Patents by Inventor Janis Wilson Hughes
Janis Wilson Hughes 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: 8709191Abstract: A nonwoven composite that exhibits latent elastic properties is provided. The composite is formed from a multi-layered, elastic film laminated to a nonwoven web facing. Latent elasticity is imparted to the composite through the use of at least one base layer that contains a thermoplastic elastomer and at least one skin layer that contains a propylene/?-olefin copolymer. During formation, the film is stretched in one or more directions to orient the elastomer chains. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the oriented state of the chains may be held in place by the relatively stiff semi-crystalline domains of the propylene/?-olefin copolymer. The stretched elastic film may subsequently be relaxed and bonded to a nonwoven web facing to form the composite. The composite may be later activated (e.g., heated at or above the softening point of the copolymer) to soften the crystalline domains and allow the chains to return to their unoriented state.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Janis Wilson Hughes, Glynis Alicia Walton, Patricia H. Calhoun, Oomman P. Thomas
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Patent number: 8226624Abstract: Various garments are disclosed which include a body adhesive for attaching the garment to the skin of a wearer. More particularly, the garment can include at least one extensible portion. An adhesive member comprising an adhesive layer and a cover member may be positioned over the extensible portion. The cover member may completely cover the adhesive layer when the extensible portion is in a relaxed condition. When the extensible portion is stretched, however, the cover member may define openings that expose the adhesive layer for adhering the adhesive to a wearer. The garment may comprise, for instance, a diaper, a training pant, a swim pant, a hospital gown, an industrial garment, a glove, a feminine hygiene product, an adult incontinence product, and the like. The adhesive member can be positioned over any suitable extensible portion on the garment.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Janis Wilson Hughes, Wing-Chak Ng, Debra Jean McDowall
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Patent number: 8003553Abstract: An elastic-powered shrink laminate includes a shrinkable layer and an elastic layer bonded together while the elastic layer is in a dimensionally unstable, stretched state. The elastic layer remains substantially in the stretched state prior to shrinkage of the shrinkable layer. When the shrinkable layer is activated, the laminate retracts, and the retraction is aided (i.e. powered) by the elastic layer. The elastic-powered shrink laminate is useful in personal care absorbent articles where latent, post-assembly retraction of a waistband region is desired.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: James Russell Fitts, Jr., Janis Wilson Hughes, Patricia Hwang Calhoun, Wing-Chak Ng, Glynis Allicia Walton
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Patent number: 7938921Abstract: A nonwoven composite that exhibits latent elastic properties is provided. The composite is formed from an elastic strand layer laminated to a nonwoven web facing. Latent elasticity may be imparted to the elastic strand layer through the combination of a thermoplastic elastomer and a polyolefin capable of forming semi-crystalline domains among the elastomeric chains. More specifically, the elastic strand layer may be stretched in one or more directions to orient the elastomer chains. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the oriented state of the chains may be held in place by the relatively stiff semi-crystalline domains of the polyolefin. The stretched elastic strand layer may subsequently be relaxed and bonded to a nonwoven web facing to form the composite. The composite may be later activated (e.g., heated) to shrink the elastic strand layer and provide it with “latent” stretchability.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2006Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Wing-Chak Ng, Janis Wilson Hughes, Patricia H. Calhoun, Glynis Allicia Walton
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Patent number: 7585382Abstract: A nonwoven composite that exhibits latent elastic properties is provided. More specifically, latent elasticity may be imparted by blending a thermoplastic elastomer with a polyolefin that is capable of forming semi-crystalline domains among the amorphous elastomeric chains, and then forming a film from the blend. The film is then stretched in one or more directions to orient the amorphous elastomer chains. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the oriented state of the amorphous chains may be held in place by the relatively stiff semi-crystalline olefin domains. Subsequently, the stretched film may be activated (e.g., heated) to shrink the film and provide it with “latent” stretchability. For instance, the stretched film may be heated at or above the softening temperature of the polyolefin to soften the crystalline domains and allow the amorphous chains to return to their unoriented state.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Kimberly-Clark worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Janis Wilson Hughes, Tamara Lee Mace, Christian Sanders, Jose Siqueira
