Patents by Inventor Geoffrey David Hietpas
Geoffrey David Hietpas 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: 8513146Abstract: The invention provides a polyester bicomponent staple fiber comprising poly(trimethylene terephthalate) and at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(trimethylene terephthalate), and poly(tetramethylene terephthalate) or a combination of such members, said bicomponent staple fiber having: a) a scalloped oval cross-section shape having an aspect ratio a:b of about 2:1 to about 5:1 wherein ‘a’ is a fiber cross-section major axis length and ‘b’ is a fiber cross-section minor axis length; b) a polymer interface substantially perpendicular to the major axis; c) a cross-section configuration selected from the group consisting of side-by-side and eccentric sheath-core; d) a plurality of longitudinal grooves; and e) a groove ratio of about 1.05:1 to about 1.9:1. Additionally, the invention provides a spun yarn comprising cotton and the polyester bicomponent staple fiber of the invention, as well as fabrics and garments comprising the spun yarn of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Invista North America S.ár.l.Inventors: Geoffrey David Hietpas, David A. Price, Sr., Steven Wayne Smith
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Patent number: 7588818Abstract: A multi-layer composite sheet comprising a shrinkable layer intermittently bonded a to a gatherable layer with the bonds separated by a specified distance and wherein the shrinkable layer can shrink and at the same time gather the gatherable layer between the bonds. A process for preparing multi-layer composite sheets by intermittently bonding a shrinkable layer to a gatherable layer with the bonds separated by a specified distance and causing the shrinkable layer to shrink while at the same time gathering the gatherable layer between the bonds. Preferably, the shrinkable layer comprises an array of fibers or nonwoven web comprising fibers having latent spiral crimp.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: INVISTA North America S.a r.l.Inventors: Dimitri P. Zafiroglu, Jeffrey Allen Chambers, Geoffrey David Hietpas
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Patent number: 7201816Abstract: A multi-layer composite sheet comprising a shrinkable layer intermittently bonded a to a gatherable layer with the bonds separated by a specified distance and wherein the shrinkable layer can shrink and at the same time gather the gatherable layer between the bonds. A process for preparing multi-layer composite sheets by intermittently bonding a shrinkable layer to a gatherable layer with the bonds separated by a specified distance and causing the shrinkable layer to shrink while at the same time gathering the gatherable layer between the bonds. Preferably, the shrinkable layer comprises an array of fibers or nonwoven web comprising fibers having latent spiral crimp.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2002Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Invista North America S.A.R.L.Inventors: Dimitri P. Zafiroglu, Jeffrey Allen Chambers, Geoffrey David Hietpas
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Patent number: 7036197Abstract: A method for preparing stretchable bonded nonwoven fabrics which involves forming a substantially nonbonded nonwoven web of multiple-component continuous filaments or staple fibers which are capable of developing three-dimensional spiral crimp, activating the spiral crimp by heating substantially nonbonded web under free shrinkage conditions during which the nonwoven remains substantially nonbonded, followed by bonding the crimped nonwoven web using an array of discrete mechanical, chemical, or thermal bonds. Nonwoven fabrics prepared according to the method of the current invention have an improved combination of stretch-recovery properties, textile hand and drape compared to multiple-component nonwoven fabrics known in the art.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2002Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Invista North America S.A.R.L.Inventors: Dimitri P. Zafiroglu, Geoffrey David Hietpas, Debora Flanagan Massouda, Thomas Michael Ford
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Patent number: 7005395Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method for preparing stretchable multiple-component bonded composite sheets which involves bonding a fibrous layer of spirally-crimpable multiple-component continuous filaments or staple fibers to one or more non-spirally-crimpable layers using an array of intermittent mechanical, chemical, or thermal bonds, and heating the bonded composite to activate the spiral crimp of the fibers in the spirally-crimpable layer. Multi-layer nonwoven fabrics prepared according to the method of the current invention have an improved combination of strength, aesthetics, stretch-recovery properties, and textile hand and drape compared to multiple-component nonwoven fabrics known in the art.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2002Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Invista North America S.a.r.l.Inventors: Dimitri P. Zafiroglu, Geoffrey David Hietpas, Debora Flanagan Massouda, Thomas Michael Ford
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Patent number: 6984276Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing nonwoven fabrics having an improved balance of properties in the machine and cross-directions. More specifically, the invention utilizes nonwoven webs that include relatively low levels of multiple-component fibers having latent three-dimensional spiral crimp combined with fibers that do not develop spiral crimp. The latent spiral crimp of the multiple-component fibers is activated, such as by heating, under free shrinkage conditions, after formation of the nonwoven web to achieve re-orientation of the non-spirally-crimpable fibers and an improved balance of properties such as tensile strength and modulus.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2002Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Invista North America S.arl.Inventors: Dimitri P. Zafiroglu, Geoffrey David Hietpas
