Patents by Inventor Kevin George Hetzler

Kevin George Hetzler 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: 7615271
    Abstract: A method of fusing a component to a sterilized storage or delivery device formed of a cyclic olefin polymer which includes forming the storage or delivery device from a cyclic olefin polymer, forming a second member or component having at least a surface layer formed of the second polymer, wherein the Hansen relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the second polymer relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is equal to or less than 0.7, applying the second member to the storage or delivery device, and heating the assembly to the sterilization temperature, thereby causing the second polymer to chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymer, fusing the second component to the storage or delivery device. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a medical container, such as a vial, wherein the vial is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer and the cap, closure or collar is formed of a second polymer heat fused to the vial or container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht, Roger William Groskopf
  • Patent number: 7297216
    Abstract: A method of fusing a component to a sterilized storage or delivery device formed of a cyclic olefin polymer which includes forming the storage or delivery device from a cyclic olefin polymer, forming a second member or component having at least a surface layer formed of the second polymer, wherein the Hansen relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the second polymer relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is equal to or less than 0.7, applying the second member to the storage or delivery device, and heating the assembly to the sterilization temperature, thereby causing the second polymer to chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymer, fusing the second component to the storage or delivery device. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a medical container, such as a vial, wherein the vial is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer and the cap, closure or collar is formed of a second polymer heat fused to the vial or container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht, Roger William Groskopf
  • Patent number: 7198685
    Abstract: A method of fusing a component to a sterilized storage or delivery device formed of a cyclic olefin polymer which includes forming the storage or delivery device from a cyclic olefin polymer, forming a second member or component having at least a surface layer formed of the second polymer, wherein the Hansen relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the second polymer relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is equal to or less than 0.7, applying the second member to the storage or delivery device, and heating the assembly to the sterilization temperature, thereby causing the second polymer to chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymer, fusing the second component to the storage or delivery device. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a medical container, such as a vial, wherein the vial is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer and the cap, closure or collar is formed of a second polymer heat fused to the vial or container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht, Roger William Groskopf
  • Patent number: 6777056
    Abstract: Composite nonwoven webs are provided having two distinct regions extending adjacent one another in the machine direction of the web; the first region is formed from first continuous filaments and the second region is formed from second continuous filaments. The interface of the first and second region is formed from a mixture the first and second continuous filaments in a confluent relationship with one another and such that the two distinct regions form a unitary nonwoven web. The respective first and second regions can have distinct physical attributes as a result of utilizing first and second filaments which are different from one another. The first and second continuous filaments can vary with respect to average fiber denier, cross-sectional shape, cross-sectional configuration, polymer composition, crimp level, and additive composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Lavada Campbell Boggs, Kevin George Hetzler, Glen Thomas Mildenhall, Michael Tod Morman, Dan Kenneth Schiffer, Susan Elaine Shawver, Sandy Chi-Ching Tan
  • Publication number: 20040082917
    Abstract: A medical transfer or storage device for delivery or storage of a medicament, drug or vaccine, wherein a first component, preferably the major component, is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer, and a second component in contact with the first component is formed of a second polymer which does not chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymeric component at elevated temperatures, including sterilization. More specifically, the relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the polymer selected for the second component relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is greater than 0.75 and the molecular weight of the second polymer is at least 5,000 to prevent adhesion of the second component to the cyclic olefin component and stress cracking at elevated temperatures. The most preferred embodiment is a syringe assembly having a cyclic olefin polymeric barrel and a resilient stopper formed of the second polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht
  • Patent number: 6663601
    Abstract: A medical transfer or storage device for delivery or storage of a medicament, drug or vaccine, wherein a first component, preferably the major component, is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer, and a second component in contact with the first component is formed of a second polymer which does not chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymeric component at elevated temperatures, including sterilization. More specifically, the relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the polymer selected for the second component relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is greater than 0.75 and the molecular weight of the second polymer is at least 5,000 to prevent adhesion of the second component to the cyclic olefin component and stress cracking at elevated temperatures. The most preferred embodiment is a syringe assembly having a cyclic olefin polymeric barrel and a resilient stopper formed of the second polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht