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Publication number: 20090062763Abstract: Various garments are disclosed which include a body adhesive for attaching the garment to the skin of a wearer. More particularly, the garment can include at least one extensible portion. An adhesive member comprising an adhesive layer and a cover member may be positioned over the extensible portion. The cover member may completely cover the adhesive layer when the extensible portion is in a relaxed condition. When the extensible portion is stretched, however, the cover member may define openings that expose the adhesive layer for adhering the adhesive to a wearer. The garment may comprise, for instance, a diaper, a training pant, a swim pant, a hospital gown, an industrial garment, a glove, a feminine hygiene product, an adult incontinence product, and the like. The adhesive member can be positioned over any suitable extensible portion on the garment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2007Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Catherine Marguerite Hancock-Cooke, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Janis Wilson Hughes, Wing-Chak Ng, Debra Jean McDowall
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Patent number: 7491666Abstract: A composite nonwoven fabric having latent elasticity is provided having a latently elastic core comprising a first component that includes a thermoplastic elastomer and a second component that includes a single site catalyzed polyolefin, and at least one gatherable facing material laminated to the elastic core. The first and second components may be, for example, in the form of alternating filaments of styrenic block copolymer and single site catalyzed polyolefin or in the form of conjugate filaments having a first section of styrenic block copolymer and a second section of single site catalyzed polyolefin. Also disclosed are methods of making the latently elastic stretch bonded laminates and personal care articles containing the latently elastic stretch bonded laminates.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Charles Allen Smith, Patricia Hwang Calhoun, James Russell Fitts, Jr., Janis Wilson Hughes, Tamara Lee Mace, Glynis Allicia Walton
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Publication number: 20080119103Abstract: A nonwoven composite that exhibits latent elastic properties is provided. The composite is formed from an elastic strand layer laminated to a nonwoven web facing. Latent elasticity may be imparted to the elastic strand layer through the combination of a thermoplastic elastomer and a polyolefin capable of forming semi-crystalline domains among the elastomeric chains. More specifically, the elastic strand layer may be stretched in one or more directions to orient the elastomer chains. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the oriented state of the chains may be held in place by the relatively stiff semi-crystalline domains of the polyolefin. The stretched elastic strand layer may subsequently be relaxed and bonded to a nonwoven web facing to form the composite. The composite may be later activated (e.g., heated) to shrink the elastic strand layer and provide it with “latent” stretchability.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2006Publication date: May 22, 2008Inventors: Wing-Chak Ng, Janis Wilson Hughes, Patricia H. Calhoun, Glynis Allicia Walton
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Publication number: 20080003910Abstract: A nonwoven composite that exhibits latent elastic properties is provided. More specifically, latent elasticity may be imparted by blending a thermoplastic elastomer with a polyolefin that is capable of forming semi-crystalline domains among the amorphous elastomeric chains, and then forming a film from the blend. The film is then stretched in one or more directions to orient the amorphous elastomer chains. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the oriented state of the amorphous chains may be held in place by the relatively stiff semi-crystalline olefin domains. Subsequently, the stretched film may be activated (e.g., heated) to shrink the film and provide it with “latent” stretchability. For instance, the stretched film may be heated at or above the softening temperature of the polyolefin to soften the crystalline domains and allow the amorphous chains to return to their unoriented state.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Janis Wilson Hughes, Tamara Lee Mace, Christian Sanders, Jose Siqueira
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Publication number: 20070141354Abstract: An elastic-powered shrink laminate includes a shrinkable layer and an elastic layer bonded together while the elastic layer is in a dimensionally unstable, stretched state. The elastic layer remains substantially in the stretched state prior to shrinkage of the shrinkable layer. When the shrinkable layer is activated, the laminate retracts, and the retraction is aided (i.e. powered) by the elastic layer. The elastic-powered shrink laminate is useful in personal care absorbent articles where latent, post-assembly retraction of a waistband region is desired.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2006Publication date: June 21, 2007Inventors: James Russell Fitts, Janis Wilson Hughes, Patricia Hwang Calhoun, Wing-Chak NG, Glynis Allicia Walton