Patents by Inventor Jerry Ballas

Jerry Ballas 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: 9121137
    Abstract: A dispersible article and methods of making the same. The article has a web of fibers and a dried binder in contact with the fibers. The web of fibers has a basis weight of from about 10 gsm to about 150 gsm. The dried binder has a polyfunctional aldehyde and a primary polymer. The primary polymer has at least one functional group that is reactive with the fibers or the polyfunctional aldehyde. The fibers have at least one functional group that is reactive with the polyfunctional aldehyde or the primary polymer. The article has a cross direction wet tensile strength after 15 minutes of aqueous saturation that is at least about 30% of an initial cross direction wet tensile strength. The article is flushable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: SELLARS ABSORBENT MATERIALS, INC., SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
    Inventors: Helen Viazmensky, Martyn Reginald Searle Davis, Richard J. Riehle, Marc Christopher Putnam, Joel E. Goldstein, Jerry Ballas, Doeung David Choi
  • Patent number: 8916025
    Abstract: A high utility (strong in both dry and wet states, highly absorbent, abrasion resistant, thick, and soft) disposable wiper or towel that contains 85% or more recycled fibers and, in one construction, 100% recycled fibers. The recycled fibers are from post-consumer waste and/or post-industrial waste. The base sheet is produced in a wet-pressed, creped process and is post-treated using a DRC process. The final wiper or towel is a double re-creped, non-woven sheet having a first side and a second side. The non-woven sheet includes about 85% to about 90% by weight of cellulose fibers. The non-woven sheet includes at least about 10% to about 15% by weight of binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Sellars Absorbent Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Ballas, Gary Bouplon, Nate Sellars, Thomas T. Ziegert
  • Publication number: 20140311696
    Abstract: A dispersible article and methods of making the same. The article has a web of fibers and a dried binder in contact with the fibers. The web of fibers has a basis weight of from about 10 gsm to about 150 gsm. The dried binder has a polyfunctional aldehyde and a primary polymer. The primary polymer has at least one functional group that is reactive with the fibers or the polyfunctional aldehyde. The fibers have at least one functional group that is reactive with the polyfunctional aldehyde or the primary polymer. The article has a cross direction wet tensile strength after 15 minutes of aqueous saturation that is at least about 30% of an initial cross direction wet tensile strength. The article is flushable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicants: Sellars Absorbent Materials, Inc., Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Helen Viazmensky, Martyn Reginald Searle Davis, Richard J. Riehle, Marc Christopher Putnam, Joel E. Goldstein, Jerry Ballas, Doeung David Choi
  • Publication number: 20140259490
    Abstract: A high utility (strong in both dry and wet states, highly absorbent, abrasion resistant, thick, and soft) disposable wiper or towel that contains 85% or more recycled fibers and, in one construction, 100% recycled fibers. The recycled fibers are from post-consumer waste and/or post-industrial waste. The base sheet is produced in a wet-pressed, creped process and is post-treated using a DRC process. The final wiper or towel is a double re-creped, non-woven sheet having a first side and a second side. The non-woven sheet includes about 85% to about 90% by weight of cellulose fibers. The non-woven sheet includes at least about 10% to about 15% by weight of binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SELLARS ABSORBENT MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jerry Ballas, Gary Bouplon, Nate Sellars, Thomas T. Ziegert
  • Patent number: 8414737
    Abstract: A method of making a disposable wiper or towel. A slurry is created by blending virgin cellulose fibers with cellulose fibers from post-consumer waste to create a mixture of cellulose fibers that contains about 40 to about 80 percent cellulose fibers from post-consumer waste. A contaminant deactivator and debonder are added to the slurry. The slurry is formed into a wet web. The wet web is pressed and adhered a Yankee dryer. The partially dried sheet is creped and dried. The sheet is wound to form a base sheet roll. The base sheet is fed to a first printer. A binder is applied to a first side of the base sheet with the first printer and then pressed into the base sheet. The base sheet is recreped and dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Wisconsin Note Investors, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bouplon, Jerry Ballas, Thomas T. Ziegert, John C. Sellars
  • Patent number: 8282777
    Abstract: A high utility (strong in both dry and wet states, highly absorbent, abrasion resistant, thick, and soft) disposable wiper or towel that contains 40% or more cellulose fibers from post-consumer waste and/or in excess of 50% pre and/or post consumer waste. The base sheet is produced in a wet-pressed, creped process and is post-treated using a DRC process. The final wiper or towel is a double re-creped, non-woven sheet having a first side and a second side. The non-woven sheet includes about 85% to about 90% by weight of-cellulose fibers. The cellulose fibers include about 40% to about 80% of cellulose fibers from post-consumer waste. The non-woven sheet includes at least about 10% to about 15% by weight of binder. The wiper meets EPA guidelines related to the level of PCW in wipers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sellars Absorbent Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Bouplon, Jerry Ballas, Thomas T. Ziegert, John C. Sellars
  • Publication number: 20120199297
    Abstract: A method of making a disposable wiper or towel. A slurry is created by blending virgin cellulose fibers with cellulose fibers from post-consumer waste to create a mixture of cellulose fibers that contains about 40 to about 80 percent cellulose fibers from post-consumer waste. A contaminant deactivator and debonder are added to the slurry. The slurry is formed into a wet web. The wet web is pressed and adhered a Yankee dryer. The partially dried sheet is creped and dried. The sheet is wound to form a base sheet roll. The base sheet is fed to a first printer. A binder is applied to a first side of the base sheet with the first printer and then pressed into the base sheet. The base sheet is recreped and dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Wisconsin Note Investors, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bouplon, Jerry Ballas, Thomas T. Ziegert, John C. Sellars
