Patents by Inventor Karthik Ramaratnam

Karthik Ramaratnam 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: 11946169
    Abstract: A process for making a spunmelt nonwoven web including the steps of providing a mixture of recycled polypropylene, extruding the recycled polypropylene mixture to form a molten recycled polypropylene mixture, filtering the molten recycled polypropylene mixture through a filter to form recycled polypropylene filtrate, dosing the recycled polypropylene filtrate into the spunmelt production line by an amount of 80% to 100% by weight, passing the recycled polypropylene filtrate through at least one spinneret of the spunmelt production line to form filaments at a spinning speed of greater than 1200 meters per minute, cooling and drawing the filaments, and depositing the filaments on a moving belt to form at least one layer of the spunmelt nonwoven web made up of 80% by 100% by weight of recycled polypropylene fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: PFNONWOVENS LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, John C. Parsons, David John Pung, Anna Elizabeth Macura, Eric Bryan Bond
  • Patent number: 11541629
    Abstract: A nonwoven composite fabric including a first nonwoven layer composed substantially of meltblown fibers, the fibers within the first nonwoven layer having diameters that vary in accordance with a first distribution, a second nonwoven layer composed substantially of meltblown fibers, the fibers within the second nonwoven layer having diameters that vary in accordance with a second distribution, and a third nonwoven layer composed substantially of meltblown fibers, the third nonwoven layer disposed between the first and second nonwoven layers, the fibers within the third nonwoven layer having diameters that vary in accordance with a third distribution that is greater than the first and second distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: PFNONWOVENS LLC, PFNONWOVENS HOLDING S.R.O
    Inventors: John Charles Parsons, IV, Peter Zajaczkowski, Karthik Ramaratnam, Sven Krister Mikael Erlandsson, Pavlina Kasparkova
  • Publication number: 20220364281
    Abstract: A method of forming a hydro-patterned nonwoven web including the steps of forming a nonwoven batt comprising continuous spunmelt fibers, calender bonding the nonwoven batt to form a thermobonded precursor nonwoven web with a bond pattern that defines bond impressions and unbonded areas between the individual bond impressions, and hydraulically treating the thermobonded precursor nonwoven by a plurality of steps of water injection as the thermobonded nonwoven web passes over a screen. The bond pattern has specific features that provide advantages in terms of mechanical properties and visual appearance of the final nonwoven product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, Peter Zajaczkowski, John C. Parsons, Pavlina Kasparkova
  • Publication number: 20220356617
    Abstract: A method of forming an apertured hydro-patterned nonwoven web including the steps of forming a nonwoven batt comprising continuous spunmelt fibers, calender bonding the nonwoven batt to form a fully bonded precursor nonwoven web with a regular bond pattern that defines individual bond impressions and unbonded areas between the individual bond impressions, the regular bond pattern having a percentage bond area of 10% to 25%, and hydraulically imparting the fully bonded precursor nonwoven web with a plurality of apertures, the step of hydraulically imparting comprising hydraulically treating the fully bonded precursor nonwoven web by a plurality of steps of water injection as the fully bonded nonwoven web passes over a plurality of pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, Peter Zajaczkowski, John C. Parsons, Michael Heinz Kauschke, Antonius Lambertus Johannes De Beer
  • Publication number: 20220316142
    Abstract: A multi-ply flushable wipe includes a ply having first and second exterior layers and a middle layer disposed therebetween. Each of the exterior layers includes at least 50% by weight natural fibers. When foam-formed, the middle layer includes at least 25% by weight natural fibers. In embodiments, the middle layer may include at least 75% by weight natural fibers. The middle layer also includes synthetic fibers that have a length within the range of 1 mm and 20 mm. The wipe may have a length weight weighted average fiber length of less than 4 mm and a wet CD strength of greater than 20 N/m. Each ply of the wipe may be formed by wetlaying the first and second exterior layers and a foam formed middle layer to form a web, imprinting the web with a structured fabric, and drying the web. The plies are then attached using a binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Karthik RAMARATNAM, James E. SEALEY, II, Byrd Tyler MILLER, IV, Taras Z. ANDRUKH, Justin S. PENCE
  • Patent number: 11390995
