Patents by Inventor Gerald Sosalla

Gerald Sosalla 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: 9624063
    Abstract: An apparatus for folding products includes a conveying member adapted to convey the product, an oscillating member disposed adjacent the conveying member, and a folding roll disposed adjacent the conveying member and the oscillating member. The oscillating member is adapted to grasp and lift a first portion of the product from the conveying member while the product is being conveyed by the conveying member. The oscillating member is moveable in a first direction away from the conveying member and in a second direction toward the conveying member. The folding roll is adapted to receive the first portion of the product from the oscillating member and to place the first portion of the product into engagement with a second portion of the product such that the product is in a folded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Gerald Sosalla, Gregory J. Rajala, John Soosai Alphonse, Mohammed Shafi Khurieshi, Mahendra Mittapalli
  • Patent number: 9533483
    Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a segment of material includes a forming member having a curved sidewall shaped complementary to a desired shape of the segment of material, and a conforming member having an applicator side and an engagement side disposed for engagement with the curved sidewall of the forming member. The conforming member includes a plurality of attachment regions disposed on the applicator side. Each attachment region is adapted to hold the segment of material on the conforming member. Engagement of the conforming member with the forming member causes the attachment regions to move from a first shape profile to a second shape profile, the second shape profile being the desired shape of the segment of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Caleb E. Ihrig, Joseph J. Sina, Gerald Sosalla, Charles Robert Sample
  • Publication number: 20160089870
    Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a segment of material includes a forming member having a curved sidewall shaped complementary to a desired shape of the segment of material, and a conforming member having an applicator side and an engagement side disposed for engagement with the curved sidewall of the forming member. The conforming member includes a plurality of attachment regions disposed on the applicator side. Each attachment region is adapted to hold the segment of material on the conforming member. Engagement of the conforming member with the forming member causes the attachment regions to move from a first shape profile to a second shape profile, the second shape profile being the desired shape of the segment of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Caleb E. Ihrig, Joseph J. Sina, Gerald Sosalla, Charles Robert Sample
  • Publication number: 20140171284
    Abstract: An apparatus for folding products includes a conveying member adapted to convey the product, an oscillating member disposed adjacent the conveying member, and a folding roll disposed adjacent the conveying member and the oscillating member. The oscillating member is adapted to grasp and lift a first portion of the product from the conveying member while the product is being conveyed by the conveying member. The oscillating member is moveable in a first direction away from the conveying member and in a second direction toward the conveying member. The folding roll is adapted to receive the first portion of the product from the oscillating member and to place the first portion of the product into engagement with a second portion of the product such that the product is in a folded configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Gerald Sosalla, Gregory J. Rajala, John Soosai Alphonse, Mohammed Shafi Khurieshi, Mahendra Mittapalli
  • Patent number: 8617040
    Abstract: An apparatus for folding products has a conveying member configured to hold a first portion and a second portion of the product and to release the first portion while continuing to hold the second portion. The conveying member is configured to convey the product at a conveying speed. A folding assembly is disposed adjacent the conveying member. The folding assembly is configured to receive the first portion of the product from the conveying member while moving generally at the conveying speed, to decelerate relative to the conveying member while holding the first portion thereto thereby causing the product to fold about the fold axis, and to place the first portion of the product into contact with the second portion such that the first portion overlies the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Gerald Sosalla, Gregory J. Rajala, John Soosai Alphonse, Mohammed Shafi Khurieshi, Mahendra Mittapalli
  • Publication number: 20120157288
    Abstract: An apparatus for folding products has a conveying member configured to hold a first portion and a second portion of the product and to release the first portion while continuing to hold the second portion. The conveying member is configured to convey the product at a conveying speed. A folding assembly is disposed adjacent the conveying member. The folding assembly is configured to receive the first portion of the product from the conveying member while moving generally at the conveying speed, to decelerate relative to the conveying member while holding the first portion thereto thereby causing the product to fold about the fold axis, and to place the first portion of the product into contact with the second portion such that the first portion overlies the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Gerald Sosalla, Gregory J. Rajala, John Soosai Alphonse, Mohammed Shafi Khurieshi, Mahendra Mittapalli
  • Patent number: 7648046
    Abstract: In a dispensing system for dispensing wet wipes, a wet wipe has an aqueous solution and microencapsulated delivery vehicles including a temperature agent, and is disposed in a wet wipe container. A cartridge is held in assembly with the wet wipe container and has an activating device that facilitates rupturing of the microencapsulated delivery vehicles as the wet wipe is removed from the dispensing system to allow contact between the temperature change agent and the aqueous solution of the wet wipe to thereby dispense a warm or cooled wet wipe. In another embodiment, the wet wipe has an aqueous solution and a lotion having the microencapsulated heat delivery vehicles disposed in the cartridge free from contact with the wet wipe. The cartridge also has an applicator that is operable to apply the lotion to the wet wipe as the wet wipe is removed from the wet wipe container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Sosalla, Paul R. Schmidt, James Dell Milner, Wael R. Joseph, Duane Lyle McDonald
  • Publication number: 20070289988
    Abstract: In a dispensing system for dispensing wet wipes, a wet wipe has an aqueous solution and microencapsulated delivery vehicles including a temperature agent, and is disposed in a wet wipe container. A cartridge is held in assembly with the wet wipe container and has an activating device that facilitates rupturing of the microencapsulated delivery vehicles as the wet wipe is removed from the dispensing system to allow contact between the temperature change agent and the aqueous solution of the wet wipe to thereby dispense a warm or cooled wet wipe. In another embodiment, the wet wipe has an aqueous solution and a lotion having the microencapsulated heat delivery vehicles disposed in the cartridge free from contact with the wet wipe. The cartridge also has an applicator that is operable to apply the lotion to the wet wipe as the wet wipe is removed from the wet wipe container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald Sosalla, Paul R. Schmidt, James Dell Milner, Wael R. Joseph, Duane Lyle McDonald
  • Publication number: 20070129230
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding an article includes supplying an article to a folder; engaging a first surface of a leading portion of the article with a first conveyor; moving the first conveyor at a first conveyor velocity; engaging a second surface of a trailing portion of the article with a second conveyor; moving the second conveyor at a second conveyor velocity greater than the first conveyor velocity; contacting the first surface of the article with at least one folding guide; moving the folding guide in the machine direction at the second conveyor velocity; and folding the article about the folding guide such that the first surface of the leading portion is in facing relation with the first surface of the trailing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventor: Gerald Sosalla
  • Publication number: 20050136531
    Abstract: A chemical is applied to a substrate in discrete areas, and then the substrate is folded in such a manner as to cause the discrete chemical areas to become interior surfaces after folding to reduce or eliminate chemical residues when the exterior surfaces of the substrate contact other surfaces or objects. By applying the chemical to discrete areas of the substrate, degradation or delamination of the substrate can also be minimized or reduced. Additionally, by including either a chemical free edge strip, a chemical free fold strip, or both further improvements in dispensing, preventing delamination, or reduced residue transfer are possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Gerald Sosalla, Scott Howells, Alethea Angelic Swiecicki, Christopher Decker
  • Publication number: 20050129898
    Abstract: The invention relates to a group of wipes. The group of wipes includes at least three wipes separably joined together, each wipe separable joined to each adjacent wipe by a weakened line. Each weakened line includes a plurality of first-type weakened zones and at least one second-type weakened zone. The second-type weakened zone has a length that is at least 1.5 times a length of the first-type weakened zone and the second-type weakened zone is randomly positioned along the weakened line such that no two consecutive weakened lines have the second-type weakened zone in the same position relative to opposite ends of consecutive weakened lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventor: Gerald Sosalla