Patents by Inventor Joseph E. Pierce

Joseph E. Pierce 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: 12252328
    Abstract: Various implementations include dispensers for a plurality of sheets of sheet material that includes at least two adjacent panels that together define a removable surfboard, wherein the two adjacent panels are joined together via a fold line. Various implementations also include blanks that can be folded into the dispensers and methods of assembling the same. In some implementations, the removable surfboard has a length of about 60% to about 80% of a length of the fold line. In addition, the removable surfboard has a medial portion and lateral portions disposed on opposite sides of the medial portion. The lateral portions defined by the first panel have a width that is greater than a width of the medial portion defined by the first panel. Additionally, in some implementations, the shape of the removable surfboard contributes to a unique look for the dispensers and the blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Kent, Joseph E. Pierce, Margaret Kendhammer, Jeremy T. Gauger
  • Publication number: 20240415340
    Abstract: A dispenser for sheet material, particularly a stack of individual sheets of material that have been folded together, such as a stack of folded tissue sheets. The stack of individual sheets is folded along its transverse axis and inserted into the dispenser for storage and dispensing. Generally, the length of the dispenser is less than the length of the individual sheets such that the when the stack is folded along its transverse axis and inserted into the dispenser it forms an arch-shape. When disposed in the dispenser the arch-shaped stack forms a least three void spaces, one in each bottom corner of the dispenser and one between the legs of the arch-shaped stack. These void spaces prevent excessive compression of the stack or friction between the stack and the sidewalls of the dispenser and improve dispensing of sheets from the stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Brandon M. Hokanson, Garrett Griswold, William R. Greisch II, Sarah A. Kleuskens, Jackalyn M. Williams, Joseph E. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20240341502
    Abstract: An array of consumer products, particularly tissue products, and more particularly an array of bundled tissue products and an array of unfilled packages for the bundled consumer products. The consumer products may include a stack of tissue sheets at least partially overwrapped with a wrapper, which preferably includes brand name. The unfilled packages are preferably provided in an un-erected state and may be erected by a consumer to receive, store, and dispense the bundled consumer product. Preferably the unfilled packages also include the same brand name included on the bundled consumer product. The array is preferably displayed on a store shelf and provides the consumer with the ability to mix and match their desired consumer product with their desired packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventor: Joseph E. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20240327100
    Abstract: Various implementations include dispensers for a plurality of sheets of sheet material that includes at least two adjacent panels that together define a removable surfboard, wherein the two adjacent panels are joined together via a fold line. Various implementations also include blanks that can be folded into the dispensers and methods of assembling the same. In some implementations, the removable surfboard has a length of about 60% to about 80% of a length of the fold line. In addition, the removable surfboard has a medial portion and lateral portions disposed on opposite sides of the medial portion. The lateral portions defined by the first panel have a width that is greater than a width of the medial portion defined by the first panel. Additionally, in some implementations, the shape of the removable surfboard contributes to a unique look for the dispensers and the blanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Anna Kent, Joseph E. Pierce, Margaret Kendhammer, Jeremy T. Gauger
  • Publication number: 20240292965
    Abstract: Disclosed are freestanding displays of packaged consumer products, particularly consumer paper products. The packaged consumer goods generally comprise one or more goods disposed in a carton, such as a folded paperboard box that is at least partially overwrapped with a film having a plurality of graphic elements disposed thereon. The graphic elements are preferably disposed on the film such that at least two panels of the resulting packages are visually similar, and two panels are visually distinct. The packages may be stacked in arrays to form a display having two more faces that are visually similar. The present freestanding display helps consumers recognize the packaged products from a distance even when displayed amongst other packaged goods in a crowded supermarket or club store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Everest F. Doucette, III, Scott T. Hamylak, Shailesh Patel, Joseph E. Pierce, Nicholas D. Krueger, James T. Van Thiel, Katherine Naylor, Timothy J. Peters
  • Publication number: 20220071414
    Abstract: Disclosed are freestanding displays of packaged consumer products, particularly consumer paper products. The packaged consumer goods generally comprise one or more goods disposed in a carton, such as a folded paperboard box that is at least partially overwrapped with a film having a plurality of graphic elements disposed thereon. The graphic elements are preferably disposed on the film such that at least two panels of the resulting packages are visually similar, and two panels are visually distinct. The packages may be stacked in arrays to form a display having two more faces that are visually similar. The present freestanding display helps consumers recognize the packaged products from a distance even when displayed amongst other packaged goods in a crowded supermarket or club store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Everest F. Doucette, III, Scott T. Hamylak, Shailesh Patel, Joseph E. Pierce, Nicholas D. Krueger, James T. Van Thiel, Katherine Naylor, Timothy J. Peters