  • Patent number: 6653523
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a low gauge, multilayer film which may be laminated to other materials such as, for example, fibrous nonwoven webs. The multilayer film may include one or more skin layers which in certain configurations comprise no more than about 15 percent of the overall thickness and in other configurations no more than about 10 percent of the overall thickness of the multilayer film. Such films and laminates have a wide variety of uses including, but not limited to, personal care absorbent products, articles of clothing and health care related items such as surgical drapes and gowns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ann Louise McCormack, Kevin George Hetzler
  • Publication number: 20030195473
    Abstract: A medical transfer or storage device for delivery or storage of a medicament, drug or vaccine, wherein a first component, preferably the major component, is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer, and a second component in contact with the first component is formed of a second polymer which does not chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymeric component at elevated temperatures, including sterilization. More specifically, the relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the polymer selected for the second component relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is greater than 0.75 and the molecular weight of the second polymer is at least 5,000 to prevent adhesion of the second component to the cyclic olefin component and stress cracking at elevated temperatures. The most preferred embodiment is a syringe assembly having a cyclic olefin polymeric barrel and a resilient stopper formed of the second polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht
  • Patent number: 6595961
    Abstract: A medical transfer or storage device for delivery or storage of a medicament, drug or vaccine, wherein a first component, preferably the major component, is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer, and a second component in contact with the first component is formed of a second polymer which does not chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymeric component at elevated temperatures, including sterilization. More specifically, the relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the polymer selected for the second component relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is greater than 0.75 and the molecular weight of the second polymer is at least 5,000 to prevent adhesion of the second component to the cyclic olefin component and stress cracking at elevated temperatures. The most preferred embodiment is a syringe assembly having a cyclic olefin polymeric barrel and a resilient stopper formed of the second polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht
  • Publication number: 20030129337
    Abstract: A method of fusing a component to a sterilized storage or delivery device formed of a cyclic olefin polymer which includes forming the storage or delivery device from a cyclic olefin polymer, forming a second member or component having at least a surface layer formed of the second polymer, wherein the Hansen relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the second polymer relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is equal to or less than 0.7, applying the second member to the storage or delivery device, and heating the assembly to the sterilization temperature, thereby causing the second polymer to chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymer, fusing the second component to the storage or delivery device. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a medical container, such as a vial, wherein the vial is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer and the cap, closure or collar is formed of a second polymer heat fused to the vial or container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht, Roger William Groskopf
  • Publication number: 20030121587
    Abstract: A method of fusing a component to a sterilized storage or delivery device formed of a cyclic olefin polymer which includes forming the storage or delivery device from a cyclic olefin polymer, forming a second member or component having at least a surface layer formed of the second polymer, wherein the Hansen relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the second polymer relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is equal to or less than 0.7, applying the second member to the storage or delivery device, and heating the assembly to the sterilization temperature, thereby causing the second polymer to chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymer, fusing the second component to the storage or delivery device. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a medical container, such as a vial, wherein the vial is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer and the cap, closure or collar is formed of a second polymer heat fused to the vial or container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht, Roger William Groskopf
  • Publication number: 20030116252
    Abstract: A method of fusing a component to a sterilized storage or delivery device formed of a cyclic olefin polymer which includes forming the storage or delivery device from a cyclic olefin polymer, forming a second member or component having at least a surface layer formed of the second polymer, wherein the Hansen relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the second polymer relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is equal to or less than 0.7, applying the second member to the storage or delivery device, and heating the assembly to the sterilization temperature, thereby causing the second polymer to chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymer, fusing the second component to the storage or delivery device. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a medical container, such as a vial, wherein the vial is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer and the cap, closure or collar is formed of a second polymer heat fused to the vial or container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht, Roger William Groskopf
  • Publication number: 20020150644
