implement which exhibits superior softness, while also retaining good resiliency, is made from at least one piece of open cell polymer mesh. To achieve the improved softness and resiliency of the improved washing implement an improved open cell mesh is provided which is softer and sufficiently resilient as a result of its controlled cell structure parameters. In preferred embodiments, the controlled physical parameters of the open cell mesh include basis weight, cell count, node count, node length and node diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Girardot, Gene M. Altonen, Lyle B. Tuthill
  • Patent number: 6146745
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved open cell mesh which exhibits superior softness, while also retaining acceptable resiliency, as a result of controlling cell structure parameters. In preferred embodiments, physically measurable parameters of the open cell mesh, and more particularly the cell structure, are controlled within pre-defined ranges. The controlled physical parameters of the subject open cell mesh include basis weight, cell count, node count, node length, node thickness, and node width. Additionally, there is provided a method of testing the mesh's resistance to an applied load, which is a predictive indicator of softness and resiliency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gene M. Altonen, Richard M. Girardot, Lyle B. Tuthill
  • Patent number: 5863844
    Abstract: An improved washing implement which exhibits superior softness, while also retaining good resiliency. To achieve the improved softness and resiliency of the improved washing implement an improved open cell mesh is provided which is softer and sufficiently resilient as a result of its controlled cell structure parameters. In preferred embodiments, the controlled physical parameters of the open cell mesh include basis weight, cell count, node count, node length and node diameter. Additionally there is provided a method of testing the mesh's resistance to an applied load, which provides an additional parameter for characterizing the mesh of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Girardot, Gene M. Altonen, Lyle B. Tuthill
  • Patent number: 5743388
    Abstract: A flexible and substantially non-resilient package containing a number of three-dimensional objects. The package is such that multiple packages can be stacked on top of one another. The package includes a flexible container comprising opposing top and bottom walls and at least one side wall, all of which are joined together to form an interior chamber for containing the non-rectangular objects. The package further includes a balance component integral with the top and bottom walls to stabilize the package and keep it from tipping over. The three-dimensional objects to be contained, such as soap bars, are substantially rigid and non-rectangular. The objects have two non-planar opposing oblong faces. The faces are connected by a pair of opposing major peripheral edges and a pair of opposing minor peripheral edges, with the minor peripheral edges being smaller than the major peripheral edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: G. Scott Kerr, Gene M. Altonen
  • Patent number: 5607058
    Abstract: A two-cell windowed carton is provided for displaying a pair of disparate articles in side by side relation which is formed from a one piece blank of cartonboard. The display carton has opposing front and back walls, opposing top and bottom walls, and opposing first and second side walls. These walls are connected forming a box. Only the opposing top and bottom walls have a double thickness of cartonboard. The front wall has a compartment dividing wall foldably connected thereto. The compartment dividing wall extends inwardly from the front wall to a compartment wall support. The compartment dividing wall separates a first article cell from a second article cell. The first article cell has an opening in the front wall and also has a back intermediate wall. The back intermediate wall is spaced inwardly from and parallel to the back wall by a compartment wall support. The back intermediate wall extends between the first side wall and the compartment dividing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Joseph A. Huesman, Gene M. Altonen
  • Patent number: 5467894
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dispensing package containing a plurality of objects. The objects are three-dimensional and have a pair of opposing faces connected by peripheral edges. The package includes a container having a top, a bottom and a body, all of which form an interior chamber containing the objects. The objects are stacked within the container in face to face relation, with the body of the container surrounding the peripheral edges of the objects. The stacked objects thereby define an uppermost object, adjacent to said top of the container, and a lowermost object, adjacent to the bottom of the container. The package further includes an interleaving dispenser. This dispenser is made from a bendable member having alternating horizontal and vertical panels connected to each other. The member is disposed within the package with the horizontal panels parallel to the top and bottom of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: The Proctor Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gene M. Altonen, G. Scott Kerr