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Patent number: 6881047Abstract: An apparatus and process for applying finish to an expanded filament array in a quench system with air directed inward to the filament bundle. The applicator may be used inside or proximate quench zones in a radial, pneumatic, or cross-flow quench system. The apparatus includes a spinneret, a quench zone located below said spinneret, wherein cooling gas is directed inward to an expanded filament array inside said quench zone, and an applicator inside or below said quench zone, wherein the applicator contacts the filament and delivers the finish to the expanded filament array.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: Invista North America S.a.r.l.Inventors: Steven Wayne Smith, Geoffrey David Hietpas, Richard Terry Wood
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Patent number: 6872352Abstract: The invention relates to webs or batts including polytrimethylene terephthalate crimped staple fibers and fiberfill products comprising such webs and batts, as well as the processes of making the staple fibers, webs, batts and fiberfill products. According to the preferred process of making a web or batt, polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fibers, containing polytrimethylene terephthalate is melt spun at a temperature of 245-285° C. into filaments. The filaments are quenched, drawn and mechanically crimped to a crimp level of 8-30 crimps per inch (3-12 crimps/cm). The crimped filaments are relaxed at a temperature of 50-130° C. and then cut into staple fibers having a length of about 0.2-6 inches (about 0.5-about 15 cm). A web is formed by garnetting or carding the staple fibers and is optionally cross-lapped to form a batt. A fiberfill product is prepared with the web or batt.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2001Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Ismael A. Hernandez, Geoffrey David Hietpas, James M. Howell
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Patent number: 6835339Abstract: Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) tetrachannel cross-section staple fibers, as well as yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics made therewith. Also, the process of making such staple fibers, yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2002Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Ismael A. Hernandez, Geoffrey David Hietpas, James M. Howell, Claudia Schultze
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Patent number: 6752945Abstract: A process of making polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fibers, including (a) providing polytrimethylene terephthalate, (b) melt spinning the melted polytrimethylene terephthalate at a temperature of 245-285° C. into filaments, (c) quenching the filaments, (d) drawing the quenched filaments, (e) crimping the drawn filaments using a mechanical crimper at a crimp level of 8-30 crimps per inch (3-12 crimps/cm), (f) relaxing the crimped filaments at a temperature of 50-120° C., and (g) cutting the relaxed filaments into staple fibers having a length of about 0.2-6 inches (about 0.5-about 15 cm), and polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fibers, yarns and fabrics. Further, a process of optimizing the crimp take-up of a polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fiber including determining the relationship between denier and crimp take-up and manufacturing staple fibers having a denier selected based upon that determination.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Ismael A. Hernandez, Geoffrey David Hietpas, James M. Howell, Claudia Schultze
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Publication number: 20040116024Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method for preparing stretchable multiple-component bonded composite sheets which involves bonding a fibrous layer of spirally-crimpable multiple-component continuous filaments or staple fibers to one or more non-spirally-crimpable layers using an array of intermittent mechanical, chemical, or thermal bonds, and heating the bonded composite to activate the spiral crimp of the fibers in the spirally-crimpable layer. Multi-layer nonwoven fabrics prepared according to the method of the current invention have an improved combination of strength, aesthetics, stretch-recovery properties, and textile hand and drape compared to multiple-component nonwoven fabrics known in the art.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2002Publication date: June 17, 2004Inventors: Dimitri P. Zafiroglu, Geoffrey David Hietpas, Debora Flanagan Massouda, Thomas Michael Ford
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Publication number: 20030134094Abstract: A multi-layer composite sheet comprising a shrinkable layer intermittently bonded a to a gatherable layer with the bonds separated by a specified distance and wherein the shrinkable layer can shrink and at the same time gather the gatherable layer between the bonds. A process for preparing multi-layer composite sheets by intermittently bonding a shrinkable layer to a gatherable layer with the bonds separated by a specified distance and causing the shrinkable layer to shrink while at the same time gathering the gatherable layer between the bonds. Preferably, the shrinkable layer comprises an array of fibers or nonwoven web comprising fibers having latent spiral crimp.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventors: Dimitri P. Zafiroglu, Jeffrey Allen Chambers, Geoffrey David Hietpas
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Publication number: 20030124939Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing nonwoven fabrics having an improved balance of properties in the machine and cross-directions. More specifically, the invention utilizes nonwoven webs that include relatively low levels of multiple-component fibers having latent three-dimensional spiral crimp combined with fibers that do not develop spiral crimp. The latent spiral crimp of the multiple-component fibers is activated, such as by heating, under free shrinkage conditions, after formation of the nonwoven web to achieve re-orientation of the non-spirally-crimpable fibers and an improved balance of properties such as tensile strength and modulus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2002Publication date: July 3, 2003Inventors: Dimitri P. Zafiroglu, Geoffrey David Hietpas