    Abstract: A method to prepare, pulp, and bleach cannabis bast and hurd fibers to allow for the fiber to be incorporated into absorbent cellulosic structures on a wet-laid paper machine while keeping the pectin within the fibers. The wet laid paper machine can use the ATMOS, NTT, ETAD, TAD, or UCTAD method to produce the absorbent cellulosic structure. Absorbent cellulosic structures are produced with the cannabis bast and hurd fibers or with the bast fibers alone with the hurd fibers being combined with paper mill sludge or dust to form a fuel pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FIRST QUALITY TISSUE, LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, James E. Sealey, II, Byrd Tyler Miller, IV, Taras Z. Andrukh, Randy H. Elgin
  • Patent number: 11391000
    Abstract: A multi-ply flushable wipe includes a ply having first and second exterior layers and a middle layer disposed therebetween. Each of the exterior layers includes at least 50% by weight natural fibers. When foam-formed, the middle layer includes at least 25% by weight natural fibers. In embodiments, the middle layer may include at least 75% by weight natural fibers. The middle layer also includes synthetic fibers that have a length within the range of 1 mm and 20 mm. The wipe may have a length weight weighted average fiber length of less than 4 mm and a wet CD strength of greater than 20 N/m. Each ply of the wipe may be formed by wetlaying the first and second exterior layers and a foam formed middle layer to form a web, imprinting the web with a structured fabric, and drying the web. The plies are then attached using a binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FIRST QUALITY TISSUE, LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, James E. Sealey, II, Byrd Tyler Miller, IV, Taras Z. Andrukh, Justin S. Pence
  • Publication number: 20210388535
    Abstract: A process for making a spunmelt nonwoven web including the steps of providing a mixture of recycled polypropylene, extruding the recycled polypropylene mixture to form a molten recycled polypropylene mixture, filtering the molten recycled polypropylene mixture through a filter to form recycled polypropylene filtrate, dosing the recycled polypropylene filtrate into the spunmelt production line by an amount of 80% to 100% by weight, passing the recycled polypropylene filtrate through at least one spinneret of the spunmelt production line to form filaments at a spinning speed of greater than 1200 meters per minute, cooling and drawing the filaments, and depositing the filaments on a moving belt to form at least one layer of the spunmelt nonwoven web made up of 80% by 100% by weight of recycled polypropylene fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, John C. Parsons, David John Pung, Anna Elizabeth Macura, Eric Bryan Bond
  • Patent number: 11148391
    Abstract: An abrasive wipe includes a spunbond layer that forms a first outer surface of the wipe, a meltblown layer positioned over the spunbond layer so as to form an inner layer of the wipe and an abrasive layer positioned over the meltblown layer so as to form a second outer surface of the wipe. The spunbond layer, the meltblown layer and the abrasive layer are bonded together in a single bonding step, and, in an exemplary embodiment, the abrasive wipe has an MD tensile strength of at least 700 g/cm and a CD tensile strength of at least 500 g/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: PFNONWOVENS LLC
    Inventors: Paul DeNoia, Karthik Ramaratnam, Michael Kauschke, Peter Zajaczkowski
  • Publication number: 20210316238
    Abstract: A nonwoven fabric including a first layer made of spunbond fibers and a second layer made of meltblown fibers, wherein the first layer is bonded with the second layer, and wherein the spunbond fibers of the first layer are interspersed with the meltblown fibers of the second layer so that the nonwoven fabric exhibits enhanced breathability and filtration properties. In exemplary embodiments, the nonwoven fabric may be used in personal protective equipment, such as, for example, face masks and respirators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, John C. Parsons, Pavlina Kasparkova, Antonius Lambertus Johanne De Beer, Christian Skokowski, Pam Lynn Keech
  • Patent number: 10767296
    Abstract: A multi-denier nonwoven composite fabric having a nested structure is hydraulically treated by particular process parameters to improve softness and tactile feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: PFNONWOVENS LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, Paul DeNoia, John C. Parsons, Peter Zajaczkowski
  • Patent number: 10745859
    Abstract: A method to prepare, pulp, and bleach cannabis bast and hurd fibers to allow for the fiber to be incorporated into absorbent cellulosic structures on a wet-laid paper machine while keeping the pectin within the fibers. The wet laid paper machine can use the ATMOS, NTT, ETAD, TAD, or UCTAD method to produce the absorbent cellulosic structure. Absorbent cellulosic structures are produced with the cannabis bast and hurd fibers or with the bast fibers alone with the hurd fibers being combined with paper mill sludge or dust to form a fuel pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: First Quality Tissue, LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, James E. Sealey, II, Byrd Tyler Miller, IV, Taras Z. Andrukh
