Patents by Inventor Kenneth John Zwick
Kenneth John Zwick 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: 11236469Abstract: The present invention provides an embossed multi-ply tissue product that is visually pleasing and has improved physical attributes. For example, the inventive multi-ply tissue products have reduced stiffness, such as a GM Flexural Rigidity less than about 600 mg*cm, improved absorbency, such as a Residual Water (WResidual) value less than about 0.15 g, and improved wet resiliency, such as a Wet Elastic Strain Ratio greater than about 32 percent.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Christopher Steven LeCount, Bryce David Walbrun, Kevin Joseph Vogt, Sarah Ann Funk, Jeffrey Dean Holz, Kenneth John Zwick, Jason Daniel Hanke
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Patent number: 11162223Abstract: The invention relates to fibrous structures having desirable physical properties, such as good tensile strength, low stiffness and high bulk, manufactured using a fiber furnish comprising cellulosic fibers having a pH of 5.0 or less and at least one strength resin. Not only do structures prepared with acidic fibers have desirable physical properties, they may also be manufactured in an energy efficient manner. To achieve the greatest energy savings it is generally desirable that acidic fibers not be subjected to mechanical treatment, such as by refining, prior to forming the fiber into a fibrous structure. Further, it may be desirable to subject the remainder of the fiber furnish to a minimal degree of mechanical treatment, such as by refining, so as to produce a furnish having a freeness greater than about 550 mL.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: David John Paulson, Richard Louis Underhill, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick
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Publication number: 20210310197Abstract: The present invention provides an embossed multi-ply tissue product that is visually pleasing and has improved physical attributes. For example, the inventive multi-ply tissue products have reduced stiffness, such as a GM Flexural Rigidity less than about 600 mg*cm, improved absorbency, such as a Residual Water (WResidual) value less than about 0.15 g, and improved wet resiliency, such as a Wet Elastic Strain Ratio greater than about 32 percent.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2018Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Christopher Steven LeCount, Bryce David Walbrun, Kevin Joseph Vogt, Sarah Ann Funk, Jeffrey Dean Holz, Kenneth John Zwick, Jason Daniel Hanke
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Patent number: 11035081Abstract: The present invention provides tissue webs and products that are manufactured by non-compressive dewatering and/or drying methods, such as through-air drying, where the webs and products comprise cross-linked fiber. The non-compressively dewatered tissue webs and products have improved sheet bulk and z-direction properties. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides through-air dried tissue products having good sheet bulk and resiliency, such as a sheet bulk greater than about 15 cc/g and Compression Energy (E) greater than about 1.30 N/m. Surprisingly the foregoing products have sufficient strength to withstand use, such as a GMT greater than about 600 g/3?, but are not overly stiff, generally having a Stiffness Index less than about 12.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick, Christopher Lee Satori, Donald Eugene Waldroup
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Publication number: 20200270812Abstract: Disclosed are papermaking fabrics comprising a plurality of structuring elements disposed on a carrier structure. The fabrics are useful in the manufacture of tissue products having good caliper and smoothness without negatively affecting drying of the tissue product. The fabrics have structuring elements having a polygonal cross-sectional shape and a perimeter less than 3.6 mm, such as from about 1.4 to 3.6 mm. In certain instances the structuring elements may cover more than about 28 percent, such as from about 28 to about 35 percent, of the surface area of the web contacting surface of the carrier structure without adversely affecting drying. In this manner the amount of the nascent web that contacts the structuring elements and is molded into a smooth surface is maximized without exacerbating the negative affect to drying commonly associated with occluding a large portion of the surface area of the papermaking fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2018Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Holz, Kenneth John Zwick, Mark William Sachs, Kevin Joseph Vogt, Mike Thomas Goulet, Mark Alan Burazin
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Patent number: 10753046Abstract: The disclosure provides tissue webs and products comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers. In certain embodiments cross-linked cellulosic fibers are selectively disposed in one or more layers of a multi-layered tissue, wherein the tissue layer comprising cross-linked fibers is adjacent to a layer which is substantially free from cross-linked fiber. The cross-linked fibers may include hardwood kraft fibers reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of DMDHU, DMDHEU, DMU, DHEU, DMEU, and DMeDHEU. Tissue products and webs produced in this manner generally have improved sheet bulk, without losses in strength, compared to similar tissue products produced without cross-linked cellulosic fibers. As such the tissue products of the present invention generally have a basis weight from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g and geometric mean tensile from about 730 to about 1,500 g/3?.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Christopher Lee Satori, Mike Thomas Goulet, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Kenneth John Zwick
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Patent number: 10745858Abstract: Methods of improving the drying rate of a cellulosic web, such as a tissue web, by providing an apparatus having two noncompressive dewatering devices, such as two through-air driers, where the temperature of the drying medium supplied to each device is separately controlled. The temperature of the medium supplied to the first device may exceed 450° F., such as from about 450 to about 600° F. On the other hand the temperature of the medium supplied to the second device may be less than the temperature supplied to the first, such as from about 350 to 450° F. Drying the web in this manner not only improves drying efficiency, but also limits or prevents degradation of the web, such as the combustion of cellulosic fibers making up the web or monosaccharides associated therewith. As such, webs that are substantially free from furan and acetaldehyde may be produced by the present methods.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Lawson, Eric Kent Isom, Jr., Kenneth John Zwick, Robert James Seymour, Craig Steven Besaw, Christopher Lee Satori, Peter John Allen, Mark Alan Burazin