    Abstract: A medical transfer or storage device for delivery or storage of a medicament, drug or vaccine, wherein a first component, preferably the major component, is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer, and a second component in contact with the first component is formed of a second polymer which does not chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymeric component at elevated temperatures, including sterilization. More specifically, the relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the polymer selected for the second component relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is greater than 0.75 and the molecular weight of the second polymer is at least 5,000 to prevent adhesion of the second component to the cyclic olefin component and stress cracking at elevated temperatures. The most preferred embodiment is a syringe assembly having a cyclic olefin polymeric barrel and a resilient stopper formed of the second polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht
  • Publication number: 20020150709
    Abstract: A method of fusing a component to a sterilized storage or delivery device formed of a cyclic olefin polymer which includes forming the storage or delivery device from a cyclic olefin polymer, forming a second member or component having at least a surface layer formed of the second polymer, wherein the Hansen relative energy distance Ra/Ro of the second polymer relative to the cyclic olefin polymer is equal to or less than 0.7, applying the second member to the storage or delivery device, and heating the assembly to the sterilization temperature, thereby causing the second polymer to chemically interact with the cyclic olefin polymer, fusing the second component to the storage or delivery device. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a medical container, such as a vial, wherein the vial is formed of a cyclic olefin polymer and the cap, closure or collar is formed of a second polymer heat fused to the vial or container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Kevin George Hetzler, Thea Lubrecht, Roger William Groskopf
  • Patent number: 6348258
    Abstract: A breathable film having improved processing properties and reduced cost includes a breathable film-forming layer composition including a matrix polymer, a particulate organic filler, and a compatibilizer. The particulate organic filler is incompatible with the matrix polymer and tends to agglomerate when mixed with the matrix polymer alone. The compatibilizer achieves thermodynamic equilibrium between the matrix polymer and filler within a defined filler particle size range suitable for producing stretched breathable film. The film processes more easily than breathable films containing inorganic fillers, and is less expensive to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev, Kevin Matthew Harrington, Glynis Allicia Walton, Sandy Chi-Ching Ying, Kevin George Hetzler
  • Patent number: 6309736
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a low gauge, multilayer film which may be laminated to other materials such as, for example, fibrous nonwoven webs. The multilayer film may include one or more skin layers which in certain configurations comprise no more than about 15 percent of the overall thickness and in other configurations no more than about 10 percent of the overall thickness of the multilayer film. Such films and laminates have a wide variety of uses including, but not limited to, personal care absorbent products, articles of clothing and health care related items such as surgical drapes and gowns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ann Louise McCormack, Kevin George Hetzler, Karen Lynn English, Billy Ray Jones, Jr., Charles John Morell, Wiliam Bela Haffner, Glynis Allicia Walton, Lance James Garrett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6245401
    Abstract: Unitary films are provided having at least first and second film segments which extend adjacent one another and are permanently joined together. The first and second segments have different compositions whereby the unitary film includes distinct segments having varied physical properties such as, for example, varied levels of high water-vapor transmission rates and/or elasticity. The unitary films and laminates thereof are well suited for use as outer covers in personal care articles and various other barrier articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandy Chi-Ching Ying, Lavada Campbell Boggs, Kevin George Hetzler, Glen Thomas Mildenhall, Michael Tod Morman, Dan Kenneth Schiffer, Susan Elaine Shawver
  • Patent number: 6075179
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a low gauge, multilayer film which may be laminated to other materials such as, for example, fibrous nonwoven webs. The multilayer film may include one or more skin layers which in certain configurations comprise no more than about 15 percent of the overall thickness and in other configurations no more than about 10 percent of the overall thickness of the multilayer film. Such films and laminates have a wide variety of uses including, but not limited to, personal care absorbent products, articles of clothing and health care related items such as surgical drapes and gowns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ann Louise McCormack, Kevin George Hetzler
  • Patent number: 6072005
    Abstract: A breathable film having improved physical and barrier properties includes a stretched impact modified polyolefin matrix and a particulate filler. The impact modified polyolefin matrix includes at least one impact polypropylene copolymer, alone or in combination with other polymers. The film, and laminates including the film, provide excellent moisture breathability and excellent barrier to penetration by liquids. Laminates including the film may be used in diaper outercovers and other applications requiring breathability and resistance to penetration by liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Michailovich Kobylivker, Kevin George Hetzler
  • Patent number: 6002064
    Abstract: A stretch-thinned polymeric film is formed from a mixture of a polymer matrix including a low crystallinity propylene polymer having not more than about 30% crystallinity, with a particulate filler. The stretch-thinned film is breathable to water vapor yet resistant to penetration by liquids and viruses. The film can be laminated to a nonwoven web, and is useful in a wide variety of medical apparel and related products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Michailovich Kobylivker, Kevin George Hetzler