  • Publication number: 20200256015
    Abstract: A method to prepare, pulp, and bleach cannabis bast and hurd fibers to allow for the fiber to be incorporated into absorbent cellulosic structures on a wet-laid paper machine while keeping the pectin within the fibers. The wet laid paper machine can use the ATMOS, NTT, ETAD, TAD, or UCTAD method to produce the absorbent cellulosic structure. Absorbent cellulosic structures are produced with the cannabis bast and hurd fibers or with the bast fibers alone with the hurd fibers being combined with paper mill sludge or dust to form a fuel pellet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Karthik RAMARATNAM, James E. SEALEY, II, Byrd Tyler MILLER, IV, Taras Z. ANDRUKH, Randy H. Elgin
  • Patent number: 10737459
    Abstract: A nonwoven laminate having a SMS structure is hydraulically treated by particular process parameters to improve softness and tactile feel. The nonwoven laminate may also be imparted with one or more regular aperture patterns by additional hydraulic treatment processes, where the initial hydraulic treatment provides for improved aperture definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: PFNONWOVENS LLC
    Inventors: Peter Zajaczkowski, John C. Parsons, Karthik Ramaratnam
  • Patent number: 10570570
    Abstract: A multi-layer through air dried tissue including a first exterior layer comprised substantially of hardwood fibers, an interior layer comprised substantially of softwood fibers, and a second exterior layer comprised substantially of hardwood fibers. The interior layer includes a first wet end additive comprising an ionic surfactant and a second wet end additive comprising a non-ionic surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: FIRST QUALITY TISSUE, LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, Byrd Tyler Miller, Shane Ervin Hayes, James E. Sealey
  • Publication number: 20190351648
    Abstract: A nonwoven composite fabric including a first nonwoven layer composed substantially of meltblown fibers, the fibers within the first nonwoven layer having diameters that vary in accordance with a first distribution, a second nonwoven layer composed substantially of meltblown fibers, the fibers within the second nonwoven layer having diameters that vary in accordance with a second distribution, and a third nonwoven layer composed substantially of meltblown fibers, the third nonwoven layer disposed between the first and second nonwoven layers, the fibers within the third nonwoven layer having diameters that vary in accordance with a third distribution that is greater than the first and second distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: John Charles Parsons, IV, Peter Zajaczkowski, Karthik Ramaratnam, Sven Krister Mikael Erlandsson, Pavlina Kasparkova
  • Publication number: 20190315089
    Abstract: A composite structure including at least one natural fiber web layer and at least one nonwoven web layer. In an exemplary embodiment, the natural fiber web layer is made of cotton fibers and the nonwoven web layer is a spunmelt layer. The composite structure may be used to form components of an absorbent article, such as top sheets or back sheets of a diaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, Peter Zajaczkowski, John C. Parsons
  • Publication number: 20190063002
    Abstract: A multi-layer through air dried tissue including a first exterior layer comprised substantially of hardwood fibers, an interior layer comprised substantially of softwood fibers, and a second exterior layer comprised substantially of hardwood fibers. The interior layer includes a first wet end additive comprising an ionic surfactant and a second wet end additive comprising a non-ionic surfactant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, Byrd Tyler Miller, Shane Ervin Hayes, James E. Sealey
  • Patent number: 10190263
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing tissue including providing a first pulp mix, delivering a wet-end additive to the first pulp mix at a first point in the process, forming a tissue web comprising the first pulp mix after the first point in the process, monitoring the tissue web for breaks and preventing delivery of the wet-end additive to the first pulp mix at the first point in response to detecting a break in the monitoring step. In an exemplary embodiment, a switching valve is used to control delivery of the wet-end additive to the first pulp mix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: First Quality Tissue, LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, Byrd Tyler Miller, IV, Shane Ervin Hayes, James E. Sealey, II
  • Publication number: 20180291543
    Abstract: A multi-denier nonwoven composite fabric having a nested structure is hydraulically treated by particular process parameters to improve softness and tactile feel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, Paul DeNoia, John C. Parsons, Peter Zajaczkowski