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Publication number: 20200240079Abstract: Methods of improving the drying rate of a cellulosic web, such as a tissue web, by providing an apparatus having two noncompressive dewatering devices, such as two through-air driers, where the temperature of the drying medium supplied to each device is separately controlled. The temperature of the medium supplied to the first device may exceed 450° F., such as from about 450 to about 600° F. On the other hand the temperature of the medium supplied to the second device may be less than the temperature supplied to the first, such as from about 350 to 450° F. Drying the web in this manner not only improves drying efficiency, but also limits or prevents degradation of the web, such as the combustion of cellulosic fibers making up the web or monosaccharides associated therewith. As such, webs that are substantially free from furan and acetaldehyde may be produced by the present methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2018Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Daniel Keith Lawson, Eric Kent Isom, Jr., Kenneth John Zwick, Robert James Seymour, Craig Steven Besaw, Christopher Lee Satori, Peter John Allen, Mark Alan Burazin
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Publication number: 20200240086Abstract: The present invention provides tissue webs and products that are manufactured by non-compressive dewatering and/or drying methods, such as through-air drying, where the webs and products comprise cross-linked fiber. The non-compressively dewatered tissue webs and products have improved sheet bulk and z-direction properties. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides through-air dried tissue products having good sheet bulk and resiliency, such as a sheet bulk greater than about 15 cc/g and Compression Energy (E) greater than about 1.30 N/m. Surprisingly the foregoing products have sufficient strength to withstand use, such as a GMT greater than about 600 g/3?, but are not overly stiff, generally having a Stiffness Index less than about 12.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2016Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick, Christopher Lee Satori, Donald Eugene Waldroup
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Publication number: 20200032456Abstract: The invention relates to fibrous structures having desirable physical properties, such as good tensile strength, low stiffness and high bulk, manufactured using a fiber furnish comprising cellulosic fibers having a pH of 5.0 or less and at least one strength resin. Not only do structures prepared with acidic fibers have desirable physical properties, they may also be manufactured in an energy efficient manner. To achieve the greatest energy savings it is generally desirable that acidic fibers not be subjected to mechanical treatment, such as by refining, prior to forming the fiber into a fibrous structure. Further, it may be desirable to subject the remainder of the fiber furnish to a minimal degree of mechanical treatment, such as by refining, so as to produce a furnish having a freeness greater than about 550 mL.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2018Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventors: David John Paulson, Richard Louis Underhill, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick
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Patent number: 10487454Abstract: The present invention provides tissue webs and products that are manufactured by non-compressive dewatering and/or drying methods, such as through-air drying, where the webs and products comprise cross-linked fiber. The non-compressively dewatered tissue webs and products have improved sheet bulk and z-direction properties. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides through-air dried tissue products having good sheet bulk and resiliency, such as a sheet bulk greater than about 12 cc/g and Compression Energy (E) greater than about 1.30 N/m. Surprisingly the foregoing products have sufficient strength to withstand use, such as a GMT greater than about 1,200 g/3?, but are not overly stiff, generally having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick, Christopher Lee Satori, Donald Eugene Waldroup
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Publication number: 20190309482Abstract: The disclosure provides tissue webs and products comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers. In certain embodiments cross-linked cellulosic fibers are selectively disposed in one or more layers of a multi-layered tissue, wherein the tissue layer comprising cross-linked fibers is adjacent to a layer which is substantially free from cross-linked fiber. The cross-linked fibers may include hardwood kraft fibers reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of DMDHU, DMDHEU, DMU, DHEU, DMEU, and DMeDHEU. Tissue products and webs produced in this manner generally have improved sheet bulk, without losses in strength, compared to similar tissue products produced without cross-linked cellulosic fibers. As such the tissue products of the present invention generally have a basis weight from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g and geometric mean tensile from about 730 to about 1,500 g/3?.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Christopher Lee Satori, Mike Thomas Goulet, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Kenneth John Zwick
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Patent number: 10385516Abstract: The disclosure provides tissue webs and products comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers. In certain embodiments cross-linked cellulosic fibers are selectively disposed in one or more layers of a multi-layered tissue, wherein the tissue layer comprising cross-linked fibers is adjacent to a layer which is substantially free from cross-linked fiber. The cross-linked fibers may include hardwood kraft fibers reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of DMDHU, DMDHEU, DMU, DHEU, DMEU, and DMeDHEU. Tissue products and webs produced in this manner generally have improved sheet bulk, without losses in strength, compared to similar tissue products produced without cross-linked cellulosic fibers. As such the tissue products of the present invention generally have a basis weight from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g and geometric mean tensile from about 730 to about 1,500 g/3?.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Christopher Lee Satori, Mike Thomas Goulet, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Kenneth John Zwick