  • Patent number: 7992745
    Abstract: A water resistant absorbent towel dispenser. The dispenser includes a container having top, bottom and side walls housing a supply of absorbent towels, and an exterior handle for facilitating transport of the dispenser. The top wall includes a finger-accessible opening through which absorbent towels may be withdrawn. In certain embodiments, the top wall is convex upwardly, but is flexible to enable it to be depressed when dispensers are stacked vertically so as to come into load bearing contact with the towel supply. In some embodiments, the top and bottom walls have interlocking configurations to add lateral stability to vertically stacked dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Sellars Absorbent Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Sellars, Jerry Ballas, Balbir Singh, Neal D. Watson, Ronald A. Bogdanovich
  • Publication number: 20100243186
    Abstract: A high utility (strong in both dry and wet states, highly absorbent, abrasion resistant, thick, and soft) disposable wiper or towel that contains 40% or more cellulose fibers from post-consumer waste and/or in excess of 50% pre and/or post consumer waste. The base sheet is produced in a wet-pressed, creped process and is post-treated using a DRC process. The final wiper or towel is a double re-creped, non-woven sheet having a first side and a second side. The non-woven sheet includes about 85% to about 90% by weight of-cellulose fibers. The cellulose fibers include about 40% to about 80% of cellulose fibers from post-consumer waste. The non-woven sheet includes at least about 10% to about 15% by weight of binder. The wiper meets EPA guidelines related to the level of PCW in wipers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: SELLARS ABSORBENT MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Gary Bouplon, Jerry Ballas, Thomas T. Ziegert, John C. Sellars
  • Patent number: 7578414
    Abstract: A water resistant absorbent towel dispenser. The dispenser includes a container having top, bottom and side walls housing a supply of absorbent towels, and an exterior handle for facilitating transport of the dispenser. The top wall includes a finger-accessible opening through which absorbent towels may be withdrawn. In certain embodiments, the top wall is convex upwardly, but is flexible to enable it to be depressed when dispensers are stacked vertically so as to come into load bearing contact with the towel supply. In some embodiments, the top and bottom walls have interlocking configurations to add lateral stability to vertically stacked dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Sellars Absorbent Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Sellars, Jerry Ballas, Balbir Singh, Neal D. Watson, Ronald A. Bogdanovich
  • Patent number: 7533846
    Abstract: A generally cylindrical towel roll product comprises an absorbent towel roll having an upright axis, and a flexible, water resistant, protective wrapper engaging the circumferential surface of the towel roll and of sufficient strength to restrain significant diametric expansion of the towel roll when the roll is subjected to an axial load and to increase axial stiffness of the product. The wrapper includes top and bottom portions that encase the top and bottom surfaces of the roll, respectively, the top wrapper portion having an opening providing axial access to the towel roll and through which individual towels can be drawn axially from the interior of the towel roll. A removable and replaceable soil and water-resistant cover protectively covers the wrapper opening, and a rigid disc may be provided between the top surface of the towel roll and the top portion of the wrapper, the disc extending radially to the periphery of the upper surface of the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sellars Absorbent Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Sellars, Jerry Ballas, Neal D. Watson
  • Publication number: 20080083772
    Abstract: A water resistant absorbent towel dispenser. The dispenser includes a container having top, bottom and side walls housing a supply of absorbent towels, and an exterior handle for facilitating transport of the dispenser. The top wall includes a finger-accessible opening through which absorbent towels may be withdrawn. In certain embodiments, the top wall is convex upwardly, but is flexible to enable it to be depressed when dispensers are stacked vertically so as to come into load bearing contact with the towel supply. In some embodiments, the top and bottom walls have interlocking configurations to add lateral stability to vertically stacked dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: Sellars Absorbent Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: John Sellars, Jerry Ballas, Balbir Singh, Neal Watson, Ronald Bogdanovich
  • Publication number: 20080017750
    Abstract: A generally cylindrical towel roll product comprises an absorbent towel roll having an upright axis, and a flexible, water resistant, protective wrapper engaging the circumferential surface of the towel roll and of sufficient strength to restrain significant diametric expansion of the towel roll when the roll is subjected to an axial load and to increase axial stiffness of the product. The wrapper includes top and bottom portions that encase the top and bottom surfaces of the roll, respectively, the top wrapper portion having an opening providing axial access to the towel roll and through which individual towels can be drawn axially from the interior of the towel roll. A removable and replaceable soil and water-resistant cover protectively covers the wrapper opening, and a rigid disc may be provided between the top surface of the towel roll and the top portion of the wrapper, the disc extending radially to the periphery of the upper surface of the roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: Sellars Absorbent Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: John Sellars, Jerry Ballas, Neal Watson
  • Publication number: 20050046314
    Abstract: A water resistant absorbent towel dispenser. The dispenser includes a container having top, bottom and side walls housing a supply of absorbent towels, and an exterior handle for facilitating transport of the dispenser. The top wall includes a finger-accessible opening through which absorbent towels may be withdrawn. In certain embodiments, the top wall is convex upwardly, but is flexible to enable it to be depressed when dispensers are stacked vertically so as to come into load bearing contact with the towel supply. In some embodiments, the top and bottom walls have interlocking configurations to add lateral stability to vertically stacked dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: John Sellars, Jerry Ballas, Balbir Singh, Neal Watson, Ronald Bogdanovich