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Publication number: 20030124938Abstract: A method for preparing stretchable bonded nonwoven fabrics which involves forming a substantially nonbonded nonwoven web of multiple-component continuous filaments or staple fibers which are capable of developing three-dimensional spiral crimp, activating the spiral crimp by heating substantially nonbonded web under free shrinkage conditions during which the nonwoven remains substantially nonbonded, followed by bonding the crimped nonwoven web using an array of discrete mechanical, chemical, or thermal bonds. Nonwoven fabrics prepared according to the method of the current invention have an improved combination of stretch-recovery properties, textile hand and drape compared to multiple-component nonwoven fabrics known in the art.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2002Publication date: July 3, 2003Inventors: Dimitri P. Zafiroglu, Geoffrey David Hietpas, Debora Flanagan Massouda, Thomas Michael Ford
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Publication number: 20030071394Abstract: Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) tetrachannel cross-section staple fibers, as well as yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics made therewith. Also, the process of making such staple fibers, yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2002Publication date: April 17, 2003Inventors: Ismael A. Hernandez, Geoffrey David Hietpas, James M. Howell, Claudia Schultze
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Publication number: 20020153641Abstract: The invention relates to webs or batts comprising polytrimethylene terephthalate crimped staple fibers and fiberfill products comprising such webs and batts, as well as the processes of making the staple fibers, webs, batts and fiberfill products. According to the preferred process of making a web or batt comprising polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fibers, comprising polytrimethylene terephthalate is melt spun at a temperature of 245-285° C. into filaments. The filaments are quenched, drawn and mechanically crimped to a crimp level of 8-30 crimps per inch (3-12 crimps/cm). The crimped filaments are relaxed at a temperature of 50-130° C. and then cut into staple fibers having a length of about 0.2-6 inches (about 0.5-about 15 cm). A web is formed by garnetting or carding the staple fibers and is optionally cross-lapped to form a batt. A fiberfill product is prepared with the web or batt.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2001Publication date: October 24, 2002Inventors: Ismael A. Hernandez, Geoffrey David Hietpas, James M. Howell
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Patent number: 6458455Abstract: Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) tetrachannel cross-section staple fibers, as well as yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics made therewith. Also, the process of making such staple fibers, yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2001Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Ismael A. Hernandez, Geoffrey David Hietpas, James M. Howell, Claudia Schultze
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Publication number: 20020077013Abstract: Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) tetrachannel cross-section staple fibers, as well as yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics made therewith. Also, the process of making such staple fibers, yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2001Publication date: June 20, 2002Inventors: Ismael A. Hernandez, Geoffrey David Hietpas, James M. Howell, Claudia Schultze
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Publication number: 20020071951Abstract: A process of making polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fibers, comprising (a) providing polytrimethylene terephthalate, (b) melt spinning the melted polytrimethylene terephthalate at a temperature of 245-285° C. into filaments, (c) quenching the filaments, (d) drawing the quenched filaments, (e) crimping the drawn filaments using a mechanical crimper at a crimp level of 8-30 crimps per inch (3-12 crimps/cm), (f) relaxing the crimped filaments at a temperature of 50-120° C., and (g) cutting the relaxed filaments into staple fibers having a length of about 0.2-6 inches (about 0.5-about 15 cm), and polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fibers, yarns and fabrics. Further, a process of optimizing the crimp take-up of a polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fiber comprising determining the relationship between denier and crimp take-up and manufacturing staple fibers having a denier selected based upon that determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2001Publication date: June 13, 2002Inventors: Ismael A. Hernandez, Geoffrey David Hietpas, James M. Howell, Claudia Schultze
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Publication number: 20020051880Abstract: An apparatus and process for applying finish to an expanded filament array in a quench system with air directed inward to the filament bundle. The applicator may be used inside or proximate quench zones in a radial, pneumatic, or cross-flow quench system. The apparatus includes a spinneret, a quench zone located below said spinneret, wherein cooling gas is directed inward to an expanded filament array inside said quench zone, and an applicator inside or below said quench zone, wherein the applicator contacts the filament and delivers the finish to the expanded filament array.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2001Publication date: May 2, 2002Inventors: Steven Wayne Smith, Geoffrey David Hietpas, Richard Terry Wood