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Publication number: 20190136457Abstract: The present invention provides tissue webs and products that are manufactured by non-compressive dewatering and/or drying methods, such as through-air drying, where the webs and products comprise cross-linked fiber. The non-compressively dewatered tissue webs and products have improved sheet bulk and z-direction properties. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides through-air dried tissue products having good sheet bulk and resiliency, such as a sheet bulk greater than about 12 cc/g and Compression Energy (E) greater than about 1.30 N/m. Surprisingly the foregoing products have sufficient strength to withstand use, such as a GMT greater than about 1,200 g/3?, but are not overly stiff, generally having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2016Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick, Christopher Lee Satori, Donald Eugene Waldroup
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Patent number: 10161083Abstract: The invention provides a creped tissue web having satisfactory softness without the excess use of water insoluble creping compositions. The satisfactory softness levels, which may be measured as TS7, are generally less than about 10.0 and may be achieved by creping the tissue web with less than about 100 mg/m2 (milligrams of creping composition per square meter of creping cylinder surface area) such as from about 25 to about 100 mg/m2 and more preferably from about 50 to about 75 mg/m2. It was previously believed that water insoluble creping compositions need to be added at high add-on levels, such as 100 mg/m2 or greater to achieve a desirable softness at a given tensile strength. It has now been surprisingly discovered that the add-on of water insoluble creping composition may be reduced significantly by adding a water soluble adhesive to the creping composition.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Frederick John Lang, Christopher Lee Satori, John Paul David, Thomas Joseph Dyer, Mike Thomas Goulet, Michael John Rekoske, Kenneth John Zwick
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Publication number: 20180363246Abstract: The invention provides a creped tissue web having satisfactory softness without the excess use of water insoluble creping compositions. The satisfactory softness levels, which may be measured as TS7, are generally less than about 10.0 and may be achieved by creping the tissue web with less than about 100 mg/m2 (milligrams of creping composition per square meter of creping cylinder surface area) such as from about 25 to about 100 mg/m2 and more preferably from about 50 to about 75 mg/m2. It was previously believed that water insoluble creping compositions need to be added at high add-on levels, such as 100 mg/m2 or greater to achieve a desirable softness at a given tensile strength. It has now been surprisingly discovered that the add-on of water insoluble creping composition may be reduced significantly by adding a water soluble adhesive to the creping composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Frederick John Lang, Christopher Lee Satori, John Paul David, Thomas Joseph Dyer, Mike Thomas Goulet, Michael John Rekoske, Kenneth John Zwick
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Patent number: 10113254Abstract: A dispersible moist wipe generally comprises a nonwoven tissue web having regenerated fibers in an amount of about 10 to about 30 percent by weight and natural fibers in an amount of about 70 to about 90 percent by weight. The regenerated fibers and the natural fibers are hydroentangled such that the web has a geometric mean tensile strength of at least 250 grams per inch and a slosh-box break-up time of less than 155 minutes.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Nathan John Vogel, Joseph Kenneth Baker
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Publication number: 20180298560Abstract: The present invention relates to tissue webs and products having a topographical pattern comprising a plurality of substantially machine direction orientated line elements disposed on at least one surface of the tissue web. Preferably the line elements having an element angle (?), measured relative to the machine direction axis, from about 1 to about 20 degrees resulting in a tissue web having a Poisson's ratio from about 0 to about ?0.60 and more preferably from about ?0.10 to about ?0.50 and still more preferably from about ?0.20 to about ?0.40. In addition to having a negative Poisson's ratio, the inventive tissue webs have desirable cross-machine direction properties, such as high CD Stretch and high CD TEA at relatively modest Tensile Ratios.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2016Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Mark Alan Burazin, Mike Thomas Goulet, Jeffrey Dean Holz, Mark William Sachs, Kevin Joseph Vogt, Kenneth John Zwick, Tara Marie Logut
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Patent number: 10081914Abstract: The invention provides a creped tissue web having satisfactory softness without the excess use of water insoluble creping compositions. The satisfactory softness levels, which may be measured as TS7, are generally less than about 10.0 and may be achieved by creping the tissue web with less than about 100 mg/m2? (milligrams of creping composition per square meter of creping cylinder surface area) such as from about 25 to about 100 mg/m2? and more preferably from about 50 to about 75 mg/m2?. It was previously believed that water insoluble creping compositions need to be added at high add-on levels, such as 100 mg/m2? or greater to achieve a desirable softness at a given tensile strength. It has now been surprisingly discovered that the add-on of water insoluble creping composition may be reduced significantly by adding a water soluble adhesive to the creping composition.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Frederick John Lang, Christopher Lee Satori, John Paul David, Thomas Joseph Dyer, Mike Thomas Goulet, Michael John Rekoske, Kenneth John Zwick
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Patent number: 9951477Abstract: Low slough, high basis weight tissue webs and products are provided. The tissue webs generally have basis weights greater than about 16 grams per square meter (gsm), while maintaining less than about 4 mg of slough. All while yielding tissue products that are both thick and soft.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Peter Lee Carson, Michael William Smaby, Gary Lee Shanklin, Michael John Rekoske, Mike Thomas Goulet, Thomas Joseph Dyer, John Alexander Werner, IV