  • Patent number: 8608721
    Abstract: Methods and systems including an engageable material with a lane of plastic resin extending across an interface of first and second ends of an article, wherein the plastic resin is bonded to the first and second ends such that the first and second ends are joined by the resin; and an array of fastener elements extending from one side of the plastic resin. The fastener elements include engageable heads on stems integrally formed with the lane of the plastic resin such that the two ends releasably engage the engageable material to secure the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Ernesto S. Tachauer, Wallace L. Kurtz, Jr., Brian J. Vanbenschoten, Joseph E. Pierce, Arthur E. Garavaglia, Scott M. Filion, William P. Clune, Christopher M. Gallant, Nadezhda Efremova
  • Patent number: 8158689
    Abstract: A hybrid absorbent foam includes an integrated hybrid foam layer having an open surface, a closed surface, and a foam body extending between the open and closed surfaces. The integrated hybrid foam layer has an open-cell content of at least 50%, while the closed surface provides a barrier to aqueous liquids. The integrated hybrid foam layer is formed as a single layer, and has a substantially uniform polymer composition throughout its thickness. The integrated hybrid foam layer combines the functions of liquid absorbency, retention, and barrier into a single layer, and is useful in a wide variety of absorbent articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Baker, Timothy James Blenke, Charles W. Colman, Edward A. Colombo, Jeffrey E. Fish, Kaiyuan Yang, Michael Joseph Garvey, Jeffrey Jennings Krueger, Mary Frances Mallory, Joseph E. Pierce, Fred Robert Radwanski, Sridhar Ranganathan, Donald E. Waldroup
  • Publication number: 20120009380
    Abstract: Methods and systems including an engageable material with a lane of plastic resin extending across an interface of first and second ends of an article, wherein the plastic resin is bonded to the first and second ends such that the first and second ends are joined by the resin; and an array of fastener elements extending from one side of the plastic resin. The fastener elements include engageable heads on stems integrally formed with the lane of the plastic resin such that the two ends releasably engage the engageable material to secure the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Ernesto S. Tachauer, Wallace L. Kurtz, JR., Brian J. Vanbenschoten, Joseph E. Pierce, Arthur E. Garavaglia, Scott M. Filion, William P. Clune, Christopher M. Gallant, Nadezhda Efremova
  • Patent number: 8079995
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite fastener material, the composite fastener material, and products derived from the composite fastener material. The method includes providing two longitudinally continuous sheets of material, positioning the two sheets to form a longitudinal, continuous interface between the two sheets, joining the two sheets by introducing one or more molten plastic resins in at least one lane, one lane of the resin extending across the interface under conditions that cause the resin to bond to the two sheets, molding an array of stems from at least one lane of the resin, the stems extending from an exposed surface of the composite material, and forming engageable heads on the stems to form fastener elements, wherein the two sheets differ from one another by one of material composition, thickness, texture, stretchability, breathability, and compressability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Ernesto S. Tachauer, Wallace L. Kurtz, Jr., Brian J. Vanbenschoten, Joseph E. Pierce, Arthur E. Garavaglia, Scott M. Filion, William P. Clune, Christopher M. Gallant, Nadezhda Efremova
  • Patent number: 7172008
    Abstract: A method of making a touch fastener includes coextruding, side-by-side, a plurality of lanes of polymeric material to form a sheet-form base. The sheet-sheet form base includes a lane of a first polymeric material disposed between two lanes of a second polymeric material, the second polymeric material is different from the first polymeric material. The method further includes molding a plurality of discrete fastener element stems extending outwardly from and integral with the sheet-form base in each of the two lanes of the second polymeric mateial and forming engageable heads on the stems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Brian J. Vanbenschoten, Ernesto S. Tachauer, Wallace L. Kurtz, Jr., Heidi S. Tremblay, Paul A. Dandurand, William P. Clune, Alexander J. Neeb, Joseph E. Pierce, Richard J. Schmidt, Richard W. Tanzer
  • Publication number: 20040261232
    Abstract: A method of forming a fastener product is provided that includes providing a continuous, sheet-form base having an array of fastener elements including molded stems that extend outwardly therefrom. The sheet-form base is split between adjacent rows of the molded fastener elements to form elongated fastener filaments. The fastener filaments are twisted individually to reorient the fastener elements to extend in multiple directions from a common core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Wallace L. Kurtz, Brian J. VanBenschoten, Ernesto S. Tachauer, Joseph E. Pierce, Alexander J. Neeb
  • Publication number: 20040261230
    Abstract: A hook and loop fastener comprising a hook component and a loop component. The hook component includes a hook backing and a plurality of hooks protruding from the hook backing. The hook backing includes an extensible material. The loop component includes a loop backing and a plurality of loops protruding from it. The loop backing also includes an extensible material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Alexander J. Neeb, Richard J. Schmidt, Joseph E. Pierce, Wallace L. Kurtz
  • Patent number: D1067036
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Kent, Joseph E. Pierce, Margaret Kendhammer, Jeremy T. Gauger
  • Patent number: D1067037
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Kent, Joseph E. Pierce, Margaret Kendhammer, Jeremy T. Gauger